Hiya, I’m Tracey, I’m 57 years old and I live in South Ayrshire. Originally from Lancashire.
I was diagnosed with Hormone Receptive and HER2 just before Christmas and started on EC chemo on the 17th of January.
I’m having 4 EC treatments, 3 weeks apart then I’m having 4 treatments of Phesgo 3 weekly along with 18 lots of Docetaxel (I think lol) it’s a bit confusing haha.
I lost my husband a year ago in March in a freak accident and I’m going through all this with the help and support of my two Best Friends here and my Family in Lancashire and France.
I’ve got 2 dogs and a cat who make me laugh daily which I’ve found a huge mood lift although I do worry about them not getting the walks they need (the dogs, not the cat lol)
Hi Tracey nice to meet you, I’m Ali from Glasgow, I was diagnosed on Valentine’s Day. So glad my hubby was with me to listen to what was being said as I was shocked and numb. I have a daughter nearly 16, 2 cats and a dog too. Best of luck with your treatment xx
Hi Ali, oh gosh, sorry to hear about your diagnosis and I’m really glad your husband was there… my besties were with me and I’m really glad too because my ears seemed to stop working as soon as the doc confirmed it was cancer. Will you be up at Golden Jubilee for your treatment? I think I’ll be going to the Beetson for radiotherapy once I’ve had my operation xx
I went through the same treatment as you in 2021. Mine was also triple positive. If you have any questions at all, please do ask, as there is too much to say all at once! The good news is that I have been clear of cancer since my mastectomy in April 2021 and have a good life. All the best, Sian
That’s wonderful to hear Sian, it gives you a boost to know that others are going through or have been through it and are doing well. I’m not sure if I’m having a mastectomy or lumpectomy yet. Funnily enough, I’ve not asked many questions to my team at the hospital, I’ve just told them to do what they need to do haha.
I’m sure I’ll have questions that I can ask on the forum and I’ve already gleaned a lot of knowledge from everyone’s posts. Xx
Hi Tracey thank you for replying, when the cancer nurse told me at the screening it was cancer, it was like I could hear her but it was muffled, she said it was very treatable but I still need to ask my hubby every morning when he is in from work and at night when he’s at work, although I did hear her say that. She said i was in the hands of the surgeons at gartnavel, it will more than likely be a lumpectomy as I have massive boobs and have loads of healthy tissue in it, then she mentioned Radiotherapy. What I can’t understand is how she knows all this without the biopsy results. I should maybe hear next week for an appointment with specialists. Every ache I have or sore head I’m convinced it’s spread through my whole body, is this a normal reaction?. I didn’t know treatment was done at Golden Jubilee. How are you coping with it all? Xx
Hi @spooky welcome to the forum, you will find so many lovely people here all sharing so many positive stories.
I was diagnosed August 2024 had chemotherapy and just two weeks ago a single mastectomy. When I was diagnosed my radiographer told me they were 97% sure it was cancer and I would need a mastectomy and then I had to wait for the biopsy results.
Everyone will tell you the waiting is the worst and your mind takes you to the worst case scenarios so feel reassured that you are not alone in how you feel. Once you have a plan you will feel like you have more control.
I found it really helpful to speak to the nurses at breast cancer now during the early days to help me understand better.
One big tip stay off Google. Everything you would want to know can be found on here, either in the literature section or on the forum where others have asked similar questions.
We are all a supportive bunch so ask away.
Take care of yourself xx
I’m not sure Ali, have they said you’ll be having a biopsy? At my first consultation, mammogram and ultrasound they did biopsies then. The oncologist said he’d be surprised if it wasn’t cancer but I didn’t find out for sure until the results were back a week later that it was cancer and that I’d need chemo first to shrink it. Originally he says I’d probably need a lumpectomy and radiotherapy so it was a bit of shock when he said chemo, then an operation, then radiotherapy. I thought “Well, that’s this year written off then!”
I’m not sure whether they do it at Golden Jubilee, I was just thinking that would be your biggest hospital being in Glasgow but I know there are other smaller hospitals dotted around that area too.
I would think it’s normal to feel like that… it’s a massive thing to have happen so it’s natural that you would worry like that. I had a week of catastrophising after my diagnosis, wondering what I had done to cause it. I have OCD and it was off the scale that week.
I’m just getting on with it. I’m trying not to think about it although I’m having a rough ride with the chemo which isn’t helping
How are you coping? Xx
Hi galdiolus, thank you for your response. I had 2 biopsies done via sonogram and one done by xray, I have big boobs so they needed a lot lol. The nurse at the breast screening said they knew what they were looking at. She said it be a lumpectomy and radiation or vice versa. I’m still waiting on my biopsy results and to meet my team so all sorts are going through my head. The waiting is driving me crazy but going for my results is terrifying, I’m thinking maybe they can’t do anything for me and that’s it. Everyone here goes down a rabbit hole I’d imagine. I googled some things and then stopped as I made myself worse. I’m still doing my walking, exercising and doing dad to day things. Once I get my results as terrifying as it will be, I’ll know what the plan is then take it from there xx
Hi Tracey, yes I got my biopsies done at the clinic. Just waiting for the results and I’m terrified to be honest. Don’t suppose I’m alone there. The nurse said it may be a lumpectomy as iv got loads of healthy tissue left then radio or vice versa. I bet the chemo is hard on you, I’m so glad you have your besties with you, so sorry you lost your husband . I lost my my son coming up 6 years in July suddenly, I’m like I know I wanted to see you again but I’m defo not ready iv still got plenty of damage to do . I’m right next to the Queen Elizabeth hospital and 15 mins from Gartnavel so it might be queen elizabeth for surgery. I’m only a chat away if you need to sound off xx
Hi Tracey. Welcome to this lovely supportive group. I too live in South Ayrshire but I am much further down the journey than you. I was diagnosed following a call back on a routine Mammogram. Diagnosed with LBC in May 2023. Had a single mastectomy with reconstructive surgery then radiotherapy. I count myself lucky that I didn’t need chemo.
Now on letrozole.
Just take each day as it comes and be kind to yourself.
You always find that with good support which it sounds like you have you are stronger and braver than you think
Hi Tracey. Good to hear from you and you sound very positive and practical.
I was diagnosed 6 years ago aged 69. I had a husband, 92 year old mother and a cat, so needed to survive. Like you, it was to what you have to, to get me through. I went to appointments with questions and a notebook. Any further questions i could phone the BCN. They have me a very thick manual about the process, it went into the cupboard under the stairs and still hasn’t seen the light of day - why scare yourself with stuff that might not apply to you. I didn’t tell my mum till the day before the op as i couldn’t cope with other people’s worry and played everything down during the following 10 months. You seem to be having the same treatment as me. Some of it’s hard and some is ok. All best wishes to you.
I have a book that a friend gave me and it really depressed me when I started reading it so it’s tucked away on a shelf. I’ve purposely not googled much apart from to check the side effects of the chemo are in line which what I’m experiencing. My friend, who had a mastectomy 4 years ago also recommended a Facebook group which I joined and left after a week be state it was terrifying!
I’m just trying to be practical, enjoying the good days and getting through the bad ones.
The dogs and cat are a great support and I don’t know what I’d do without them xx
. I lost my my son coming up 6 years in July suddenly, I’m like I know I wanted to see you again but I’m defo not ready iv still got plenty of damage to do 
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