I have recently been diagnosed with IBC and am nearly halfway through 8 chemo sessions (4 of AC and 4 of taxotere and Herceptin). I have seen posts from a couple of years ago in the archives from women with IBC but wondered if anyone out there is currently going through treatment or has come through the other side and is now cancer free for a few years? I know this type of BC has a v high recurrence rate so am interested in any stories of encouragement out there.
I am 31 and live in London. No kids but a v loving and supportive husband who is being amazing. Still having periods but not sure if this will continue or return if they stop during chemo (which is more gutting than the mastectomy or hair loss or any other side effect of this cancer).
there are a few around with IBC, I was dx witha double whammy, IBC and lobular cancer, like you I am currently undergoing chemo. I think the stats may not be so accurate as IBC is much rarer - and anyway, I have no intention of having a recurrence of any kind! There is too much living to do to spend time messing about with treatments again
Being post menopause I can’t answer the period question, but I have an idea that, like the hair, they do come back. I hope you get better replies!
I had 4x FEC followed by 6 X Taxotere, finished in July 06. Had my mastectomy in Nov 06.Then rads.
I had a tiny local recurrence in my mast scar in May this year which was excised. I have recently been dx with skin mets, again near to my scar. These are under control and contained with hormone treatment (Femera and monthly zoladex implants).
I did have herceptin for @ 6 months but it was stopped when I had the local recurrence as they could not be sure if it was working for me, however it is on the back burner for the future.
Apart from the skin mets, which although under control, are a visual reminder, I am currently well and returned to work in Sept.
I just wanted to echo what’s already been said and say hello and welcome to the forums. If you need any further support you can access other forms via the ‘Support for you’ tab, you will see that we have a helpline which lots of people find very helpful at times when they have concerns or just need a chat or a ‘listening ear’. Hope this helps.
hi there,
I have grade 3 invasive ductal cancer and Her 2 positive , i also have lymph node involvement, i have surgery on tuesday , i finished my 8th and last chemo 3 weeks ago and my hair is growing back already, i am 37 , my periods stopped during chemo and they may or may not return ! like yourself i am always eager to hear positive stories and i am terrified of it returning , i discussed my fears with my gp and the best advice he gave me was the girls that continue to live their lives as normal as possible are the ones that do the best, you must stay positive ! there are thousands of women all living their lives cancer free so hold onto that thought
love galen xx
Hi everyone. Thanks for your comments. Reading them has made the whole thing a lot more bearable and I have realised that the statistics don’t mean anything…it’s up to me to be positive about my future and believe that the doctors will get it right. One hurdle at a time - the chemo, then the mastectomy, then the rads and, one day, reconstruction. At least the path is clear!
Good luck to you all. I will keep reading and posting, and getting strength from others on this site, but I really just wanted to say a huge thank you to all you IBC and non-IBC sufferers. We are all in this together.
