Hi everybody, just found out I have breast cancer (Invasive Lobular and Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer) in my right breast. I am 47 years old and from the Eastbourne area. I got chosen for an early screening, wasn’t even going to go as was very busy but was encouraged to go anyway. So I went along and was called back, I knew as soon as they started doing many tests that something was wrong. I was diagnosed on the 17th of august- when my world collapsed. I spent three days recovering from the word ‘breast cancer’. Since then have been for blood, X-rays and had an MRI scan today . I have a great family around me, very very supportive but was wondering how you all keep so very strong and positive as have good days and bad days. Also has anyone else been diagnosed with the two particular cancers in one breast, also I find it frustrating that when talking to people about it they always know someone who’s had it but I know no one. Would quite like someone to talk to in the Eastbourne/East Sussex area who is going through or feeling the same as me…? Any comments would be hugely appreciated, as nothing prepares you for what is about to happen, I am now in another waiting game…waiting to find out my MRI results to determine whether it has spread into my left breast. Then I guess its another story i.e …surgery/chemo/treatment/reconstruction….the list is endless…HELP! p.s my daughter has written this as im rubbish with computers!!!
Hi Josie, so sorry you’ve had to join our cub but welcome. This is the hardest part, we call it the waiting room & it’s not a nice place to be,just waiting to find out results,your mind will be going into overdrive imagining all sorts. It does help once u know the treatment plan. I just cope by taking one step at a time. Pls don’t google, it will freak you out & a lot of it is out of date. You will get loads of advice,support & help on here & also the helpline are fab. It’s great that u have lots of support around u, that really helps. Good luck with your results. I’m fairly recently diagnosed (June 2011) & have only had surgery so far, still got chemo, rads & Tamoxifen to go but it’s strange how quickly u get your head around it.
Im sure someone will come along from your area & with the same cancer type as you but in the meantime keep posting if u need to,take care x
Hi Josie,
Welcome to the forums where I’m sure you’ll get lots of support from the many informed users of this site who have a wealth of experience and knowledge between them.
To help you along, I have put for you below the link to BCC’s publication regarding lobular BC which I hope you find useful.
Take care,
Jo, Facilitator
Hi Josie
As hjv has said, sorry you’ve had to join us.
You asked how you we all keep so very strong and positive as you have good days and bad days. We don’t! We all have good days and bad days - that’s why this forum is so good. Hopefully you’ll find the support you need on here.
I didn’t have exactly the same diagnosis (dx) as you. I had lobular cancer of the left breast - also had to have an MRI to check out the right one, which was OK luckily. My lump was quite large by the time I found it, so I had an mx, immediate recon, chemo and i’m two-thirds of the way through rads. Hopefully you won’t have to go through the ‘full works’, but if you do, it’s tough but ‘doable’.
To find folk in your area, have a look at ‘in your local area’ section to see if there is already a group that have found each other. If not, you can start a new thread and see who joins you.
A more direct way of finding local support would be to contact your BCN and see if there is a local support group, or call the BCC helpline - I believe that they can help.
Good luck, keep posting and don’t be afraid to ask anything - no matter how silly it seems.
Dx
Hi Josie,
I’m so sorry that you’ve had to join this rotten club! 
In October last year I had the same diagnosis as you and have just come out the other end from active treatment. I was 48 when dx so we are of similar age and mine was my right breast too. It’s a scary world you’ve been plunged into but I’m glad to hear that your family are being supportive because that helps a lot.
At this stage it’s probably best to try and deal with things on a day to day basis because there will be days when you cope really well and then there will be the ‘why me?’ days too. We will all help as much as we can. It’s a shame I live so far away but feel free to PM me if you want to ask anything.
The early days when you are still reeling from the shock of the diagnosis are almost as bad as the not knowing because you don’t feel in control of it all. Once you’ve had all the tests/scans etc your medical team will discuss your treatment options, having a plan doesn’t make it any less scary but it does help when you know exactly what they are going to do.
Hang on in there!
Nymeria x
Hi Josie
I didn’t have both in the one breast. I had ductal in my left breast and lobular in my right. I just thought trust me!
Where you are now is a horrible place. Your world has just been turned upside down and you don’t know what is going to happen next. Everybody who is diagnosed feels just like that. It takes time to come to terms with things and it does help when active treatment starts. You will come into contact with other women with BC at your treatment centre and of course you can communicate with all the ladies on here.
It is nearly a year since I was diagnosed and I well remember those dark early days. Take heart from the people on this message board. They have been through it all and come out the other end.
Good luck for the future.
Hi I was diagnosed with invasive ductal bc,lobular bc and tubular bc in November 2009. I also had a large area of Ductal carcinoma all cancers were in the right breast. At 47 I hadn’t had a mammogram. My only symptom had been indentation of a vein. It did come as a shock although once they started doing lots of tests I just knew something had been found. The breast team have always explained carefully the situation, what they are going to do and have treated me with respect. Once they have all the results they will be able to tell you what treatment you need. Take each day as it comes feelings will go up and down. If you are feeling upset allow yourself to be upset. If you are up to it plan a few treats for yourself. Be prepared for varying reactions and help from unexpected sources. For a hospital stay front opening pj’s are good also felt better with nice toiletries etc and magazines rather than books. 21 months on I am mainly positive, have managed to work between treatments and I am a much more thoughtful person. Have had a mastectomy reduction on the other side,reconstructions, radiotherapy and Tamoxifen etc all doable and i’m not a brave person at all. It is a real benefit to have supportive people around you. This website is vey helpful and has all sorts of threads.
hi everyone thank you all for your lovely comments , they have been so nice as felt so alone and didnt think there would be so many people to talk to and get information from as this realy helps . Am not very good on lap top yet but am trying my best . daughter helping me, but will get there soon and hopfuly be as good as all of you .Also not realy sure on the slang wich everyone uses but have so much time to learn thanks everyone
I was diagnosed yesterday with invasive ductal cancer in the left breast so found this thread very supportive too, thank you to all those who have been through it and supporting us just starting out in this really scary time of our lives.
Jean
hi again just sitting here thinking about my results on thursday and weather this horrid cancer has spread to my left breast , also what is about to happen, as feel scared today as have been trying to go about everyday as normal as just seems so long ago since dx in august , sorry but it just feels wrong as i feel ok in my self and can do everything i did before dx .At the moment just feel upset as time is getting near sorry
I hope everything goes well josie1 and I will be thinking of you as I am sure everyone else in the forum will be.
Jean
Josie and Jean, it all just feels so unreal at this stage, so if you’re wandering round in a daze that’s normal. So is crying, laughing, screaming (or at least feeling like it), being exhausted but unable to sleep, sleeping lots, more crying, yelling at people, and just about any kind of reaction you can think of. A bomb’s just gone off in your life, you can be forgiven for reacting as if a bomb’s just gone off!
I’m heading off to my pit now, but wanted to say hello and send you my best wishes. You’ve got some tough times ahead of you but we’re here for you - often even in the middle of the night, as some people have sleep problems.
Good luck and hugs
CM
x
Josie - sending big hugs.
This is the worst bit - once you have a treatment plan you have something to focus on and you feel as if you are on a road to somewhere, rather than being in limbo land.
Fingers crossed for good news on Thurs.
Dx
Hi Josie,
You’ve had a lot to take in. You’re right the forums are wonderful. I have been dx with invasive ductal right breast but should find out more today.
I would just echo everyone elses comments. Once you have your treatment plan you have a clear focus ( and can start to feel that you are being armed to fight back! ).
The breast clinic teams also seem to be some of the most wonderful people in the NHS. I don’t feel quite ready to go to the local support groups yet, soon I think. But you may find them a benefit to yourself?
Good luck and take care. x
Thanks ChoccieMuffin
Its weird actually because I am personally dealing with it really well even though it is scary but because I am dealing OK (at present) I want to keep talking about it and although they listen my family can only deal with short bits of chat about it as they are not coping with it well at all.
This is why this forum is so great for me I get to talk about the “thing” as much as I like without upsetting too many people!!!
Have to say my dear hubby is gradually coming to terms with it now and since we met with the surgeon feels much better about it all.
regards
Jean
Sorry that last comment should have said
Thank you ChoccieMuffin, DJ007 and Crabbitt…
Hi everyone , sorry but have been in a bit of a state as didnt get the newes i thought i would .I also have it in left breast and inlarged lymph nodes , am so upset and havent stopped crying will have to have double mastectomy and lymph node removel on both breasts am just trying to come to terms with what my sugeon said to me yesterday . just feel that everytime i go back the news gets worst , can anyone tell me if anyone has had both breasts off .,
I’ve sent you a couple of messages. Im in Eastbourne as well
Oh Josie. So sorry about your news - I’m sure that there is someone out there who has had to have a double mx and who will be along to help. I do know of several women on the forum who, because of family history/genetic testing are electing to have a double mx.
I’m sure the news about enlarged lymph nodes has got your mind working overtime too. First of all it doesn’t automatically mean that cancer cells have got that far. Ultrasound indicated that I had enlarged lymph nodes - I had 15 removed at the same time as my mx and every single one was clear. Even if they do show that there are cancer cells there, that’s one of their jobs - trapping nasties. And that’s what chemo is for - mopping up any.
I’m sure that this is small comfort at the mo - so much to take in and so much to try and process. I can remember that when I got my dx I couldn’t seem to stop crying for what seemed like weeks - the slightest thing would set me off. Do you have good family support? Do you have any time scales at all? I found that I was fine while I was focussing on the practicalities - preparing to make life easier after my op and putting my support network in place.
Crying is normal, anger is normal - whatever you are feeling is normal - do whatever you need to do to get through this and we will all be here for you with advice or just a virtual hug whenever we can.
Sending you one now! (((((((0)))))))!
Dx
That’s rotten news Josie. I eventually had to have have both breasts off. I had wle and node sampling on both but failed to get clear margins so had to go on to have the bilateral mastectomy last December. I was very upset too when I was told but I came to terms with it over time. I was lucky enough that there had been no spread to my nodes.
I didn’t have reconstruction and I recovered very well from the op. Once the drains are out it becomes a lot easier. Everyone was very supportive in the days after. It is important that you do the exercises you are given.
Ths is the worst time for you. You have just had bad news and have now a little wait for treatment to start. I will keep you in my thoughts and hope that it goes smoothly for you. (( ))