Wonder if anyone can tell me if they have their lump checked when they see the onc before chemo? I expected to have my lump to be measured when I went for my 2nd chemo but my onc said there would be no point.
My worry is how do they know if I am responding to the chemo I am taking? I have a 4cm tumour.
Some days I think it is shrinking and then other days it feels the same.
I have been told I will need between 4 and 6 cycles before surgery.
Would love to hear any of your experiences post surgery.
Many thanks,
Love,
Janx
hi Jan
I had my lump removed before chemo so I’m in a different situation but my advice would be, next time you see your onc, ask them a bit more about procedure. I sometimes hesitate to ask questions in case the doctors/nurses/specialists think I am questioning their ability to do their job but I doubt they see it like that. even if it is not necessary for them to measure your lump every time, ask them to reassure you because I know from experience that when you are at home fiddling with your lump your mind can play tricks and you often think it’s grown, shrunk or even moved!
You have asked about experiences post surgery, what extent is your surgery gonna be?
Good luck
Hi Claribel,
I have been told I am having a mastectomy, I know I am having a paranoid moment, am usually in control, but gave in to weakness this morning!!
What surgery did you have?
Take care,
love,
Janx
Hi when I was dx last Oct my lump was 6cms, after 4 AC I could hardly feel it so knew myself it had shrunk.I had it measured again in Jan and it was 2 cms.I then started on taxotere, was supposed to have 4,but I felt it hardening again and knew it was bigger.Onc sent me for another scan and it had grown to 3 cms,so decided no point in having last tax.I had WLEon 15th April and lump actually measured 4 cms. I had responded better to AC than Tax.
We are allowed to give into weakness its human nature and fear of the unknown
Take Care,stay positive
Mary
x
Hi Mary,
Did they give a reason for changing your chemo?
I am starting on 4xAC and I haven`t been told anything after that, just that I may have 6. before surgery.
Not sure what WLE is, How are you now and are you having more treatment? sometimes realise just how little I know!!.
I just played 18 holes of golf and even though I played them very badly it was just wonderful to get out there!!
Many thanks,
Take care,
Janx
Hi Jan
My plan was to have 4 of each, but as it had started growing again they said it would be a waste of time having last one and better to take it out
Sorry WLE is wide local excision to take the lump away.I actually had a quandronectomy(spelling) meaning they took the lump and a large amount of tissue,I assume about a quarter of my breast.Cant really see any difference yet due to swellimg.
I started on Herceptin a week before my op and have it every 3 weeks for the next year.also going for radiotherapy in June,then back to work after a hol I hope.
I feel great at the moment but it has been a tough road.
In noticed on the where are you thread that you are in Southport,I am up m57 in Huyton,but work in Southport.
Keep positive
Mary
x
Hi Mary,
That is such a coincidence! I had my 1st chemo at Clatterbridge my Onc is Dr Ali.
I think I have to have a mastectomy as the lump is soo near to my nipple, I have also been told I will have Heceptin after my op. Are you coping with it?
You will be ready for a holiday after this all this!
So pleased you feel well at the moment.
Take care,
Janx
I am having my treatment at the Lilac Centre in Whiston hospital, which is a five min drive away, but going to Clatterbridge for rads,hopefully from 9th june.
I have 2 sessions of herceptin and had no problems at all ,touch wood!!!
The hol is actually a delayed honeymoon as I was diagnosed the day before our wedding and they wanted to start chemo straight away - - its all in the timing hey.
Keep up the golf, while the nice weather is here,I went for a walk this morning,need to get my energy levels back up
Mary
x
What timing!!
So sorry ,there can never be a right time but that was so cruel!!
I am sure you will have the most fantastic honeymoon and after this nightmare is over, which it almost is, you will have everything to look forward to!
Take care,
Love,
Janx
Hi Jan
I had Chemo before surgery, and I too was expecting them to check my lump before each cycle. I started with a 6cm tumour, and I wasn’t checked again by the oncologist until just before the 4th cycle. Fortunately for me it had shrunk, considerably, as it turned out. I had convinced myself that the twinges I felt in my breast between cycles was the lump shrinking. I focused on it a lot, specially when I couldn’t sleep. By the time I had my surgery it was 3mm. The power of the mind is very great, so there’s one good reason to stay positive. On the subject of knowledge, I’m nearly a year down the line, and I still know very little!
Good luck with the rest of your treatment.
Sarah x
Hi Sarah,
That was very encouraging, glad you are a year down the line, is your treatment over?
I have twinges and sharp pains between cycles also, so I hope mine will be as successful as yours.
I tell myself most of the time there is nothing I can do about it and most of the time I really do just get on with it but every now and again that niggle starts to appear at the back of my mind!!
Just can`t help myself!!
Take care,
Many thanks,
Janx
Hi Toronto
My lump was also 4cm. I had chemo prior to surgery. I had 3 lots of FEC and 3 lots of Taxotere. The lump started shrinking on the FEC and each time I saw the oncologist he felt it and said it was definitely softening up and getting smaller. I also had a lump in one of my lymph nodes and that definitely shrunk a lot. I then had a mastectomy. By the time I finished chemo, my lump had shrunk to 7mm (I really couldn’t feel anything anymore). I had slight twinges in the lumps whilst on chemo and I too believed it was the chemo doing its work. In fact the first time I had chemo, I mentioned I could feel the lumps twinging whilst she put the drugs into me and she said some people do feel that. I took that to be a good sign. I don’t know what would have happened if the lump hadn’t responded but I did feel confident that I was being kept an eye on.
Best wishes
Ruby xx