I’ve only just started to see minimal eyebrow growth (one side only) nearly 12 weeks (or is it 13) after I finished chemo.
The results are in, and they are good. ?
Left WLE has 3mm margins; right mastectomy had more than 2mm on all sides except anterior (skin side), which was a bit tight to some DCIS; there was a margin – no cancer cells on ink – but it was less than 2mm. However, my surgeon feels the tight margin is fine, especially since that side was very responsive to Herceptin, and I have 12 more doses of Herceptin to go as well as endocrine therapy. (The DCIS in that breast shrunk from 63mm to 34mm, and DCIS often doesn’t respond to chemo, even when apparently related IDC is HER2+.) I’ll need to watch for any changes, of course, but I am happy to be vigilant.
Plus, the nipple sample was all clear, so the nipple can stay, too. Which is really nice, since my surgeon did amazing work. The scars are going to be barely visible when all is healed.
So my appointment with the oncologist next week will be RT consent and planning for the left breast! It will be a 4-week course, as path found left was (*look at that past tense!*) actually mixed mucinous IDC, not pure mucinous, so they will want to hit the tumor bed.
It’s such a delight to finally be getting to the rads stage of this journey. Hurrah!
That is good news Reddi and I’m glad you can now move forward with rads planning xxx
Great news Reddi x
Reddi 
Wonderful news darling ???so pleased for you, thank you for updating us ???
Shi xx
Thats brilliant Reddi! And top marks to your surgeon for using her initiative and taking that little bit more to save you another op… i don’t think anybody would complain about having that done. As so on to Rads, the last leg of the journey.
Kip
xx
Morning ladies, wow what a lot happening since I last logged on. Reddi my daring I’m so pleased that your operation went well, I hoping the recovery goes well for you and isn’t too painful.
Yes Kip, I can finally say I’m getting married ?? this year! 148 days to go till I’m a Mrs! Wedding planning going ok but dress shopping a bit weird because I don’t look or feel like me. It’s strange because I don’t look like I feel I should look like. But it’s all trial and error and I’m sure I will find one that’s me. On another good note went to watch the amazing step daughter in young voices concert last night, such a lovely night watching all the children sing ?. I’m tired this morning though, seems to be a on going thing with waves of tiredness. Update on S/E I’m tired and ache more, all the nails on my hands have come off but seem to be growing quickly, hair now has a reasonable covering all over, one eyebrow growing other not so much and eyelashes slowly coming back. Getting to the point we’re leg ? hair needs a shave ?. Not one thing I will miss lol. Radiation treatments wasn’t to bad, have a blister under breast and next to SNB scar and am bruised around the edge. Just like extremely bad sun burn but have a dressing from burns department to help it heal quicker. Now I’m concentrating on planning the wedding as no active treatment till after then at least, although I do have meetings planned to discuss genetics lineage and double mastectomy and ovary removal or hysterectomy in the next few months. But nothing will happen just yet it’s just to discuss options as I will be taking a while to think as I don’t have children yet.
So for this year or at least the first 6 months the theme is party ?. It’s my 40th in February ? so looking forward to that. And the wedding ?? in June. Happy times! Xx
Hi RedRose… lovely to hear from you. Yes a Mrs this year… how exciting… and in a strange way even more special because of all you two have been through this last year. I know how you feel about not feeling like you, I feel like that. I actually dreamt last night that my hair was shoulder length again and everybody was saying “oh you look like your old self again” and when I woke up and realised it was a dream it was quite upsetting for a while. I’m sure you’ll find a dress that is just what you want, it may be that it isn’t what the old you may have wanted but it will be gorgeous and you’ll know when you find it. I am finding I need to change what I wear now, just to take into account the Judi Dench hair cut and being so grey. I need to wear brighter colours and bigger earrings… think Pat Butcher and you’ll get the picture! :smileywink:
Sorry to hear you’ve lost your nails, mine have all broken very low now so hoping once the re-grow they will look a bit more human. You should find your eyelashes grow quite quickly now, mine were short and stubby for a bit and then suddently I could use mascara again… fab! Shame to hear you are aching too, I hope they go eventually, I still ache everywhere and feel 100 sometimes.
Kip
xx
Just remembered an article called After the treatment finishes what then? By Dr Peter Harvey that I read and thought good so will read again when my treatment ends on Wednesday!x
Oh I think I read that Linda, I must read it again, it was very good.
Reddi - have you had your planning for RT or is it this week?
How is everyone else doing? I’m still aching, tried to call Onc Nurse for some reassurance. am thinking all sorts and need calming down I think but she’s on holiday so will have to try to calm myself until next week. Having read loads of chats on this site many women suffer all sorts of things post chemo and during tamoxifen and other hormone stuff. the SEs never seem to stop they just change to something else… ho hum…be positive be postive be positve.
RedRose - found that dress yet?
KTK - how are you doing?
Kip
xx
Hi Reddi, ahh yes the tattoos will be one of the fun things in store. Actually it was all quite quick, a scan, tattoos and some measuring then had a chat and a tour and all done. Was given my first appt on that day and the full schedule when I had had my first one.
I did start Tamoxifen before rads but only about a couple of weeks, so all in all its not been long really and like you said it’s hard to untangle what’s doing what. When I think since end of Sept I have finished chemo had ANC surgery and 15 x rads plus starting Tamoxifen so I have to be patient I guess. But like you I want the old body back and want it now
@cdc I hope everything went very well yesterday. I know you’re in hospital for the next few days and thus will be well looked after – though I’m sure you will be happy when you are able to get home. Take care! xoxo
Thanks Jencat you’ve just reminded me about this article and so I’ve just read it right through for the first time. What a brilliant piece! He really hits the nail on the head in so many areas. I’m printing it out too, to show to a couple people. I hope you are doing ok x
Yes thanks Jencat I’ve printed it too, going to show hubby so that “hopefully” he can understand a bit more.
Hi Reddi.
I have my first Zometa infusion on 7th February. A lady I ran into on train that I met at guys said to take paracetamol before it because you can get shivery fluey symptoms after and paracetamol helps with that. She said she was wiped out for a day or two after her first one cos no-one told her so shed not taken anything beforehand.
My local hospital have finally got in the prosthesis that’s been ordered for me because nothing they had in stock was suitable. Got an appointment for that 31/1 so looks like I’ll finally (fingers crossed ) get my falsie nearly a year after my mastectomy. All I have to do now is manage to find a bra that I can actually wear it in that’s not cut too high or lacy or the wrong material that I can’t wear. I had to throw out all my bras from before and now only have the stretchy cropped top types which are unsuitable for the prosthesis because of the weight.
Hi sally great news you are getting your prosthesis. M&S do a good range of bras to fit them into (I’m fussy and found perfect ones in here, the staff were excellent and understanding too) also Nicola Jane do good range my cousin who is double mastectomy uses Nicola Jane garments and is very happy with them. If you’ve not already got yourself a knitted knocker it’s worth getting them, I found in the hot summer padding bra out with the stuffing from knitted knocker far more cool and comfortable in the summer and also for walking when we do our long walks. Reddi ??so pleased you’ve consented to rads ???Shi xx
I’m so fussy though ShI. I can’t find anything. I’ve lookied on the Nicola Jane website and don’t really like the look of much at all and those I do look too high cut right where I have extensive scarring. I do have a knitted knocker but everything rides up and moves and I’m forever having to adjust my underwear.
In good news though I’ve won another competition, this time on FB for a nice poreclaim dinner service. That’s 2 things in just over a week.
Hi sally, sorry Nicola Jane haven’t got anything you like the look of. When you go for your fitting does your team have specialist fitter my unit did and they also had underwear to try on with it, you might be able to purchase in your unit if they do or ask them if the can recommend anywhere else. You will find what you are looking for and i’ll Keep eyes peeled too if I find anywhere else too that might help you. Well done winning another competition ??reddi I think she should enter another one too, that big one on GMT’s they are currently running ???Shi xx
Morning ladies,
Reddi - shame you can’t join the Add Aspirin trial, I have been asked but am waiting for a call to go ahead with it. I have all the paperwork to read up on and think its worth a shot, nothing to scary about Aspirin I don’t think. Good news about Rads though, get that over and done with too.
SallyG - Wow you really are on a roll with the competitions aren’t you… .hope you do the lottery! Also good news about the prosthetic finally available, I still haven’t contacting them about one for me, I am waiting for sign off from Rads then I will do it, although my Knitted Knockers are perfect for me. When you tried one, did you put it in the pocket of a bra? Mine don’t move at all but maybe thats because I’ve found a bra which fits and is comfortable, probably makes all the difference. I have bras from George @ Asda but I think I remember you didn’t get on with those? I think I am lucky too that my scar is just one line running across to the start of my armpit and its quite flat and not sore or anything, nothing to rub on really. They reopened the end of the MX scar to do the ANC and he did a good job, you’d never know its been open twice!
The Zoladex needle sounds grim… you would be very brave to attempt to do that yourself… I had to pysche myself up each time for the chemo ones and they were diddy. Good news that the docs can do it though, saves a lot of travel time and I’m sure you’ll get used to them.
Kip
xx
OMG RedRose… you bought a tear to my eye… you look beautiful. Love the dress and the beautiful back… You were amazing to be out there trying on dresses 2 days post chemo… love it… .and no big tummy!!! more updates please!!