So much worry continues, as one thing ends another begins…
@pat @charlie22 @rrey …like @alig1961 , i had a Lumpectomy and 1 node removed earlier this year, start of May. I never worried about the margin, i think with all the scans etc they have a pretty good indication of how its going to go. The op itself was really not as bad as i thought it would be, and really not that painful. I had a wire insertion as a separate procedure on the morning of my op, that was worse. The boob did heal and settle quickly and whilst it is different, its not as bad as i thought it would be, the scars are very neat.
What I worried about was the fact they found cancer in my node, and whilst theyve told me theyre happy its out and ive had chemo, theres no certainty for me its not in my other nodes…ive had to trust the chemo was nuking everything. Some days have been easier with that than others! @donna_51 as you say odd the different treatment plans.
Then ive started my radiotherapy today…felt like a slab of meat, but was ok, but just made me very emotional after, i think the realisation of this year starting to come out. Not helped by im exhausted, but think ive been overdoing it. No avo naps here…perhaps i should be!
I have an additional worry as well 
A prechemo CT scan showed a large fibroid. A follow up ultrasound showed thickened endometrium and fluid. The gynaecologist wants a hysteroscopy and biopsy - failed to do it in clinic. I’m postmenopausal by years so neither of these things should be there. She also suggested putting in a Mirena coil to give progesterone but I’m worried about this as my BC is oestrogen and progesterone positive.
I just can’t believe this is happening 
The gynaecologist is going to negotiate with the surgeon to see if it can be done when I have the breast surgery but she isn’t hopeful so I’ll have to have another anaesthetic fairly soon afterwards if not. It’s only a quick one though.
Oh @pat , so sorry theres another procedure looming to worry about. Mine is positive both hormones too, and imagine i would be worrying about it. Maybe they can talk through other options with you or percentage risk reduction of the coil? And help you make an informed decision. Sorry you have this extra one to make. We’re here to listen and support you x
@nicd thanks. She said there is less than a 10% chance of it being cancer but, obviously, it has to be checked out. I will consider myself extremely unlucky to be in the 10%!! Part of me thinks I’d be better off just having a hysterectomy as then it’ll all be gone and I won’t need follow up monitoring etc, but this wasn’t mentioned as an option. Anyway, we will see I’m not doing too well with my girl bits this year 
Oh @pat another worry for you. It’s so unfair to have another thing on top of all this, I’m annoyed for you! You’ll wade through it and no doubt it will all be fine but it’s hard to think positive when life keeps throwing stuff at you!!! Deep breathes… go & do what pleases you today and ignore all your lady bits today!!!
Keep going everyone… it’s a rollercoaster, we have to hang on! xx 
@donna_51 I’m almost, but not quite, at the point of laughing because it is so unbelievable!!
Hubby and I are going to the cinema this afternoon then I’m out for a meal with friends this evening. Hopefully that means that lady bits won’t even enter my head today
@pat i have no words Pat. It’s just bloody shit. If I were you I’d be asking if you could have the hysterectomy. I completely understand that thought. We’re all here for support and just vent when you have to. But….please remember that docs know what they’re doing. Big hugs 
x
@alig1961 thanks xx Im going to try and have another discussion with the gynaecologist as there are a few questions I have. It would probably be a vaginal hysterectomy as my uterus will be tiny as I’m postmenopausal. The fibroid is bigger then the uterus 
I didn’t know that was a thing Pat. I presume it’s less evasive. I didn’t know that the uterus got smaller after menopause either. Call me a science teacher 
. I’m a physics teacher rather than a biology teacher so I’ll let myself off
@alig1961 I know quite a lot about uteruses (uteri?) and breasts as I was a midwife in a former life. Having said that, obviously all the breasts/uterus’ I dealt with had babies or milk in them so I know absolutely nothing about postmenopausal lady bits.
If anyone is interested the uterus of a woman of childbearing woman is the size of a fist, while thst of a postmenopausal woman is the size of a walnut - both approximate of course.
Every day a school day. You’d have thought that as a teacher I’d have got my invasive and evasive correct. Decided not to edit my last post so that you can all have a chuckle. 
Hello…
I’ve been quiet for a while but following everyone’s progress.
Well done everyone for keeping going, you are all such an inspiring lot.
This journey is so hard, just when you think you are moving forward, you get knocked over again.
I had my first radiotherapy today. I actually found it scary and emotional which I wasn’t expecting. A friend picked me up and took me to a coffee shop after which was nice though, but I felt like I was about to burst into tears at any moment.
I’m having radiotherapy to all the usual bits and the level 3 nodes. When they did my surgery they actually found cancer in more lymph nodes than the one they thought from the biopsy. They found it in 5. They took all the nodes out and the level 3 ones had no cancer but they are still zapping that area just in case…
I’m finding all this just in case / belt and braces language difficult to be honest…
It’s like they say… we removed it all BUT…
I had surgery first so I know my case isn’t the same as those who have it after chemo…
Anyway just wanted to come on and update and say well done everyone and thanks. You are all amazing
Charley xx
@pat thanks for all the knowledge and learning! @alig1961 you can blame chemo /menopausal brain!!!..im impressed you’re a physics teacher…that never made any sense to me!!
@charley well done, youre doing this too! I said yesterday it made me very emotional, day 2 today was a bit better but still emotional and a cry when i got home. Whilst not as bad as chemo, i am finding the whole experience so dehumanising, combined with the processing of the past 9 months coming crashing in…its tough.
We have to remember to be kind and patient with ourselves…
Oh @pat I’m so sorry that you’ve got this additional stress … no wonder you’re so apprehensive about it all, I would be too! Sending you positive thoughts and a big hug
@rrey how strange we are on the same day with same procedure… its kinda of comforting to know someone else is going through it as well … not that I wish anyone to have to go through this … I am sure we will be fine.
Thank you to you @donna_51 amd @alig1961 and @nicd for your encouraging words … it really does help!! 
@charley a few others have said they found radiotherapy very emotional as well, so your definitely not on your own there! But your doing it 
I’ve been back at work this week so am keeping busy… and for the first time in months I slept for a full 8 hours last night 
I couldn’t believe it!!! I have started back with my walks … so wondering if that’s helping? Either way I’m hoping for it to continue!! 
Hope everyone else is finding some positives this week?
Morning all
I have been quiet too as just getting my head round chemo ended & i ended up picking up a bug too 
However I had my port out this week & my radio planning session so I now have my 3 spots too.
I just wanted to add my experience of my lumpectomy. I had mine on April and the surgeon went through my nipple 
and its recovered so well - colour is similar to my other one - scarring is healing nice too.
The boobie healed quicker than the node clearance.
Keep going team June!!! Xxx
Finished radiotherapy… I am officially done and no more active treatment!!! Whooo … of course I then had a freebie reflexology appointment after and as soon as I was asked ‘how are you?’ I burst into tears and cried for 10 minutes… I have no idea how I am as it’s a fizzy bottle of emotions at the moment. So be kind to myself… take it easy, deep breathes… be positive. Happy days to come
Big love and hugs to everyone… we’ve got this xxx
@donna_51 Wonderful, fabulous and fantastic!!!
You are the first one of us to finish.
I imagine its going to feel a bit weird, and maybe scary, having no more treatment but we’re always here, plodding along next to the virtual cake mountain 
Huge congratulations @donna_51. Can’t believe we’ve all been together on this journey since June. You were the first person to leave a comment and introduce yourself. We took your lead. Sending huge hugs. xx
@alig1961 I remember that message… I was reading through April and May threads, knowing I was going to join the June group and hoping I wouldn’t be alone! And I wasn’t… you have all been fantastic, a HUGE part of this so a BIG thankyou to all you fabulous, cake eating ladies. Can’t wait to hear more finish stories and continuing with the much needed support.
Happy weekend team … CAKE CAKE CAKE and a bit of red wine too !! xx
