Sprouts with chocolate fondue to dip them in - yum …
Ummm…chocolate sprouts & vodka, remember it well…?
ann x
Got us through some hard times those sprouts Ann - oh and the vodka helped !
I like sprouts, Jill, oh…& chocolate & vodka too ??x
Yes I still wish we had put a patent in it though. Lots of shops got in the band wagon but they did forget the vodka xxx
You need the vodka …?
Sure do x
?
Medicinal purposes obvs !!
Hi everyone,
I was diagnosed with stage 1 or 2 invasive ductal cancer yesterday after finding a lump a few weeks ago. The consultant was really surprised with the result given my age (31), and they’ve said they’ll be treating it aggresively because I’m young. Surgery in two weeks followed by radiotherapy, and the doctors don’t know yet whether chemo and/or hormone therapy will be needed… I’ve never been under general anaesthetic before and I’m a little worried about it. Any words of wisdom on how to prepare for this and for the radiotherapy? What should I expect realistically? Will I be able to work or need time off??
I’ve also been told I need to go to the fertility clinic… I’ve always been adamant that I don’t want children, but all of a sudden the thought of fertility being an issue in the future seems scary. So much to take in.
All a bit surreal at the moment, but so glad now that I regularly check myself!
Caroline x
Hello Caroline ,welcome to the roller coaster !!! There is so much to get your head around in the beginning so many questions and fears .The best advice I can give is don’t jump too far ahead or you will becime overwhelmed ,take each step at a time ,recover then move on to the next and do not google stick to this site and Macmillan for information .Everybody’s experience is different - how you recover from the op depends on the kind of op you have - lumpectomy /mastectomy and whether you have more than a couple of lymph nodes removed also how you feel emotionally as it’s a bit like being hit over the head with a sledge hammer !!! It will also depend on your job -but you will need 2/3 weeks to recover from the op if it is straightforward .Some people do work through radiotherapy but it can be berry tiring and involve a lot of travelling and appointment times can be all over the place.The fertility issue is just another added thing to get your head around but at least it keeps your options open for the future.There is lots of support and advice here from people who understand .Come and talk to us whenever you feel the need there are quite a few newly diagnosed ladies around on the forum .Best wishes Jill.
Hi Caroline, I think Jill hit the nail on the head.
Take one step at a time. Each stage has tests. I always find the worst part is waiting for results but once you have them you can then put a plan in place.
As far as working is concerned it really depends on your job and what type of surgery you have.
I was diagnosed at 40. I was lucky as I had already had my 2 children so didn’t need to go through the fertility tests.
Just ask whatever questions you have. I am sure some one here may have had a similar diagnosis or treatment.
You just have to note that everyone is treated differently no 2 treatments or side effects are the same. People all react differently. Take Care Ange xx
I hate anaesthetics too - I think the loss of control is a difficult one - I just talked non stop to that anaesthetist to distract myself but it is all over every quickly and despite my fears I was so relieved to be getting the cancer cut out that I was almost happy to be there !
Thanks for all the lovely, helpful responses ladies!
It’s been a whirlwind couple of days and my partner and I were given 24 hours to decide whether we wanted to freeze eggs/embryos or not (quite a lot to take in for someone who has really never thought about kids until now!). Currently looks like lumpectomy plus some lymph nodes on 1st August, followed by a cycle of IVF (freezing the embryo for future use), then radiotherapy, then chemo and/or hormone treatment, OR possibly chemo before radiotherapy, the doctors don’t know yet if I’m ER positive or negative… argh!
I’m struggling more with the impact on others than with how I feel myself at the moment, and my partner seems to be taking this much harder than me. I’ve also eaten way more cake than I should as a coping mechanism! :smileylol:
I’ve had more letters in the post already for various appointments etc than I can shake a stick at, including a request to take part in some research, which is all just a bit much 4 days into my diagnosis! I’m not used to not being in control of things, and feel a bit like I’m on a really fast train than won’t stop.
Aside from all of that, I just want this thing out of my body now as I hate being able to feel it so easily!
Caroline x
Hi Caroline ,it is very overwhelming in the beginning - having breast cancer becomes a full -time job and it’s also like learning a different language .I had a different sort of cancer last year and they asked me to agree to take part in some research when I was still all over the place - it was just one more thing to deal with and I told them no .Dont be pressured into anything and if you are unsure about anything ask don’t be railroaded into anything .
Carrot cake for me …?
Hi Delly ,still having a lot of health worries ,just one thing after another, going through various tests re joint /leg pain - won’t be running a marathon in the near future !!! No sprout cake wouldn’t do it for me either !
Got results today to say that the cancer is ER+. Hoping that’s a good thing as they might opt for hormone treatment instead of chemo?? Desperate to just get on with treatment now and starting to worry that the lump has got bigger.
On a positive note, I had a lovely lemon pastry today :smileylol:
Hello Caroline ,yes it’s generally a good thing as hormone receptive breast cancers tend to be less aggressive and you can be prescribed hormone tablets to help stop it coming back .Lots of factors contribute to whether chemo is required -size and position of tumour .grade of tumour ,your age and whether it has affected your lymphnodes - it’s like pieces of a jigsaw evetually they work out the best treatment for you .Lemony pastry sounds yummy !!!
Hi All,
I was diagnosed with BC Stage 1, ER + and HER2 - on Friday, it’s all a bit of a shock at the age of 42. I have an MRI on Tuesday to make sure there is nothing else going on as I have very lumpy dence breast. I’m not going to lie I feel worried about it. I have been give a provisional date for surgery if all goes to plan on the 8th of Aug with radiotherapy and hormone therapy after. I’m feeling so anxious about surgery more so than having BC, I’ve always been a very healthy person working out 3/5 times a week with a balance diet. How did all your recovery go? Were you in much pain after? I suffered really badly with anxiety last year and I’m trying hard to take it one day at a time. I went back to work the day after diagnosis which was the best thing I could have done.
Any advice would be wonderful
Maggie xxx