Hi Girls
I had my mascectomy 14th July. Results last thursday. Haven t really been able to take it all in till now. They removed a tumour of 130mm or 13 cm . Also 22 out of the 29 lymph nodes removed were cancerous.Stage 3
I am so shocked as 6 weeks ago I was a fit well lady without a care in the world so I thought.Just goes to show you never know whats round the corner.I never even had a lump as such,just had a swollen boob !!!
Have to have bone scan and cat scan now on wed and due for chemo in 2 weeks.I presumbe to tell me if it is spread or not??
The breast nurse has tried to reassure me as she says it is out now but I am so scared as they said this cancer is very aggressive and fast growing. How the hell could it have got to that size in a couple of weeks.
Nobody seems to want to talk to me about how long it has been there or why it has grown that quickly.Can anyone help ??
Thanks
love Janey
Hi Janey,
Breast Cancer Care have written a ‘Resources Pack’ for anyone newly diagnosed with breast cancer which you may find helpful to read, it is filled with information to help you better understand your diagnosis, test results and the various treatments available. You can order a free copy from the following link or you can ask for a copy to be sent to you via the helpline.
breastcancercare.org.uk//content.php?page_id=7514
There is information in the pack about our other support services, including our helpline, tel no 0808 800 6000 which you may find useful to use at some point if you need to talk anything through or just need someone to lend an understanding ear. Alternatively if you prefer you can use email: <script type=“text/javascript”>eval(unescape(‘%64%6f%63%75%6d%65%6e%74%2e%77%72%69%74%65%28%27%3c%61%20%68%72%65%66%3d%22%6d%61%69%6c%74%6f%3a%69%6e%66%6f%40%62%72%65%61%73%74%63%61%6e%63%65%72%63%61%72%65%2e%6f%72%67%2e%75%6b%22%3e%69%6e%66%6f%40%62%72%65%61%73%74%63%61%6e%63%65%72%63%61%72%65%2e%6f%72%67%2e%75%6b%3c%2f%61%3e%27%29%3b’))</script>
Hope this is of some help to you.
Kind regards,
Jo, Facilitator
Janey I am so sorry to hear your news. I guess one consolation is that they have acted very very quickly for you. Have they told you yet whether your tumour was hormone positive or of you are her2 positive? I know from my own experience (her2 + tumours) that they can indeed grow very fast. My own original diagnosis was 18 years ago. You will find a lot of support here with a wealth of experience we are all willing to share :). I wish you a good result from your coming scans. Let us know when they are and how you get on.
love
Dawnhc
xxx
Hi Janey
I had my mast Dec 05 age 37. in the 10 weeks it took to diagnose me, my little pea sized lump grew to 8cm and I also had 15/20 nodes involved. (stage 3c, however came in as grade2???)
I am er+, pr+ and her 2+++, so they threw everything at me, 4 FEC 4Taxotere 18 herceptin + rads to 3 areas now tamoxifen. (my onc had to go before hospital board to get me special funding for herceptin and tax as they weren’t yet licensed for primary at that time). my BS couldn’t explain the fast growth either, said I had probably had it years and he also commented that my results shocked him.
I had MRI and CTscans last year, my PS insisted I had them before he would do my recon, I had whole spine + liver + chest and all were fine, however I didn’t want them as being high risk I was so frightened of what they might find. Its not easy living with high node involvement, but I saw alot more of my Onc than other ladies, I was checked every 3 weeks for 6 months then 6 weekly for the next 6 months - I then went quarterly and now officially 6 monthly.
When I first had my path report, I went into a very dark place, thought that was it, even considered not having chemo at one point, then was introduced to a lady who 10 years previously had 10/10 nodes involved and very large tumour and she was doing fine, no spread or recurrance. This did help me get out of my big black hole.
Good luck with scans, lets hope nodes caught all the strays and thats why so many were involved (that how I like to think of mine).
Debbie x
Thanks for your comments.Apparently mine is hormone positive so after chemo will then need rads and then hormone drugs
love Janey x
Hi Janey
So sad to hear your results - at least you have had them quickly - wont get mine until this friday although already know my lymph nodes are clear from previous op.
At least they have caught it and are sorting things out for you. Just think if you hadn’t seen anyone you may still have been in hte dark with the tumour growing…
Think positive and I’m here if you want a chat (along with every one else)
best wishes
liz