I was diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer on the 20th December. I had a lumpectomy and senital lymph node biopsy on 29th January. My lymph nodes were clear, but my margins were close so I had secondary surgery on the 27th February
I am going today to get the results of that
If all os ok I will hopefully see the oncologist next week.
I will need chemotherapy and radiotherapy and trastuzumab. I sm absolutely dreading it but I just want to get it started now. I’ve been warned that I am in for a rough time.
I haven’t slept properly since my diagnosis, and all the waiting and not knowing is the worst part.
How have you all coped with treatment?Have any of you been able to work during chemotherapy or will I need all the time off.
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Hello @lilyanne
I was diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer last April. There is a lot of it about. I too had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy as well as a reduction on the other side, chemo from August to December then radiotherapy in January. I have Herceptin injections every 3 weeks and take letrozole which will be for 5 years. I feel absolutely fine. There are bumps in the road and chemo is at times hard, but it is doable. I had many days in between infusions when I felt quite well. There is a lot of support available and I have found this forum very informative. Just take one day at a time and ask for help if you need it. Always listen to your body, and if you need a nap damn well take it. Have a look on her for the HER2 and need some buddies thread….someone will give you a link. You are never alone.
All the best with your journey xx
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Thank you so much for your reply. It is so comforting to hear of orher peoples experiences. I am trying to remain as positive as possible, and I have tried to prepare for the worst case scenario with hair loss etc, in the hope that if/when it happens it will be a little less traumatic.
Fingers crossed for good news today then I can get things started.
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@lilyanne Welcome to the forum that nobody wants to join but you will feel supported through your journey.
I had a bilateral (one primary tumour in each boob) ER+ HER2+ grade 2 one side and ER+ grade 1 the other. I had lumpectomy with sentinel node biopsy on both sides, followed by 12 weekly Paclitaxel with Herceptin continued for a year, radiotherapy then Letrozole and Zoledronic acid. I was 54 when diagnosed in 2023. Just recently stopped Letrozole and swapping to Exemestane.
As @bigpickle has already mentioned there is a very active and supportive thread of HER2+ and need some buddies. Here’s the link if you want to join
When you start chemo you may also like to join the monthly chemo starters thread and be with others going through chemo at the same time as you. I was on two threads as I thought I was having chemo first then my planned changed to surgery first. I found it really supportive. Here’s a link to March 2025
I hope you appointment went well today and you can move onto your next stage. I cold capped with Paclitaxel and kept most of my hair, the company [Paxman ](https://coldcap.com/ have a fantastic website with great information if you are considering it. As well as a charity called Cancer Hair Care. The pink names are link to their website.
I hope this helps.
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Hello 
, i am so sorry that you are in this path, it is terryfying and the fear and anxiety is not understood by anyone who is not or has been in this path, what helped me through my journey is meditation, i started with yoga nidra tapes to relax my body, also guided meditations in spotify, and youtube:man_in_lotus_position:, by doing every day you will gain focus , reduce stress wich is beneficial for your inmune system, and maybe even get to know yourself in a deeper level, nothing to lose, a lot to gain. I did not work while treatment because i wanted to reduce my stress, but this is a very personal decission based on how you feel, how demanding and stressing is your job, or how fulfilling os your job. Listen your intuition and you will make the best decision for you. Sending you all my love and positive enegy. 
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So my appointment didn’t give me the news I was hoping for. There were still cancer cells in the tissue that was removed. I need 3rd surgery, but the oncologist wants me to start chemotherapy ASAP. I will have chemotherapy for 4 to 5 months before my 3rd surgery. If that is clear the all ok, if not I will need a mastectomy. Ive cried virtually non stop this afternoon. I need to get my head together try to be positive.
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Lily Anne sorry they didn’t get clear margins again, please do ring the number on here and speak to a nurse 
breast cancer now’s got you each step of the way use everything as much or as little as you need there have been others on the threads who have had to have further surgery because they didn’t get clear margins a few times too, I hope they pop on and share their story with you sending 
Shi xx
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Sending hugs. My treatment was not totally straight forward. At the start my biopsy taken when I had my ultrasound was HER2 negative. This meant just surgery then radiotherapy. Problem was when the tumour was checked following surgery it was HER2 positive. It was such a disappointment as I really didn’t want chemo. But here I am 3 months after finishing chemo and I feel great. The whole process is such a roller coaster at times. I am sure you will overcome this hurdle xx
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It’s so hard to process it all. I see the oncologist on Tuesday, hopefully I will get my start date then. I love hearing positive stories it helps me so much
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Hi lilyanne,
I’m so sorry to hear about what you are going through. I was diagnosed with tnbc last June, at 40 years old. It’s bananas, so please be kind to yourself, it’s not possible for our little brains to process such huge news in a linear way. Especially as you haven’t had the news you wanted post surgeries. My husband said at one of my early appointments - when can we expect to stop getting bad news please 
I had 6 months of chemo, paclitaxel/carboplatin and then AC plus immunotherapy, then surgery, now I’m in radiotherapy and I’ll have another 6 months of immuno and chemo tablets.
Listen, it’s not easy, but your mindset is over half the battle. If you take the meds to manage the side effects, try and keep a routine as much as possible and take care of yourself - you will have loads of great days where you can do stuff and you forget for a hot second what you’re going through! For me it was getting out for a little walk every day and keeping working 2/3 days a week (I’m self employed) They were my big non-negotiables I really focused on. I’ve met women who it’s stuff with their kids or being in the garden or reading a book. They don’t need to be big goals just now.
I lost my hair and got a wig, but honestly never wore it. I needed it as a safety blanket but it didn’t feel like me. Instead I got a bunch of cool hats and turbans which went with different outfits and now I’m just at one with my Sinead O’Connor era!
The last thing I would say - which my fabulous oncologists told me very early on and has been the best advice - don’t google stuff. He said everything online is out of date and all the stats that we manically search to see what our chances are, are old, and made up of the mean number of people of all ages, backgrounds and different stages and types of cancer. They don’t represent you. Your journey or your pathway. Lean on your family, friends, nurses, oncologists, this community, macmillan. There is a charity called Future Dreams which is amazing.
You aren’t alone. Sending huge hugs and try and get some sleep. It’s the best medicine of all my darling xxxx
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Thank you for your positive message. I see the oncologist on Tuesday, my first chemotherapy will be days after. I have resigned myself to the fact I won’t be able to work. My job puts me at too much risk of infection. This has become more apparent this weekend when I have been at work. For once I need to just focus on me and getting through the other side.
Good luck with your continued recovery xx
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Hi,
Please try not to worry, the thought of the treatments is often the worst bit. I too had all of the treatments you mention and used the cold cap for chemo and did not loose my hair. Although chemo was unpleasant, I was lucky that I did not have terrible side effects. Radiotherapy was tiring but again no other terrible side effects, and herceptin seemed to go on forever with 18 infusions. Again the side effects were nothing terrible. I am not trying to belittle the treatment, and I know that other ladies will have had a very different experience. I just wanted you to know that everyone is different, and don’t look to far ahead, take one treatment at a time and celebrate your strength in having gone through each stage of treatment. Keep warm during chemo, you do feel cold especially if using the cold cap. Ginger pastilles and biscuits I found useful. I wish you all the best for your treatment x
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Hi lilyanne, sending you good vibes for your appointment. I saw my oncologist yesterday and it felt good to hear her refer to the bulk of my treatment being “behind” me now (similar diagnosis to yours). I’ve reached the point at which appointments are dull rather than terrifying. I cold-capped, bought a wig but never wore it (because I kept ‘enough’ hair), completed radiotherapy etc. I’ve had so many scans and x-rays that my husband jokes that spoons stick to me whenever I walk through a restaurant. I worked full-time throughout, but only because I could do meetings online, but with hindsight, I should probably have taken the last month of chemo off owing to the cumulative effects. Most of all, I’d recommend you take just one day at a time, and take up a portable hobby for the endless waiting around at appointments xxx
Hi @mumof3 @lynnie1
Thank you for your support. This group is such a help for me.
I am sitting here this morning feeling extremely sick at the thought of my oncology appointment. I know I will feel better once I have answers and things in place.
I will let you all know how I get on.
Hope you all have a good day xx
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