Good luck with your treatment Rose. I’ve just had my surgery and it went well.
Now trying to make some urgent decisions about fertility… I’ve not yet had children
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This is such a positive story. Thank you!
Hi sim2 , I see your surgery went well, happy for you. Before your diagnoses did you have suspicious lymph nodes? Is that why you had an MRI and biopsy?
I find it strange reading about calcifications and to do a biopsy.
I had a mammogram in 2017 or so maybe 2018. Was told I had calcifications but nothing to worry about, had no biopsy, or any other tests. And given it’s 2025 I guess those calcifications were fine…
But I’m not coping too well. Sentinal positive and xtra caps spread. Another DICS found. Post surgery 2 margins not clear but told all clear. No further tests so at this point I just want a mastectomy. After today I have 0 trust in my treatment team.
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Hi Kellya,
Oh so sorry to hear about your situation. Cancer is indeed a bit of a ‘draw of the luck’ type of game …it must be so stressful to hear that your margins are not clear and you’ll need another surgery. I do hope you will get some more clarity soon. The lack of knowing of what will happen next, must be nerve wracking. I’m waiting for my Oncology appointment now and every day seems like a week.
If you are losing trust in your team is there a way for you to get a second opinion, transfer? Or is it just the lack of clarity that’s stressing you? maybe you can write all your questions down before you go in for your next appointment and take time walking through them with your doctor/Nurse?
I always do, because I get so nervous in these appointments, and doctors are always rushing, so I let them talk, then I open my book and tell them I am very nervous and it would help me if they could walk through my questions with me. And then I tick off each question as we go along. Sometimes during appointments I realise some of my questions are a bit silly, but it gives me a sense of control and stops my brain from spiraling. It is my body that is being treated after all.
Btw I recommend this podcast: 'so now I have Breast Cancer’s by DR Liz O’Riordan. I found it very informative and helpful.
To answer your question. Yes I originally went to get checked because I had a lump in my armpit that felt like an enlarged lymph node, they checked my breast as a result and found Cancer. tbh my original doctor insisted that the lump in the armpit is a nothing, but I ended up transfering my care to a different hospital due to a house move ( this was literally the moment they diagnosed me so didn’t delay my treatment much), and upon reassessment they found that that actually that lump is cancer in my lymph node…
NHS would have probably found this lymph node cancer as part of operation anyway (which seems to have happened to you?) but it was nice to know upfront.
It’s my understanding that the reason the MRI of the breasts was done is just to give the surgeon some more info about the breasts before they operate. I thought it’s a standard procedure? Cause I was due to have one with NHS before I transferred to private…
The calcifications are usually nothing, but the reason they biopsied is cause it looked a bit unclear and they wanted to prove that it’s definitely just a calcification and not some begining of cancer in another area, as that would change the operation. Maybe they can see yours clearly?
Since they knew that I have cancer in the lymph nodes, I insisted on a PET CT scan to prove that it’s not spread anywhere else in my body. Apparently that’s not quite standard and generally avoided unless you have symptoms. This is due to risks involved ( ironically one of them is cancer hahaha)…You need to ask for it yourself/ discuss the options with your doctor and they might agree to do it. Mine did because of cancer in lymph nodes and family history. This came negative 
so I guess the doctor was right suggesting I don’t need it, but it gave me some peace of mind.
I discussed the option of mastectomy with my doctor. I was like 'just chop it all off so it can’t return 
:D. But my doctor said that generally as long as the margins are clear, lumpectomy+radiation treatment give the same results as mastectomy. If margins come unclear, they can operate again to clear them. So no need to lose a breast over a fear… Plus mastectomy healing is more complicated.
I also had all my axillary lymph nodes cleared. So far everything is healing ok, and luckily my margins came back clear.
Now the next step will be chemotherapy, then radiation then hormone therapy. I’m scared but I’m feeling positive given all the amazing stories ladies shared in this forum :).
I wish you loads of luck and strength Kellya. We can do this!
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Hi sim2, thank you!! reading your experience that sounds about right to me. They followed guidelines. I have full clarity but just not giving the treatment as per guidelines and no response from Pals.
I requested a 2nd opinion now and waiting but l’m most worried about lymph nodes as l have no treatment since the op 6we ago nothing coming for 3 weeks. That’s 9 weeks time to spread.
At this I’m also like you just want a mastectomy since they only did an us where l pointed the lump was and already a dcis was also fould next Ibc lump.
Good luck with your homemove andtreatment!!!
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I"m actually stage 4 breast cancer. mets in bones and lung… and I am now pain free, living great life. oncologist says I will live 6-10 years… I"m 55, so I’m feeling great about this.
Just remember, you are not your relatives and BC treatments are evolving at such a pace, that new treatments are always just around the corner. as long as you are mobile and can communicate and have no or manageable pain, you can still live your best life!
Recently a friend of mine passed away with Motor Neuron disease, aged 58. within 18 mths of Dx he couldnt walk or talk… he was communicating with eye movements… All us with cancer are in a much better place than MND…
Just stay healthy, eat well, exercise regularly, get good sleep and don’t take shit from anyone… and you can lead a great life!!
best wishes, Susan
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