NEW !!!! just been told what treatment I need ...

Hi I saw my onc yesterday who told me what treatment I would need for my bc , right masaectomy lymp pos grade3 .
Im 39 yrs old with 2 young children , after being told what treatment I would need I was asked to sign a consent form which I did with out reading …
And start on Friday just woundered if any one else new to all this would like to join me on this journey and we can learn the jargan together …

Speak soon Lisa x

Hi Lisa Lisa what treatment are you going to be having, Ihad chemo and hormone therapy before surgery so insomeways you are further on than me.
Sharon C

Hi Lisa Lisa
not sure I read your post peoperly, haveyou had mastectomy or is this what is planned. if this is what is what is going to happen you will be seen in a pre op clinic so get all your questions written down or even better dont hesitate to phone your breast care nurse, she is there to answer all your questions.
Good luck again
Sharon C

Hi sharon ,
I found out I had breast cancer on the Monday and had my right breast and lymps removed on the Wednesday !!! Before it had even registered in my head that I had Breast Cancer ( I think thats the first time ive been able to type that so getting there slowly .

I start treatment this Friday just under 3 weeks since op I was told by surgen it would be 6 weeks after so we are still in shock had family hol booked and daughters 7th bday party not sure what to do about them but im sure I will know what to do when the time comes.

Do you have a family , how long have you known are we similar in age ???
Look forward to chating again…Lisa

Hi all,

As newly diagnosed I thought you may be interested in BCC’s Resource Pack, it’s especially designed for the newly diagnosed, full of useful information, hints and tips. If you follow the link below you can order a copy (free of charge) to be posted out to you.

breastcancercare.org.uk/server/show/nav.718/changeTemplate/PublicationDisplay/publicationId/82

Hope it helps.

Kind regards,
Jo, Facilitator

Hi Lisa
I am 47 with three children the youngest 10, he will be 11 on the 15th.
I was diagnosed with bc in September, but I had Chemotherapy and hormone treatment in to reduce tumour size, I was booked in for mastectomy on the 6th April but my surgeon has cancelled it until I see a psychiatrist because I broke down in tears at pre op assessment. not sure what TREAMENT you are starting on friday but I am assuming it will be radiotherapy, I have not experienced this, but I have spoken to many who have, the frequency and duration seems to differ from hospital to hospital. side effects seem to be pretty minimum, possibly local skin irritation and fatigue. hope this helps dont hesitate to ask any questions
Sharon C

Hiya Lisa

I was diagnosed 3rd Feb, have had a lumpectomy and 14 lymph nodes removed. alas got oestrogen + and HER2 + cancer with 3 nodes positive.
Had my 1st chemo last Monday…got abit tired but all OK…

I know we are not quite at the same stage but would like to keep contact’ as when I went to my chemo unit I was by far the youngest 1 there at 45. Which made me feel ODD…

But hey ho apart from that little blip am very upbeat and positive about whats going on…

Kepep in touch and let me know how its going

barbara xx

Hi Lisa

I’m 37 and have two children aged 18 months and 4 years. I have recently been diagnosed with BC but I’m still waiting for my full results. I will have a lumpectomy on the 8th April and will go from there.

I went to the doctor’s today about a throat infection and told her all about the BC thing and even she said ‘oh, but you’re so young!’.It’s a bit weird too in the waiting rooms as I always feel as if I stick out like a sore thumb.

Still this thing can get us all , no matter what age.

It sounds as if things have moved quite quickly for you. By contrast things are going quite slowly for me. I can empathise with you on the children situation though, as it is difficult juggling all this, the feelings that go with it and the needs of them.

Try to keep positive and I’m thinking of you.

Love Freddie xxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi Freddie , Barbara and Sharon ,

Glad we have all come togther , someone told me I will gain a whole set of new friends during this journey and Im starting to agree its just helps to know there’s otheres going through it with you …

By the way im the one that cant spell or type so bare with me …lol even using my sons lap top …dont tell him !!!

Its moving quickly now ,but I went for tests over 1 year ago and was told it showed nothing I was told it was a breast abcess returned to Docs over and over given creams antibio ect asked to be re refured in Oct as now found lump told again no it was lymp infected until rushed in hospital in terrible pain within a week told got BC grade 3 …

Any way Ill deal with that issue when im strong enough too …

I need all my strength to deal with cemo on friday . I was told I will do 6 sessions on fec-t I think all very confusing I think they said 3 goes with the red drug that makes your wee red !!! and the dreaded hair loss and then 3 on the othere drug that they say is not as bad …

Barbara chemo is the scariest part for me so just reading that you have not been to bad really helps have you felt sick ect ? Are you using the cold cap ( stop hair loss I was told )

Freddie ,I know what you mean about age I was the only one in waiting room with out grey hair lol… As I was so scared my husband tryed to make me laugh by saying they though it was him that had C , as his a bald as a badger …It helped a bit …

Sharon they said I would have radiotherepy after the chemo so think Im in for the long hall ( stage 3 with all lymps pos except 1 !!!)
The mastectomy was not that bad for me but I was in so much pain for so long id of tuck it off myself if I could , One bc nurses said to me "its not your friend any more get rid " I think thats one way of coming to turmes with it . Dont worry to much about getting so upset by it all , I think every one on here will have done the same at some time during all this more that once …

What I hate is when some one says " Im so sorry to hear your bad news , im so sorry "
Still thinking of something witty to say back that will make them smile because thats what im trying to do …

Any way look forward to your replys better go my husbands starting to think id rather be on here that sitting talking to him …lol

Lisa xxx Let you know how friday goes , getting long hair cut shorter 2 morro just in case …

hi Lisa - me too - I’m on fec-t…keep well! mary x

Hi Mary hows it been for you ? Lisa

Hi Lisa - so far so good with the usual sickness etc but tabs tend to sort it well, I have taken a sleeping tablet for about 4 nights after both chemo bouts as the steroids tend to make you not so sleepy and I need some sleep. I think we’re all so different and never know how we’ll be, a friend of mine is having the same and is very different though. Day 6/7 I tend to have a bad tummy day but nothing too drastic…so far, touch wood…take each day as a step on its own…mary x

Is that your first session ? What are you doing about that week when they say our amunity is really low and not to go in crowded places ect …?

It’s now five weeks since my op, and the oncologist’s secretary said it might be three or four weeks until I can get a clinic appointment - and then presumably another wait until I can start the chemo. I’ve read that chemo should start within six weeks of op, but the BCN said a few extra weeks won’t make any difference. She’d just better be right!

Hi

I am being treated In Leicestershire and had a appointment with the the onc within ten day of being diagnosed with invasive breast cancer to discuss chemo etc. I felt an oldie on my cancer ward at 53… I was surprised at the number of younger women in their thirties with breast cancer and the youngest was only eighteen… she had a double maestectomy…am now convinced age doesn’t really matter.

Hi Suzanne
I wanted to go away with family but onc said I need to start treatment this Friday ( 3 weeks post op ) if I went away it would prolong this by 10 days I have beed advised that I should start asap so have had to put hol on hold and start treatment . I think all onc are different to be far if id of been told I could I would of gone on my long awaited hol …Lisa

Hi Lisa
I have jusr written reams to you but bloody thing got lost. I too had FEC, I had no major trouble with it. the nurses are ganerally good and you come away with a generous goody bad from the pharmacy. the advice from other posting about the digital thermometor is good, if you feel a bit rough it is a good indicator if you have infection or not. only problems i had was toilet stuff (a bit loose ) in my case and some thrush. only two bouts of sickness throughtout, not bad at all. the hair thing takes a bit of getting used to, had mine cut really short, did you get yours done today?. mine fell out after two weeks Kids all had a go at pulling it out, went to bed with a pair of tights on my head to stop hairs on pillow, not sure if that was necessary, head shaved next day. Not all bad look like I was eight years old again down below apart from flabby tummy lol, and no need to shave or pluck. hair growing back now it is about an inch although it looks like pubic hair at mo. I helped out at a number of kids parties and hosted Christmas and new year parties with no problem. I did not use loads of anti bacterial stuffbut did have towels that were just for me. I found I could do most things as norm after chemo just chose to rest for around 5 to 7 days after then back to norm hope this helps be thinking of you.
Oh by the way I was certified as sane today and the psych said he would contact hospital re my operation, and when i got home there was a message to say I have an appoitmentwith surgeon on Thurday, I am hopeful for getting in quick and getting this sorted

best wishes to all

Sharon C

Hi Lisa,

Thought i would write on here. I am similar to you in that i have
had full mastectomy and all nodes removed (19/24 positive). My op was done on 6th January and i started chemo 17th February. I am on fec 3 cycles tax 3 cycles. Too be honest, i might have been really lucky but i havent felt too bad. I had my last fec yesterday and worse thing was trying to get needle in as my veins are hardened. A bucket of hot water helped no end. I know my worse day is 5th day after when i will feel completely knackered all day and so i know to plan nothing for then. I now have tax to look forward to (different ballgame) i am older than you at 50 but my children are young at 12 and 11. They are coping brilliantly with it all. Best tips i can offer you, drink loads of water as said on tips for chemo - you will be going loo all the time but it does relieve sickness. I am also trying to eat loads of ‘superfoods’ to keep my immune system working.
(odd cream cake creeps in…) I try to include Nuts, pulses and seeds every day but then i really like them.

hope my take on this helps

All the best
Linda

lisa - just had my second chemo last wed - so day 8 now and doing ok - bad tummy day yesterday but there you go…I just plan to lie low for roughly days 7-14 apart from having to go for weekly blood test and chill out…its my daughter’s 16th this fri though so slap bang in the middle of it all! mary x

I had a call from the onc’s secretary today - they had a cancellation, and I can see him tomorrow! So it was worth being a teensy bit pushy!