Hi Everyone,
Just wondered if anyone else has experienced extreme tiredness and a permanent headache since having surgery. Recently diagnosed with Grade 3 BC and waiting results from Surgery as to next stage of treatment. Petrified of what results will be but need to know to move on, feel useless.
Does anyone else have same diagnosis and know the likelihood of having Chemo for Grade 3.
Thanks for reading and I’m really hoping for a reply from anyone wishing to listen and shar3 their own experience.
Kim x
Hi Kimmypru and welcome to the forum, not that anyone wants to be here but here we are, it’s a great forum for airing worries and seeing how others cope.
To answer your question - My BC is Grade 3, it is also ER positive (8/8) and HER2 negative and node negative. It depends on your hormone and HER2 status, your age, node status and whether you are pre or post menopausal as to what treatment regime you will be on. Don’t worry it all sounds so scary and all the abbreviations can be confusing but you will soon pick it up.
Because I am ER positive, node negative and HER2 negative I was offered an Oncotype dx test which gives you a score as to the chances of recurrence and the likely response to chemo. As I am over 50 years old a score of 25 and above would indicate that chemo would be beneficial - my score was 40 so am currently undergoing chemo. I know other ladies who have Grade 3 tumours and their scores indicated that chemo would be of no benefit to them so didn’t have it.
It is a very stressful time waiting for the results from surgery but until they return, they cannot give you a plan as they don’t know exactly what they are treating. As difficult it is waiting, it will be better in the long run so you don’t get false hopes. I was told at diagnosis not to worry it was small so they would get it no problem, following surgery, even though it was grade 3 the surgeon was confident I would only need radiotherapy and i’d be finished by easter and here I am undergoing chemo until aug to be followed by radiotherapy. I don’t blame them for raising my hopes only to have them dashed each time but I do appreciate why some surgeons/oncologists don’t want to say anything until they have all the results in front of them.
I really wish I could tell you not to worry but we all do no matter what, it’s such a shock when you get the initial BC diagnosis, never mind the continued anxiety waiting for tests, results. Have a look around the forums and post questions on any of them, someone will answer you. Give me a shout if there is anything else I can help you with regarding the Grade 3 and I’ll do my best to help you.
Joemic x
Hi Kim,
I am new to the forum, not sure why it’s taken me so long to read other people’s stories but I think I 've tried to just cope & am not doing so well at the moment to be honest. Your post seemed most like my current diagnosis so thought I’d reach out here, hope that’s ok.
I was diagnosed with grade 2 stage 2 Breast cancer on April 2nd after finding a lump early March then waiting for breast clinic appointment & biopsy results. Had lumpectomy May 9th to remove 22mm tumour & Sentinel Node. Was then upped to upped to grade 3 although my Node biopsy came back negative thankfully. Just had 2nd surgery on Wednesday (5th June) to remove more tissue & nipple tumour. Now have to wait again for results. Also waiting for Oncothingy (??lol) to decide on if having chemo although my surgeon seems fairly certain I will as I’m 46 & pre menopausal.
The constant waiting is an absolute nightmare & the last 3 months have felt like i have pretty much stood still while the rest of the world around me is whizzing past with life as usual (which I’ve actively encouraged for my husband & children to have a sense of normality). Some days are OK & I do feel optimistic still as the treatments & specialists are so amazing but this surgery has really knocked me for six after just getting back on my feet from the last 1. I’m exhausted physically & emotionally & have had a headache since yesterday which isn’t helping. Don’t feel like talking to anyone at all & even though my husband is doing all he can to help. I can’t help feeling upset each time he says “what’s wrong?” because I’m so quiet. Like, I know what he means but how do I even answer that as it seems so obvious? I have 3 children (20,18 & 10) who are so lovely but keep constantly asking if I’m OK & I don’t want to say no so I smile & say I’m fine. This is why I’ve turned to here now, I don’t quite know how I’m supposed to be positive or brave at the moment when I just don’t feel either right now, what do I say to my loved ones without upsetting them or being ‘negative’ ? *Sigh* cancer sucks! Sorry for the essay.
Amanda x
Hi
I’m 38 with a 10 and 7 year old and was diagnosed on the 4th July with grade 3 duct BC. I was offered a lumpectomy with radiotherapy and like you I was desperate to avoid Chemo. I elected for a mastectomy and they removed 3 lymph nodes during the sentinel biopsy. I’m quite tired since my op which is hard as I’m usually so active.
Luckily I got my results last week and the cancer is out with none detected in my lymph nodes. However due to my age they’ve recommended chemo as a preventative as it’s not hormone or any other type. Just to make sure they got it.
Since diagnosis I’ve gone from dreading chemo to willing to take anything on offer just to survive. I should hear of my start date for chemo in the next week or so.
Try to keep positive and remember whatever they offer is to help get you well.
Caroline x