Gosh you must be worried, especially if you have been googling. Yes you are right GP’s dont realy know what you they are talking about and refer any strange breast changes to a breast clinic. and thank goodness that is what they do because then if it is cancer it is caught realy early rahter than wait around for the GP to rule everything else out.
As you say this is a rare cancer, he has probably never seen a case before, but is playing safe. So he is sending you along to the experts. And hopefully they will take one look and say you do not need a biopsy because it is something else altogether. Or they might not be sure and do a biopsy, but remember 50% of biopsies are negative. Even if the biopsy says it is cancer there are so many different cancers and treatments that it could turn out that yours is not that agressive and has been caught early and you will not need that invasive a treatment—who knows??
whatever re-assurances people give you you are going to worry. its only natural, I bet you are frantic at the moment. I know before i had even taken my lump to the GP i had googled wigs and hats to see what i would need.
do you have an appointment at the hospital yet?? it will probably come through in the next two weeks. Dont worry if they suddenly ring up and make it sooner. it does not mean they know anything about your case, just that they have a slot to fill. And do you know why they get empty slots–because people turn up with negative results and dont need the next appointment.
so whilst you are waiting, look after yourself. Its a huge emotional shock, and you must not expect to carry on as normal. Do you have people to support you?? Good if you do, but no matter how good they are they do not know what its like. Everybody on here went through those first few weeks of uncertaintly. For me they will be etched in my mind much more than the slight problems I have had from treatment. so do pop back and ask questions, or cry on our shoulder. And do let us know the results of your biopsy, we love to cheer and wave people good-bye.
hi sozza, gosh you look young! you say offered rather than reccommended chemo. if there is a choice you might want to ask younger women about the decision they made. There is a young women bit of this forum and there is also a undergoing chemo section.
But i am glad you found us. its such a worrying time but there are people on here to share your ups and downs, answer your questions and hold your hand every step of the way
Hi ladies,Have not been on site for a while,FEC made me quite poorly.Thanks to you all for your advice.i did the injections myself and found them quite easy to do.Hoping that my cell count stays up so i dont end up in hospital again.Love to you all Tigerpig x
Hi Tigerpig.
Sorry to hear second chemo was so horrid, glad the white cells behaved and that you managed the injections.
Don’t hold back from telling the chemo team about your side effects, they should be able to improve some things for you by adjustment of your drugs. Hope you have a good few days before the bell goes and it’s into round three for you.
Lavender
xx
Hi Oldand lumpy
I’m actually nearly 44!!
Well consultant said that the chemo is a precaution in case a cell has escaped.
There is no spread in lymph nodes but cos it’s a grade 3 he recommends it.
I guess you don’t have to have any treatment, it’s up to the patient but we all know we do really have to have it to prevent the worry.
I’m dreading it but dreading the future more.
x
Hi, I also start today if bloods are OK. I am a bit confused as to all the abbreviations people are using but guess I will learn. Terrified but hell, let’s just get going. Good luck.
hi sozza .i had idc(grade2)+snb (clear)iam 46,the consultant also said this was a precaution to also have to have 4 wks of rads.am day 12 post 3rd cheno s/e are doable(sorry about spelling)am off work but some people do go to work some people dont.i have no children so its just me my prtner and 2 cats.did you have lum or mx.worst s/e for me are sleeping and constipation ,but all you need to do in get stuff in.i know it was the hardes`t choice i had to make.but at the end of the day you can say you made it through.it will be a rollercoaster but this web site is brill.hope this has helped if you need any more help will.try and to help
queenie xxxx
well you are just about young enough to be my daughter.
its a personal choice, but if it were me and he thought there was any chance of it having spread then I think i would bite the bullet. freeze to death with the cold cap, ask for gloves and slippers and go for it.
Late at night I read the chemo threads about what everyone is going through, but then I read the secondary and terminal threads and realise that I might regret not having tried to kill the little blighters.
i am also invasive ductal, along with other more benign changes stage 2, but was not offered chemo–perhaps its because i am ER+ and HER negative
I phoned consultant today and he definately said that I don’t need radio therepy , just chemo.
Apparantly I am negative to the hormones but results have got to come back for the protein so it isn’t confirmed that I am triple negative.
Yes I had a mastectomy and wonder should I have another one but doc thinks not.
I am seeing the oncologist today but scared to ask about statistics.
I can do the treatment but it’s the thought of living with it coming back.
I feel like I don’t have a future and I so want to be brave but now me and both my brothers have had life threatening conditions and we have only just got over loosing my Dad who had dementia.
This battle seems like one too many.
I’m ashamed to say that I feel very jealous at the moment of other people with their nice lives.
Has anyone had councelling or gone on anti depressants?
xxxx
Hi Sozza
I went to see a phsycologist after my R/Therapy as I felt i,d never find terra firma after my feet were whipped out from under me with BC diagnosis… I,m 10 months on from active treatment now and on Letrozole (being a lady of a certain age post menapausal!)
If you are chewed up about things, as we all have been, go to your oncology centre or Mcmillan nurse and ask for an appointment. They are brilliant to chat with and so intune with any worries you may have honey.
Have you read the post dark dark woods?
Its amazing how many people you will relate too in the “trees” and their humour is soul lifting cos lets face it humour is something we seem to loose along with ourselves.
Dont be afraid of the future its still there xxxxxxxxxxx Doz
oh sozza, you dont need to ask for the statistics. Some people are quite happy not going too deeply into the ins and outs of it all and are more relaxed and confident just going along with what the experts recommend. If you are so scared of it coming back then it sounds as if you will be more than happy to let them throw everything they have at it.
And yes people do go to councelling . ask your Breast Nurse, there might be some councillors attached to the unit. Or ring the helpline, they can give you some initial reassurances and helpful advice and tell you what is available in your area. Or they might be able to put you in touch on a one-to-one basis with a survivor. Contacting someone who has succesfully come out the other side might help you a lot.
Hi lavender Lassie, Well ended up in hospital yet again,got home yesterday,very tired (can never sleep in hospital)and sooo depressed.Got my last FEC on the 22nd so iam working on staying positve.Feel sick most of the time so not eating so good.Tried anti-sickness pill before lunch and that seems to have done the trick.
Sorry pressed a button before i had finished (chemo brain)
I see we have a few new ladies on here so welcome
Lavender lass-Hope alls well with you
Well off to give myself another good talking to,got to lift my mood
Heather(AKA Tigerpig) x
Aw Tigerpig, not again??!! It isn’t really that cheery being in hospital during chemo is it. And you are still feeling sick even with Emend? That is tough.
I had low white cells even with filgrastim injections in the first cycle but after that white count was fine-so maybe they have a cumulative effect.
I am generally fine, occasional low in energy still but it only seems to be when something I am not keen on is involved. Still some sleepless nights, I really wish I had gone along to the cancer support place sooner for some relaxation stuff. Now they say they have to ask my consultant for permission-hello? it was his nurses who gave me all the information leaflets.
I would advise anyone to try and fit in some sessions in the early days as an ability to relax is important in coping with all this stuff.
My final tip is to have a hospital bag packed ready to leave at a minute’s notice-called this my ju-ju bag on the principle that if I had it ready I wouldn’t need it-worked for me.
Love and hugs to all of you still ploughing through chemo
Lavender
Lavender lass,yea i have a bag ready packed after the 1st time going in at 3am and trying to think what you need and where to find it,not easy that time in the morning.
Iam thinking of ringing up for some sort of relaxation stuff,some days finding it hard to cope.
They are going to up my filgrastim injections to 10 days after chemo.Ithink its these that make me feel so rough.
Hoping injections work this time.
Thanks for your tips.
Take care.Heather x
I do agree that they can make you feel very weird, I got used to it in time but hated doing them. Celebrated more about the last filgrastim than the last chemo!
I have a friend who gets low white counts spontaneously, not from chemo, and she has them, and I now appreciate what she had been describing for so long.
Keep well with them from now on
Lavender
xx
cos lets face it humour is something we seem to loose along with ourselves.