Hi, I’ve never been on a forum before, but i think this will help me as I’m not very good at talking about personal things. My diagnosis was in September with grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma with high grade DCIS, ER positive 8, PR positive 4, HER2 negative. Cancer wad 85 x 45mm. Last Wednesday i had left breast mastectomy and immediate reconstruction. Today i had my drains out, which has been such a relief. I had a lot of discomfort when i moved but now i feel free! I’m waiting for final results of lymph node biopsies. I’m looking forward to interacting with people and sharing experiences 
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Hi @crochetlulu
Welcome to the forum. I’m sorry to hear about what you’re going through, but I’m really glad you’ve decided to join the forum. I hope you find it a supportive and helpful place.
Please do have a look through the various boards and topics to find those going through similar experiences or for places you may be able to share your experiences and knowledge.
Sending our love,
Lucy
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Welcome! I’m so sorry you’re here but we’re great if that’s any consolation 
I had a grade 3 invasive, also, by the way. Ended up doing four bouts of chemo with it but I’m recovered now and feeling very good. Hope you feel back to normal asap.
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Hi. I am almost 4 weeks post mastectomy with almost identical everything else.
I hope you find it useful making contact with others who are in the same situation as you are and can share their own experiences x
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Welcome to the forum, we have all been there, and now we are around for you, keep posting, I feel sure you will have some lovely, kind and supportive replies.
Wishing you well going forward, well done for getting this far, my brave lady,
Hugs Tili 
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Hi @crochetlulu
My situation is almost identical to yours: ER/PR positive; HER2 negative; my tumour size was 60 mm; grade 3 locally advanced; I had a left mastectomy on Sept 1, 2022; 28 lymph nodes removed; finished 20 rounds of radiation on March 8, 2023. I am now on Letrozole and Abemaciclib. Not doing too well on Letrozole - gives me hot flashes; as for abemaciclib, I need a dose reduction from 150 mg 2x daily, to 100 mg 2x daily. The reduced dosage was more agreeable. Look forward to your update on the results of your lymph node biopsies. Sending you best wishes going forward.
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@Siggi we have had similar situations haven’t we? It will be a relief to get the results on 30th. I had a radioactive injection the day before my operation but it didn’t work, so they took some lymph nodes for testing.
Thanks for all the positive comments. I have been so much more comfortable since having the drains out. I feel like I can move more easily. It’s been a rough few days, but feeling much more upbeat this morning 
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Hi,
I am also new to forums. I was diagnosed in August after finding lump end of july. Had my surgery september. My lump initally was though to be 15mm, but was twice the size when operated on 28mm and was Her2+ positive. Am due to start chemo on 1st November. Having EC for 3 cycles then 12 weeks of Paclitaxel weekly alongside Herceptin injections in leg every 3 weeks for a year.
Feeling positive up to now, but will have to see how i tolerate chemo x
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Hi @looby2, I hope your treatment goes well. I will know on 30th whether I need similar treatment. Keep positive and we can support each other 
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Hi,
I’m new to the forum, which one of the lovely breast care nurses told me about.
I am grade 3 HER+ ER+ and will be starting on chemotherapy in about 10 days. It’s all been incredibly fast as it’s only 4 weeks ago that I discovered a lump. A lot to process in a short time. I’m starting on docetaxel cycles (alongside Phesgo - which I think is some version of Herceptin) and then moving onto EC for later cycles. This isn’t the way around that I was expecting. Anyone else out there done it in that order?
Mastectomy will be next spring. The waiting will be hard. My anxiety levels are at least dropping now that there is a plan in place. Yes, I know plans can change…
Good wishes to you all.
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Good luck @sopranosam. I think plans can change as the consultants gather more information. My original plan was for chemo to shrink the cancer but the MRI showed it was bigger then they thought so the plan changed to surgery possibly followed by chemo and/or radiotherapy depending on operation results. We have to put our trust in the experience of the consultants.
It is so hard to cope with the diagnosis on top of decisions on treatment and all the information we are given. Thank goodness for resources like this to boost our confidence and help us feel less lonely
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Hi @looby2, Glad that you are feeling positive. Please keep us posted on how you are doing on your upcoming treatment. Sending you good wishes and thinking of you.
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@crochetlulu, absolutely agree! So thankful for this wonderful forum for the opportunity to connect with you all who are going through the same journey; who understand, and most importantly, we are not alone in this traumatizing journey.
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Hi,
The waiting is the hardest thing. Once we know what we are dealing with and a plan is in place, then we can at least feel bit more settled, instead of not knowing whats happening.
I start chemo on the 1st November. Not looking forward to it, but hey ho, get it done and then we can all get back to some kind of normality.
Wishing you the very best on your treatment. I think its great that we can support each other on here x
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I’m also new to the forum, finished my treatment at the end of July
Hoping to attend the Moving Forward course at Burton on Trent on November 7th and 14th, is anyone in here going?
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Wishing you all the best. I had 2 lumpectomies to remove a 17mm grade 3 invasive cancer and a 2mm DCIS which was only found following the first surgery. As I am HER2 borderline, I am starting a 24 week regime of chemo next month. I take Letrozole to block oestrogen (8) but will stop this once the chemo starts. I use a number of holistic methods to help manage anxiety etc including laughter therapy (simply laughing out loud, the brain doesn’t realise that you’re faking and releases endorphines which make me feel good. I also have a number of affirmations that I repeat regurlary (See Louise Hay - “Heal your body”. For instance, “I am open and willing for everything to fall into perfect place.” Or I lovingly release and forgive the past and accept others for who they are. We are all safe and free". The last one is specifically for cancer. Say them out loud regularly, ideally with arm movement. Also, I have just been told about Mistltoe Therapy which helps reduce the side effects of chemo and am looking into that. It has been clinically trialed and is given where I live at a local Camphill centre.
I hope some of the above helps. xx Tough
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Dear Tough
I like to wish you well, with your treatment. So impressive by your positivity it’s a great help to others on the forum.
Health and happiness going forward with the biggest hugs Tili
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Dear Sandy,
So pleased you have come this far, also going on further to the moving on course, I found this wonderful, also made a couple of great friends, we still meet for lunch twice a year.
Enjoy, the course. Wishing you well going forward
Big hugs Tili
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Hi and thanks for your reply. I’ve joined the October chemo starters group as my first one is on Monday 30th. But as I’m a late participant (par for the course!) I’ll certainly check the November group, and see how you’re doing if you decide to join in with that group. I do hope it goes OK for you.
Hi,
My first chemo is 1st November, hope to see you in the November forum.
This forum is really good for advice and to be with others who are going through the same, even if its just for a moan about how you are feeling.
Keep positive, and am sure we can kick cancers butt xx
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