Morning everyone, I was diagnosed 4 days ago with bc, so far i have been told that i have 2 options, lumpectomy with radiotherapy or mascectomy. Having MRI next wed i think thats to see if its gone to the glands and then my nurse is calling to the house with the results on Fri.Surgery booked for 23rd May, not sure what to expect or how im feeling, ive cried a lot then ive laughed about it a lot, been physically sick several times, sorry for babbling its just been so nice to read all your positive messages. Sendellm x x x x
Hi Sendellm,
Sorry about your dx but at least here you are amongst friends.
You are in the worst part - which is the waiting bit, and the emotions you are experiencing are unfortunately all part of the deal. It will get better once you begin your treatment.
Interesting that the Nurse is bringing the results to you, I haven’t heard of that before.
Best of luck and keep posting - this forum has been a godsend!
x
Hi Sendellm
Firstly, welcome to the forums, I am sure you will find it a great source of support and information.
I’m sorry to read of your recent diagnosis, the first few days and weeks are always difficult when coming to terms with things and getting to grips with your treatment plans, etc.
I’ve given here the link to our Resource Pack for those people newly diagnosed. The pack is filled with information to help you better understand your diagnosis, test results and the various treatments available.
breastcancercare.org.uk/heal … tionId/82/
Also, do give the helpline a ring if you need any further support or information. They’re on 0808 800 6000. Open 9-5 Monday to Friday and 9-2 Saturday.
I hope this helps
Best wishes Sam, BCC Facilitator
Thanks Sam, ive clicked on the link and it says that this page doesnt seem available, am i doing something wrong x x
hello sendellm. sorry your here with the rest of us. i was dx nov 2009 age 40. i had the lump removed and sn. followed with 15 lots of rads. ive now been on tamaxifen and zoladex a year. this is a great website with lots of info and fantastic womem who no how you are feeling. best of luck with everything that may come your way xxx gaynor
Hi all, ive been told that my consultant will be discussing the results of my MRI with my bc nurse and she will discuss with me at home. I think thats what i heard anyway, i maybe wrong now. Im going to go back to work tomorrow just for a bit of normality for 2 weeks before the op.
I think im going to have the mx, but everyday i seem to change my mind i wish that someone could make my mind up for me x x x
Dear sendellm,
I think the link is not working because that particular publication is out of stock at the moment. I have attached a link to another publication “Breast Cancer and you- diagnosis, treatment and the future”.
breastcancercare.org.uk/upload/pdf/BCandYou.pdf
I hope this is helpful. You may find some other useful articles by clicking on the publications link.
Very best wishes
Janet
BCC Facilitator
Thank you Janet, i can download it now,
x x
Hiya, so sorry you’ve found yourself another member of this club… and another 41 year old at that… there are way too many of us! Though I’m 42 now… sigh…
I had a left mastectomy back in November 2010, and full axillary node clearance. I was initially (like you) given the choice between lumpectomy and rads, or mastectomy - and I opted for mastectomy for several reasons. I was told that I was very borderline as to the decision - another mm or two larger and I wouldn’t have even been offered a lumpectomy - and as it was, my margins were bad, so I know I’d have been back in for a mastectomy anyhow.
The best advice I can give you is: Don’t rush your decision. If you are large breasted, could they remove the lump and sort of do a reshape at the same time, so you’re not left with a dent? That’s worked very well for a few women on here. If you think you want a mastectomy - when can they reconstruct? How will you feel about coping with one breast for a year or more post surgery? Will you even want recon? Could your nurse show you photos of recons/lumpectomies to help you make up your mind?
If you want to pm me to chat/vent whatever, please do - I can tell you how it was for me, but I can’t tell you what to do… though I know it would sometimes be so great if we could take that option!!! Just hang onto the thought that you are not alone, that there is a whole community out here ready to support you on this journey - and there is daylight at the other end. After mx, I had chemo and am now having radiotherapy (those damn margins - not usually needed after mastectomy!), then tamoxifen… but life is slowly returning to something resembling normal, and there are once again far more good moments than bad. Even boring moments… lol … normality does return.
Take care hun
Sophie xx
Hi Sophie,
Thanks for your kind words, some ppl are saying have a reconstruction straight away others are saying wait, Ive heard a lot on here about margins but dont know what they are, bit new to all the jargon so im completely lost! my bcn told me to go on a website and have a look at photos but it shocked me as they were of a 70 yr old lady with size 34ff boobs, thing is im only a size 8 and have 34a’s so i cant even compare.
Really confused as to a reconstruction and to be honest im not sure if it will effect me mentally having only 1, i dont know whats the best.
Thanks loads,
Sendellm (Michelle)
Hi michelle im quite new to all this as well, been 5 weeks since i was diagnosed and a lot has happened since. I have found this site a godsend, everyone is so kind at a time when iv been so scared. Im small chested as well so was told by my consultant that it wld be safer to have mx, the mri didnt show any probs with nodes but i had them all removed anyway again to be on safe side, was a good job too coz it turned out that 7 of them were affected! I wanted an imediate recon because i didnt think i could cope mentally but wasnt allowed in case i had to have chemo, 3 wks on from op i am able to look at myself without feeling sick although am still unable to show OH, there is life after mx. I have asked lots of questions on here and everyone has been so helpful, makes you feel like ur not alone, good luck with making ur decision its so hard but ur not alone, best wishes and love donna x
Michelle, if you are small breasted, being mono-boobed for a while will be easier to cope with (aesthetically) than if you had big bazookas - but the mental anguish is the same for all of us, regardless of size and perkiness (or lack of it).
Margins - when the tumour is removed, the surgeon wants a reasonable amount of clear tissue around it - 2mm is a rough guide. If this ‘margin’ around the tumour isn’t achieved, then more of your breast may need to be removed (talking lumpectomy here, obviously with a mastectomy, the surgeon will take all of the breast anyhow). Some people have had lumpectomies (also referred to as wle, wide local excision), and have been recalled once or twice for further surgery to remove more tissue, until the clear margins have been reached. If you have very small breasts, and a proportionately large lump, it may be that mastectomy is the only option in this case.
Reconstruction. Surgeons, and NHS trusts, vary on their views on whether to do immediate recon, or to wait. It is worth bearing in mind that if there is a chance you will need radiotherapy, then it is advisable to wait until after all treatment before having a recon, as rads can harden and shrink the new breast tissue - undoing some of the good work your surgeon might have done on an immediate recon. However, there are women on here who have had immediate recon and rads… with no problem. Chemo doesn’t normally pose a problem with an immediate recon, Donna - it’s the rads that can screw it up.
Also, and this is where I am deliberating at the moment - remember that recon is a BIG op, and will leave you out of action for a couple of months again, way down the line. And whilst cosmetically the results may be good… it’s never going to feel like breast tissue, or have the sensitivity of breast tissue - it will just be a living prosthesis, that doesn’t have to come off at night. At least with a lumpectomy, you will still have sensation in the breast - and possibly cosmetic surgery to repair any visible dent?
There are no easy answers 
My mastectomy (mx) really doesn’t bother me, but I haven’t lived through a summer with one boob yet - so I’m going to see how I go on before thinking any further about recon.
xxxx
Thanks all for your advise, I now feel a little bit easier about asking my bcn on Friday a few more questions. Ive bought a ‘jug’ book that ive been keeping notes in! I still have another 10 days before i decide what to do so i keep telling myself not to rush things.
Got my mri tomorrow and results friday.
Big big thanks
Sendellm
I was so sorry to read of your bc diagnosis, I was 43 when I was diagnosed with dx in Sept 2009.
Making the decision what to go for is hard, it was difficult for me when I had to decide whether to have a lumpectomy or a mastectomy. In the end I decided to start with a lumpectomy and have a mastectomy if it was needed.
All the very best of luck and I know you will make the right decision.
lots of love and hugs
dancing
Hi- I’m 50 and the same breast size as you . I opted for a mastectomy - done 6 days ago . It wasn’t so bad! Realy !I’m not going to do reconstruction,I’m fine with the idea of a scar , seems real somehow …ironicaly I’ll wear a bra more now than I ever did before!!! Think I’ll get a bigger one and some generous foam!
We’ll see how I cope later down the line, of course We’re all changing fast in this scary new game.I know I want the minimum surgery and treatment and that I don’t feel badly towards women who have scars at all - in fact I admire them a lot . So hopefully I’ll feel the same way towards myself ?
They will realy look after you, it wont be so bad , truly.
xx
Hi Osprey,
So glad it went good for you, im getting more nervous every day towards my op, im in two minds with recon ive spoken to my bcn and she said to speak to my onc for advice, also I went up M&S today and had a look at the mx bras and they were actually quite pretty,a few softies and no one would even notice, i dont know what i was expecting.
I may see how i feel in a few months and i dont know if i may need chemo yet so i think i’ll just take every day as it comes.
I hope it wont be bad too.
Take care and thank you
Michelle
Hi Michelle,
Your situation sounds similar to mine (diagnosed 1 month ago). I had the MRI as the tumour was invasive lobular type which I think does not always show up as well on the ultrasound, so the MRI is to help determine the true size of the tumour (mine turned out to be exactly the same size). I then was offered the choice between lumpectomy (WLE) done at the same time as my SLNB, or mastectomy & immediate reconstruction (as a 2nd op only if my nodes were negative). I opted for the WLE, mainly because this would be done at the first op. My surgeon said if I’m not happy with the appearance, then I can opt for the MX with reconstruction as a 2nd op - I think everyone is expecting this to be the most likely, as I’m a 34B with a 22mm tumour, so quite a chunk of tissue has been removed. If I go for this option then I won’t need the local radiotherapy.
I had my WLE on Tuesday - although I’m still quite swollen, the disfigurement isn’t as bad as I thought. If it stays like this I’d be happy with no more surgery - although that’s a decision for further down the line when the swelling has settled.
I hope this helps with what I know is a difficult decision.
Hi Caroline,
All this is so confusing! im 99.9% im going for the the mx, but i cant have immediate recon, so glad your feeling well i just hope that i recover quite quick as im so impatient and i just want it done.
Had a few hissy crying fits which i end up as a blubbery mess but my OH just keeps me positive, i hope these will pass in time.
Thanks for your message
Take care
Michelle x