i just found out 0ct 17th that i had invasive ductal carcinoma. i had lymph node swelling under my right arm which prompted my doctor to do a mammogram which showed a 1.5cm lump in my right breast. i spoke with my surgeon 2 days ago and he wants to do chemo and radiation first. i didn’t know if this is normal to do first. i thought surgery was usually first. i am going for a biopsy under my arm tomorrow. if anyone has advice or similar situations i would love to hear from you.
Hi
I had my surgery first but thought I’d give you a bump up and someone who can help will be along soon. M
Hi cmm and welcome to the BCC forums
I am posting a link to the newly diagnosed information page on our website which you may find helpful, our helpliners are also on hand to help with any queries you have and offer a great listening ear. you can call our helpline on 0808 800 6000 weekdays 9-5 and Sat 9-2.
www2.breastcancercare.org.uk/diagnosis
Take care
Lucy
Hello!
Sorry to hear you’ve had to join us - but you’ve found a brilliantly supportive forum that has helped keep me sane and calm throughout. The beginning is the scariest and worst time with panicky thoughts whizzing round your head and not really understanding all of the jargon and terms being thrown at you.
I had chemo first and have been told this is the way forward! I finished a month ago and had my surgery last week. This way they can monitor the lump and see if it’s being zapped. If not, they will change the chemo. If you have the surgery first, and if you have some escaped cells, you will never know if you are responding well to the chemo. It also gives you time to think about options (if you have any). For example - I had to have a mastectomy and it gave me time to research reconstruction options (of which there are a few and the results are excellent) and also to talk to a geneticist about my family history. By the time I had surgery I had decided to have a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction using temporary expanding implants. Had I had surgery first it would most likely have been a single mastectomy with no recon meaning I’d have had to have more surgery than needed.
I’m having radiotherapy following the op though - not first.
I had positive lymph nodes prior to chemo - but this went down completely during chemo and I will find out on Thursday if there was any cancer left.
I don’t really have any advice to cope with the horribly scary rollercoaster that you’re on at the beginning apart from to maybe keep busy with friends and family as it will settle down and get much less scary once you have a treatment plan in place and start the treatment.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
x
Hi, im sorry to you have to join us on here. I too had chemo first, as my aggressive tumour was large and by having the chemo it would hopefully reduce the tumour to save my breast. I did respond well and the tumour shrunk by half, and I only had a lumpectomy ( I do have big boobs though!) I also had axillary clearance and then radiotherapy after my op. It definately helped me knowing the tumour was shrinking so having all the yukky side effects were for a positive outcome. My radio finished in August and Im now on tamoxifen for 5 years. Any questions at any time please ask I asked lots of questions last year when I was diagnosed and the lovely ladies on here really helped me prepare for treatment and the op. sending you a hug. Ness xxx