Hi I was diagnosed just over a week ago with a grade 2 ductal cancer and am having it removed on the 28th of this month, they said it looks like the lymph nodes are clear so fingers crossed on that one. Three weeks after op will be starting 3 weeks of radiotherapy then Tamoxifen for 5 years. I have got the mirena coil and the consultant said it was ok to keep it in but the breast care nurse said to do some research then check with my own doc, anyway after looking on google it seems to me that not a lot is really known about the long term effects and breast cancer so have decided to get it whipped out next week,just wondered if anyone else has had this. Anyway can’t wait to get op over and done with now, its so strange how one minute lifes just going along as normal then everything turns crazy !!One thing on the plus side, I’ve found out I have some great friends, including one who was diagnosed with the same cancer 4 years ago x
Hi strummergirl,
You might want to have a chat to the staff on the helpline with regard to your coil, I’m sure they’ll have some up to date information for you. Calls are free, 0808 800 6000, open again on Monday morning at 9am.
Take care,
Jo, Facilitator
Hi Strummergirl, sorry u have to join our club but welcome. Your cancer must be hormone positve if you’re having Tamoxifen, which is the same as me & my surgeon said i could only use non-hormonal contraception. I think the Mirena has some hormone in it so would have thought it wasn’t suitable but as suggested u’d better check though im sure someone will come along in a bit who’s had one.
Good luck with your op, i know what u mean about just wanting to get on with it. I think most of us feel the same. I started chemo this week & even felt like it with that,unbelievably!
It’s great that you have good friends, i think that’s so important & the funny thing i found is that people i wasn’t that close with have helped loads & are now good friends, mind u i’ve got others who seem to have disappeared off into the sunset,lol.
Take care xx
Hi hunny,
Welcome to the club nobody wants to join, but with the lovliest members.
Your head will be over the place at the moment, but it does get easier. We will all support you on here the best we can.
Hugs
xxxxx
Thanks for the comments and yes mine is oestrogen fed and i think the mirena releases a synthetic form of progesterone, but will prob have it out for my own peace of mind. Have thought of a couple more questions, I still have quite a dark bruise from the biopsy which was over 2 weeks ago, it don’t hurt but is this normal ? Also have read in information from hospital about having to inject yourself with clexane after having a wide local incision,which is what I am having, does everyone have to do this after this kind of surgery ?x
Hello Strummergirl, and welcome 
I didn’t have a Mirena coil, but I did have the Depo Provera injection which I’ve been told to stop. My biopsy bruises were stunning and lasted for weeks! They were worse than the bruising I had after my WLE/ANC! As for the Clexane, a nurse did that for me shortly after I got onto the ward but mine was an overnight stay. Hope there’s something helpful in there xx
I had the district nurse visit every day for two weeks to inject me with Clexane. Apart from the day they forgot and my OH did it for me! Brave guy. And do you know what, it was the least painful of the lot! But he didn’t want to do any more! Glad you’ve got some supportive friends. Amazing what you find out about people sometimes. Good luck with your operation.
Thanks everyone for being so helpful. loppy, I don’t fancy the idea of my old man coming anywhere near me with a needle lol I suppose they will tell me more about all this stuff when I go down the day before the op for the medical checks and dye, they did say its a lot to take in and they wern’t kidding !!