I was diagnosed with breast cancer today after a mammagram so I have got to have a lumpectomy on Dec 5th. Any helpful advice would be gratefully received.
Hi Judy
Welcome to the BCC discussion forums, where I am sure you will get some good, honest support from the many informed users of this site.
While you are waiting for replies I have put for you below links to some of BCC’s publications you might find helpful. Also our helpline team are only a free phone call away should you need to talk. Lines are open Mon-Fri 9-5 and Sat 10-2.
Take care,
Jo, Facilitator
Thinking of you. xxx
Lots of best wishes and hugs to you. Happened to me in 2008 and I was overwhelmed by the treatment and support given. Hope it’s the same for you. Treatment not pleasant but I seemed to just go with it because of the support. Keep in touch and you will be in my thoughts. Love Tiggy
Stay strong and sending this to the top of the list. x
Thank you everyone for your kind comments. Yes Libby I have had my treatment explained to me and I do have a breast care nurse and I am having my op on Dec5th. Obviously not looking forward to the treatment but I know it is neccessary. Judy x
Hello Judy, Sorry that you find yourself here but I hope that like me you will find the site a great source of support and information. I was diagnosed from a routine mammogram in October and had a lumpectomy on 30th October. I had the wire locator and radioactive injection beforehand. I was absolutely dreading the whole thing but was reassured by some lovely ladies on this site so went into it feeling much less apprehensive. In the event it went very well and the treatment I have had under the NHS has been excellent. I have my appointment with the oncologist next week to plan next stage of treatment. The main thing is although the whole thing has been such a shock at least I had the mammogram so can start treatment earlier and I also feel that because there has been so much research into breast cancer they have so much more knowledge and tools to be able to fight back. All the very best, stay strong
Paula x
Hi Judy so sorry to hear your news, it’s such a shock isn’t it?I was Dx via a routine mammogram just 11 days short of 3 yrs ago and yes the date is etched on my memory.
Have you had all the results explained to you? Do you already know your treatment plan.
This site is a fund of information encouragement and support.
The BCC helpline are also marvellous.
Do you have a BCN ( breast care nurse)?
Hugs coming your way J xxx
Hello Paula That is the treatment I will be having and I am really nervous I know it is the fear of the unknown but pne minuite I feel ok about another I feel absolutely terrified!!! There is so much to take in but I am being possitive about the outcome. How are you now ? Judy
Hi Judy my story is similar to cracker I had a lumpectomy (Wide Local Excision, WLE) on 30 Oct and also had a Sentinel Node Biopsy (SNB). I had to have the guide wires inserted as well, the lump was so small to feel, and radioactive inection and dye. I was absolutely terrified but thanks to the support from people on here and another site I have joined locally I have now come through that stage and have had my results and first onologist appointment. It is not to bad having the surgery, afterwards you may be sore and uncomfortable but they give you meds for that. Each person reacts differently to things as we are all individual but the staff and care team are reallyy good and your breast care nurse will answer any questions you have don’t be afraid to ask. Hope all goes well for you.
Hi Maple You both seem to have come through the op ok and that gives me great encouragement. I am not saying I am not scared but if oThers can do it so can I . Judy c
I’m due to have the same as Mapie on the 27th November… I kind of feel a bit better knowing that something is being started if that makes sense??.. still doesnt make it easier though… and I agree the support on this site is amazing… even in the early hours of the morning!.. wishing you all the best and keep posting x
Hi Judy2109,had my wle sl 2 weeks ago.waiting for the results (get them friday) then i will no what treatment i will have .If it has spread its chemo,rad and tablets. After the op i was great but i soon become very depressed, thats normal.Now imupand down. The waiting is the worse thing.I too am new to this site,its grreat everyone goes out of their way to help.Lots of love hugs on the way to you xxx
Hello Judy, I am feeling much better now. I am still taking it fairly easy in terms of lifting things but have been able to get out for a walk every day because I read somewhere that combining a healthy diet with moderate daily exercise was helpful in preventing recurrance. I built up gradually from a short stroll two days after the op and have found it really lifts my spirits and is a good warm up before doing the physio. I would recommend that you start on the physio as soon as possible, very gently to begin and then build it up. I wasn’t keen to wear a bra for a couple of weeks because where the edge is would have rubbed on the SNB scar and found loose clothing most comfortable but everyone is different and there were ladies at the physio appointment a week after our ops who were fine wearing a bra. The pain level for me has been very reasonable and I had a lot more pain from my shoulder on the opposite side which I hurt in the summer! I have my onc appointment on Monday to find out what next. Good luck on the 5th. x Hi, tomorrow will be, good luck for your results, It is horrible waiting to hear isn’t it. x All the best Sandra 51 on the 27th. It really does feel better once you have had the op as you feel you are starting the fight back in earnest. x Mapie, I saw you had your op on the same day as I did. Hope you are feeling much better now. How was it with the oncologist? I don’t know what to expect on Monday. I know I am ER+ so will have hormone therapy after rads, no one has mentioned chemo but I did wonder as mine was a grade 3 cancer which does worry me a lot. Paula x
hi Paula The bra issue is causing me a bit of a problem I was told to wear a bra at night for the first two weeks and I am not that keen . glad you are making a good recovery and doing some excercise. when I was first diagnosed with bladder cancer I was unable to do a lot of exercise and to be frank I was a right misery for some time because of the treatment. I am determined not to make the same mistake this time round. Sorry to hear that you have a grade 3 thats what I had with my bladder cancer and I have had all clears for the last 18 months so try not to worry to much. Sorry that you got depressed tomorrow will be and glad you feel more possitive now. Good luck tall all of you who are waiting for results I will be thinking of you Judy x
Sorry Sandra I meant to add good luck to you on the 27th. Judy x
Hi Judy, I’m new to this forum. I was diagnosed with DCIS two weeks ago and had WLE & SNB last week. I was terrified about the surgery, not sleeping or eating worrying about allsorts and if it was going to be painful. I can reassurre you each procedure went well with very little or no pain. They give you excercises to do after. which help and these are very important to keep any swelling down. You may feel sore & bruised after but nothing too extreme that painkillers will not help with. I know each one of us is different but on the day there were 3 women having the same procedure and the others reported the same. Emotionally you may be up & down but don’t forget your going through a tough time and I’m sure the excellent support & reassurrance from this site will help
hope everything goes ok, I know it is a worrying time but please be reassurred ----love & hugs
Thanks for all the information Lady in Red and I hope you a feeling a lot better now. I know the closer I get to operation the more anxious I will be but hopefully with all the encouragement I am getting on here I will be fine. Judy x
Cracker it went ok with the onclogist a bit scarey when she told me some of the risks but they are rare so felt better when I knew that. I was Grade 1 with clear margins ER+ and PR+ so having hormone therapyy and radiotherapy as there was no node involvement no need for chemo.
So pleased that your result it looks as though it has been caught early enough. Judy x