Hello all,
I have invasive ductal carcinoma grade 3, triple negative receptor. I have been totally upbeat and optimistic since starting my journey with FEC-T, in June. I am to have my 3rd lot of chemo on Monday coming, and apart from losing all my hair, side effects have been minimal, thankfully.
I tried wearing my wig - it’s just too hot, so I tried scarves/bandanas - they are just not ‘me’, so I have gone commando - shaved head, totally bald!
I stupidly started researching my diagnosis today online, and truly wish I hadn’t. I wish I could turn the clock back, where I had confidence, I have doubt now.
Today is the first day I have felt afraid for my future. My tumor is big and attached to my chest wall, so we are trying chemo first in an effort to shrink it and hopefully can get away with a lumpectomy, but my consultant warned me, my tumor is not behaving how it should, so mastectomy is not out of the question.
I am to have an MRI scan on 8th August to see if the tumor is responding to chemo - if not, I will have a mastectomy straight away. If I cant have normal cancer drugs, is that it? Is there nothing else can be done? Will I carry on with chemo after op? Has anyone else had this happen, where the chemo wasnt working? Can the stage of the cancer only be determined after the tumor is removed? I have so many questions now, and not due to see the oncologist until the 25th August.
Any info greatfully appreciated x
Hi Christina
I am so sorry to hear you researched and have now lost confidence…sometimes information is a bad thing…and it does not cover every single person …I did the same and wished I hadn’t…now I don’t read…its my journey and i take one day at a time…
My aunt…Slightly different to yours in that it was not attached to her chest wall…but she had to have 3 different types of chemo until one worked and shrunk her tumour sufficiently (triple negative like you) and she then had lumpectomy followed by radiotherapy… 8 years ago…
Try to keep positive… I am sure they will have something to attack this…I know its hard …sending you lots of best wishes xxx
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Things did NOT go well I’m afraid, FEC treatment not working. :-( I can actually feel the tumour now, and it is about the size of an orange. 6 weeks ago, it was the size of a golf ball.
My consultant said he will meet with my multi disciplinary team tomorrow morning to decide whether I should move for mastectomy (provisionally booked in for 15th Aug unless a cancellation comes up), or to try a more aggressive chemotherapy. I told him all along, i have been told how aggressive my cancer is, and how it is not behaving how it should - who’s to say the new chemo will work?
I made it VERY clear - I want a mastectomy - NOW! Then we can discuss 4 months of adjuvent chemotherapy, followed by 1 month of daily radiotherapy.
I am still staying positive, looking forward to getting rid of this cancer once and for all!! I have already booked a Caribbean holiday for next June so my other half and I can celebrate me being cancer free in early 2015!! BOG OFF CANCER - YOU AINT WELCOME HERE!!!
Hi ladies
Chemo definately not working 
I am provisionally booked for mastectomy on 15th August. I am also to see the consultant who saw me at the start of my journey, and he may decide to do the surgery himself, which would be a different hospital 25 miles away, BUT it could be a few days before the 15th Aug, so I would definately go with him if its an earlier surgery date.
You have to be 28 days chemo free before surgery, so this is my 28th day today, so I am good to go any time now incase any cancellations turn up.
Not the best situation, but I am making the most of it, and had a lovely weekend spent with friends and our ponies, they are a total tonic for me 
Hello ladies
My surgery has been moved forward to Monday the 11th August, when I will have a mastectomy. Still feeling positive - I have to go in on the 11th for dye injection, then mastectomy will be on 12th August.
To top it all off, I had an appointment with orthapaedics on Friday, who have advised I need keyhole surgery on both my shoulders, so 2014 not been the best year I have ever had - but I am most definately looking forward to a healthy 2015 when I go away on my Caribbean holiday in June, then out to Texas to see my son and his wife, and my beautiful little grandson 