I am to have wide local excision and sentinal node biopsy.
jennifer thats what i had, you go to the admittance ward they take bloods take info and book you in, you will then go for the radiatian injection, which turns you blue lol then you will be taken down for surgery it takes about an hour, i went down at 11.30 and was on the ward at about 2pm and went home at 7pm, some have drains put in but i was lucky no drains for me. hope this helps a little x
yes jen im having chemo and radiotherapy as i am triple neg, it is the only course of treatment i can have
Hi Jellymould - Are you having radiotherapy?
Jen x
i had a clear margin and no nodes involved, but because of the nature of my cancer will defo have to have chemo and rads
Hi Jellymould
Have you started any of the treatment yet? I don’t know how quickly they start radiotherapy.
Jen x
no will start chemo in the next few weeks still waiting to see oncologist and the rads will be after the chemo, chemo is for 4 months
Hi Jellymould
I don’t know what triple negative means. I was told if there is a clear margin and no spread to lymph nodes then I would just have radiotherapy.
Jen
hi jennifer triple negative is an aggresive cancer that can only be treated with chemo and rads as it is negative for all the estrogen positive treatments. so it has a higher risk factor for reaccouring than others
Hi All, i looked in previous posts and found the terms used.
FAMILY TERMS
YD = Youngest Daughter
ED = Eldest Daughter
MD = Middle Daughter
OH = Other Half (husband, wife, partner)
mil = mother in law
fil = father in law
bil = brother in law
sil = son in law or sister in law
dil = daughter in law
dh = darling husband
ds = darling son
dd = darling daughter
dgc = darling grandchild(ren)
FORUM TERMS
PM = private message
BREAST CANCER TERMS
BC = breast cancer
chemo = chemotherapy
Dx = Diagnosis
MX = Mastectomy
BCN = Breast Care Nurse
Onc = Oncologist
Rads = Radiotherapy
ANC = Axillary Node Clearance. Operation to remove all the lymph glands from under the arm.
Bisphos = Bisphosphonates (bone strengthening drugs). A group of drugs mainly used to manage secondary breast cancer in the bone by slowing down the process of bone breakdown. Also used to prevent and treat osteoporosis.
CMF = a regime of chemotherapy made up of 3 drugs:
- C: Cyclophosphamide
- M: Methotrexate
- F: 5 Fluorouracil (5FU)
DCIS = Ductal Carcinoma In Situ. This is a breast cancer that has stayed inside the ducts and not spread outside. Some doctors call this intraductal or non-invasive.
E-CMF = a regime of chemotherapy made up of 4 drugs: - E: Epirubicin
- C: Cyclophosphamide
- M: Methotrexate
- F: 5 Fluorouracil (5FU)
GCSF = Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor. Injections to boost white blood cells especially neutrophils – a circulating hormonal substance that controls the growth of some of the white blood cells in the blood.
E = Oestrogen (Estrogen is the American spelling)
ER pos/+ Refers to breast cancers that have receptors on the cell surface that latch onto the female hormone oestrogen and help stimulate the cancer to grow.
ER neg/- Refers to breast cancers that do not have receptors on the cell surface that latch onto the female hormone oestrogen and so are not stimulated by oestrogen to grow.
FEC = a regime of chemotherapy made up of 3 drugs: - F: 5 Fluorouracil (5FU)
- E: Epirubicin
- C: Cyclophosphamide
HER2 = Human epidermal growth factor receptor2. A protein found in small amounts on normal breast cells. It is made by a specific gene called the HER2/neu gene. It is one of the proteins involved in the growth of cells.
HER2 pos/+ = Breast cancers that have a higher than normal level (called over expression) of the HER2 protein.
HER2 neg/- = Breast cancers that do not have a higher than normal level of the HER2 protein.
Hormone Receptor Positive – refers to breast cancers that have receptors on the cell surface that latch onto the female hormones oestrogen or progesterone and help stimulate the cancer to grow.
Hormone Receptor Negative – refers to breast cancers that do not have receptors on the cell surface that latch onto the female hormones oestrogen or progesterone and so are not stimulated by hormones to grow.
IBC = Inflammatory Breast Cancer. A type of breast cancer, so called because the skin of the breast often looks red and swollen (similar to some breast infections).
IDC = Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. A cancer that originates/starts in the breast ducts and has the ability to spread sometimes called No Special Type.
ILC = Invasive Lobular Carcinoma. A cancer that originates/starts in the breast lobes and has the ability to spread
LCIS = Lobular Carcinoma in Situ or Lobular cancer in situ (LCIS). Condition where cells in the lobules of the breast look different and multiply differently from normal cells. Although the word carcinoma is included in the term this is misleading as it is not cancer, so it is often referred to as Lobular Neoplasia. However, having LCIS does mean that you have an increased risk of getting breast cancer in the future, even though most women with LCIS will not get breast cancer.
Neuts = Neutrophils. Type of white blood cell that is very important in fighting infection. Regularly measured if you are having treatment with cancer drugs that lower the number of neutrophils made by your bone marrow (chemotherapy). If count too low, this may mean treatment is deferred until count is within acceptable range.
PR pos/+ Refers to breast cancers that have receptors on the cell surface that latch onto the female hormone progesterone and so are stimulated by progesterone to grow.
PR neg/- Refers to breast cancers that do not have receptors on the cell surface that latch onto the female hormone progesterone and so are not stimulated by progesterone to grow
PS or p/s - Plastic surgeon
RFA = Radio Frequency Ablation. A treatment that uses radio waves to produce heat to kill cancer cells (ablation means killing completely). Used to treat secondary breast cancer cells in the liver.
SIRT = Selective Internal Radiation Therapy. High dose targeted radiation used to treat secondary breast cancer in the liver.
SNB = Sentinal Node Biopsy. This is a method to detect whether any cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
Tam = Tamoxifen. Also known as Nolvadex, it is a drug used to treat hormone sensitive breast cancer.
TAX = taxanes. A group of chemotherapy drugs (sometimes referred to as taxoids) that includes Taxol (paclitaxel) and Taxotere (docetaxel).
TN = Triple Negative. Breast cancer cells which do not possess Oestrogen receptors (ER) Progesterone receptors (PR) or HER 2 receptors.
WLE = Wide Local Excision (operation to remove a breast cancer with a small amount of surrounding healthy tissue. Sometimes called breast conserving surgery, or lumpectomy.)
Hi jellymould, thanks for the info. Good to hear you recovered well from surgery. Good luck with the chemo. When do you start? I still can’t believe all this is happening.
Hi Jennifer 63, that sounds like me. I am hoping just for WLE and rads and will know more after sentinel node biopsy. When is your op?
Hi jellymould, thanks for the info. Good to hear you recovered well from surgery. Good luck with the chemo. When do you start? I still can’t believe all this is happening.
Hi Jennifer 63, that sounds like me. I am hoping just for WLE and rads and will know more after sentinel node biopsy. When is your op?
Hi
I just thought you could all benefit from a post from an ‘old-timer’.
I was dx four and a half years ago and I do understand what you are all feeling. I was dx with a 3cm, grade 3 tumour, ER/PR+, HER - and 3 out of 24 nodes affected.
I had a WLE, chemo and rads.
You’re all in a really difficult period now. The waiting for all the results to come in is the worst time. Next worst is when you’re told you need chemo. Freak out! I know I did. But, whilst chemo is not pleasant, you can get through it by thinking ‘it’s just got to be done’ and getting on with it. I found it helped to mark the chemos off on a calendar. Have something planned for your ‘good week’. It may be a trip to the seaside, a meal out or just visiting friends/relations.
It’s soon over, believe me, and you’ll be feeling good again. Looking forward to next year’s holiday or whatever. You will feel OK again. Promise.
hi cracker just waiting to see onc, rang today and they have told me my appointment will be wed or next wed, the appointment nurse will ring me. so im still abit in limbo, just want it to start so i can move on
hi cracker not sure when treatment starts still waiting to see onc
Thanks for all your encouragement and good advice Maltomlin. Feel better already. Tried to find out about the triple negative - I am ER negative at the moment and the rest of the tests for Her2 etc after surgery
My breast cancer type and treatment plan will be finalised tomorrow. I have not had a great day as I am really anxious.
I feel so issolated as my immediate family are in Ireland. I telephoned the breast care nurses today. The nurse was lovely and calmed me down - I told her about my feelings of issolation and distress. She is referring me to counselling at another hospital.
Hi all
It seems a lot of people are in the same position I am…waiting for WLE op on 7th November, expecting Sentinel Nodes to be removed and results following on from their re possibility of further surger to remove lymph nodes, etc/or simply (?!?) Radiotherapy.
I have read many posts in quite a few forums and have found them useful, especially “in the wee small hours of the morning, when the whole darn world is fast asleep”, when I have felt scared. As Ive read the forums Ive cried at the experiences of some women, and also been heartened by those of others. I also appreciate the advice given…it has helped enormously.
I am just beginning to understand the wisdom of taking it one step at a time…at the beginning I wanted to know everything about everything, but as the days have passed since diagnosis, Ive understood that whilst information is useful, the immediate situation is more important. I still have loads of questions about the future treatments, and at this point am scared stiff about the possibility of having to undergo chemo…ironically I dontcare much about having my hair fall out…quite happy to be bald with no eyebrows for a while…my friends would say it would be no more wierd than I am at present (lol). I quite like the idea of having one of those strip material hairbands with a couple of flowers on it. The sort that children wear). Or a bow. That might be quite cute.
Im currently getting my head round the idea of permanently being a statistic re disability, and my choices re that issue and employment in the future.
Thanks so much, everyone, for your input here…Im sure its helped so many, and has certainly helped me.
Lulu
Thank you all for your comments and help. It has really made a great difference. I had my WLE and SNB on Tuesday and will know if clear margin and whether lymph node ok on 19th . Seems ages to wait. I was dreading the radioactive injection and wire guided localisation but it was absolutely fine. After the op I made sure I drank plenty of water as I had the blue dye as well and wanted to try to flush it all out of my system. My main problem at the moment is I’m finding it hard to sleep. Its better now i’ve had the op and feel that the treatment plan has started. I do know now that I will never be the same person again. Best wishes to everyone awaiting results.
Hi Jennifer 63 re: your question about when other treatment starts, it has to be a few weeks (4 - 6 after op) before chemo or rads can start, to allow the surgery wounds to heal sufficiently for them not to be 1. at risk of infection when your blood count is low on chemo or 2. at risk of being damaged by the rads