I have my appointment, 22/8 afternoon, for my results following my lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy. I’m worried about everything thats going to be said and particularly the next steps. What i know so far is that its grade 3 ER -ve and there was 1 node that looked enlarged in initial scans that was biopsied but it was clear at the time but they still did sentinel nodes. I know I’ll definitely be having radiotherapy since i had lumpectomy but they werent sure on chemo yet. Would you expect them to know at this appontment what the plan is? Not necessarily dates for treatment, more the plan. I hate not knowing things at the best of times but this has been so difficult and my brain is constantly ‘worse case scenario’ for everything do you can imagine what its been like since i found the lump
Dear @schadwick I’m so sorry that you’re in this situation but not long to go now before you know what you’re facing. I had a different histology to you in that mine was Er+ and a lower grade but nevertheless at the surgery results appointments with the surgeon, I had the histology confirmed (sometimes it can change once properly tested), the size turned out to be bigger than the biopsy suggested and they had found DCIS which had been removed at the same time. Prior to surgery, I had been told that they would take 3 nodes and would not know about chemo until they had been tested, so they probably say much the same to everyone unless they have prior evidence that it has spread to the nodes. As it turned out, there had been no cancer found in the nodes so I was told there and then ‘no chemo’. The surgeon also told me what my treatment plan would be although it changed slightly when I saw the oncologist two weeks later (the number of rads sessions went down). So I would expect that you’ll know whether chemo will be involved at your appointment this afternoon. In fact you should be told what will be in your treatment plan but it may be unlikely that you’ll get any dates for treatment to start. Things will be easier to deal with once you know what you’re facing. I wish you good luck and hope that you get all of the answers that you need.
Hi Schadwick, I had to have a second surgery to clear the margins, but after the first surgery I was told that they’d found a positive node. At the second results appointment I was told I needed to speak to the oncologist as chemotherapy was now in the picture; it has since been confirmed that I will be having chemo. It can be hard to process when things keep changing. Wishing you the very best for your appointment today x
Hi. I had a mastectomy and full node clearance on 22 july, i get my pathology results today as well as long as theyre back. I will have treatment plan ie chemo and herceptin as its her2 positive which is a plan specifically for me. For me thardest part so far has been this stage between surgery and results i feel in limbo. So i know i will have my plan and then i can get my mindset ready for the next chapter of my journey. I wish you all the luck sending hugs xx
I had a lumpectomy & node removal biopsy, was shocked when I got my results as margins weren’t clear so then had to have an excision. It was no big deal as the lumpectomy had gone fine, I would just like to have been warned this might happen. On my next results appointment I was told margins clear, already been told nodes were not affected so I would not need chemo & 5 sessions of radiotherapy, plus Tamoxifen, which I have made the decision not to take. Be prepared for feeling a bit down once all the treatments are finished as I still feel anxious after completing my treatment & being given the all clear. You’re attending all these appointments, having surgery then chemo/radiotherapy, then it all stops & feels strange. Everyone around you thinks you’re fine, but a lot of us then suffer the anxiety of recurrence. This website has helped me see this is common & I’m trying to come to terms with it. All the best for today & the future.
Hi @schadwick. As others have said, the fear while waiting is awful. But results day is here and in a few hours you will know a lot more about what the plan is. If you have a positive sentinel node or unclear margins, you will probably need more surgery. If clear, you will be told whether its chemo and radio or just radio. Fingers crossed for the best result possible. You’ve got this! Good luck xxx
Hi @schadwick,
I’m sorry you’re in this situation. I totally understand how you feel about liking to know what’s going to happen. It’s very unsettling having to wait to be told and not knowing what you’ve got to prepare for. I’m sure you’ll get lots of answers this afternoon. I was struggling to process everything at my appointment for my results so asked if I could record it on my phone. I’m really glad I did as it helped me to clarify things afterwards.
Sending best wishes and let us know how you get on when you can x
I wish I’d thought of that, I was so in shock I couldn’t remember anything that was said.
Well i’ve had my appointment and there is good news and bad news. Good news is they got clear margins and lymph nodes are clear. Bad news, it is triple negative and ive got to have chemo
Some good news and some not so good. If you’re not aware @schadwick there is a specific category for Triple Negative ladies under the Diagnosed with Breast Cancer prime category on the forum homepage. I’m sure you’ll gets lots of first hand support there
How are you feeling about things? Hope you’re doing ok x
Im ok, obviously the fact its not spread is good news but unsurprisingly im not looking forward to chemo
Im not really sure how im feeling now about everything, outwardly im dealing with it well but internally im recognising the signs of my depression, that has been well controlled for 6 years, creeping back up a bit now. Particularly the constant sleepiness and feeling fed up. I think the things im most worried about with chemo are how im going to feel, especially fatigue as i already have fibromyalgia which causes fatigue. Then hair, particularly eyebrows i think as i can wear a hat or get a wig for my head but not the eyebrows and i think I’ll just not look like myself 
I’m sorry you’re going through this. Have you got people you can talk to (either friends/family or professionals)? It’s good that you recognise the signs though so can monitor it/put things in place to help yourself. Re chemo and the worry about losing your eyebrows, would you consider microblading? I know chemo affects everyone differently though, and you may not even lose your hair. But good to be prepared. Hope you’re ok. Sending strength x
I was chatting to my daughter earlier re chemo. I haven’t been given treatment plan yet but I’m fairly sure I’ll be getting chemo. I told her that of course, I just want to get rid of the cancer but still, I am worried about how I will look. She is just 14yr old. She told me that there are great makeup eyebrow pencils available that do three strands at once and they can look really good. She has promised she will draw my eyebrows on everyday if I need. Check out some of these, in the event you do lose eyebrows xo