I was diagnosed with Invasive Breast Cancer on 30th September after finding a lump, I had a mammogram, Ultra Sound and Biopsy. On going to the clinic and being told that I do have cancer was a total shock and I can’t seem to get my head around it, it’s as though it’s not happening to me.
I will be having a WLE on 17th October and I am a bit scared. The day before I have to have a injection of very low dose radioactive solution into my breast and have a scan, can anyone tell me what to expect.
I understand that this is a very worrying time for you but I am sure you will receive some supportive and informative replies from other users.
In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to give the helpline a ring if you feel you need to talk to someone. They can offer lots of information and support if you need it.
Sorry to hear that you have breast cancer. I am 41 years old. Felt exactly how you are feeling right now. I have not smoke or drink all my life. So why me!!
I too was diagnosed with Invasive ductalBreast Cancer gade 2. I had a mammogram, Ultra Sound and Biopsy. I had my first surgery on the 15/9/08. I had to have radioactive injected in my left breast. Like you i was very scared and not sure what to expect.
When i got there for my appointment the nurse who did the injection was very gentle and before i know it was all over within seconds. You will feel fine just tingling feeling in the arm nothing major. I felt fine. I had lumpectomy. recovered very well. I was up and running the next day lol. After the surgery i had to wait two weeks for the clear margin results. The bad news came on the 1/10/08. I was told i need another surgery, my breast cancer is grade 3 has spread to my lymph nodes. I was prepared for the worst but my husband broke down and cried…
My second surgery is on the 21/10/08. I am organising a charity event on the 17/10/08 at my place for the breast cancer awarness month. Dress code is pink.
My attitude now is live life to the full.
My best wishes to you and your family. Good luck!!
I was dx in May, WLE in June and started chemo July. It was (notice I say ‘was’) grade 3, 3cms and had spread to 3 lymphs nodes. The surgery was nowhere near as bad as I was expecting. I had node clearance too. Started the exercises the day after, out of hospital after 5 days and wouldn’t say it was painful, more uncomfortable. I had total mobility back in my arm within a fortnight. My boob is now fine and you can’t even notice anything with a bra on.
You’ll be fine - honestly. Try not to worry (easier said than done). It is scary but you will ‘get your head round it’. It’s amazing how adaptable we all are. Give yourself some little treats to look forward to and keep yourself busy. I was cooking for England, making sure the frezzer was well stocked. It was just my way of keeping busy.
Thank you for your messages, the op day is getting close now and I can’t seem to think of anything else. I work full time as a secretary to the Managing Director and worry about going back to work after the op, how long I will be off for etc.
I have had quite a bad 2 years on and off firstly me and my hubby have been trying for a baby for 5 plus years and was told because hubby had a very low sperm count and bad motility that we would need IVF, we had 2 goes at this first one in March 2007 and then again in April 2008, both didn’t work and we were then told that we could not have anymore treatment (we paid privately for the two goes we did) as it would not work and we were wasting our time. Then finding the lump and being told I had breast cancer really is the final straw, it’s like being kicked whilst your down.
Anyway I am trying just to take each day as it comes and take it one step at a time.
Will let you know how the op goes on Friday once they let me out of hospital. I suppose the next step will be finding out if they have got all the cancer out and fingers crossed it hasn’t gone into my lymph nodes.
Just reading your thread Maria, so sorry to hear of your troubles with conception then only to be hit with BC, you poor thing! When you think things are bad you read someone else’s post, like I did yours, and think - what am I moaning about. I wish I could say something positive or helpful but I can’t so I won’t try. Will you consider having eggs removed if you need chemo for some other fertility treatment? I don’t know if you can have eggs alone frozen and not embryos as IVF and infertility is not something I have had to suffer so sorry if thats a silly question.
Hope your op goes well on Friday and sending much love and cyber hugs, xxx
Thanks for your reply, we have stopped all fertilty treatment and no they would not collect my eggs as I am so near 40 now, me and hubby decided at the start of our fertility treatment that if we could not have a biological child together then we would just have get over it and move on, which is what we have done. We moved house in June and enjoy our holidays to Goa, was looking to book to go in January but now we will have to see what happens after my op.
So BC is just another part of our lives we just have to get over and move on, however hard that will be.
Anyone else near me between Skipton and Keighley West/North Yorkshire border.
I too am really sorry to hear about the problems you’ve had over the past couple of years. BC often seems to hit when you’re down. Last year was an horrendous year for us. My father died and within 3 weeks my father-in-law too, so we were thinking that 2008 couldn’t get any worse and then BC…
Work - I had my WLE in the middle of June and got my results 2 weeks later which showed that chemo was necessary. So after finishing work in the middle of June I didn’t go back until the end of August when I was half way thro’ chemo. I don’t finish chemo until the end of November but am managing to work about 5 hours a day with just the odd day off. Everyone is different. Until you know your treatment plan it’s difficult to say how long you will be off work.
You have the right approach in crossing one bridge at a time. Don’t look too far forward and try not to ‘google’ too much. I scared myself silly looking at all the what ifs and maybes.
We live in Manchester but my mother-in-law lives in Barlick and are often over that way, in fact we’re in Skipton this week-end, and my husband went to school in Keighley.
Take care, good luck for Friday and let us know how you go on.
Well its now a week today since my WLE and i was let out of hospital on Tuesday once my drain could be removed. Still feeling a bit sore but doing my exercises and can move my arm freely, boob is still a bit tender and swollen.
Last Friday I was doing really well before surgery, was told I was 3rd on the list and should be going down at about 11am, 11.30 came and went and then it suddenly hit me and i could not stop crying, the nurse finally came to collect me at 12.10 to walk down to theater, and then they weren’t ready for me and had to wait in the anesthetic room for anther 20 minutes. they put me to sleep at about 12.30 and i woke up in recovery at 2.10pm and was taken to the ward for my after care, panicked a bit when I was told I had 1 drain, as I was excepting 2 and thought the surgeon had not done what I was told was going to happen, just turned out I only needed a drain from my boob not from the lymph nodes.
Result day is Tuesday so will be keeping everything crossed that they got a good clear margin.
Glad you’re doing well after the op. I too was expecting 2 drains and woke up with 1 and like you had no trouble doing the exercises etc. I’m now 4 months past surgery and have had no trouble at all. I do all the things I did before but am a bit careful about lifting heavy bags etc.
Dont’ worry about the tears, I’m sure you’ll have more before you’re done. It’s normal. It’s all a big shock but once you know what treatment you’re going to have you’ll feel better and even better once that’s started. Results Tuesday? The waiting is the worst, but as I say once you know your treament plan the feeling is ‘bring it on’ and you’ll just want to get on with it.
Good luck for Tuesday and let us know how you get on.
Been for my results today and its good news, the surgeon got all the cancer out and it has not spread to my lymph nodes, so no more surgery or chemo, just radiotheraphy and tamoxifen to look forward to. I am so relieved its untrue. Appointment on Thursday to discuss the radiotheraphy so i will find out more then.
My boob is still very sore so my BC nurse says it may be about 2 weeks before i start radio. Will take a look on the Radiotherapy thread for more information.
Maria Hi.
Good news… the best result of a difficult situation. I too was told the cancer had not spead to the nodes and i have started my rads. Today will be my 7 out of 15. I am on Tamoxifen also.
The most stressful part of the rads is the travelling. I live in Warrington and travel to Clatterbridge which is 45-50 minutes each way. But its a small price to pay to make sure the cancer is blasted away (just in case there are some tiny ones thinking of starting up!)
My arm ached more than my boob …in fact i have days when it starts for no reason. I also have lost some of my sensation from under my arm too. But i will adjust.
Good luck with your rads i am sure you will sail through.
Thanks for your messages, I have been today to discuss rads and have been told that as my boob is still very sore, swollen and bruised that they may wait about 2 weeks before my planning as they don’t want to tattoo me and then things move once the swelling has gone down. So may be looking at another 3 - 4 weeks before I can get started on the rads. I am also dreading the travelling, I live near Skipton, North Yorkshire and will have to travel to St James, Leeds. So just over 1 hour each way, bit of a pain, but has to be done.
Hi Maria just read your thread Like me with the same results just Rads and Arimidex for 5yrs.Finished them just over 5weeks ago.The most tiring is the traveling back and to everyday and I’m lucky that I only live 15min from Manchester Christie Hospital Where the staff are really lovely and treat you as a person.My bust went quite red esp underneath so decided to ditch the bra through out,they gave me cream to rub into the area 3/4 times aday.It has been fine.Even the tattoo’s are so small where they lined me up.Like Mal said it will all be over for Christmas best of luck xxx
I am still a bit concerned with my boob as it is still very tender and rock hard around the scar and underneath, also my nipple really hurts, I will see what it’s like on Monday and ring my breast care nurse if its no better. Just want the rads over and done with and get some normal life back.
Hi Maria,I had my WLE on the 23rd July and scar is still rock hard.My nipple also hurt for a few weeks after but then as the bruising went down it did ease quite a bit.Yes you must ring the Breast nurse with your concerns even if its just to put your mind at ease.All the best xxxxxxx
