I am currently undergoing chemo treatment for breast cancer (told this week it is T4).
The cancer has come as a complete shock to me. I am (or thought I was) a very fit 48 year old with no family history of cancer. It never occurred to me that I would every get cancer. I try to stay positive but the news keeps getting worse.
I have had three doses (FEC) of chemo but this has had little impact on the tumour (over 5cm and sticking to the wall of the breast) and my next treatments will be taxotere. I was then told this week that I would need a mastectomy (again a shock as I thought the tumour would be reduced and I would get a lumpectomy). I will now be seeing my surgeon on the 28th November to discuss options. I have a couple of questions if anyone can help:
Will I be able to get a reconstruction with the surgery? The thought of living with only one breast is horrifying.
What are the circumstances where I would not get a reconstruction. Does a T4 tumour mean that it would not be possible
Does a T4 tumour mean that survival will not be long term? I am now beginning to think this as the news keeps getting worse. I have had friends who have had cancer - go the lump taken out, chemo and radiotherapy and have had no problems - but mine seems to be different.
Can anyone help me with these questions? I am getting more and more worried
Just wanted to reply but cant help you.I dont understand T4.I know there are 4 stages and 3 grades.Minw was grade2 stage1/2 and I had 4xFEC and 4x taxotere after a lumpectomy.I am sure someone will be along to help you soon.Why not go on Live Chat tonight at 9pm.You should also ring the BCC hepline tomorrow where you will find informed professional help.Good Luck,Valxx
Dear Susan
Welcome to the BCC forums, you may find our resource pack helpful, it has been designed for those newly diagnosed. If you would like a copy just follow the link below to order a copy:
In addition to the support you have here, if you feel it would help to talk to someone in confidence about the concerns you have, then please give the helpline a call, the staff here are all either breast care nurses or people who have personal experience of breast care issues. They can offer you a listening ear, support and information about other services we can offer you to help you through this difficult time. The number to call is 0808 800 6000 the lines open Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm and Saturdays 9am - 2pm.
When you say T4 do you think the doctor said “ST 4” meaning stage 4. Cancer goes in grades and stages, so grades 1 - 3 and stages 1 -4. The grade number is how aggressive it is (or not) and the stage number is if it is in situ or has spread. Can you call the doctor or your breast nurse and ask for clarification and also ask the questions you have mentioned above?
Breast cancer patients don’t ususally talk about T4 because doctors don’t usually say much about it but what it means is this:
cancer stageing (how far the cancer has spread rather than grading which is about the aggressivness of the caner cells) is done using the TNM system where T=tumour, N-number of nodes involved and M=metasteses (distant spread) or not.
Tumours are staged T1, T2, T3, T4. Criteria for this stageing include the size of the tumour but a T4 (the highest T stage) is when the tumour is fixed to the chest wall or the skin or where inflammatory breast cancer is present.
T4 is NOT the same as stage 4: satge 4 cancer relates to metastesis…ie. has the cancer spread to other parts of the body such as liver, lungs etc.
Its not wonderful news having a tumour which is stuck to your chest wall but other factors such as the grade of the tumour, whether it has spread to your lymh nodes, whether it has oetrogen rectors…all these will play a part in your prognosis.
Please do talk to your medical team about these issues and about whether reconstruction is possible…only your doctor can explain this. Personally I have found living witrh one breast the least horrific part of the whole breast cancer expereince but for many the thought of matsectomy is horrible…please try to ake all the support you can from talking to your medical team and breast care nurse.
The CRUK site has information about the TNM system…just google.
Thank you all for your replies. It’s taken me a few weeks to jump into participate in the forms (although I have been reading them).
I will probably phone the helpline today just to get more information.
I have been told I am between Stages 2 & 3 and also that there is no spread so this has kept me positive but this week has really floored me. I am coming to this with complete ignorance and I probably haven’t had enough information to ask the right questions.
Don’t worry about the ignorance - if you read the disdussions on here you will pick up a lot. There are some very knowledgable ladies here, who make it their business to be well informed.
I, too, was a very fit 44 year old at dx. Although there was cancer in my family (I fully expected to get bowel cancer in my 60s) the thought of breast cancer never crossed my mind. In fact, as I could answer no to all the risk factors, I had thought about it, and dismissed it as a possibility. I think I was probably quite smug about it.
As for reconstruction - this I think is where it is a bit of a lottery. A lot of surgeons refuse to do an immediate reconstruction if you will be going on to have radiotherapy, as they say that the radio can damage the reconstruction (this is what I was told when I asked for an immediate reconstruction) whereas when I come on her, it is obvious to me that others are getting immediate reconstuctions even tho’ they are going on to have radiotherapy. So I think it comes down to the opinion of the individual surgeon. If I had known then (in Feb 07 at dx) what I know now, I think I would have pushed harder for it, but I don’t know if I would have got anywhere. The problem with a delayed reconstruction is that you have to put yourself forward for more surgery & recovery time when you are feeling well again. I’m not sure it’s a route I can go down.
I hope the tax works for you. It seems to me that it is a more toxic chemo, which gives better results, but that it is harder to tolerate at the time. I found it pretty unpleasant, but I am so glad I had it as I feel it has given me a better prognosis.
Yes - the tax is concerning - I knew it was going to be worse (in terms of how I will be feeling) as I have to take 8 steroid tablets a day during the treatment!!!