I had a mastectomy on 30/07/07 the cancer had spread to lymph nods.
24 where removed only 4 where pos They left about 6 in up near collar bone.
I’ve been told I need further treatment, Chemo and Radiotherapy also pos for HER2 so will be taking Herceptin.
All the info I’ve been reading seems to say radiotherapy first, then chemo, but I’m having chemo first WHY???
They did a bone scan, chest X-ray and what I thought was going to be a liver ultar sound, instead they scanned every organ? Results through on 24/07
I’ve got it into my head that the cancer has spread and thats why they are giving me chemo first.
I know I should be POSITIVE but today is a really BAD DAY.
Hi julie,
Don’t panic…I had a WLE 7 nodes removed all clear…tumour was grade 3 size 12mm…i had chemo first…i must admit there probably is some one who had rad’s first but to be quite honest everyone i know or have read about has had chemo first…so i think chemo first is probably the norm’.
Its very difficult to be positive all the time and very tiring…its only natural for the gremlins to come out and play havoc with your mind…don’t feel bad about not feeling positive…you’ve had your life turned upside down.
Please please do not panic…give your BCN a ring tomorrow if your still concerned…but honestly everyone i know including myself had chemo before radio’.
I had mastectomy and had some spread too. I am having chemo first then rad. I do not fully understand why some get treatment in the other order, but I find it helps to focus on what is happening to me. Once you get going with chemo you will find that there are all variations of chemo treatments and you will never fully understand the details of every-one’s treatment. You are not being given unusual treatment from what I gather. They just want to zap you. And make sure it is not elsewhere. I had all scans too and was clear, but was stressed out my box.
You can’t be positive all the time, this is really grim stuff. It does get easier once the treatment starts.
Hi Julie,
I had a mastectomy in March with all lymph nodes removed. Fortunately no lymph nodes were involved but the tumour was grade 3 and 37mm. I am on chemotherapy now and then will have radiotherapy and then go onto hormone therapy so I guess I am HER+, I havent been told.
I found it confusing as I only got information when I got to each stage but half the time I couldnt remember it and found I was having to read up from the leaflets and web sites. And when I was asked “do you have any questions” each time I couldnt think of any.
Good luck on your treatment. Take it as it comes and try not to worry. A day at a time and little treats if possible. And we are all with you if only in thoughts.
Lots of hugs
Margaret
Hi Julie,
everyone is different. I was dx 1st August and my surgeon actually gave me the choice as to order of treatment - i will need mastectomy, chemo, radio and probably hormone treatment. which i opted for that order. After my scans though we discussed this and i am now having chemo first - then surgery, then radio therapy.
It depends on so much.
best regards
ruth
I had my mastectomy and total axillary clearance in March. I had extensive node involvement but had been told beforehand anyway that I would be gettin chemo regardless because of my age (I was 34 at the time).
Personnally I don’t know of anyone who has had rads before chemo. I’m sure there are prob plenty of people out there who will correct me on that one, as I know every hosp and every doc seems to be singing to a different hymn sheet! Certainly where I am being treated, the ‘norm’ is defo chemo then rads.
Please don’t be worrying that you are having your treatment in an unorthodox order cause you are definately not!! I wish you well as you wait for your scan results on the 24th. We all know how horrid it is waiting for test results. I will be thinking of you and have my fingers and toes crossed already!
Take care and be sure to let us know how you get on,
I had my mastectomy in december last year, and 25 lymph nodes removed…5 came back manky and 3 had burst. Had all the scans x rays and relevent poking and prodding…then had chemo…then rads (about to start) and anti-hormone (tamoxifen started few weeks back).
Dont think that everything is all back to front, cos its not chica. The norm from what I can see from my hozzie is chemo, rads, etc…ive not known anyone have rads first and then chemo. Good luck with your test results chica. They are doing everything they can and chucking all the big guns at you to get rid of these blinking cells
I am also having chemo first then radiotherapy. From what I have read, I think maybe it used to be done in the reverse order, but I definitely get the impression from this site that chemo first seems to be the norm now.
hope were putting your mind at rest, I had chemo first, then Op and then Rads, I saw the Rads as the last part just to get rid of anything “stray” that was still lurking about on the breast wall, it was a safety thing. But as someone has pointed out everyone is different. Speak to the BCN tomorrow to put your mind at rest, at the beginning i would spend days stewing over something minor now i ring the BCN/Mcmillian nurse all the time and she puts my mind at rest.
They left about 6 in up near collar bone.