I am new to this but feel really scared about my test results.I’m 35 years old with two children aged 3 and 5.I was diagnosed mid Jan and was told they thought it was grade 2 with possibly 2 tumours in left breast 10mm and 18mm in size.Had mast with SNB and implants in both breasts (as lymph appeared clear on scans and mri)2 weeks ago,and just received results.I have grade 3,6cm invasive ductal,with 2/9 lymph nodes affected.It’s also oestrogen related.I have to have ct scans and full clearance in a week,followed by chemo and rads.
I feel devastated by the results.I’ve been really positive up till now but now I’m really scared about what this means.Has anyone else had a tumour of this size,and if so,how are you doing now?
Hi Cluck,
A year ago this month I was diagnosed with a 12cm (yes 12CM) grade 3 stage 3 tumour. Stage 3 because my skin was also affected. Mine was hormone negative but HER2+. I had chemo, mastectomy and ANC, then rads. By the time I had my mastectomy the chemo had reduced the tumour to 1.5cm. This week I went back to work.
I know how frightening your results must seem but modern treatments really are very effective. I won’t say it has been easy but taking each step at a time and not looking too far ahead helped for me. I also had great support from family and friends and learned how to let people help.
Like most of us I still worry about recurrance and spread but for now I’m cancer free and getting my life back. I’m sure once you have your treatment plan in place you will begin to feel less afraid.
Good luck and I hope the treatments are kind.
Jan xxx
Hi Cluck and welcome to the club none of us wanted to join - but you will find so much support on here, so glad you’ve found us.
This really is the scariest and most awful time but I think that once you start treatment and have a “game plan” so to speak, it’s easier to cope with it all.
If you read my profile, you’ll see that the tumour in my right breast was 4.5cms, grade 2 stage 2 and I had widespread DCIS in the left, when I was diagnosed 8 years ago at the age of 44.
I had bilateral mx, 8 cycles chemo and 25 rads and remain well with no evidence of further disease, although I’m very aware of just how unpredictable this s***** disease is - and how that can change so quickly.
Rest assured that there is life after a bc diagnosis - although a different one - and I would never have imagined myself saying that 8 years ago!
Please feel free to ask ANYTHING, even if you think it sounds silly - trust me it won’t be - or pm me if you prefer, anytime.
Take care x
Hi
I was diagnosed with an 8.5cm tumour in my right breast a year ago. I had psychic healing - sometimes they call it universal healing - no other treatment was offered before my mx. When they removed my tumour 6 weeks later, it was 4.5cm. They had no explanation for the difference.
I adopted various diet changes to help to minimise oestrogen in my body. I went veggie, little or no dairy, definitely no soya which I am told has oestrogen in it, little or no tap water which when I investigated seems a bit full of undesirable stuff.
I asked a doc about the size and she said, she’s seen people with tiny tumours go on and get worse and others with sizeable ones, just stay ok so I take a bit of courage from that.
all the best,
jane
Hi Jane,Most women are offered chemotherapy before surgery if the tumour is large.I’m sorry but I cant believe that psychic healing,change of diet can reduce a tumour by 4cm in just 6 weeks, even at all.Just my opinion.Also scans sometimes do not give an accurate size of tumour,although iv’e never heard of a 4cm difference 
best wishes Mel x.
Hi,
Mine was originally measured at 7.5 x 5.5cm so I had chemo first to see if it would shrink enough for mx. 8 courses reduced it by approx half and made it more diverse but when the tumour started shrinking, it became apparent it was actually 2 tumours that had ‘met’ up. I then had the mx, anc and rads and am on hormone therapy cos I was 100% ER+ & PR+.
I was 42 at the time and am now almost 3 yrs down the line and feeling ok. Unfortunately the bc had spread to my bones but that is being controlled and I am still under the care of the medics but all is fine. My onc also said that some large tumours respond well and there are no further problems and sometimes small tumours can suddenly spread - there’s no certainty and they can’t predict it.
Hope you get sorted soon and all goes well.
Liz
Hi Cluck
I was diagnosed in Mar 09 with invasive ductal bc. The scan showed 2 areas, felt like 2 lumps but the path report showed they were joined and like you I had a 6cm tumour. I wasn’t offered chemo before surgery but had a mx, chemo and rads. I am triple negative (no oestrogen or HER receptors) so no further treatment but I am feeling well now.
Like you I was scared by the fact that my lump seemed much bigger than most others but I tried to focus on the fact that it had been taken away by the op and the rest of the treatment was going to keep it away.
Good luck with your treatment.
Joss
Thanks for all the comments.Feeling a lot more positive now.Ct scan and rest of lymph nodes were clear.Had meeting with onc yesterday who explained everything in detail(looks like tumour was mostly DCIS,which had two areas that had changed to grade 3.Said still same treatment/prognosis,but made me feel better).Explained that if I have all the treatment they recommend-chemo,rads and hormone treatment,prognosis would double.Feel happy for the first time in months,chemo starts next wednesday and I’m going to try not to think about worst case scenarios anymore.Have decided to take kids to Disney for christmas ,when all treatment should be finished.It’s nice to have something to get excited about.
Thanks again for all the comments,it makes you feel much better to hear about other people who are further along .
Hi Cluck
I am having same treatment plan as you. I am halfway through mine. Head 3 fec, finishing yesterday and 3 tax starting in 3 weeks time. My tumour was 4.6 cm and I had a scan yesterday and it is now 4. The doctor and onc were both pleased as this was good for only having finished 2 cycles. I hope this helps and as I am a little further down the line feel free to ask me anything at all
Hi Cluck,
So glad you are feeling more positive now. Hopefully the chemo will do the job for you.
I have a few pointers from my own experience that might help over the next few months. I was worried that my tumour didn’t seem to be reducing much while I was on chemo. However, the pathology report after surgery showed that most of what was left was dead cells. The relief was huge but it was very worrying until I could be sure.
Be careful about booking a holiday to USA too soon. You may be very very tired at the end of your treatment and you are unlikely to get insurance to cover cancellation or medical expenses for a US holiday so soon after diagnosis (I tried and failed). Not saying don’t do it because everyone is different and some people sail through chemo. Discuss it with your medical team and be prepared for the possibility of losing the money if you can’t make the dates you’ve booked for.
Good luck with the treatments.
Jan xxx
Hi there. I can relate to several of you on this. I thought I was one of the only ones with a 4cm lump but it seems not. I had 8 chemos the second 4 reducing the lump considerably (to 0.8cm) and then had a mastectomy and rad. A year on, and getting my results from mammogram tomorrow and hope that I’m alright. Worrying of course but I guess this is normal? I was told the same about the size of tumours but the Breast Care Nurse. There is no evidence to suggest that those with larger tumours have a recurrance so we have to stay positive but it doesn’t stop the anxiety.X
Cluck - I agree with the comments about going to the US - insurance is a big issue, and I would recommend doing some research before booking. There is an insurance discussion here somewhere that might help.
Thanks for advice,will wait till after chemo and rads before booking holiday,to see if I’m up to it.It’s nice to dream though!
Hi I was only diagnosed on Tuesday, and I’m 5cm, so am not far behind you Cluck. Just wanted to say thank you to all though, as reading all of the comments has really helped. My main worry now is the spread to the lymph nodes. I think I’m quite unusual as I found out on the day of diagnosis (the ultrasound showed two enlarged nodes and aa FNB showed cancerous cells in one), so now I’m terrified it’s spread to a secondary. I can’t stop anxting about it. Can’t tell you how helpful it is to hear women on here talk who have found cancer in lymph glands too.
Hi everyone, I’m another who had a large tumour.Originally I was told my lump was a fatty lump, however 6 months later I was seen again as I was convinced it had got much bigger, only to discover it was a grade 2 cancer.It had grown to 11cm by 8cm, scary typing that even now!!! That was Nov 2007, I had chemo first to shrink it then mastectomy then rads then a bit more chemo cos it was in some lymph nodes. I was up for any treatment offered and hopefully it all did it’s stuff! I still worry about recurence,I’m sure we all do, and I never asked for prognosis figures. It’s good to hear that some of you have been told that some small cancers come back and some large ones don’t. Any positive comments help don’t they? Hope all goes well with your treatments Cluck and Julie, and anyone else reading this going through chemo and rads.
Love Smiler x
I’m still early days and finishing chemo, but I had a 4cm tumour, grade 3, 20/23 nodes affected. My oncologist seems more worried about the high lymph node involvement than the size of the tumour.
I’m er+, pr+ and HER2+ so am getting every treatment under the sun - but my bone and ct scans were clear, back in October when I had them, so I have faith it hasn’t spread yet and the treatments will hold it at bay.
We have to have faith that everything that can be done, is being fone. It helps to keep me calm anyway!!
Flora xxxx
Hi Flora,
Good to hear you’re still vaguely in one piece. Must have been scary hearing so many of the nodes were affected. Did they discover that by complete clearance then? Am guessing so. Hope you continue to be so positive. You’ve given me a bit of hope, so thank you! xj
- smiler 11, wow that is big - that must have been terrifying when they told you the size. I’m sure recurrence is always in the back of your mind, but that moment of no more treatment must feel brilliant. Can I ask you a question? My Consultant mentioned they might do chemo first with me to shrink the tumour. Am a bit confused though, as if like you I still have a mastectomy, what’s the point in shrinking it first…? Did they ever explain that to you? Great to know you’re still clear. Thanks for taking the time to post. xj
Hi All
I was dx with a 3.5 cms lump and 3/24 nodes. I’m now nearly two years out and am doing really well. I remember the early days well - thinking about my funeral etc etc but now I’m getting on with life and enjoying it. You do get over it (but never forget it) and life takes on a different meaning
Mal x
Hi Julie,
You asked why you need chemo first if you are having a mastectomy anyway. Two reasons. Firstly, they need to be sure of getting clear margins even with a mastectomy (ie that they get all of the primary tumour out). Secondly, the chemo will target any stray cells that might have broken away but be too small to detect on a scan or biopsy.
One of the advantages I found of doing it this way is that you can see for yourself how the chemo is working to reduce the tumour.
Hope this helps.
Jan xx
I think I’m the winner so far in the ‘largest lump’ category as mine was 15cm (!!!) at diagnosis. It was also found in at least 2 lymph nodes during my first appointment at the breast clinic (checked during core biopsy). I had bone, ct and mri scans that showed no further spread - big relief!
I also had chemo first to shrink the tumour as it was way too large to be sure of getting clear margins. I have to agree with Jan about the advantage of chemo first in showing if it’s working or not as I had 4 cycles of FEC that shrank the lump to 4cm and then started weekly Taxol which sadly didn’t work for me as I had an ultrasound last week (after 5 doses of Taxol) which showed that the lump has grown slightly since finishing the FEC. That being the case I’ve stopped chemo and am having my Mx and ANC on tuesday. I’m very glad that the FEC had such a great effect so that surgery is now possible and as we now know that Taxol isn’t right for me I’ll be having a diferent chemo after surgery - probably more FEC.
Linda
xx