Hi sodastream. You've obviously given your decision a lot of thought, i have to say a double for me would have been an easier decision than one because of the cosmetics. Fingers crossed your surgeon will do both at the same time.
Hope the chemo is'nt taking too much of a toll so far. I've got my oncology appt next thursday to find out the regeime, but i know it will be aggressive due to a grade 3 tripple neg. I had a lumpectomy in the end as the tumour was only 12mm, however 1 lymph and vascular involvement, so spread is a high risk. In the meantime in limbo again and tourchuring myself on google, trying to find answers to questions as i'm not getting any response to phone messages to bc nurse - dont think i sound desperate enough!
Good luck with the ongoing treatment, i will probably be joining the july thread!
Sending love. Hbunny xx
Hi sodastream. Just wondering how you are doing, hope you are ok. What decision did you make re your surgery. Sorry its been a long time since i caught up with this thread and lost touch a little.
I have appt for results of wle and lymph biopsy tomorrow, so should have more info and hopefully a plan. Keeping everything crossed for clear margins and nodes, but getting anxious after being quite relaxed since the op 2 weeks ago.
Best wishes and take care. Hbunny
Hi carole
Thanks for your thoughts. Op date is now 23may, 2nd biopsy 13th and results of that on 15th. Comments are right your feet dont touch the ground. Hopefully that will give a little more info to decide which avenue to go down, leaning towards mastectomy at the mo, but only if that means a simple implant job rather than the full lot.
Hope you are starting to feel better after your op, try and do what we all preach and take good care of yourself. Good luck with your results. Let me know your news. X hbunny
Hi carole. . Well apologies i thought i had sent the above on 8th, but dont think it went. Have you had your results yet, just wondering how things are and hoping the results were good for you. Im now looking forward to fri and just getting on with things! Take care hbunny
Hi, trying to get my head around the questions too. Although its difficult when trying to second guess results. Not sure i could live with the uncertainty of leaving the calculations brewing and maybe facing all this again. So like you will probably go for mx. Any idea if the way a mx is approached will have a factor in your final options, or is an mx an mx?
Just when you think you have it sorted it all changes again because of something you didnt consider or noone thought to tell you.
Hope you get the answers you need to make your decision. Let me know if you get on. Look after you. X hbunny
Hi, apparently the surgeon where i live will only do the dorsi flap op rather than implants, which is likely to be a much bigger op and recovery. Will need to think about private as the end result as you say is the important thing and is what would make my mind up. Also told he wont do a double just deal with the cancer side first, which dont make much sence to me, as i was pulled in that direction, i think totally flat would be easier to cope with than one sided.
Also only have small breasts, its not like im wanting an angelina jolee, and a double mx would at least even things up.
Chin up. Hbunny
Very wise words. Thank you.
What type of reconstruction are you facing, although i know its a while away it will be worth it in the end and you will have boobs to be proud of. Something to look forward to. Take care. Hbunny
Hi Ladies
Glad you got out today Sheryl and glad everything seems under control with some positive results and you can look to start the chemo soon.
It's all such an emotional waiting game Hbunny isn't it and I'm not surprised you feel like losing it. That's where this forum is so useful - you can say how you feel, ask any questions and someone always comes back to you. I've spent many sleepless nights just looking back through various threads and learnt a lot. Most of all that someone, somewhere has been through it before and come out the other end!
Take care, Gill
Hi donner and everyone else addicted to this site. Finally got my results this am. As suspected bc grade 3. That would be ok, but still needing biopsy for calcification, if that comes back with cancer cells, then have no option but a mastectomy, if negative then can do lumpectomy, both with lymph tests. Looks like lm in for the long haul. Just been looking at prosectics (sorry re spelling) sites and got really upset.
Im not a candidate however for reconstruction at same time as im also diabetic which will create problems for anasetic and healing not to mention chemo or rad therapy. Just seems all a bit too much right now, trying to take one problem at a time but starting to loose it.
Thanks to all for never ending support.
Hbunny
Hi hbunny
sorry to hear you too may have breast cancer
I too had calcifications....... they are are mostly benign (not cancer). However, sometimes calcifications can be an early sign of breast cancer and can accompany a tumour adding to the overall size of tissue removed
if you want to learn more look at http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/breast-cancer-information/breast-awareness/benign-breast-conditio...
I hope yur results come back with good news.........my friend was like yours and came back clear 2 weeks ago xxx Donna
Hello hbunny
Welcome to the forums.
As well as the support you will receive on the forums we also have our helpline where the staff are there to offer emotional support as well as practical information. The free phone number is 0808 800 6000 and the lines are open Monday to Friday 9.00 to 5.00 and Saturday 10.00 to 2.00.
best wishes
June, moderator
Hi Sodastream
You sound like you've got a lovely family.It's such a help isn't it and wonderful when the kids step up to the mark . I think, unlike the majority of ladies, men find it very hard to discuss their feelings. I know my husband finds it hard to talk to his family and friends and in fact still hasn't told his closest friend about all this. At least he's got the patience of a saint listening to all my moans and groans.
All the best, Gill
Hi Everyone,
I completely empathise with how you are feeling.I had a WLE and SNB, with 10 of 11 lymph nodes affected,at the end of March. I had a ct scan and a bone scan which were both clear and HER2 was negative, but until I got those results I was so scared, but at the same time kept so busy, allowing myself no time to brood.
I have just begun chemo fec x 4, follwed by another drug that escapes my mind x 12 then the tablet, So although the treatment seems endless, hopefully it will be worth it all in the end ladies xx Ruth xx Good Luck to you all xx
Hi...I,'ve been reading these posts and want to reassure you ladies that there is life after a cancer dx. I am 2 and a half yrs post right Mx grade 3, 3cm tumour 2 nodes from 11 positive. I found my gremliin less than 12 months after a clear mammo, I had fecT x 6 and am now on tamoxifen. It is scary at first but once the treatment plan is in place you,ll soon be out and NED...no evidence of disease... keep your chin up ladies...chemo is no picnic but it,s doable...take one day at a time and you,ll get there...virtual hugs to you all ....apple
That's reassuring Hazel. As you say it's proof that the chemo does the trick.
Had my 1st chemo of FEC-T this afternoon and am feeling very "spaced out" . I'm trying to think of it as flooding through my system killing off all those ******* cancer cells that have slipped through my lymph nodes !
Sleep well everyone,
Gill
Hi Springstream,
I know how you feel about all the add ons after being diagnosed. As I have had BC previously -11 years ago- I automatically had to have a CT & Bone scan after my new BC diagnosis in Feb.Like you, too, I had a grade 3, 4cm tumour which when removed the surgeon likened to 2 golf balls side by side (and even then he didn't get clear margins so will need further surgery) The CT scan was fine but the bone scan showed up a "tiny"spot on my ribs. I was panicked about that and like you I was petrified that it had got into my bones but have been too scared to look it up further!. When they had a second look and discussion about my results they decided it was not enough to worry about and my treatment was to go ahead as planned. I'm to have another bone scan in 6 months. With my first chemo tomorrow to be followed by a further op and radiotherapy it has now gone to the back of my mind. In my imagination I am hoping if there is anything there the chemo will blast it away !
This forum is such a good source of mutual exchange of information, tips and encouragement that I am getting seriously addicted.
Take care and all the best, Gill X
Hi
I too was diagnosed last week with Grade 3, 4cm breast cancer and am seeing the oncologist on Wednesday so was amazed your incredibly similar experience was the first post I've read, Sodastream, on any cancer site. I've been avoiding reading up as I'm a wimp and don't want to read about possible downsides - most unlike me not to run straight to the internet - but thought I should get a bit more genned up before my oncology appointment.
I've had a chest x-ray, microbubble to look at the lymph nodes, ultrasound of my organs and am waiting for an appointment for a bone scan. I saw the consultant surgeon when I received my diagnosis and he said I would probably be having chemo to shrink the lump before surgery, possibly a lumpectomy but probably a mastectomy. Your post, RevCat, has made me realise there are advantages to going this route, such as seeing if a particular chemo is working - thank you for that. Otherwise, I've been thinking thinking that provided the tumour is not attached to my chest wall I'd much rather they just took the bally lot off.
So sorry you have had such a worrying scan result, Springsteen1. I do hope you get good news from the bone scan. Deep breath for all of us waiting for results. Sue xx
Hi Springsteen
Please do give our helpline team a ring and talk over with them your worries and concerns, they're here to support you through this. Lines open again tomorrow morning at 9am, calls are free 0808 800 6000
Take care,
Jo, Moderator
Thanks, I just feel so depressed now, can't bear the thought of getting more positive only to be slashed down again if the bone scan comes back with bad news.Think maybe ,if can pluck up courage will look up bone cancer and try and get used to idea I might have it and try to accept it before bone scan. Just can't bear any more bad news out of the blue .
I was so looking forward to this week too, daughters birthday , going to a gig, and a friends birthday party and mothers birthday and campfire night in garden. Now its just chemo with the prospect of feeling awful and even more bad news. It just feels like a nightmare which I cant wake up from. The more my family tell me I'll be fine the more I feel like screaming. Cancer is so alienating, I feel so cut off from normal life.
Hi Sodastream,
Donnas advice I would seconf completely. When I was initially diagnosed, I was looking at endless sites on the web, scaring myself witless and stopped researching in the end.
I had my first chemo today and the nurses were great and in a very calm environment. They answered my endless questions which they have probably heard a hundred times before 🙂 I opted for the cold cap, so I was there for 4 hours, but time passed by quickly.Good Luck with everything xx Ruth xx
Hi Springsteen,
Try not to worry about the scans , I know it is difficult. I had to have a ct and bone scan,following a lumpectomy and lymph node removal...10 of which were affected. Whilst awiaitng results, I kept myself so busy , I zonked out at night, giving myself no time to brood at all. Sure, I was scared,but both my results were clear thankfully.Heres hoping you get great results. xx Ruth xx
I dont know what grade I am ,feel so scared I did not ask. I was diagnosed on 15 April 2014(out of the blue) with a large tumour (left breast) and affected nodes, and have found it really hard since to stay calm.I have 2 or 3 calm days doing lots of positive affirmations and visualisations and positive pep talk then find myself in the depths of despair.
Yesterday I had a CT scan (spiralled into panic attack rest of day ...awful ,couldnt get out of it) and saw the onc today.He said my vital organs are clear but there is a speck on my pelvis so now I have to have a bone scan.
I am starting FEC-T chemotherapy on friday .I feel in a daze, how can this be happening, I was a normal person 3 weeks ago ,My daughter is 18 tomorrow and I feel my life is effectively over.
I have read lots of the posts and hope I can drag myself out of this pit of horror but all I can think about is I could have bone cancer and that means no cure. My youngest is 12 yrs ,I need to stick around but will I? The chemo side effects sound horrendous but I can cope with that I hope but it is the scan result that has completely knocked me for six.
Hi Sodastream
I too was diagnosed with a fast growing grade 3 tumour. It started out as 2.2cm,grade 2 but by the time I got to surgery 2 weeks later, it was 3cm,grade 3, node postitive.Surgeon said if they had known it had grown so quickly I would have had chemo first. At the time I was relieved as I thought I wouldn't have been able to bear not having the lump removed from my body. However, given the choice today, I would opt for chemo first as you do get the reassurance of whether the chem is having any affect and change treatment if necessary. The chemo I had was FEC. Tax. was not on offer for me 11 years ago.
Hi Sodastream
the one piece of advice I would give is stop researching. We all do it and it makes it worse....this is your journey and you just want to stay positive and focused on you..........no one responds the same with side effects etc.....your oncology team will get you through this........just keep thinking ....once the chemo begins you are on your journey to a cure xxx It feels better once you start on the journey.....as though something s now being done
Don't be afraid of the chemo.......... it does not hurt..its in a calm ebvironment......and lasts about 1.5 hours to administer......they have lots of meds to deal with any side efects..........make sure you contact the team about anything...for example ....like heart burn...(common) ..dont suffer ...get tablets and its gone by the following day.......
I wish you well........ x
Hi Sodastream, I very rarely pass this way nowadays but I happened to spot your post and it chimed with my own experience back in 2010.
I had a huge tumour that seemed to appear from nowhere and was very agrressive. It transpired it was bog-standard invasice ductal carcinoma (IDC) but at 8cm at the time of diagnosis was pretty huge. My surgeon advised chemo first, and for me it was the right choice. It meant that they could be sure the chemo was working for me (I also knew on day 1 I had affected nodes) - and in fact they changed me from FEC to Taxotere (also called Docetaxol) after three cycles*** as a result of monitoring shrinkage, and said even then they still had another option if need be. It also gave me time to get my head around the mastectomy (my tumour was bang in the middle so no other option) and resontructive options... had I gone straight to surgery i'd have had about 2 weeks to work that out, as it was I had a good four months.
You will make the best call for you - and that's what matters. I am now heading towards four years since diagnosis (Aug 2010) and am fit and well... the treatment is not fun but it is doable, and although it sounds crazy now, it will fly by and you'll be the other side of it.
Take care and my very best wishes for your treatment.
*** One of the regimes is called FEC-T or FEC-D which is effectiviely what I had, it was not quite so commonlu used in my hospital at that time. Both FEC and FEC-T are really good regimes.