Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Stefy, Sorry you find yourself here but welcome. I am not currently having chemo as my treatment so cant offer advice on that but there are lots of lovely ladies on here who I am sure will be able to help. My diagnosis was 2 lumps of grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma and some DCIS. I had a lumpectomy in July and having another surgery on Friday as they didn't quite get it all. Hopefully I will have radiotherapy but may have chemo, its not clear yet. I hope you find the answers you are looking for and best of luck. Jo xx   ... View more

Hi Carole, Sorry you've had a BC diagnosis but you're in the right place for advice and support. I was diagnosed in June with 2 lumps and like you, left breast. I had a lumpectomy and sentinel node removal op in July and unfortunately they found some DCIS so are going back in to take that out this Friday. I think I am still somewhat in denial, even writing this it feels like it isn't really happening to me. I too was terrified of the op but it wasn't that bad and I'm still worried about what's next but the thing I've found is that with time you do accept it and it isn't quite as scary.  My advice is ask as many questions as you like & don't be afraid to call your nurse. Use this forum to see what has happened to other people but don't assume it will be the same for you, all our paths are different. Best of luck tomorrow. Jo x ... View more

Hi Claudia, I know it seems crazy that there are so many different options open to them for treatment but I guess that's a good thing too. It's certainly much more complex than prostate cancer which my husband had a couple of years ago. I keep ribbing him that he got the easy cancer!!  😉lol! Hope that the MRI goes ok today and there's plenty of shrinkage. Take care, Jo x ... View more

Hi Louise, That's awesome news!!! Hurray, I'm really pleased you can have the immediate reconstruction that will be much better for you, won't it. Shame its still a few weeks off but if they've said it hasn't grown then that is great news too. Sorry that it might still be chemo, that's my concern at the moment too. I've spent the last week at work, seeing my lovely colleagues and generally behaving like there is no cancer diagnosis. It was nice even though false but it felt good to be just me, not poor Jo with cancer for a few days. Covid test tomorrow and then 3 days isolating followed by surgery on Friday. Not worried this time really, I'm just pleased they're leaving my lumph nodes alone as that hurt for a long time.  Jo xx     ... View more

Hi Louise, I hope you're having the most wonderful weekend celebrating with your family!  Yes the soreness is wearing isn't it and my armpit is still giving me some trouble, less every day though.  I agree re: asking the questions and not feeling bad about about doing so. I feel so much better since getting the next steps outlined more fully (I must be a control freak 😉) and even better now they have told me I don't have to self isolate until after my covid test on the 18th ready for the 21st surgery date. Yay what a relief! We went to coast but it was heaving so didn't stop and drove up the coast a little but it was all very busy. No ice cream either!!! Very disappointing lol - but nice to be out and about.  Keeping my fingers crossed for your results this week. xxxx ... View more

Hi Claudia, glad you got your treatment on Monday & a positive response about your back pain. I hope you manage to rest during this round of chemo and feel strong soon. xxxx ... View more

Hello Louise!  Great to hear from you! I'm so pleased it went well on Monday, that's really good news. The anaesthetic knocked me out for a few days too, I was glad when the fog lifted 😁 Fingers crossed for your results coming back in time for Tuesday and all being clear. 🤞 Shame about the doctor being away but yes I guess it is better that they get a holiday!! I am really pleased they'll do an immediate reconstruction for you as that is something that appears to be uncommon during this situation, that's a real positive. Are you sore? How are your exercises going? I found them quite hard to begin with but hang in there they definitely get much easier. I do have a lump where my incision is but he nurse says it will go down and not to worry. I've had a bad few days, just been really down in the dumps as I couldn't get hold of any other consultants to get a second opinion about my recent results etc. even through my private healthcare as they were all on holiday! And what with another imminent self isolation I was really low. BUT then I spoke with my breast nurse and she answered all my questions around the DCIS and recurrence rates and I feel that the path they have chosen is correct. Plus then they called yesterday and confirmed the next surgery date with the surgeon I wanted at a local private hospital AND I don't have to self isolate until after my covid test 2 days before - whoop whoop! So as a long awaited outside treat we're off to Whitby in North Yorkshire today for a walk on the beautiful beach and have some fish & chips!! I hope you can get lots of rest and sleep! Enjoy the weekend. Talk soon xxxx ... View more

Hi Mel, oh that's interesting so it didn't show up on any of your scans either? I'm really worried that if they didn't know it was there how will they know they have got it all or that it isn't in the other breast? And if you are "prone" to DCIS will it just come back after the radio? Did they explain that to you? I'm so confused about this diagnosis.... Best of luck with your injection today xxx ... View more

Best of luck today Louise, hope you managed to get some sleep xx ... View more

Haha yes Dad's are good at that. I'm pleased his pep talk worked. I'm a bit the same was active before but now it's a real effort to motivate myself to get out & about. Best of luck today xxx ... View more

 Hi AgiA, Thanks for that suggestion and no not they haven't used it yet although I have tried it on my own, but it doesn't help with the kind of surgery only your life expectancy with hormone or chemo therapy. So yes I'll ask my breast nurse tomorrow. Thanks xxx ... View more

Hi Yolande, I had the same surgery July 22nd and I agree with all the advice given already. I used wipes for the first 3 days but not on the affected armpit as the dressing was already coming off. The dressing on my breast stayed put for 8 days no problem. I had a shower on day 3 and removed the armpit dressing and put another one on. Then I showered/ washed hair every other day with wipes on the other day. The armpit dressing came off again so I put a plaster over it instead. The nurse took all dressings off this Friday (so after 9 days) and everything looked good. I haven't used deodorant in that armpit yet but might try the crystal one suggested here. Totally agree with pjs with front fastening. I got front fastening bras too which were good to begin especially at night with but found they cut up into my armpit and caused a bit of swelling so switched to a vest that has one of those shelf bras in it. Best of luck with your surgery. Take care, Jo xx   ... View more

Hi Susan, Yes it is a bit up & down as it is for all of us! and yes think I'm ok but lots of questions to fire at my BCN tomorrow. Sorry about your results being delayed I hope you're ok? How are you doing with the pain today? I too have a small lump in my armpit which is sore but the nurse said it would drain away on its own and nothing to worry about. It seems worse when the bra I wear is a little too tight so I'm wearing one of those shelf style vest tops at the moment and that seems better. Best of luck for Thursday, I'll be thinking of you xxxxx   ... View more

Thanks S, I'm sorry you have been through a similar path but I'm grateful for your advice. They haven't offered a mastectomy at all for the 2nd op only the WLE/shave. Sounds like you have a good few options for the future which is great, I think I need to ask about these options too. Same as you, no onco dx test yet until after the 2nd surgery results but it will most likely be done. Great that yours came back low enough not to have to go through chemo. Best of luck starting tamoxifen & radio this week. Keep in touch & take care. Jo xx ... View more

Hi Mel, Thank you and yes clear lymph nodes is great. So did they know there was DCIS in there before your surgery then? My surgeon says they didn't know it was there. Which makes me worried that they can't detect it in my breasts, what if it is in the other one too?  They won't give me oncotype testing yet until they have the 2nd path results. Are you finished with your treatment or do you have to have more radiotherapy? Take care, Jo xxx ... View more

Hi Claudia, Hope you're doing a bit better today? Stress is a nightmare. When my husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer a while back all my chest muscles spasmed and I looked like the incredible hulk! It took a while to settle down but I thought I was having a heart attack at the time. I'm sure you've tried all sorts of things and it is difficult to switch off from all the cancer noise isn't it but maybe a nice long bath might help.  Take care, Jo xxx   ... View more

Well I think you come across brilliantly!  It was just what I needed to hear, thank you. My husband is really well now and didn't suffer too badly, thankfully but yes I do feel like we're being challenged at the moment! I'm sorry your treatment plan is taking so long you really have had a very long delay I guess mainly due to your other illness. It must be very hard on you and your family. But tomorrow is the start and then it will move quite quickly all being well. Best of luck tomorrow & let me know how you get on. Jo xxx ... View more

Hi AgiA, Yes that's where my head is going too. Why mess around with another surgery and then have to have the mastectomy anyway. Plus then always question if it is still lurking in there. I need to to talk to my BCN I think and maybe get a second opinion. Hope your results are ok. Take care, Jo xx ... View more

God you are brilliant Louise! You put all the gobbledegook in my head in real, normal, reasonable sentences! Thank you for that.😍 Yes, yes and yes to everything you said. I do need to question and it is OK to question, I have to remember that. The isolation alone doesn't bother me, like you say, it's the possibility of this surgery not getting everything and they say they'll just do another but it will have to be mastectomy and I'm not even starting radio/chemo and hormone therapy until after all that. With isolation included that could be October. And again as you rightly said the confidence in the treatment plan is not there! Gosh this is hard isn't it?! My husband had to do the antibac washing & sheet changing when he had prostate cancer surgery last year but they didn't make me do that, maybe because i could isolate completely? I'm here for you when you're out of surgery. And then you have birthdays to celebrate - yay!!!  Again thank you for your message, i feel a tonne lighter!  Lots of hugs and best wishes for Monday xxxxx💗 ... View more

awesome graphic, I'm usually left but most definitely right at the moment! Thanks L, that really lifted my spirits xxx ... View more