Breast Cancer Care Forum

Hope results were good x ... View more

Hi Galeigh. I will tell you my story. I was diagnosed with high grade DCIS in Sept 2016.  I had a lumpectomy then a cavity shave as they didnt get clear margins the first time.  I then had 15 shots of radiotherapy and my treatment was over.   In August 2017 I had my first yearly  follow up mammogram.  The next day I got a call to come in as they had found more calcification.  I had a more precise mammogram and stereotatic biopsies.  10 days later I was diagnosed with grade 2, er+ and her2+ Invasive Ductal Carcinoma!  I had a bone scan and CT to check for spread but Thank God it hadn't.  There was no lymph nodes involved.     I had 6 chemo followed by a mastectomy (with tissue expanderd implant) and a SNB.  The cancer had all gone and nodes were clear. I have had no trouble at all with my new boob and forget that I have it.  I had a year off work but am now back teaching full time.   We all have our own experiences and feelings but I wish I had been offered a mastectomy the first time around as I might have avoided the 2nd diagnosis.  Good luck with whatever you decide to do and I hope everything goes smoothly xx ... View more

Will be thinking of you on Tuesday Jencat and will pray that all goes well. Lots of love xx ... View more

Jencat I'm so sorry!  Deep love leaves a deep hole but I hope that hole is filled with many happy and lovely memories! Xxx ... View more

Jencat, so sorry to hear that your dad is so poorly.  Thinking of you all xxx ... View more

Fenni maybe get a new husband!!  How thoughtless and selfish of him to say these things to you!  YOU have been through all of this! YOU have lost your breasts. YOU are getting on with this. YOU have battled to stay. YOU are the one who should be receiving treats! I am sorry if my comments are too forceful but after chemo, mastectomy and everything else that goes with this dreadful disease you deserve nothing but love and support xxx ... View more

Hi ladies.  Severe side effects blight our lives.  Please ask for an appointment with your oncologist and ask what benefit letrozole is giving you and judge if it is worth it.  Then ask if you can try other aramotase inhibitors.  Life needs to be lived! Good luck ladies and I really do feel for you all xx ... View more

Chaffinch you go girl!! Well done - life is for living!  Lots of love xx ... View more

Hi Karebear. I was her2+ but had fec then docetaxel with herceptin and pertuzemab.  Then mastectomy and continued herceptin til December.  Our plans are all individual I think.   Chaffinch, WELL DONE on finishing and getting through it all xxx ... View more

Hi Claire, after surgery and radiotherapy I think this is normal! The effects of radiotherapy lasts for months and the radiotherapy also compounds the effects of surgery too.  I guess the tightness in your chest is down to the anxiety that you are feeling.  When treatment ends and everything is supposedly getting back to 'normal' the fears and anxieties really kick in.  You have been through an awful lot - diagnosis, surgery, chemo and radio!! You are a mummy and you are back working full time!! Be kind to yourself lovely.  Good luck on the 27th and let us know how you get on xx ... View more

Hi Tin85, so sorry that you find yourself here but it is the best place for support.  Yes go for the mastectomy! I had high grade dcis and had a lumpectomy and radiotherapy.  A year later I had invasive BC!  I wish I had been 0ffered the mastectomy the first time around. So go for the mastectomy and follow your doctors advice.  Good luck with treatment xx ... View more

Hi Marlyn, well I am very happy to say that 5 weeks after finishing Herceptin I am finally starting to feel like me again!! 2 weeks ago I thought I never would but I have turned a corner and fingers crossed I will now continue along that road!     Don't dread Herceptin - it was just an injection every 3 weeks.  But if you have finished your other treatments and you are tired and achy and getting colds just know that it is the Herceptin.  It is all manageable and will have an end!  It does the j9b that we want it to do too.  Are you having it before surgery or after? ... View more

Hi Angelab, sorry that you are here but glad you will get the support you need here too. I was diagnosed with high grade dcis in Sept 2016.  I had a lumpectomy, a cavity shave and 15 shots of radiotherapy.  9 mnths later I had my 1st follow up mammo and more calcifications were found.  On 29th Aug 2017 I was diagnosed with grade 2 invasive cancer that was er+ and her2+ breast cancer.  I had scans to check for spread but it hadn't  (thank God), 6 Chemo, 1 mastectomy with a tissue expander implant and 18 Herceptin.  I am now a year after chemo,  five weeks after my last Herceptin and 11 months after my mastectomy.  My new boob is great and I almost forget I have it.  I wish I had been offered a mastectomy the first time round.  Nobody can make your mind up for you and you can't anticipate the results.  But if your doc is advising mastectomy I would go for it.  I wish you good luck with making your decision and a speedy recovery whatever you decide xx ... View more

I had Herceptin Jencat. I had it with docetaxol and pertuzemab. If it is her first one, she will have had a l9ading dose so it's double dose and it knocks you for 6. I went into hospital a week after the first one. She needs to let her team know xx ... View more

Phone your team and they will get you sorted. You don't need to put up with that sickness. There are different anti sickness drugs that may be more effective. Call them! Hope you feel better xx ... View more

I know Jencat but I think I will have to reduce my hours. Not keeping up at all xx ... View more

I only took letrozole for 7 months,as it made me depressed and I had lots of joint pain. I didn't lose hair while I was on it. Xx ... View more

I started letrozole last April after finishing chemo last January. I was crippled with leg pain immediately but stuck with it til September when I got crippling pain in both shoulders and could barely move them. A bone scan showed arthritis in both shoulders. I stopped letrozole for s month and whilst there wasn't much improvement in my shoulders, after 8 days I felt like a huge black cloud had been lifted off me. I discussed things with my once and I didn't go back on it my cancer was 5/8 er+, it was caught early and when I had my masectomy there was no cancer left so I had a complete pathological response to chemo. The benefits of letrozole was minimal and for me quality of life is vital - I have 3 teenagers! My onc said I could try another AI if I wished but the thought filled me with dread. Discuss everything with your onc and BCN in order to make decision that you are comfortable with. Good luck ladies xx ... View more

Thank you Blue Ash and Chaffinch. I will look at those supplements. Here I am off work again with a chest infection and water infection. So frustrating!!! I am hoping that the further away that I get from Herceptin the better I will feel. Hope you are both ok and Chaffinch hope you have recovered from the flu xxx ... View more

Hi Hora. Sorry to hear that your mum is having a tough time. I had to miss my last chemo due to an horrendous rash on my arms too. Very sore & painful!! I had the last of my 18 Herceptin 3 weeks ago. I think the tingling and numbness can last a long time after treatment but it can come and go too. I was given letrozole and that can cause hair loss so maybe anastrozole does too. My hair started growing back straight after I finished chemo last January. Call your mum's breast cancer nurse and/or oncologist and see what they think. Best wishes xxx ... View more