Breast Cancer Now Forum

Yes it is scary that opinions as to course of treatment differ so much. Very hard for people who are like rabbits in headlights to think of a 2nd opinion but I had a devastating cancer misdiagnosis 25 years ago ie was treated for agressive bone cancer age 19 - 6 rounds of awful chemo, leg amputation and much more only to find it was benign after it all so my trust is somewhat non-existent! Both times I've been knocked for 6 with side effects from the chemo but this time with a raft of drugs we just about keep the puking at bay and the bone pain manageable although on days 3 and 5 have to take some oromorph. It is very tricky as everyone reacts so differently but also the regimes vary hugely. I was well miffed with a certain BBC journalist doing live broadcasts from chemo making out she breezed in and out of work for chemo, the cold cap is a doddle and swishing her blond hair around!!! So I vlogged last cycle as well on my blog to show my reality in case anyone's interested it's www.carryoncancer.blogspot.co.uk I prefer to know the worst case scenario then anything better is a bonus! I tried to take the other approach after the sentinel node biopsy i.e. Only 1 in 3 find it's metastasised to the lymphs so I thought right I'm going to be in the 2 in 3 where it hasn't....wrong! And I was gutted whereas if I'd expected it to be it wouldn't have come as such a shock. Hope you're all managing 'ok'. I'm day 12 post chemo now so feeling quite well (although quite knackered and annoyingly breathless all the time! Anyone else??) MRI tomorrow, stitches out where they removed my infected Hickman line and preassessment for my PICC line fitting next week. Vicki x ... View more

Hi I was diagnosed with IDC in left breast and after sentinel node biopsy micro metastases in both nodes they removed. Main tumour 27mm plus 9 smaller satellite ones covering about 7cm in total. I find it quite unbelievable how different hospitals have such different advice and protocols. Even ones who work closely together. I was initially diagnosed in Bradford and advised immediate mastectomy 6 rounds of chemo and then radio. 2nd opinion a few miles down the Road in Leeds at Yorkshire Cancer Centre advised Neo adjuvant chemo (before surgery) reviewed by breast MRI after 2 and 4. Then mastectomy then radio. Explained that especially as lymph involvement chemo acts as a 'mop up' of stray cells and hopefully shrinks tumour so they get best result and clearance at surgery stage. Also they can monitor the effect of chemo on the cancer and if necessary change chemo or go to surgery etc Made more sense to me and we've gone with that. Very reassuring to know after 2 rounds main rumour shrunk by a CM and shrinkage in smaller ones too. Surgeon in Leeds said if there's no change or worst case scenario growth even then no pint in subjecting someone to 6 rounds of such brutal treatment. Does this worry anyone else? The different approaches? Bradford seemed like a 'one size fits all' which obviously is proven to work for most. And Leeds more tailored to the individual. So hard to work through this minefield when your head is all over the place. Thanks for reading Vicki ... View more

Hi Nina, Yes I had CT of body, breast MRI and bone (MUGA) scan. This is after the initial ultrasound and mammogram. I had another breast MRI after 2 chemos and will have another after the next which is round 4. They need a baseline I think which all these give before starting more treatment so they have something to compare to. Bone and CT scans are straightforward and painless except you often have to have a cannula in for a contrast die before or during scan. HTH Vicki xx ... View more

Ok great will do 👍🏻 ... View more

Great news about your check up 💪🏻 I look forward to that day 🤞🏻 ... View more

Hi sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I'm 44 Mum of 3 and diagnosed initially on Dec 20th, with Grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma with metastases in lymphs (main tumour in left breast plus 9 smaller satellite ones/nodes) . It seems like forever when you're waiting. I've started the chemo first but was 5 weeks from diagnosis to starting chemo. Felt like forever but they were constantly doing scans biopsies etc etc during that time. I think maybe if you've had your surgery already maybe it's ok? Do you have a BCN who you could ask? It's mad isn't it how hospitals do things so differently? I'm sure you're consultants know what they're doing. It's so scary isn't it? Big (((hugs))) Vicki ... View more

Hi sorry to hear you've been suffering with the nausea I do too (had 3 chemos now) ondansetron hasn't been effective for me but Cyclizine helps and if desperate Levomapromazine. The longer you get from having the chemo hopefully the better you'll feel 👍🏻 All the best Vicki (TNBC diagnosed Dec. 2016) ... View more