Breast Cancer Now Forum

Oh Freddie We have all been there, and know what you are going through. I didnt have a lump, so I had to make a decision on a mastectomy not having a clue to the extent of my 'cancer'. I was told that it is normal procedure for breast cancer cases (inc DCIS) for a sample of nodes to be taken. I had 5 removed for sampling. I was diagnosed with DCIS, - and of course, this meant that the nodes were free of anything related to cancer. However, lymph nodes would get enlarged with infections, not just cancer. So even if there is an enlarged lymph node, it doesnt mean that they are affected also. I know its easier to say, but try to do something that will take your mind of it all... do something you have always wanted to do, but never seem to get chance to! Then come back and tell us all about it!!! Lisa x ... View more

Hi Starfish I am going to try it now. Im suffering a little with it today (I have been washing windows). It doesnt take a lot to start it off. Thanks Lisa ... View more

Hi Sara I have an appointment on Monday with my new GP clinic. I will definitely mention it there. At the moment I have private medical insurance, so I may have some options. Laser therapy sounds interesting. Not sure about the transplants though! I thought by having only 5 lymph nodes removed, I would be ok. Ah well... Id rather have lymphodemia than cancer! I had replied to you pm. Thank you, this is so interesting. Lisa X ... View more

Hi Girls Thank you for replying. I seem to have a lot of upcoming appointments at the hospital, including a mammogram next Friday, but I am going to see my surgeon on 6th May. Ill ask then. Can they do anything for it other than wearing a sleeve? The other thing that still bothers me is what I am still calling 'the cording' that I had just after the mastectomy. Just after the mastectomy, I had it under the arm, and across the inside of the elblow (at this point you could feel the cord), and it gradually moved down to the hand and across the back of the fingers (but at this stage it was a soreness under the skin, really wierd). Then it fell off the end of the fingers, and appeared in my back. Last week, it was in my hand again. Today it is across the top of my shoulder where by bra strap lies. It now feels like a soreness or bruise under the skin - again very strange. Is this all the same symptoms of lymphodemia, and not really the cording nerve? Lisa ... View more

Hi Freddie I have been reading your post, and it is a soul searching time. Quite horrible. I was diagnosed with DCIS, and had a full mastectomy. At the time I was mortified at loosing my whole breast, but now a year on, I have had my reconstruction, and I am delighted. However, one thing I do have is the peace of mind that they removed as much as possible so that my prognosis is one of the nest - infact, it is excellent. Infact, my surgeon described it as 'curable, or as close as they can ever be considering it is cancer'. My diagnosis was complicated - and yours is very similar. My symptom was not a lump, it was a small amount of discharge through the nipple. The mammogram and ultrasound and needle biopsy were inconclusive. ALso a biopsy of the discharge was inconclusive. Finally they removed a tiny bit of my nipple, and concluded that I had pagets and they were sure there was some cancer in the breast behind the nipple. However, I went ahead with the op, and waited for the histology results, expecting that I would need chemo and radiation. However, the histology results showed that I had DCIS - and this was probably why it was hard to see. I hope this helps! Lisa ... View more

Hi Muffat The good thing is that they are going to remove the cyst - they may just drain it with a needle. I too am very sqeamish, but have had a cyst removed and it was quite painless. They always send away breast tissue or fluid for assessment even if they dont think it is anything 'sinister', so you will eventually get peace of mind. In the grand scheme of things, and i am sure this is not going to help you not to worry - a delay of a couple of weeks is not likely to make any difference to prognosis if it were cancer (my bc nurse told me this when I was diagnosed). Just try to think positively and do your normal daily things.... I know it is hard. Treat yourself to something nice or do something that makes you smile.. Lisa X ... View more

Hi Ladies I was diagnosed with DCIS and pagets (nipple cancer) this time last year. I had a mastectomy and delayed recon. Nodes, of course were clear. My ER/PR results were neutral, but my surgeon said that she was willing to give me Tamoxifen if I wanted it - or to at least give it a try, because I was 'young' There is no bc history in my family - and indeed it was a shock to all of my sisters and Mother. Therefore, I dont know what caused mine - probably never will. I have been taking it since last July, and apart from watery heavy periods, Im ok. Havent gained much weight, and what I have gained is probably related to what I have been eating, and less exercise. I wanted to maximise my chances... I dont know what caused it, but will try anything to stop it coming back. Lisa ... View more

Hi Gill I logged on today since my appt is getting close, and I havent got a clue what to do either. I would prefer to use skin on the breast and twist it round if it is possible - Mr Hayward did describe this when I was in having the DIEP. Have you decided yet? Lisa ... View more

Hi Ladies I have read this with interest. I feel that not enough is done for early diagnosis. I was 41 when diagnosed, and i was lucky that the cancer presented itself through the nipple. I didnt have a lump - I had DCIS and pagets. If my cancer been undetected via the nipple, the first time i would have known about it would have been because it would have developed into a lump. A cancer lump is usually indicative that it has developed into invasive cancer.. and possibly spread. My cancer was picked up by mammogram. I have met and spoken with many many women in their 30's 40's with breast cancer. If there is a small chance that a mammo can pick up DCIS before it becomes invasive, why are they not offered to younger women also. I know that the 'younger' breast is more dense, but on the day I went for my mammo, my period was due and they were very swollen..... but they still picked up the microcalcifications. Also, getting past the GP can be difficult.. just getting an appointment at mine is a full time task. How many women just give up trying and not bother? After my reconstruction (DIEP), I had to wait 12 days for an appt with my GP!! Needless to say, I now have a new GP! Early detection is key to improved survivial rates. Lisa X ... View more

Hi Ladies This is interesting. I was diagnosed with Pagets at the time of my mastectomy. It was thought that there was some underlying ductal carcinoma. However, after the mastectomy, the histology report showed DCIS only. However, 9 months on, and having had a breast reconstruction by a wonderful surgeon in Norwich, I am relieved that I did have the mastecomy. If I hadnt,, I would be sat here now with a deformed breast and wondering if it had all gone. For me, the mastectomy was the best thing. I want to live, and I would rather not take any risks. Lisa X ... View more

Hi Ladies I travel quite a lot for work, and since my diagnosis it appears that I am not covered by my employers travel insurance for anything related to bc. However, they are using MIAonline to insure me per trip. They seem reasonably cheap and easy to set up - infact it took 10 minutes! Lisa ... View more

Hi Helen Oh - that is really good news. I am so pleased for you! You must feel like a huge weight has been lifted. Lisa X ... View more

Hi Lisa For me, I needed to travel 5-6 hours to have the DIEP (each way) - down to Norwich. It was worth it to me. I went down to Norwich on Friday (and John came with me). I had the op on Saturday, and John came back up to Middlesbrough on Sunday. I stayed in hosp until the following Friday, when John came back down to Norwich. We then stayed in a little house in Norwich for 5 days before we travelled back up. I think I would have been ok to travel back up straight away, but before the op, we had already made the decision to stay down there just in case. I went to have a checkup at the breast clinic last week, and the breast consultant was very impressed with it. Good luck with whatever you decide. Each of us has had a lot of decisions to make - this one, is one allows you to make a decision at your leisure. It's true, I would rather have my old breast back, but I cant, and to be honest, I am at peace with it now. I feel on top of the world! Good luck! Lisa X ... View more

Hi Helen I hope all is ok.. let us all know how you get on. Lisa X ... View more

Hi Shelly Try not to dwell on it too much this week. Friday will come soon enough. You will be in good hands no matter what the cause is, so try not to worry. Do something nice or treat yourself. The week before my recon, I went out and splashed out on a pair of boots from Clinkards for £80! Lisa ... View more

Hi Shelley Good for you, chasing up an earlier appointment. Stay positive and dont dwell on it. Have you noticed that it is generally a human instinct to concentrate on the negative and forget the positive. It is easily done - and I did it too, even before I had anything to worry about!! 😉 Be aware also that there is normally more bad news posted than good! Your appt will come soon enough. Try to do something nice in the meantime... and when you get good news, then please let us all know!!! Lisa X ... View more

Hi Joanne I dont mind you quoting my case. My case is very rare (I am young and pagets accounts for a small % of cases) - and I try to emphasis that there are many other causes. I know there are other causes, because in my lengthy diagnosis I was trawling the internet ...... and desperately looking for something positive. When I read the postings from ladies who are desperate for answers, just like I was, I try to emphasis that my case is rare, but I do not want anyone to be complacent. I feel so strongly about early diagnosis because it can save lives. It is for this reason that I try to log on here frequently and respond. If I can inspire ladies to push for early diagnosis, and just one in a thousand is diagnosed earlier rather than later, then I will be at peace. I am so happy for you Joanne.... and this is one of the manu, many cases that has a happy outcome. An outcome that some ladies who are in the same position as you were a week ago would love to hear as they desperately trawl the internet for something positive!!! Lisa X ... View more

Hi Supermum! Try to stay positive. It could be other things too! Some of us are just unlucky. My symptoms were different to yours. They will probably take a swab of the discharge and send it away, and also a mammogram (possibly an ultrasound). They should be able to give you the mammo results on the same day. I hope you can keep your mind off it... do something nice the weekend! Lisa X ... View more

Hi Supermum The rare form of breast cancer that presents with a discharge is Pagets - this is what i had. However, my discharge was a milky colour and once (only once) I had a tiny speck of blood on my bra. Actually, I am not convinced that the blood was not due to the skin breaking. Anyway - my nipple had also changed - it was flattened compared to the other one. There are lots of things is can be... What tests did they do at the hosp? Lisa ... View more