Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi, just wanted to say I know exactly how you’re feeling right now. I was diagnosed with stage 2, grade 3 breast cancer in October 2019. After my initial diagnosis I then had to have a ct scan and and bone scan. I had convinced myself it had spread beyond the breast and lymph node in my armpit. I couldn’t sleep or eat, those first few weeks were just horrible. my boys were 10 and 13 at the time. I finally got the news that there was no evidence of spread and once my treatment started two weeks later I felt better.  I just wanted you to know that lots of us have been where you are right now and regardless of the outcome of your scan there are lots of treatments available and once you know your plan you will feel better.  I decided to take what ever my oncologist could give me and threw everything at it.. it wasn’t easy but it worked.  Sending lots of hugs x  ... View more

Just thought I’d pop in and update, had the ultrasound this morning and everything is fine..phew! The area I can feel is scar tissue. She said scar tissue can change shape and get firmer as it matures and can also remain tender for many years.  Feels like a mountain has been lifted from my shoulders and I can now get on with living and not have those constant dark thoughts.  thanks again for your kind words and support xxx ... View more

Thanks for the support Charys and yes it’s unfortunate I’ve got to wait for the ultrasound. I will update this thread once I know more. x  ... View more

Just back from my appointment with the breast clinic. The dr (same one that did my surgery) had a feel, she said the firm area feels like scar tissue. She also felt the nodules and has booked me on for an ultrasound to check the area and lymph nodes. Overall she wasn’t overly concerned so I’ve just got to wait now till the 7th Of nov and try not to panic and over think things in the meantime.  ... View more

Hi Charys So last Sep I felt nodules, small knobbly lumps. If you imagine running your fingers over a bag of frozen peas that’s what it feels like to me. I’m sure they said it was just glandular breast tissue.. maybe Ive got that wrong. 🤷🏻‍ ♀️ I can still feel them and the area is tender.  ... View more

Hello Katieh14, so sorry you find yourself on this journey. You’ll find lots of support on here, we know what it feels as we’ve all been or still going through it.  I felt exactly the same when I was diagnosed in October 2019 with stage 2 grade 3 invasive cancer, HER2 positive and estrogen 4/8. My tumour was 4.5 cm and I had one lymph node positive. I was was 45 at the time with two boys age 10 and 13.  For me the worst time was the weeks just after diagnosis, I couldn’t eat, sleep and felt depressed. But once the treatment started I felt so much more positive (I had chemo prior to surgery).  Anyway…I’m now over 2 and a half years on and doing fine with just a yearly mammogram and the lovely tamoxifen tablet every day.  Do you know what type, stage and grade the tumour is?  Have they told your what treatment you’ll need?  I know it’s a shock to the system right now and the thought of chemo/surgery etc is frightening but it’s all doable and You’ll be out the other side before you know it.  blackcat x  ... View more

Thanks Shi, I have been using straighters and products that help calm the curls. Just wondering if they would eventually grow out.. the newer hair nearer the roots dose seem to be coming through a bit straighter. I guess time will tell. Thanks again for your recommendations I will look into those.  x ... View more

Hi Casieleigh im now two years on tamoxifen and things have settled down a bit. I still get a stiff achy neck but like you it’s on and off.  I had a hormone blood test last September to see if I was in menopause but it showed that I’m am still in fact pre menopause/ peri menopausal. Even though I haven’t had a period since Nov 2019 (second chemo).  So I’ve just learnt to live with it and when it’s bad I take pain killers and rub Ibuprofen on it. I do also try and exercise and stretch it most days which helps.   ... View more

Hi Elizabeth, I somehow managed to hang on to my toenails and finger nails whilst going through chemo ( 4 x EC and 4 x docetaxol) plus 18 rounds of herceptin and pertuzimab. All my nails became brittle and the big toenail on my left foot plus my small fingernail and ring finger nail  (left hand) starting to lift away from the nail bed. They felt very tender when ever any pressure was applied and they also turned an off white sort of colour.  I half expected to lose them but never did.  my last herceptin & pertuzimab infusion was feb 2021 and the discolouration and brittleness lasted a good 6 months after.  in-fact my big toe is still not ‘normal’ and is very slow at growing.  I guess no one knows why some people lose their nails while others don’t. These drugs effect us all so differently.  All the best with your last few treatments and hopefully your nails will cling on.  x ... View more

prior to surgery I had G cup breasts. I had a lumpectomy with therapeutic mammoplasty on the cancer side followed by radiotherapy. I was told that I would have to wait 12 months until they would reduce the other boob this would allow for any shrinkage prior to the op.  I now have DD cup boobies, although I’d say the radiated side is still a bit smaller than the other and firmer too. They’re sisters not twins! 😊 ... View more

Hi Sab28, so sorry you find yourself here. I wasn’t triple positive but I was HER2+ and er+. My lump was 4.5 cm and I had one lymph node in armpit positive too.  I had chemo prior to surgery, 4 rounds of EC (the Red Devil) and 4 round of docetaxol. Plus 18 rounds of targeted drugs for the her2 of herceptin and pertuzimab. I had a complete response to chemo… nothing left of the tumour and then had lumpectomy to remove surrounding tissue. Followed by radiotherapy. I won’t lie.. I found chemo hard and had practically every side effect going. But it’s totally doable and to know it got rid of the cancer makes it all worth while. when do you start chemo? It would be worth while you joining the chemo thread chat with others starting at the same time. You can then talk to others about the side effects and motivate each other to get through it. I also found a few YouTube channels from ladies who documented their journey. Search Dee docherty gettingwiggywithit louisa Gordon  courtney keeks Good luck, any questions let me know x  ... View more

Hi, I was diagnosed with HER2+++ and er+ 4/8 in Oct 2019. The lump was 4.5cm and one node in armpit was positive. I had 8 rounds of chemo (4 EC and 4 Docetaxol) plus 18 rounds of herceptin and pertuzimab.   her2+ tumours tend to respond well to treatment as did mine and I had a complete pathological response (no residual cancer left).  My oncologist told me that herceptin was a game changer for her+ breast cancer and with new targeted drugs being approved in just the last few years her+ tumours are now more treatable than those that are her2 negative.  I had a lumpectomy followed by radiotherapy in June 2020.  touch wood I’m all clear.. with just yearly mammograms.  any questions let me know and good luck with your treatment x  ... View more

Hello Lops, so sorry you find yourself in this situation but you’ve found the right place for support and information. These next few weeks will be tough as you wait for the results. Try not to Google stuff as it really doesn’t help. I had 9 biopsys done so I know how sore it can be, if it is cancer they will be able to diagnose what type and grade and from there a treatment plan will be put in place. My main lump was also 45mm HER2+ I had one lymph node involved. They also took biopsies from another area of concern but it turned out to be calcification.  I hope you don’t have to wait to long for the results. Sending hugs. xx ... View more

Hi Trudy I had the guided wire put in prior to surgery back in April 2020 and I can honestly say I didn’t feel a thing. I had a long wait to go into theatre and had the wire sticking out of me for about 4 hours but I couldn’t feel it. good luck with your surgery!   ... View more

Hi Lololauri, The pain you’re describing sounds normal to me. 2 weeks out from surgery it’s very early days. I was still getting pains and sensations over a year later ranging from zapping pain, dull achey pain, pain when I moved a certain way and some numbness in the armpit.  im nearly two years post lumpectomy and I still get the odd zap now and then.  I hope the rest of your recovery goes well x ... View more

I just thought I’d add that I have taken biotin supplements since finishing herceptin witch I think helped and I now also take omega 7s to help with dry eyes and skin. ... View more

Hi Laines, I had my last chemo end of March 2020, and then went on to have herceptin & pertuzimab every 3 weeks I had the last infusion in February 2021.  I lost all my hair on the EC chemo but when I changed to docetaxol I noticed it had started to grow back. Then a month after finishing chemo it started to fall out again but mainly only on the top of my head. It seemed to take forever to grow! By the summer of 2020 the hair on my crown my had grown back in and i finally had a full hair of hair but it was very short.  My hair grew back thick and curly and for a good year it felt quite wirey, it’s about shoulder length now. I personally feel herceptin slowed the re-growth considerably and once the herceptin was out of my system it started to grow a lot quicker.  im on tamoxifen now and have noticed a bit of thining but nothing too bad at the moment.  Any questions let me know.. All the best x   ... View more

I think rads are pretty standard if the lymph node are involved.  ... View more