Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Annabelle Is the lump/ muscle on your LD side? If so I'm sure it is just the LD muscle where it has been brought round to the front... I have exactly the same. I had appt with my breast surgeon last week and got him to confirm this..... He got me to put my hand on my hip and press .... then I felt it contract.... tumours don't do this!!! BUT if you are worried ASK........it's what they are there for! Love E x ... View more

Hi Hamlet I had my recon at the same time as my mx about 18 months ago...... sadly I have next to no sensation and don't expect to regain any now... but I do believe that this varies from person to person.. also some loss of sensation in my back ( LD recon.....although no back scar) and under my arm As for the hard boob.. I am pleased to report that it has softened up really well, it did take a little while but is now pretty damn good! X ... View more

Finding this thread really interesting and useful I was recently referred to a gynaecologist because of discomfort in my lower abdomen and a tiny bit of bleeding which sometimes happens after I have sex. I have had a hysteroscopy ( he found fibroids, polyps and an ovarian cyst) I went back to see the gynaecologist this afternoon ...the biopsies on the polyps were ok.... no sign of cancer. He has some concern that the cyst is larger than he would expect to find on a woman my age (52) and wants to rescan it in three months....but he has suggested the possibility of an oopherectomy My knee jerk reaction is YES ...take it, take anything that produces hormones..... but I hate the thought that I would possibly come off Tamoxifen I had hoped my appt today would result in me being able to put a line under this recent blip but my head is just buzzing...think I'm in for another sleepless night! X ... View more

Hi sallieanniie I personally think its a lovely idea! I plan on celebrating mine in a big way if I'm lucky enough to get there ( still almost 4 years away! ) ....I would definitely appreciate someone acknowledging the milestone X ... View more

Hi Ladies My uplifted boob's scars are no worse / better than my mx scar on the other side, however I have had no loss of sensation at all. Had my recon boob ( which has absolutely no sensation ) tattooed last week and extremely chuffed with the result Hope that puts your minds at ease..... feel free to ask me any questions Good luck XXX ... View more

Hi Poppy I had the test just over a year ago as I was borderline for chemo in my surgeon's and onco's opinion. I had lobular 4.9cm highly hormone+. My insurance paid for the test , samples of your tumour are sent to the States where they do a series of genetic tests on them and the results predict your chance of recurrence.... It took 2 weeks to get the result.... They have a good website.. worth a look X PS I didn't have chemo ... View more

Hi Dearlove..... I am not new but wanted to say welcome New Years Eve...... that was rotten timing! Not that there is ever a 'good time' to get breast cancer! I also had invasive lobular BC and had my mastectomy and recon done just before Christmas 2010 but I am now over a year down the line and am doing well..... there is light at the end of the tunnel Hope someone new comes along soon so you can share experiences Lots of love X ... View more

Hi Naz Feel free to ask questions It does sit higher than the original but since I've had the other one lifted they are a pretty good match In the beginning ( I had mx at same time by the way) it was solid and unmoving but now much better on both scores It obviously doesn't move as much as my real one but it does move It is heavier than my real one but neither are very big so not an issue The one thing I don't like is the way the implant feels and at some point in the future I plan on asking my surgeon to swap it for a permanent implant Had my tattoo this morning! Advantage of total loss of sensation..... not at all painful! E x ... View more

Hi Naz Like you I had a LD recon and my good side lifted and reduced. I had my nipple recon in Sept last year and I am having it tattooed tomorrow!! The nipple recon was done by taking a graft of skin from my groin and I was extremely pleased at the outcome..... It has since flattened a lot, which I was warned about but it doesn't actually bother me terribly much......... my recon just looks much more like a breast with something there The op wasnt very long ...about an hour and a half I think... I had my port removed at the same time. Recovery was a doddle but had to be very very careful not to knock or lie on the graft... so didn't sleep very well for the first week to ten days. I also had to be careful when driving as it is my left breast and the seatbelt would have rubbed it so I bought a children's seatbelt adjuster from Halfords Good luck I'm soooo excited about tomorrow!! E x ... View more

Hi Holly I had invasive lobular too stage 2, grade 2 no lymph or vascular involvement, 4.9cm and very hormone receptive ..... so had mx and I am on tamoxifen. My oncologist arranged for me to have a test called oncodx which predicts your chance of recurrence by doing a series of genetic tests on a sample of your tumour. This test is available privately for patients who are borderline for chemo... samples are sent to the States.....and in the end my medical insurance co paid for it Age is also a big factor...I was 51 at the time The result was that chemo would increase my chance of non recurrence by 1%.....so no chemo It helped reassure me that we had made the right decision Hopes this helps and doesn't confuse matters Lots of love E x ... View more

Agree with Majesty.... It's been good fun reading all this today I was really excited to see what our puppy would do in the snow.....should have known.....she ate it! Been sitting by the fire all evening with some mulled wine.....yum! X ... View more

Just started snowing in Farnham, Surrey!! I've lit the fire, got some soup cooking .......not going anywhere!! X ... View more

Hi everyone Thanks for all the support and advice I have already had a whole load of blood tests which thankfully came back absolutely normal, it's only eighteen months since my last smear but my GP has arranged for me to have another. I've been with my husband since I was a teenager so I'm alright there!! I'm hoping that my appt when I get it will be for a one stop clinic .... I believe the hospital I'm going to has one You are totally right Libralady.... It never ends......when do we stop thinking that every niggle or pain is a new cancer or our breast cancer returning? X ... View more

Thank you Libralady Symptoms a bit vague but lots of discomfort in my lower abdomen and a little bleeding after sex .....I honestly think she is trying to put my mind at rest but have been feeling a bit panicky since the "2 week rule" was mentioned. Obviously my past experience with biopsies isn't a positive one X ... View more

Bl**dy brilliant news!!! You'll have to change your name and have a bottle of something bubbly!! X ... View more

And again! http://www.oncotypedx.com X ... View more

Hi Jeannie......me again! It has to be hormone receptive too X ... View more

Hi Jeannie It is a test where the send samples of your tumour away ( to USA ) and they carry out a series of genetic tests which give them an accurate prediction of your likelihood of recurrence. I believe it is only used on node negative patients and unfortunately it is very expensive, our medical insurance paid for it in the end although my oncologist didn't expect them to If you want any more info PM me E x ... View more

Hi Tash Just thought you might like to hear my story too Diagnosed with ILC oct 2010, 8 months after 'clear' mammo. CT, bone and MRI scans. Sentinel node biopsy... nodes negative but large tumour 4.9cm and not terribly large breasts meant mastectomy with immediate LD recon. No radio or chemotherapy just Tamoxifen ( very hormone +) What I am stressing is that large tumour does not = node involvement I had the oncodx test which showed I was at low risk of recurrence and therefore unlikely to benefit from chemo Since had healthy boob reduced and lifted Everything looking good and feeling very well E x ... View more