Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi, i havent posted on here in quite a while, but i thought i would share my experience and hopefully you will find it helpful.   i was dx in Nov 2011.  i found a small lump myself. was referred to breast clinic. i had mammo, ultrasound, then biopsy taken.  The Mammo didnt show up my lump.  They could see on the ultrasound what i could feel and they could feel it as well.  i assume the radiologist didnt like the look of it, (they had said it didnt look like a cyst on ultra sound which everyone initially thought it was on their examination by gp, breast doctor etc).  Anyway biopsy came back grade 1.  i went onto have lumpectomy.  they removed lump but one of margins wasnt clear.  so had further op.  second op to clear margin, found 2 more tiny spots, literally 3mm of cells.  went onto third op to clear margin, yet again tiny area of some cells.  at this point i agreed with my surgeon i wanted a mx.  following mx rest was clear.  i was 39 at the time so young really in terms of breast cancer.  they said annual mammos upto 50 then move onto national programme if everything ok.  i had already mentioned about having mri instead which they said wouldnt be necessary. Anyway i didnt let it drop and consultant surgeon said she would speak with radiologist who looked at my orginal mammo.  obviously i was basing my argument on the fact that the mammo didnt show the original lump, which wasnt that small when it came out, but then the further small areas of cells.  which i think were 3, 4 and 7 mm each.  anyway they did agree i could have an annual mri.  i still have an annual mammo as well.  the mri i have is with a contrast dye on my remaining breast.  dont get me wrong i hate having it, its not very pleasant, your in there upto an hour having scans, you have a cannula in your hand connected up for when they put contrast dye in, then they do series of more scans. (the dye makes me feel a bit funny, i seem to react a bit to it, typical, but i know what to expect now) but i am glad i didnt let it drop.  obvioulsy the younger you are, the more likely you have denser breast i think, some more than others i presume.  My BCN did say once i was on tamoxifen my breast would become less dense and pert and more in a menapausal state, which it is!  I would keep on at them.  if you feel you have a good basis for an argument to have mri, you've got your facts together then put it to them.  I hope this was helpful to you, take care and lots of hugs xxx  ... View more

first of all love and best wishes for your op. like others have said button front nightshirt or pj's. i also went in a loose button down shirt for when i got dressed to come home. its likely you will come home with drain still in, i got a little cloth bag from hospital to carry it in, so you could ask if they have them, just makes it a bit more pleasant/easier when your carrying it around everywhere with you or take something with you. TTM xxx ... View more

would pop back to ward if you can and try get spare pair like others have said. xxx ... View more

hi there, have been on tamoxifen since march 2012 and also zoladax since may 2012. night sweats every night and poor sleep also. some nights a lot worse than others, i seem to be generally restless and irratable also even when i am not having a sweating episode since being on the medication. anyway was referred for some sessions of accupuncture and i think it has definately helped, not stopped them but has made them less intense. so if you can get some sessions i would say give them a go. also get the chills as you mentioned which they try to help as well as the sweats. lots of hug to all TTM xxx ... View more

can i ask is the adcal d3 calcium and vitamin d all in one tablet. and is calcichew just calcium. i have adcal 1500mg chewable tablets, then vit D3 which is a seperate tablet. been taking this since being on zoladex injections. also on tamoxifen. thanks TTM xxx ... View more

thinking of you queenie, xxx ... View more

bumping for other peoples experience on length of time on hormone therapy. ... View more

hi dragonbunny, do you mind me asking which hospital/area are you under, just wondering when you say policy changing on length of time you now have to take letrazole for. hope the rads go ok. love to all as always using this site. TTM xxx ... View more

hi there, i have been on tamoxifen since march and my sleep is poor. just seem to toss and turn thats when i am not sweating. i have been having acupuncture though and it seems to be making the sweats better and getting more sleep and not as irratable. TTM xxx ... View more

i'm sure i have read on literature for tamoxifen, this sites leaflet or leaflet in box about facial downy hair. i think i have got a more blonde fluffy like stuff down sides of my face, but because i have longish hair it covers it. i can see it when light catches it! xxx ... View more

hi happy73, thanks for that. i have turned 40 couple of months ago so just a bit older than you. i have just been on tamoxifen since march and zoladex since early may. did your chemo stop your periods, have they started again, maybe this is something to do with why they are thinking about removing ovaries. its so confusing why some are recommended to and others not. let us know how go get on if your have further talk with your breast care nurse/doctors. ttm xxx ... View more

midge/happy 73 - can i ask what hospitals you are both under,? - just wondered as midge says it does seem to vary the opinion on removal of ovaries. i am currently on zoladex and wondering what i will be recommended further down line. i have briefly mentioned it to nurse who administers the zoladex and she said down to individual dx and risk, but also patient choice. TTM xxx ... View more

hi there just reading this thread and got me thinking about this too although i havent even completed 6 months of tamoxifen yet so a while to go! lily200 - what are the blood tests for exactly and what did the full set of scans consist of??? thanks for info mandh - best wishes for your appointment.xxx TTM ... View more

maria - thanks for that info. sorry to ask questions but the scans seem to vary from hospital to hospital. so was chest xray you used to have on your remaining breast on your mx side (sorry if that sounds like a dumb question). so now you have cat scans is that normal then for people who have had mx. i thought that people who have had mx didnt have any scan on that side. thanks again x ... View more

hi marial, was reading this thread, i read about you having a ct scan instead of mammo cos you have had double mx. can i ask have you always had ct scans instead of mammos from your first dx 9 years ago. wondering if thats normal at every hospital. i have had mx end of feb this year and wondering what tests/scans i will have. many thanks ... View more

i agree with everyone - very early days for you, so dont be so hard on yourself. don't think you should be more mobile, it will take time. when i had snb it was very sore. i had a mx several weeks later for clear margins and took weeks before i could get my arm up anywhere near like my other arm. you might need physio, my surgeon referred me to the physio in the breast clinic at hospital and i went there every week for about 6 weeks or so to help with things. lots of hugs to you. xxx ... View more

i have been told yearly mammo until i reach age i would qualify for national screening prog. so in my case this will be 10 years. also have open access to clinic. revcat - you say that 2 yearly for mx at your clinic. what checks/scans do they carrying out for people who had mastectomy? lots of hugs everyone xxx ... View more

totally confused - do you know name of trial or what drug is called at all. ... View more

what extra info do they give exactly other than grade and size etc. is it info we can easily make sense off? ... View more