Well my story so far.
Found a lump in my breast. Saw GP 2 weeks later. She thought it was a blocked duct but got me a fast track referral to the breast clining.
So on October 20th 2008 I had a mammogram which showed calcification in the breast and the armpit.
One ultrasound scan later, then a needle biopsy under arm and a biopsy of the lump (which was agony as the anaesthetic didn't take) and go home (in great pain, two bus journey on the rattliest possible double deckers over every speed bump in Western Southampton). The area still hurts some.
So 9:10am on Thursday the 23rd I saw my consultant and am told it's breast cancer. The nurse makes me an appointment with an oncologist for 3pm same day.
Now the oncologist went through the planned treatment but I didn't think to write anything down. Wish I has as I really need more info.
As far as I can remember it's 5 months of chemo. I'll be starting on (can't remember name :( ) every two weeks. It will be through injection into vein and take half an hour.
Talk of MRI scan, bone scan, ECG etc and then had blood tests taken.
Well it's Tuesday now. I was told chemo would start Thursday but haven't had the appointment through. So I phoned them and got told the time but am otherwise in the dark about what's happening.
Have a bone scan appointment for November 5th.
I'm feeling quite irritated about not having the information I want and that's making me a little nervous.
FormerMember
Hi Gerb, when Peter started his treatment he thought I was mad I kept a diary of how he felt every day what made him sick, etc, what was said, any little thing that happened, If we did not understand anything I asked again and wrote it down the way I understood it. It proved invaulable, as when he went back for his 2nd session of chemo we refered back to the diary and was a little bit more aware, also I wrote done any hints or help we were offered, try it. Good luck regards Daphnie
good luck for treatment, it sounds like the EC combination as mentioned before you will be having, we have been there and dont hesitate to ask any/all of us for our own experiences on it we all have tales to tell and it affects us all differently. The nurse will explain everything to you whilst she is treating you with it. I was confused/scared on my first treatment so know how you felt.
GOOD LUCK with treatments, we are all here for rants, raves, laughs which are the best treatment of all xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hello Gerbs, and thanks for your reply on my post, Steamrollered. By the time you read this I expect you will have had your chemo so I hope you are not feeling too bad. I still don't know if I have to have it but I have spoken to a couple of people who have, and they said it was kept under control a bit by the anti sickness drugs, and one person even told me her hair grew back better than it had been before!
I have been told I need a mastectomy but they can't tell me until they test the lymph nodes at the same time whether I will need chemo etc, yet some people seem to have chemo on the strength of the biopsy without needing a lumpectomy or mastectomy - that's one of the questions I'll be asking, unless anyone here can throw any light on it? I haven't heard a word from the hospital since I was told I was being referred to a plastic surgeon a week ago so am now wondering if they should be getting on with it a bit quicker! I know, just the opposite to what I first said, lol........
