Meeting the oncology team tomorrow

1 minute read time.

Back in November I was recalled from my first ever mammogram, a few months short of my 50th birthday.  I had no inkling anything was amiss until that point but got my diagnosis the same day (on my own - the first day of Lockdown 2).  The staff at the specialist breast centre couldn’t have been kinder and they set the tone for the months ahead.

On Christmas Eve I had a wire-guided wide local excision (lumpectomy) and sentinel node biopsy, followed by a re- excision at the end of January.  The lesion taken out was 33mm x 15mm and there was spread into one lymph node.  The cancer was ER+ and PR+

Having initially thought that surgery and radiotherapy would be sufficient the news that chemotherapy is needed has been difficult to adjust to. Suddenly treatment has become much more long-term and there are more decisions to be made about what might be reasonable in terms of managing work over the months ahead etc.

That said, I’ve yet to shed any tears.  If I’m honest I guess I’m still slightly numb from the events of the last three months and have gone into practical, researching & list- writing mode/trying to keep things cheery at home/continuing to work as much as possible - there will probably be a flood of tears when the Adrenalin recedes...

To anyone about to have a lumpectomy I’d say please try not to worry! It was much easier to manage than I thought it was going to be (apart from excessive sickness the first time, which meant I had to stay in overnight until Christmas Day!) and the exercises really are worth persevering with.  My recovery from the second surgery was so speedy I had to get my fit note rescinded so I could get back to work much sooner than planned.

For me I’m now just waiting to meet the oncologist tomorrow and then I’m venturing to the wig shop on Thursday - not words I ever thought I’d be writing!  I’m still uncertain about whether or not to try scalp-cooling but am coming down on the side of giving it a go.

Anonymous
  • Hi mine is similar to yours 21mm, can I ask what your er and pr was pls. My er is 8/8 and pr 7/8. Also age is a factor I am 52, can I ask your age pls. Best wishes xx

  • Mine was grade 2 and my lymph nodes was clear xx

  • Sorry for my slow reply - I’m now back at work and life is suddenly very busy!

  • I’m 50 and my ER & PR were 8/8 and I had spread into one node. Writing this now seems very strange at the ‘other end’ of my treatment journey. I’ve had two lots of surgery, 4 lots of chemo (the final two were abandoned as it made me so ill), 20 sessions of radiotherapy & the first of six bone infusions. I also lost most of my hair, despite cold capping. It’s been the toughest year of my life BUT I’ve come through it and am enjoying some semblance of a return to normality. Going back to full time work in a very busy teaching job has been a great boost to helping me feel

  • Hello, I’m new here. I’m 5 weeks post diep flap surgery for lobular BC with tumour sent for oncotype testing. I have a phone call appointment for results and wondering has anyone had oncotype results over the phone which resulted in chemo treatment? Trying to second guess if phone call consultations are common practice or could it mean score is low so need to for in person appointment due to chemo not being needed??