My sister was diagnosed 3weeks ago Tom with a 18mm lump that they said was very hard to find and they think it is contained she has yet to hear when her operation is they sais she would be having a partial mastectomy do not want her to be scared but I’m petrified for her thank u
Hi
Do you have any more details about her diagnosis? Mainly the type of breast cancer she has?
Based on what you have said there are 2 very positive things. Firstly 18mm and that she is having a partial mastectomy - otherwise known as a lumpectomy or wide local excision. and the fact that they think it is contained.
So, (a) it is fairly small and (b) they don't think it's spread - so this means it is very early stages. If the cancer she has is high ER+ alone (oestrogen positive) which is the most prevalent type of cancer then that would be a 'hat trick' of positives.
There are many different types of breast cancer, but ER+ one is the one that is more often treated with oestrogen reducing tables after the operation and radiotherapy. Other types generally require chemotherapy instead of the oestrogen reducing tablets.
Breast cancer diagnosis and treatment is improving enormously consistently . For instance, I was diagnosed June 17 and I had a lumpectomy (WLE) of 80mm and radiotherapy and have been on tablets ever since. I had a couple of days off work and drove myself the 60 miles to and from the radiotherapy for the 15 sessions. The operation was done during the day - I went in in the morning and out by 7pm and my operation was at 4pm. So, a lumpectomy is an 'easy' operation in comparison to a full mastectomy. Exercises after the operation are extremely important and they give her those to do.
It all sounds hugely scary and the mental impact of being told you have cancer - is! It took me a long time to get my head around it and I would say it was this Christmas that I felt properly normal. If she has got ER+ cancer, there is a new test that is often done now called the Oncotype DX test where the amount of ER+ the individual is, is checked (previously they just carried out a biopsy of the tissue and rated it out of 8). The Oncotype DX test is far more accurate and if the figure is a low one out of 8, then they often do recommend chemo as well. I will never know if I would have been recommended it, because it came in a few months after my diagnosis. That perhaps gives you an idea how quickly things are progressing in the field of research. I was more or less told at the start that they didn't think mine had spread - and they were right. My tumour was 15mm, but I had 2 areas of DCIS (like a pre cancer) totalling 54mm - hence having 80mm taken from my breast. When I was at radio, I met another lady who had a 20mm tumour and she showed me her scar - I would never have noticed it, it was so good! Because I had so much taken out, I have a huge scar and dent, but for your sister it sounds very promising that hers will be small and neat too.
I know scarring's not what you're scared of for her, but it might be nice for her to know this as at some point in the future it will be important to her I expect.
Naturally, if she has a low ER or is another type and she needs chemo. then it will be a lot more in the way of treatment, but there is a chemo thread on here which you can look at and get advice (or she can join too). Above all, all the ladies on here will tell you that is is 'doable' and we're not going to pop our clogs tomorrow.
She will have a breast care nurse appointed to her, who she can contact at any time during her treatment.
I hope this gives you a little reassurance, but if you want to know more / know they type of cancer she has, then do let us know and we can help some more.
Best wishes,
