Hello everyone,
I am new to the forum. I hope you are all doing ok on your various journeys.
I was referred to breast clinic 2 weeks after finding a small lump in left breast. Had mammogram, ultra sound and biopsy on breast as lymph nodes looked clear. Got results two weeks later... stage 1 IDC hormone receptor positive her2 negative. So plan was to have lumpectomy and three lymph nodes removed and tamoxifen tablets and radiotherapy. So had the surgery, all went well and healed well. Went for the results to be told the breast cancer had been removed with a good margin of healthy tissue but one of the three lymph nodes was positive. So I’ve recently had a full lymph node removal so awaiting results of this. Have been told I may now also need chemo as there is lymph node involvement. Really don’t want chemo but what will be will be. I’m lucky that things have happened so quickly from first finding the lump. I’m very badly swollen from the full node removal. I’m hoping that as only one node was affected initially that the rest will be clear.
I have told some close family and friends but it would be good to chat to those of you on the same journey.
hugs to those of you going through this as well.
Kaz
Hi Kazco
Welcome and sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with Breast Cancer. I was diagnosed with Triple Negative last September with lymph node involvement. I had chemo to shrink my tumours before surgery. While chemo is not easy it is doable and your medical team will do all in their power to make you better.
Wishing you the best of luck with chemo if they decide to give it to you. If you have any questions I’ll be very happy to answer them. I’m on here on a regular basis.
Best wishes and take care.
Daisy53
Hi Kacco
Thanks and I don't in the least mind telling you how I found the chemo.
.I didn't find the chemo too bad. Before I had my chemo I was given steroids to help prevent any side effects and I had to take steroids for three days after my treatment plus an injection 24 hour after my treatment. I had my treatments every second week. I also had a PICC Line put in to receive my chemo and to take bloods a day before my treatment to make sure my blood count was ok to have my chemo the following day. The worst side effect I had was losing my hair and I quickly got used to being bald. I wore a turban whenever I went out anywhere. I did end up in hospital a couple of time for a suspected blood clot, which they scanned me for, but the scans were clear. As the chemo went on I felt breathless whenever climbing the stairs at home, but it was nothing to panic about.
I found the waiting time for my results after my surgery hard as well, but I kept myself busy by reading, going for walks with my dog and doing other things that I love. I found that helped with my anxiety about my results.
I'm on a further course of chemo in tablet form at the moment because there was a small bit of cancer left in one of the lymph nodes my surgeon took. I also had a couple of scans to make sure there was no spread and thankfully there wasn't. So my chemo is just precautionary. So far I haven't had any side effects from them which is great. I'm also having radiotherapy which I started last Monday and so far I've no side effects from it.
Wishing you all the best of luck with whatever treatments your medical team decide to give you.
Best wishes and take care.
Daisy53
