Lumpectomy and lymph nodes

Hello Tigger

I had the lumpectomy and the nodes removed, but no reconstruction was needed by the time I had surgery. I had chemo up front and although they originally had me down for mastectomy, the chemo had such a good effect on my large lump that it had completely disappeared by the time of surgery. They still took tissue away from where it had been and a sample of nodes. Two of six were previously positive but not cancer was left after the Good effects of chemo. I am HER 2+ and ER+ so still having Herceptin, pertuzumab and letrozole  (now switched to exemestane).

Doing well and feeling well 14months on from diagnosis.

BC Is very treatable nowadays and you will be very well looked after by your team.

All the best

WallyDug

Hi WallyDug, thanks for your reply. Glad to hear you are doing well 14 months on, that's great news and that you didn't need the mastectomy and the lumpectomy was enough.  Luckily I don't need Chemo but will have radiotherapy.  The breast team are great and to be honest I'm not really too worried it is what it is and I can't change it and I trust the surgeon and team as they know what they are doing.  I hope to do as well as you have.... 

All the best

Tigger62

I’m having chemo prior to surgery, hope I get the result you got , would be amazing  

Her2 positive too, so phesgo ( simikar  to Herceptin I think? ) at the same time of chemo 

Hi Deb

I hope that you do get the result that I got. Phesgo is new, it is a combined anti HER2 treatment containing Herceptin and pertuzumab. I started these with my second type of chemo which was doceataxol. The 'cocktail' worked a treat for me and I could feel the lump getting softer and smaller from as soon as about three weeks into treatment. At First I thought it must be my imagination, but surgeon who saw me about this time agreed it had changed. I had a MRI about half way through chemo and again after the 5th cycle before the last chemo and these confirmed the shrinkage etc. It gave me a tremendous boost to know for myself that my gremlin was being whacked. On the not so nice days when hair was coming out or I was not feeling too good my family would say ' the chemo is doing xxx to you, but just think what it is doing to the cancer'. 

I wish you and all the other ladies a good effect from your treatments. Hang in there, you can do it and you will.

All the best

WallyDug