Breast Cancer Whopper

Hi

im and so sorry that this has happened. What a total shock it must have been.  And it maybe felt like every time you got your head around it, things changed and became more difficult. What I can share is that I had a lumpectomy six years ago. Small. No spread.  No nodes.  Radiotherapy. And then in December I went to see my dr as I had a slightly itchy breast and it felt a little lumpy where I scratched it.  A gp examined me.  I had a mammogram. And ultrasound.  Nothing found. But biopsy confirmed cancer and when they removed it …mastectomy this time..  it was 17mm.  How could nobody feel this?  How could it not show in mammogram?   It’s a bit scary to think how easily it could have been kissed as they tell me the itching was unrelated.  Just breathe and take one step at a time.  It’s always easier once we know what we are dealing with than it is waiting.  Take care

Thank you for your reply. It is very good to know that I am not alone with near misses.  We so depend on these tests to tell us but unfortunately, it doesn't work all the time. I am thankful for the respiratory department that scheduled that MRI scan and noticed the mass or my regular breast screening may not have picked it up until it's far too late.  For me there was no lump anywhere.  However, I suffered severe back and hip pains over 4 years, and terrible itching all over my body in the ;art few months.  Those were blamed on my thyroid.  However, Since the surgery two weeks ago I haven't had any pains or itching and at the very least I'm very grateful for that.

Welcome, and sorry you've found yourself here, the Club no one wants to join, but know you'll receive a lot of love and support here.  It's a safe place to discuss any of your issues and concerns.

Your situation is almost identical to mine (I was 53, two months before my 54th birthday at diagnosis).  You can read my story on my profile...come to think of it, I might have to update it as a few things have happened since I wrote it.

Anyway, diagnosis mid-September last year when I noticed a dimple above my right nipple. Rang GP immediately and because of my family history, referred to the Breast Clinic straight away. My consultant surgeon who knows my family history and performed a lumpectomy on my left breast in 2018 for a phyllodes tumor, examined me and, like yours couldn't find anything of concern, but since I was there, sent me for a mammogram, even though my routine mammogram in April, just 5 months earlier was clear.

They didn't say, but there was 'something' on the mammogram as I was sent straight in for ultrasound to get a clearer image. Back to internal waiting area and consultant's nurse came to call me through. Asked me if my husband was with me, and I said he was out at reception. Consultant said to her it might be a good idea to go get him in too. My heart sank.

Ultrasound confirmed a cancer, though we don't know what kind, so we'll send you back into ultrasound for punch biopsies. Good news is it's small, about the size of a grain of rice so caught early. Depending on results of biopsies, initial course of action would be lumpectomy and 5 radiotherapy treatments on the area - prognosis is it's curable. Prescribed tamoxifen because family history is hormone receptive cancer. Quite a whirlwind of a day.

Back 10 days later (the day before my 30th Wedding Anniversary) for results of biopsies. I have an invasive ductal carcinoma (same as my Mum 20 years ago), about 18mm across but very small. Because IDC, sentinel lymph node removal to confirm it hasn't spread further, still curable.  Happy Anniversary darling 

Bummer! They kept reassuring me that surgery and treatments have moved forward in leaps and bounds since my Mum's diagnosis. She had 6 years.

We have a (then) 12yo son and I want to see him grow up. He turned 13 two days before my 54th in mid-November.

Surgery scheduled for 2nd November - lumpectomy and sentinel node removal (4 nodes closest to tumour).

Surgery results 2 weeks later revealed all 4 nodes had cancer. Happy birthday to me! Booked for further surgery for axillary node removal and booked for CT Scan. Once surgery healed, treatment will now include chemotherapy. 2nd surgery 30th November, CT on 3rd December. CT result on 16th December, organs and soft tissue all clear, but 'fuzzies' on lumbar spine. Sent week before Christmas for a full body bone scan. Merry Christmas!

Result phoned through on 4th January confirming fuzzies on spine are secondary bc, and also found some on pelvis and a rib. Happy 2022!

So, here we are. Stage 4. No longer curable. But, Palbociclib, Letrozole (replaced Tamoxifen when started Palbociclib) and 12-weekly infusions of Zoledronic acid to strengthen my bones should extend my life as long as it works effectively to stop progression.  Good news is after 2nd round (finished Thursday) still no side effects other than intense night sweats from Letrozole, and fatigue in week 3 of treatment.

So, silver linings...