Hi I'm new and scared stiff!!

Hi so sorry you're going through this. I understand your fear. I'm Fi. I am 5 months post mastectomy and node clearance. 6 out of 18 node positive. I am grade 2. I don't think the node amount changed my grading. I think it's size of tumour only. Please try not to worry. like you I was worried about chemotherapy. Today I finished 16 weeks of it and started off my crying every time but we do adapt although it will not feel like this now. Be easy on yourself you have been and are going through a completely alien time. I used to take as much distraction item's in as possible. Music film's books writing letters. Let me know how you get on. Fingers crossed for you. You have already been extremely brave.. just remember that x x

Hi there, and welcome to the club no one wants to join. This Forum is a great place for support, lots of lovely folks on here.

i was diagnosed over a year ago, I blogged throughout treatment so you might be interested - the link is here (Blog link). Best wishes 

Hi SandieS

A warm welcome to the group - albeit a sad one as no-one really wants to be here!  

I had Gd 2 ER+ and I was very lucky that it hadn't spread to my sentinel lymph nodes.  Grade 2 is the speed at which it grows, so I don't think this will change.  The stage is the one that may have changed due to your sentinel lymph node.  I was stage 1 because it hadn't spread and the size of mine was 15mm (and 54mm of DCIS, which always counts as a lesser stage). I wouldn't worry too much about the staging at this time.  

What is positive for you is that they didn't automatically remove all your lymph nodes, so they certainly at the time of the first operation, didn't think it had spread - so you most certainly have had no obvious signs of further spread.  I didn't need chemo because mine hadn't spread to my sentinel lymph nodes, but yes unfortunately because it is showing (even if it's micro) in your sentinel lymph nodes, then that usually means chemo. with ER+. breast cancer.

In readiness for your appointment, hold onto the fact that it was an unfortunate surprise that the cancer had got to your sentinel lymph node and you already know that you are having chemo.  Following this, you will also have tablets for (probably) 5 years and I expect radiotherapy if you didn't have a mastectomy. So, you are having every belts and braces treatment to prevent it ever coming back again!

I am 5 years down the line now and still going strong.  Yes, it's hard going through the treatment, (and more so chemo. - I count myself very lucky to not have had to have had that and feel for anyone having to), but there are a lot of women on here who've endured it and can give you advice on the chemo. There is also a chemo thread in this group. 

Equally there are a lot of women who have left the site after having treatment because they are living their best lives now.

Kindest wishes, Lesley

Thankyou so much for the reply. Found out yesterday it had gone into 4 out of 17 lymph nodes so chemo next. Then a third op as they need to take more margin or a mastectomy (I’ll need to decide) then radiotherapy. Feeling crippled with fear and anxiety today. It’s all so overwhelming. 

Thankyou so much for the reply. Found out yesterday it had gone into 4 out of 17 lymph nodes so chemo next. Then a third op as they need to take more margin or a mastectomy (I’ll need to decide) then radiotherapy. Feeling crippled with fear and anxiety today. It’s all so overwhelming. 

Thankyou so much for the reply. I will take a look at your blog. Much appreciated. 

Hi - I am the biggest baby when it comes to medical treatment.

But somehow, I have just finished 6 months chemo - half of it fine, half of it difficult. Just count it down - eat what you can and do what you can on the days you have energy,

it is one week since my mastectomy- which I was told I would have after my chemo ! So no surprise.

during the entire process, I have received amazing treatment from staff at the chemo clinic, on the ward - anywhere and everywhere. Their kindness and professionalism will help you through.

with love

Hi @Sandie5. Grade is how unusual the cells look under the microscope so it’s an indication of how aggressive the cancer is. Stage is a description of how far the cancer has spread from its primary site. So I don’t think the grade is likely to change but the stage might. 

I am approaching the halfway stage of chemo (mine is stage 1c grade 3 triple negative with no lymph nodes affected). I have found chemo quite doable, I have written a blog (a trip with triple negative breast cancer) that will give you an idea of what it’s been like for me. Of course you may be offered a different chemo regimen and not everyone has the same time experience. Someone said to me that I wouldn’t experience every possible side effect and that’s been the case. I find it helpful to not think of myself as I’ll, but as someone experiencing side effects. For most days of the cycle, someone meeting me wouldn’t know I was in chemo if it wasn’t for the hair loss, as I am mostly how I have always been. Just take it a day at a time.