I am 78 years old and although we have a wonderful free breast screening programme in this country for women from 50 to 71, there it STOPS. You have to request a mammogram and thank God I did! Last week I was diagnosed with Grade 3 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma triple negative in my right breast. I have a lumpectomy on 17th April and fingers crossed my lymph node biopsies will prove negative. Hopefully I will only have 5 days radiotherapy. I have without doubt saved my own life as the tumour is under 2cms, but how many women of my age don't realise they should continue to have screening as the incidence increases over 75? I felt no lump and had no symptoms! I lost my husband suddenly 6 months ago and I was due to have knee replacement surgery the week after my breast cancer diagnosis. Naturally knee surgery has been postponed indefinitely. It has been a tough old time and I'm under no illusion that the months ahead will be easy, but I am reaching out to anyone who has been on this journey before me, and who can give me any pointers on how to remain positive going forward.
It's all hard to cope with at times, how did you realise something was going on ? I had a pain in my armpit after my COVID jab, due to the lymph node already being enlarged. It took me almost 4 wks to discover I had a breast dimple which turned out to be a mass IDC. Oestrogen and progesterone +be HER2 neg. Lumpectomy 6 Dec and radiotherapy last month. Now on Letrozole. Starting to get back to what I enjoy slowly and at a slower pace.
Walking back to Happiness is a good thread to follow. Walking is something most of us can do even if it's just round the block at times. Very scary at the beginning. Waiting for the next appt is always a trial.
Sorry to hear about losing your husband. Always a shock. Hope he didn't suffer too much. I am 66 yrs. Not a spring chicken but just want to enjoy retirement as much as possible. 
