Newbie

Hi Lammerknowes 

Welcome to the forum.

This time last year I was grade 3 her2neg, erpostitve and prpositive. I had lumpectomy with sentinels removed. I had chemo, radiotherapy and now on hormone suppressants. I get 6 monthly bone infusions for 3 years.

I have been where you ate and it's a worry. However when you know exactly what your facing and treatment plan, you can take back an element of control.

It's great what treatments are available now.

I wish you well in your recovery. Happy to answer questions on my journey if it's helpful.

Take care of yourself, listen to your body, and use all the supports available xx

Hello Lammerknowes

I was in your position April when I got called back after my 2nd ever screening! As soon as I saw envelope I said to my husband this isn’t good as was thicker then 1 page letter saying everything’s fine, see you in 3 years.

Had ultrasound and radiographer was convinced it was a cyst so tried to aspirate it, couldn’t get any fluid out so she decided to do biopsy. 3 weeks later found out it was grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma, eastrogen +. Saw consultant a couple of days later and he booked me in for surgery 4 June. Was very frank and told me it was very curable and asked for my consent to send sample off to America for oncotype testing. This all happened while waiting for surgery date to come around. A few days before surgery I had ultrasound on lymph nodes which looked fine and as tumor was only 13mm and deep I had to have a magreed inserted. Also had results from oncotype testing - low at 13, so unless anything unexpected came about after testing after surgery it meant I would just need radiotherapy and hormone treatment.

Had to have a guide wire inserted on morning of surgery and also some radioactive dye injected to show sentinel node to test. Had surgery at 11 and I was walking out the hospital with my husband at 2:30! I was absolutely fine afterwards and didn’t need any pain relief while recovering. I was out walking the dog with my husband the day after surgery and I have not looked back. 
Had 7 week wait for results, but it all came back good. They had clear margins so no further surgery and nothing showing in sentinel lymph node thankfully. Tumor was actually smaller at 9mm and when tested came back as a grade 2 and not the 3 the initial biopsy showed. 

I had a holiday booked for mid August and got the clear to fly a week before going and we have just got back from a much needed holiday in the sun.

I started my radiotherapy on 18th, the day after we got back and had 5 sessions last week and tues to Friday this week then I am done! Just the hormone treatment to contend with for next 5 years or so.

It has been such a rollercoaster few months but as people said to me when I initially posted a very similar post to yours at the start of my journey, you will look back on this time but you will be in a much better place knowing it has been removed and your team will be doing everything to make sure you stay on top of it.

It seems like your world is crashing down around you when you get the diagnosis, I have 15 and 17 year old daughters who took it hard but have been amazing and my emotionless military husband who had his world rocked but has been my rock, my emotional punchbag and well, my everything for the last 19 years, but even more so these last few months. Once you know all the facts about what you are dealing with, just trust your team to come up with your treatment plan and it will get so much easier.

One day at a time!

Good luck with surgery x

Omg. Your story is very similar to mine and I hope my journey is too.  As it sounds like your smashing this .Thankyou for your encouraging post

 I meet with surgeon tomorrow then preop on Friday. 

Can you advise which bra you wore just after surgery.  Struggling to know what to buy. I am a larger lady with a 38GG bust (at the moment)

My tumor is 23mm and they are going to insert a magseed as its deep rooted. They are gonny take away about a 50mm total area ans 2 lymph nodes from under my right arm 

Xx

Thankyou for your reply xx

Hi Lammerknowes

I had my surgery 2 weeks ago and luckily don't need another operation and my sentinal lymph node biopsy was clear. I am hoping to speak to oncology in a couple of weeks to discuss the next steps as they are sending a sample off for oncotype testing. 

I saw you asked about bras. I went to my nearest Bravissimo and saw a lovely fitter who helped me work out a bit more what I wanted/ needed as I was a bit all over the place! They didn't have any post-surgery bras in that branch (she said there has been a fire in their warehouse?) But she suggested some brands that might work. One was Royce and one was Theya Healthcare but i ended up just getting a couple from Next.

Hope that helps and hope the surgery goes well! 

Hi Lammerknowes

yes they sound very similar. I am also a big busted lady and when I saw consultant I voiced my concerns as to how I’d look after surgery. He just looked at me and said “I don’t think you will have to worry too much”. He did a lovely job. I have 2 scars, one under arm and a neat little scar around the aureole. As time is going by and with radiotherapy my boob is changing shape a bit with the scar becoming more prominent and there is a dip and dent there and I am getting tender around the nipple so I’m going to go back to my bras I brought for after surgery. They are so comfy but snug for compression so I found them stifling in the very warm weather, but think they will be fine for wearing now for a while. I brought 3 of the M&S post surgery ones and while they are not very flattering, they do the job and are very comfortable and not badly priced either. £25 but with vat coming off they are £20.

I hope you do well after surgery - I found keeping myself busy stopped me thinking too much about things and so I wasn’t moping. I have listened to my body though and stopped and rested when needed but I know I have probably done far more then I should. 4 rooms and hallways of a 3 storey house have been decorated over the summer holidays by myself and daughters while hubby has been away with work, but this is how I cope with things, I keep busy.

I have joined 2 local cancer groups for breast cancer ladies and this helps me as I can let go with them if I need to and not always have the “I’m fine” face that I try to have on at home as it does occasionally hit you what you are going through.

keep strong, and just keep thinking ‘one day at a time’ x