Diagnosed with Stage 1 Breast Cancer a few days ago.

and breathe ! Welcome to the club none of us applied to join. I'm sure others who have been on save route as you will be along soon with some good advice xx

Hello angelic2000

sorry to hear that you are going through all this, I am 47 years of age and found a lump in my right breast and thought I ought to get it checked out, my doctor sent me for a mammogram to which they did biopsy the same same as they were very concerned.  This was on 20th July & went for results on 27th July and was told that I had stage 1 breast cancer and had to have a mastectomy & sentinel  node Biopsy on 12th august, I was devastated! They found 2 cancers in my breast and was told there was no alternative to having a mastectomy. The diagnosis was Carcinoma of the right breast, pT1G1pN0M0, ER positive, HER2 borderline positive.

Histology showed a 13mm grade one ductal carcinoma with no vascular invasion. There was associated intermediate grade DCIS, with a size of 60mm. 0/2 lymph nodes. ER positive, score 8. HER2 is borderline amplified on FISH.

I was lucky that they managed to remove both cancers when I had the mastectomy and have been taking tamoxifen since 27th August which I have to take for 5 years.  They decided no to give me any chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The oncologist said that the potential benefits of treatment need to be balanced with the potential risks and side effects. The only reason for considering chemotherapy, would be in order to give Herceptin. This involves a lot of treatment for potential very small benefit. We looked at the PREDICT tool, which estimates and additional benefit of 1.1% at ten years with chemotherapy and 0.6% additional benefit with Herceptin.
As the benefits are likely to be very small and considering her recent medical history, it is likely that the potential side effects and risks outweigh the benefit.
I am pleased with the decision as you can imagine but just hope that they have made the correct decision as it has made me feel so anxious about everything. 
I have always been healthy, exercise and eat healthy and kept saying why me!  I was only in the hospital for 1 night after surgery as they were unable to do the reconstruction at the same time due to Covid 19 and they are still unsure when they will be starting this again, again adding to my anxiety. 
please don’t feel scared about the surgery as it wasn’t as bad as what I expected I had sleepless nights etc but didn’t really get chance to think about it all because it happened so quickly. 
Good luck and please let me know if you need any further advise ok. ️

Hi Baileybooboo, thank you so much for your reply I am so pleased to hear yve had a positive outcome... I hope you are feeling ok now? When do you expect your construction to happen?

 I am 42 & it’s just my right boob that’s causing the problem, i have no idea on the type I have just now but when I recieved my results on Monday, I had dye injected in me before another mammogram as I have dense breasts, further biopsies of my tumour measuring 37mm & a micro bubble test which the consultant said she’s sure my lymph nodes are clear. I was very lucky to get everything done on the same day instead of another 2 week wait! 

Due to me having small breasts (my right one is a cup size smaller) my surgeon has said that after taking out the tumor & then some surrounding breast tissue she is not going to have much left to reconstruct so is considering using some of my stomach & surrounding tissue to reconstruct but she’s unsure if I actually have enough! 

I will also need to take Tamoxifen afterwards, that worries me too! 

How was / is your pain, I assume they can give strong pain relief to go home with if needed? 

What happened when you came home - aftercare wise? 

Is there anything you would recommend I take to hospital or may need when I get home? 

How have you found the first few weeks of taking Tamoxifen? 

Oh my goodness I’m so sorry for all the questions, if i mentally prepare myself it makes it all far easier to deal with as I know potentially what’s coming.... it’s the unknown that’s terrifying! 

Best Wishes x

Hello angelic2000

sorry for the late response! I’m ok thank you although the hospital have informed me that I am now on a waiting list for reconstruction and they will contact me as and when they start doing the procedure again, I am struggling that I am left with only 1 breast although should be thankful that they have taken the cancers away but mentally I am struggling! 
Please don’t worry about being in pain after the surgery, I found it ok and was taking paracetamol & co-codamol which I I carried on taking when I returned home, they also gave me some liquid morphine which luckily I didn’t have to use.  I was also dreading the pain but as I said it wasn’t half as bad as expected.... aftercare wise when I returned home was a couple of phone calls from the breast clinic nurses, had to again self isolate until I returned to the hospital a week after to check that I was healing well which they said I was, I must admit I struggled to look at my wound after the surgery for 4 days as couldn’t bring myself to look, when I did I just cried and still cry when I look at it!.. I haven’t shown my husband which is my choice and have to now wear pjs for bed which I have never worn so find this quite uncomfortable, my husband has been amazing throughout all this he has had good days and bad days as do I as I suppose we have gone through this together x

I just took a change of clothes, a pair of Panama’s, slippers, dressing gown, toiletries, took my iPad and a book to read, I also ordered some postmastectomy bras which I find very comfortable, I use the softie in the right side.  

I have found taking the tamoxifen ok as not really noticed any changes as yet, a few hot flushes when in bed but that’s it really,

Well let me know how you get on at the hospital today and please if you have any more questions please fire them at me ok.  I hope I have managed to put you at ease regarding the surgery.

take care of yourself xx  

Hi

If there was one thing, looking back 3+ years after my diagnosis I would have told myself is "the fear of the treatment is far worse than the treatment itself".  If you can hold onto that phrase and try and take each day as it comes, you will find that it is all 'doable' and easier to cope with by just getting through each bit of it, rather than thinking about it as a whole.

Kindest wishes, Lesley

Hi Baileybooboo, 

How you doing?? x

Sorry for the delay in replying, I really struggle with the layout of this site & finding msgs. 

Do you need any other treatment? 

Im the same with my partner even now, since my boob started to look ‘odd’ I will cover up in front of him & I know I will absolutely do the same when I’ve had the surgery... he’s been amazing & knows for both of us it will be a shock, I feel so bad for him that he has to see me in my ‘incomplete state’ - I know he doesnt t see it like that but my mind works overtime! ️ 

So follow up app Monday after the microbubble test, core biopsies & contrast mammograms has now shown the cancer has spread to the sentinel node & my surgeon has said she has to take them all out  that has honestly thrown me, I’m pretty worried about the after effects of the lymph removal more than having the surgery!  Reconstruction will happen a year after the radiation treatment has finished & they will be using my stomach & back tissue / skin to reconstruct, recovery time will be long but so worth it in the longer term to fully feel complete again. x

I have a date for mastectomy surgery as I felt having a temporary implant during treatment will hamper my chances of a natural reconstruction at a later date - 22nd October is D-Day...  really quick so il be pleased to get it out the way, once the tumour is out & full biopsy done then I will know whether chemo is necessary before radiation. I know there is a tendency to over treat younger woman with stage 1 bc & if I need it then there is no question but it is something to discuss with the Oncologist when I see them at whatever point that will be. 

My softie arrived in the post today & I literally could have cried.... what a shock, it’s much bigger than I expected & I can’t imagine wearing it, how are you getting on with yours? 

I am now 11 days in from my initial diagnosis & we have managed to let family & friends know what’s going on, everyone has been great & it’s a huge relief for it to be out in the open! 

My amazing mum & mother in law purchased me some front buttoning shirt nighties a silent night v pillow & some comfort pillows for after my op to help with sleeping on my back (I’m a side sleeper) which was incredibly thoughtful. Myself & my best friend are batch cooking next week to fill up the freezer for a few weeks dinners,  this just takes the pressure of my partner & daughter plus I know they are eating well. 

I just wondered if you were able to shower after a mastectomy.  it’s a question I forgot to ask & ive read that some surgeons don’t mind you showering & others prefer you not to - if so how are you managing to shower with the drain bag? 

Kindest Regards x 

Thank you so much for your wise words, i am finding it all so overwhelming but staying positive, talking & keeping busy.... we have some ‘covid safe’  but fun evenings planned out with friends this weekend,  I cannot wait to get dressed up, eat amazing food, have a glass of wine & laugh till my sides hurt!  

Take Care, kindest regards x 

 thank you x 

Good morning Angelic2000

its so lovely to hear from you, I’m not to bad thank you, just had the appointment through for my prosthetic fitting on 14th October, hopefully they will be able to do this after looking at my woundit will be 9 weeks since my mastectomy and I feel I am healing well  so another step forward into my recovery. 

As I mentioned previously they decided not to give me any chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The oncologist said that the potential benefits of treatment need to be balanced with the potential risks and side effects. The only reason for considering chemotherapy, would be in order to give Herceptin. This involves a lot of treatment for potential very small benefit. We looked at the PREDICT tool, which estimates and additional benefit of 1.1% at ten years with chemotherapy and 0.6% additional benefit with Herceptin.
As the benefits are likely to be very small and considering my recent medical history, it is likely that the potential side effects and risks outweigh the benefit.  So I was very happy that I didn’t require any more treatment! Although when they do start the reconstructions again I am considering asking if they could remove my left breast because I am so paranoid that the same is going to happen again, unsure what they will say but I am going to talk about this to them. 
sorry to hear that the C has spread to your lymph nodes and they will have to remove them when they complete your mastectomy, please be assured that you will feel ok after this, they removed a couple of mine to see if it had spread, the feeling under my arm is very strange, just feels very knumb it’s hard to explain, may I also say please do the exercises they give you, I seemed to only do them every other day and feel really ‘tight’ when reaching for anything!. 

Roll of 22nd for you as the waiting is torture, you May then feel like you can take a step off the roll a coaster that you have been on! Hopefully when you meet up with your oncologist they will tell you that you don’t require any more treatment.

I was given my ‘softie’ when I visited the hospital before my surgery and just thought I won’t need to wear that, but I do feel it is very comfortable for now but I have removed the extra padding inside and place it into my bra every day and the good thing is that when you see everyone again they just say how great you look as they are unable to tell that you have lost your breast so to them you still look the same.  You mentioned that you have small breasts so unsure if you will actually use it as the Bra’s that I wear have the cup padding in there so you may just need to double up with this!. 
it is a good feeling when you do tell friends and family and the support you get is fantastic from them all, it was difficult for me when we told everyone because the day I was diagnosed I had to self isolate for the next 2 weeks before the surgery so couldn’t have hugs or cuddles from anyone so get quite surreal, I then had to self isolate 2 weeks after surgery and felt very anxious that I couldn’t my close family, this I found very difficult.... so pleased your mother & mother in law are getting involved and have bought you items to comfort you, you are lucky to have them.  It will make you feel better to cook batches of food for your family as it’s an extra thought from your mind, I also cleaned completely through the house to make sure I didn’t need to do a great deal when I got home, although my husband cleans also they don’t clean like you do they I am also a side sleeper but still find it difficult to sleep on my right side, feel awful for my husband as feel as though I have my back to him all the time, we tried swapping sides but that just felt strange! 

I had the drain in for a week which was ok and did shower straight away after surgery, they put a water barrier onto your wound and they said you can shower straight away, it’s a bit tricky but you do manage it and when removed (which does not hurt at all) it was a relief to shower without it. 
sorry my message is long winded but just want to be there for you and reassure you that you will be fine.

enjoy your weekend with your friends
 And please laugh a lot as it takes your mind off all what you are going through. 
love & hugs xxxxx

Morning! What a lovely msg to wake up to, thank you for taking the time to reply! Sounds like your recovery is making great progress.

I am a bit confused about the mastectomy bras after surgery, I know the hospital will give one after surgery to wear but did you purchase any others, if so where on Earth do I start? 

Have a great day! x