Fear over high lymph node involvement

Thank you- I do follow her and she is one of the more informative ones that doesn’t freak you out too much. Victoria Derbyshire’s video diary was also really helpful. I just cry all the time when logically I know I should be grabbing and enjoying every bit of life I can but I can’t snap out of it x

I told my children according to their age, one by one. It gave each one the chance to ask their own questions.I wanted them to hear the cancer word from me, and for me to be the one to hold them when they heard first and had their own questions. My youngest was 9 but knew what breast cancer was and chemo. She asked if I was going to lose my hair and that was what she was most worried about. Oh, and also how long the treatment would take and she has made a few comments about how long it is all taking! My older two knew that the treatment does not always work and so that is what troubled them most in the beginning, but chemo quickly became part of the family routine. I didn't tell them more than they asked - just that I had breast cancer, needed an operation and would have to have chemo and radiotherapy.  My middle one asked if she was going to get breast cancer too. It wasn't easy to tell them but it was harder to keep the secret from them whilst waiting to hear my treatment plan.  Maybe your 7 year old will just say OK mummy, but your 9 year old may ask a little more. I was relieved once I'd told them as it was just another thing that was tying me up in knots at the time. I hope that you will feel the same afterwards. Trust your instincts as to how much to tell and how to share it with your own children - you know them best.

Hi Geordie girl

hope all went well with your Ct scan, was thinking about you after this thread. Xx

Aw thanks Hel39 that's so lovely of you to be thinking of me. I actually only found out yesterday my results when I called my nurse. Thankfully there's no convincing evidence of any spread - which I believe is medical speak for clear. They have found some tiny lesion on a vertebrae high up in my back but apparently it doesn't need any urgent investigation. I've got my consultant appointment tomorrow to talk about going ahead with the next stage of treatment so I'll find out a bit more about it all then but basically it's good news and I'm so relieved. Hope you're doing okay too?

Ah brilliant- so glad to hear it. 

yeah, I’m ok thanks. Have my first chemo tomorrow but I’m blanking it out psychologically  for tonight otherwise I’ll be a mess. Xx

Sounds like a good plan. All the best for tomorrow - I’m a few weeks behind you on treatment but I’ll be in your shoes shortly xxx 

Sorry pressed by mistake x

Hi Zephyr

 Just seeing if you had any luck regarding your second opinion or with your own Oncologist?  I found the 8 year update with full stats from the text and soft trials online and you’re right about the benefits being quite large for exemestane over tamoxifen. I’m going to take the print outs to my oncologist when it’s time for the hormonal conversation. Xx

How are you getting on Rach? I got a random email notification from this thread this morning but no new message so was just going through the old messages on it and thought I’d see how you were doing? Hope you’re through the worst of treatment now and recovering well? Xx