Any questions?

Cat witch- sorry for your worries! 

I’m sure someone will have a better answer for you but as you are going today - I am sure they will cover everything. The Breast care nurses are amazing and never mind spending time with you either in person or on the phone.

Best wishes 

xx

Hello Catwitch, sorry you are dealing with breast cancer.  It is challenging.  I have attached a link that has a lot of questions that may help you at the visit.  It is good to have a list of questions as so easy to forget once you get talking.  Here is the link.  https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/breast-cancer/questions-ask-health-care-team
Barbara

Hello Catwitch  , just wanted to say hello, one cat to another 

How did the appointment go?

Thank you, I read this just before I went in and yes, they are amazing. Between the surgeon and the Macmillan nurse I was in there for two hours in the end, properly discussing my options x

Hello GreyCats, It went well in that I managed to ask the right questions when needed, but it wasn't the best news in that one of the 2 nodes they removed had cancer. They said that could be all of it, but the only way to be sure would be more surgery to remove all the nodes in that arm. As I am a gardener and work in a garden centre this poses the risk of Lymphoedema, so they will discuss this on Wednesday in comparison with the other option of blasting the nodes with radiotherapy. Ultimately it is my decision. I'm veering towards the radiotherapy, combined with upping my research on herbs which help with prevention. I may change my mind several times before I speak to them next week, but that will be the cat in me x

Thank you Hopeful Barb, that is a useful list, and I think all of it was answered for me

Catwitch said:

I may change my mind several times before I speak to them next week, but that will be the cat in me x

Mhmmeow, yep, that is the way we do it 

Good to read the appointment went well and information was given as well as options. 

I love my supplements, but I was made aware some of them could interfere with treatment, so I made a habit of always checking with my oncologist first. Whenever there was no conflict, I went ahead with whatever I wanted. In one case when the oncologist was unsure, the oncology pharmacist was able to provide definitive answers.

That is wonderful and so glad you got the answers you needed.  
Barbara

Hi Catwitch, I too had 1 of 2 positive sentinel nodes so was told I needed an axillary clearance. I wasn’t offered  the option of radiotherapy. To be honest I’m glad I didn’t have an option as when I had the axillary clearance they found 9/12 nodes were positive with cancer. Whether radiotherapy would have killed it all I don’t know. Whilst I now have a risk of lymphoedema too and am also a keen gardener I would much rather have lymphoedema risk than the possibility of the cancer not all being cleared with radiotherapy and chance of further spread. Obviously this is how I felt and everyone is different in how they feel and what risk they are happy to take. 
Wishing you all the best for your journey.

Hugs from cuffcake x x x x x

Hi Catwitch,  excellent article about radiation to lymph nodes.  Always hard to decide but science helps us too.  Here is the link https://ascopost.com/issues/march-10-2019/long-term-study-finds-axillary-radiotherapy-safe-and-effective-after-positive-sentinel-node-biopsy/#:~:text=Axillary%20radiation%20therapy%20and%20axillary,with%20axillary%20lymph%20node%20dissection.

Barbara