Invasive ductal carcinoma - still in shock

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Hi everyone, I'm Jayne.  I would like to say it's so nice to meet you all, but this is a forum I never expected to find myself.

I'm 52, relatively healthy with an absolutely amazing husband and was loving life, running our own business, kids left home, travelling, living the dream to be honest.

Seven weeks ago I had my first mammogram and to my horror a mass was found right at the edge of the scanned image.  I was recalled and went to Swansea to the breast unit for further investigations and was assigned a breast care nurse.  I could not feel this lump, I went to the centre expecting it to be nothing, I was told I may only need another mammogram and would go home, this wasn't the case.  I had a mammogram, an examination (they couldn't feel it either) and an ultrasound where they found it and then a tissue biopsy.  I asked questions 'is it a cyst'; no.... is it cancer ' it could be' was the reply, then I was silent.  Everything goes through your mind at 1000mph, I was dying, my husband was going to lose me, what about my 80y old dad, my 30 y old disabled daughter.

We were going to France in our moho the following week, the BCN told me to go, we did and it was lovely, I forgot about everything!  Arriving back into the UK on Tuesday my phone pinged, it was my BCN asking me to go to Singleton Hospital on the 11th (yesterday)  Heart sanki, forgot all about my lovely holiday and bawled all the way home!!!

I arrived home to a letter asking me to go to Singleton to see a Miss M Dillon - I of course then googled her and she is a Breast Cancer surgeon so I then knew my worst fears had come to fruition, I had BC.  Told the family who all said it'll be nothing, a fatty lump, benign, nothing, but I knew.

Went yesterday to Singleton and in comes the BCN carrying some paperwork, it was only me and my husband in the waiting room,  my leg was shaking that bad he had to hold it down, we were taken to a lovely pink room with soft seating with 'Counselling suite' on the door, I bloody knew then.  I asked the BCN is it cancer, it's cancer isn't it??  She said 'wait for Miss Dillon' I said I know it's BC now I'm in a bloody counselling suite, I completely fell apart.  My BCN spoke to me about the holiday, asked about theb kids etc, all I was thinking was I'm going to die, it was my last ever holiday.

The BCN was right, once I had met Miss Dillon it was like the hugest weight had been lifted off my shoulders, yes I do have caner, but it's EARLY, stage 1.  She said it's basically the best it could be, plan is magnaseed in within 10 days or so, a wide local incision and removal of 'Norman the squatter' and some surrounding breast tissue the second week of June, 5 consecutive days of radiotherapy once healed (about 4 weeks after) then tamoxifen for ten years.  And I gues that's it, we soldier on, thank god for it being so early and wait to get it done.

Biopsy results : Grade 1 Intermediate Ductal Carcinoma, oestrogen and progesterone positive.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (they look and feel clear she said)

Radiotherapy and endocrine (tamoxifen I presume) therapy. 

HER2 negative (which is aparently a good thing!!!)

We soldier on 

Jayne

  • Good morning  , welcome to the group nine of us wanted to join but so grateful that we are. The group is full of people like yourself and we all understand exactly what you are experiencing. 
    I’m 57 and class myself as lucky. I too had my breast cancer found on routine mammogram, so detected as early. 
    I have grade 3 invasive ductal breast cancer, also oestrogen positive, but also HER2 positive. 
    I had the Magseed implanted into the rotter and had a wide local excision and sentinel node biopsy in February. All went well and they got good clearance and I had no more involvement. 
    My plan was surgery White check mark 

    Im now having chemotherapy, because I am HER2 positive 

    Radiotherapy is planned following my chemotherapy 

    Then many years of oestrogen lowering tablets- Letrozole, because I’m post menopausal and they are also planning bisphosphanate infusions. 

    I am very grateful for amazing screening, it would have been much worse if it hadn’t been detected at this point; an amazing surgeon, who did an amazing job; awesome BCN’s who are always available if you need their support/ advice; Oncologist, who has my best interests at heart , with amazing oncology nurses on the days of chemotherapy; amazing husband, family and friends who are with me 100%. 

    I can’t deny it’s a tough rollercoaster of emotions, I have good days and days that I wobble, but this forum is great for support and advice too. 

    Be kind to yourself, take every day as it comes; listen to your health care team, take your painkillers and do your exercises post surgery; be prepared to rest and be looked after. 
    Good luck, hope the surgery goes well 

    Take care x

  • Hi

    So far I have only listened to the sugeon who said, lump out, radiotheraoy and tamoxifen.  The BCN confused me on the phone as she mentioned maybe chemo but the surgeon said no chemo so hoping she's right.

    I presume I will move onto an oncologist after the operation but I'm not sure how it works as I have only seen an Oncoplastic breast surgeon so far and she was who discussed everything with me.

    J

  • Sorry if I confused you, absolutely listen to your surgeon. 
    Im only under the oncologist because I am HER2 positive. Your BCN was correct when she said HER2 negative is a good thing. 

    X

  • So far they said HER2 negative from biopsy, I'm hoping that doesnt change x

  • HI Rainstarr

    I have had a very similar journey to this forum.  I too was 52 years old, went for my first mammogram and was totally laid back about it as I check regularly and had never felt anything.  The mammogram picked up grade 2 idc, hormone positive and her2 positive.  They said they thought my lymph nodes were clear and they were. My treatment plan is slightly different because of the HER2 positive result.  However, I am so grateful for the screening process as it caught is early and it is treatable.  I have had a few wobbles along the way,  but I feel blessed as my Breast Care Nurses are lovely, my surgeon makes me laugh and my oncologist is the most calm woman I have ever come across!!! 

    I wish you luck in evicting Norman!!!  

  • Hi Rainstarr thought I’d replied earlier but for some reason hasn’t posted!

    I am experiencing similar to you currently just waiting on results of MRI and trying to take one step at a time!

  • Hi mine was similar to yours grade 2 idc hormone positive her2 positive 2cm clear lymph nodes, I had 3 x ec then 1 x docetaxol but had a reaction so then had 6 x weekly paclitaxel with 6 months herceptin. I was diagnosed June 2021 and have had my first clear mammogram. I am now on anastrazole. Best wishes xx

  • Indeed, good description soldering on. I was grad 2, er and progesterone+. HER2 neg. Surgery Dec, rads in Feb and March. I would like to say I'm in the other side of it now and I am in some ways. It is an altered state though. Starting to live a little, but still cautious. Been to France to a wedding and off up North to see my new great Niece soon. At 66 revisiting the menopause isn't ideal but I'm thrilled to be given the all clear. As a parting shot the Oncologist said ' we can't guarantee you won't get a different cancer.' Thanks buddy, but I suppose it's the age group I am in. 66 now. It's Summer and I'm enjoying it. Got to do the dog walk. 

    Advice I read on here which helped me, 30 mins walking five times per week. Helped me get through it in the weeks after surgery. Even with snow on the ground. Good luck with all your treatments. Live for today. Always something u can do for yourself, even if it's just applying nice hand cream. Xx

  • Hi everyone again 

    I’m off for the Magseed today - feeling like things are starting to move forward now, although it’s all been very quick and I still feel like I’m in a whirlwind!  
    bloods next week and then Normans eviction dare looming in June 

    xx