Hi Georgie,

I am not in your age group - considerably older unfortunately, but I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer in the past 10 years, and know just how upset you'll be at the moment. First time around, I felt as if I was outside and looking in on someone else that this was happening to.

Unfortunately reality soon kicks in as you come to terms with surgery, radiotherapy and chemo. It is hard to believe, but all of this chaos begins to settle as you get to know what surgery and treatment you will have.

There are a number of considerations when deciding between a lumpectomy and a mastectomy. I found that the best thing was to draw up a list for and a list against both. I had a lumpectomy 10 years ago, but discovered another lump in the same breast a year later and opted for a double mastectomy. I couldn't have reconstruction, so am now as flat as a pancake in front. Still, I manage with a variety of different prostheses for different occasions.

I expect that you will still be a candidate for reconstruction, so won't have to bother with these. Personally I have felt much more reassured since I had my mastectomies, as I feel that I have taken as much as possible away. I know that there is always the possibility of recurrence, but this is something that anyone with a cancer diagnosis has to live with.

Draw up a list of questions for your consultant re fertility treatment, etc, as you would probably have to make arrangements for this prior to starting treatment.

My mum died from secondary breast cancer 10 years before I was diagnosed. Treatment back then was horrendous. Fortunately, there is no comparison between the diagnosis, treatment and after care that I have received and that which she experienced. People are now living with breast cancer instead of dying from it.

I am so sorry to hear about your dad's passing. and, understand that with this happening so recently, it is all the harder for you to deal with your diagnosis now. Please let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx 

Hi Georgie

Sorry that you find yourself here. I'm not a similar age either, I'm 43 and already have my children so can't offer any experience on that front. I was diagnosed with BC in March and it was also in my lymph nodes. I had chemo first but was then offered either a lumpectomy or mastectomy with immediate reconstruction.  I looked at the pros and cons of both options and although the mastectomy with recon is a major operation I decided this was the best option for me, as I didn't think that I would be able to cope with worrying about whether it would come back. It's a completely personal choice and everyone is different, but that was my conclusion after weighing everything up. 
 

It is a massive shock, especially when you are then given loads of information and have decisions to make, it's like a whole new world has opened up and sucked you into it.  Once you've had your scans and you have a plan in place you will feel a lot more settled. Just take it one step at a time and ask all the questions. 
 

Im here if you have any questions or need a chat. Big hugs.

WL

Thank you so much for replying to me you are exactly right with describing how it feels at the moment to be observing everything going on but not actually feel like it's happening to you.

I have had my CT scan today and now have the dreaded wait until Wednesday to find out the results. I feel like I just want to sleep until then as the wait is killing me, as I expect everybody feels. It didn't help matters that they called the consultant during the scan as in their words they 'saw something abnormal in my bowel area'

I hope that things are going well for you at the minute and thank you for your support. At least knowing I have others to talk to on here makes me feel a little easier.

G xx 

Thank you for replying Woollylamb. I hope you are doing well at the minute.

My head keeps going back and forth between having the lumpectomy or opting for the full mastectomy. My lump is 2.9cm however there are areas of concern up to 3.9cm so I suppose they would be taking out a large portion anyway as well as the lymph nodes.How did you find the healing process after your surgery?

This waiting around for results has left me feeling in limbo at the minute the only saving grace is having my son to take my mind off things 

G xx

Hi

Healing has been ok, my tummy wound has been perfect, I've had a couple of issues with the breast wound, but it's sorted now. I don't have full movement in my arm yet but I'm only 4 weeks post surgery and have a physio who's helping me with exercises. 

I get scanxiety whether it's a good scan or not, I'm hoping it will get easier to deal with. Good that you can keep yourself busy with your son. I have 2 boys aged 7 and 10, and the run up to Xmas is keeping my mind busy. 
 

take care

x 

Hi Georgie.

I'm new here (1st post) I'm 48 and already have my family, but like you I have been recently diagonised with breast cancer - Invasive ductal carcinoma Triple Negative 2 weeks ago so i can relate with how your are feeling right now with the shock and your emotions, for 2 weeks i felt like someone had completly trashed my world even when my consultant and breast nurse said its curable.

Mine is just in my breast with no node involvement, my consultant said because of the size of the lump which is around 4cm he would like to do chemo 1st, followed by a lumpectomy then radiotherapy.

I met my oncologist yesterday for the 1st time which i was dreading, as soon as i walked in I burst into tears. She was lovely,she gave me time to tell her all my worries and anxieties then answered them all allowing me to ask questions. I left there a different person than when I went in. Like Jolamine and Wollylamb said once you have a plan in place you will feel a lot more settled.

I'm going to be starting my treatment in around 3 weeks (just in time for xmas) i'll be having 3 weeks of FEC-T then 3 of Docetaxel, I'm sure i will have another wobble just before it starts lol.

This is such a scary journey we are facing but I have been reading lots of posts on this forum and it is uplifting to see so many positive success stories. 

We have this Georgie, we can kick cancers butt! 

Sending a big hug,

Linda x

Hi Linda

Thanks for your reply. Mine is grade 2 ER positive HER negative. Glad you found your oncologist appointment an overall positive experience if overwhelming at first.

It's the waiting which I am finding the hardest at the minute. When I initially went to the breast clinic after finding my lump they said it was unlikely to be anything sinister however they took a biopsy as "sometimes they get surprises" obviously this was one surprise which I never hoped for. They have now said there is unlikely to be anything on the CT scan however for obvious reasons I am not as optimistic as them. 

I am finding it very difficult to stay positive at the minute and struggle to explain to my husband how I feel. I also feel guilty and blame myself as I first noticed my lump 5 month's ago, however as I was still breastfeeding I thought nothing of it and put it down to a blocked milk duct. Now I keep thinking if only I had gone to the doctors sooner!

It's really nice to be able to have other women who are going through the same thing, to talk to and share worries with although it's rubbish that we all have this in common.

I hope you have lots to take your mind off your chemo over the next few weeks.

Always around to offer support - keep in touch 

Xx

Glad it seems to be healing well.

I am completely clueless about reconstruction. Did they do it all in the one op? 

Glad you also have your boys to keep you busy. Hope they are holding up ok too.

Xx

They said exactly the same to me at my appointment during the ultrasound, the nurse who did it said nothing worrying is jumping out at me, well it certainly jumped out after my biopsy. I think mine came as a shock as we have just been through the same with my mum, shes now finished all treatment and is looking great but it still doesnt make it any easier knowing i am going to go thru the chemo. 

I found it difficult to be positive the 10 days i was waiting, I spent lots of time in bed which isnt like me at all, and even though I have my husband and 18 year old daugther at home I felt alone even though I wasnt if that makes sense. I felt guilty that they have to go through this with me now when we celebrated only a few weeks ago the end of mums treatment.

Easy for me to say but try and stay positive, there is so much they can do nowadays xx

Hi gigi88

I was completely clueless as well. Yes they did it at the same time, sometimes surgeons won't do this. I had a DIEP reconstruction where they used tummy fat to reconstruct the breast. 
The boys are fab thanks. 
WL