Hi, 

I have just finished treatmwnt for breast cancer.Perhaps I can help with some of your questions? 

I presume the hormone tests your mum is having is to see if her cancer is responsive to estrogen or not?

I had two tumours in my breast one was a stage 2 and one a stage 3.

I think it's classified as a 3 if it's spreading or has spread.I should imagine that's why your mum has been given a 3 because it's now in her nodes.

I know it must be a terrible shock for you and your mum.It's normal for her to feel the way she does,I didon't eat or sleep to begin with. 

I hope you both soon have some more information from the hospital and a treatmwnt plan in place.

Having something to focus on helps alot.

thinking of you both

Ness x 

A grade 3 means the cancer cell is highly differentiated that is very different from the normal breast cell. Grade 3 is an aggressive cancer it does not mean that it cannot be treated. Reference to hormone treatment is perhaps the cell using hormones to grow. The grade of the cancer does not as far as I am aware relate to spread to lymphnodes. Once spread to nodes are noted especially more than 4 patients are automatically referred for scans etc. I know this because I was treated for a grade 3 breast cancer with 4 out of 18 nodes affected. I had scans and thankfully no evidence of spread. I had treatment and am now three years down the line. Cancer is a very frightening condition to have but it is treatable. Your mum should only listen to the medical staff who are treating her. I hope all goes well for her. Listen to her and plenty of cuddles especially when treatment starts. Take care.

Hi,  thanks for the reply - it means a lot. Sorry to hear that you had to experience all of this :( Did you have to have chemo and surgery? Is it as awful as I've read? My mum is struggling to sleep and eat :( I keep telling her she needs to be strong for the chemo. 

Hi there

So sorry your mum is going through this, it really is a worrying time for her as well as those close to her. I am 43 and was diagnosed with breast cancer in July, devastated, shocked, scared were feelings I had but also family and close friends had the same, this big C doesn't just effect the person diagnosed its a much wider spectrum which you don't realise until your experiencing it !! I had shoulder pain for some time before i found a lump in my breast, but turned out this was unrelated to the cancer in the end. 

I had operation to remove, 2 lumps as what i felt as 1 was in fact 2 very close together, I didn't have to have chemotherapy but start daily radiotherapy on Monday for 4 weeks. It is an awful time and one of the worst parts is the waiting between appointments and then for results. A lot of tests they do are all double checking so it is a good thing, maybe you could go with your mum to an appointment so you can ask any questions. My partner and sister went with me and he asked more than me as I was in such a state .... and in my experience they are all so helpful and experienced and willing to talk to all concerned not just the patient.

Sending all the very best to you and your mum and I hope she receives only good positive news from now on.

Claire xx

Hi

its so amazing to hear you brave people talk about cancer and I don’t know you but I’m proud of you for fighting it x

i went to the doctor last Monday due to 2 small lumps which I thought were cysts so she checked my breast and told me that she’s not overly concerned about them as cysts can come and go but she then told me that she’s more concerned about the lump on the side of my breast which I hadn’t noticed x she told me that it needs to get looked at so she was going to fast track me an appointment turns out my appointment is Tuesday next week x 

is it a good or bad sign that I’m being seen so quickly??

also on the next day at around 2pm I came over with severe shoulder pain, I mean it was so intense that I was crying and I even had to use my left hand to lift my other arm up x so I started to use muscle gel and take ibuprofen and it’s been a week and I’m not sleeping and I can’t do daily tasks like brush my hair or wash my hair without assistance coz it hurts so much do you think I should speak to the doctor again?????

im so sorry for the long essay lol 

I’m only 34 and I’ve already had a heart scare and CIN 3 scare x

don know how much more I can take 

katy x

Hi, I’m sorry to hear about your mum, it’s a scary time going through the scans, but the care team will want to get as much info as possible to be able to tailor the right treatment plan for her.

I was diagnosed with grade 3 bc in March, it’s in my nodes, however not spread anywhere else.  I’m 43 and have 2 children. Because of the size of my lump they recommended chemo first to shrink it, then mastectomy then radio therapy.  I had my 5th cycle out of 6 yesterday. The oncologist said whether chemo is before or after doesn’t impact on the outcome but means my surgery will be more straight forward.  And I’m pleased to say it’s shrinking so much so she couldn’t find it yesterday so I have to have an mri to size it now.

Katy84, if you are concerned about your shoulder go and see your gp, it could be as a result of anxiety I had lots of aches and pains when I was being diagnosed, but at least you could put your mind at rest. Also the timescale for your appointment is normal so don’t read too much into it, and I would suggest staying away from DR Google as well as it always takes you to the worst case scenario.

let us know how you get on.

WL

Hi 

I've had a bad shoulder for months in the last week my arm pit started to hurt ( my sister has got over breast cancer 2years ago) and I'm now really worried i can't feel Anything like lumps I'm really worried, I've got fibromyalgia and on daily pain relief but my shoulder and arm always hurt and now my arm pit not sure what to do im 40 and have a little boy who's almost 3 im so scared right now did ring doctors but no appointments so I have to ring up everyday to just get a call back .

I too have pain in my arm pit and side of my breast it pulls o now have a painful shoulder can't find any lumps doctor couldn't find any and sent me away for a month it hasn't settled so now awaiting a two week emergency app for the clinic I'm really scared