New to all this

[Linnb23]

Hi Everyone. I am a newbie. Just been diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer. Go for my pre op on 5th April and operation 18th April for a lumpectomy and Senitel Nobe removal. Feeling scared is an understatement. Hope you are all doing fine

[Kazzerp]

Hi There. Sorry you have had this diagnosis. It's only natural that you will be scared but try not to let your mind go into overdrive. The waiting and worrying is the worst bit I think. I had IDBC diagnosis back in July last year and had mastectomy and sentinal node biopsy, followed by chemo and node removal. All extremely scary , but one way or another I'm out the other side and so will you be. Try and keep positive and use this group for support. There are a lot of ladies who have many different experiences and who can all give you advice and support when you need it most. I wish you lots of luck on your journey . Karen xx

[Jane-deborah]

It's only natural to be scared. I was diagnosed 7 months ago with breast cancer only under my arm-which is rare. Had wide local excision and sentinel node biopsy. Thankfully no positive nodes. At the time it was frightening, and I wondered how I'd ever get through it. I've now completed 6 cycles of chemo and have my last of 20 radiotherapy sessions tomorrow. There is light at the end of the tunnel! Just take it one step at a time X

[Debs1962]

Hi I had the same as you May 2015, I had choice of lumpectomy or mastectomy as didn't want radiotherapy I opted for mastectomy, I was lucky if you can call getting BC lucky! Had no nodes affected so when they tested the sentinel node that was clear, so had implant at the same time as mastectomy.

It is scary and upsetting being diagnosed with BC, but try to take each step one at a time, and all treatment is doable as all of us on here can confirm, living and your life is more important.

So depending on your results from the surgery that will determine the next treatment for you.

Hope all goes well for you, and let us know how you get on, and ask any questions of us.

Welcome to the group Deb xx

[Maggie18]

I had this diagnosis a year ago this week I had chemo then mastectomy and a lymph nodes removed and radiotherapy and although a journey I feel so lucky to be here and feel I have found a new me and feel so lucky to be able to now enjoy the little things in life and I know you will be scared but surgery will remove the cancer and you can believe the treatment then will eradicate it too . Keep positive keep busy and enjoy those special people around you see k support always happy to have a chat xx

[Linkj]

Dear Lynnb23, I am sorry to hear your news and totally empathise with how you feel. I am just over 2 weeks post mastectomy and I wish I could have known how much better I would feel by now, so far the worst bit was the waiting, I am not an anxious person but that wait for the operation was the toughest. I have a sense that the cancer is gone and now I am just waiting for the sweep up with chemo. I shared a room with a wonderful 80 year old who made easy work of her lumpectomy compared to me with a mastectomy and we have kept in touch and she is doing brilliantly.

Good luck on the 18th April and keep in touch on the forum, the ladies here are brilliant 😀

[Chrissie2]

Welcome Lynnb23. It is very daunting when first diagnosed. Try and keep busy to take your mind off things and have some treats. You will be amazed how soon it us all over and you can get on with the rest of your life. Ask as many questions as you like on here and there will be someone to help you. Good luck with your journey xx

[Hidden]

Hi linnb

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis, you will still be in shock, i found i went into a surreal bubble experiencing thoughts and feelings i'd never had to deal with before. I also had an invasive ductal carcinoma, grade 3 with positive sentinel node so had 6 chemo then mastectomy and node clearance followed by herceptin injections and radiotherapy, its like the try abit of everything menu in the worst restaurant ever!!

feeling afraid is expected, your mind is in threat mode at the moment but do try not to over think your diagnosis, only worry about what you do know and not what you think might be to come, its easy to get hung up on negatives and what ifs. I'm coming out the other side now nearly 2 years on from diagnosis and I dont think about cancer every day, I'm happy and can start to see a future I once thought bleak, this will be you too.

Take care, caz

[Artemis-angel]

I was diagnosed 7 years ago now and like you was scared. All I can say is that it was not as bad as I had built up in my my mind. I had surgery, chemo and radio therapy. It is not an easy time but friends and family were there to help me throughout. It sounds trite but give yourself little treats and try to enjoy life. I wish you all the best throughout your treatment.

[Linnb23]

Thank you everyone for all of your positive comments, it has helped me so much. I wish every one of you all the love and luck in the world and will let you know how it goes on the 18th.

[Louisejr]

Hi there

Sorry to hear about your news, it is very daunting. I was diagnosed in September last year, lumpectomy, and 2 sentinel nodes removed, followed by Radiotherapy. I put a very similar post to you on here at the time as I was extremely worried about what was to come. I cannot emphasize enough the wonderful support you are given by other ladies on here. We are all on different journeys, but all have the same thing in common, and there is always someone who listens, and can offer some form of advice which helps you to feel a little bit more positive about this unplanned situation.

I kept myself as busy as possible running up to my operation, and tried not to dwell on it too much which is very hard, especially in the wee small hours when you can't sleep and it's all that is going around your head. I focused on each bit as it came along, put my complete trust in my medical team and the last six months is a bit of a blur to be honest, but here I am on this journey which is still by no means over.

Wishing you all the best and sending hugs

Louise xx

[Linnb23 in reply to Louisejr]

You are so right about thinking things through at silly o'clock. It is now 3 in the morning and I am lying here awake, even though my body wants to sleep. The comments on here are so re-assuring, even though others have or are going through so much at the moment, where my journey is just beginning. Sending cyber hugs to everyone and stay strong

[julesab]

Good luck on your journey ! I was diagnosed in 2010 had mastectomy lymph node removal them diagnosed with lung cancer and had a third of my lung removed ! Then had chemo and radiotherapy and reconstruction 💪💪💪and I still on letrozole but work 30 hours so I OK !!! Take all the support you can MacMillan leaflets and they have stalls in most hospitals ! Breast cancer care are very informative and have phonelines ! And talk as much as you can ! I think keeping things in makes you ill ???

[carolinenailsea]

Hi Linnb, Its a really difficult time right now for you and its hardly surprising you feel scared. I was diagnosed on 19/1/17 and the next couple of months were so overwhelming. I am now on chemo with surgery to follow and then radiotherapy. I do feel I have got my head around it now that I have a clear treatment plan. I do feel optimistic, I am confident the chemo is shrinking the tumour. Don't expect too much from yourself, its ok to feel frightened and sad, its ok to cry. Its a tough old journey but as so many of us on this blog can testify to, there is a way through the journey. As everyone has said, be kind to yourself. Let others support you. Hugs and wishing you all the best for the surgery and for the journey. Caroline xx

[Hidden]

Dear Linnb23

I was diagnosed with grade 3 invasive Ductal cancer in August 2015.

I had lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy and this showed the tumour had spread into vascular system so moved onto TFEC chemotherapy. Plan was then for radiotherapy but due to problems with oedema in skin it was decided mastectomy would be better option. Had mastectomy last April and yesterday had my 2nd scar line revision and I'm done!!! Feeling sore but so very happy 😊 😊

My cancer is triple negative so I can't take any meds to prevent reoccurrence so was advised my best line of defence was to get fit and healthy... 3 weeks after mastectomy I changed job to part time less stressful job and hit the swimming pool... I now swim 3-4 times per week and have just completed 2.5k Swimathon chalk, raising £1000 for Marie Curie.

I have about 13stone to lose !!! Started on the counterweight trial Monday which consists of just shakes and soups for 3 months. Determined to do it!!! Cancer has changed my life... for the better!

I wish you all the best and here if you have any questions xx

[Louisejr in reply to Hidden]

Wow that's amazing - I love swimming and used to go every morning before work before all of this - I have recently started back swimming (not as often as before) but it feels so good in the water .

Louise 😘

[Jacbowden in reply to Hidden]

Lavendargirl, it's great to hear how you are turning your life around. I'm responding because I'm also triple negative and there's not so many of us! I'm metastatic to liver and lungs. However, after four rounds of chemo, I decided to go for the Rick Simpson Cannabis oil protocol. As well, I changed my diet, looking at every single thing I put into my mouth as 'medicine'. If it doesn't have a positive function, I don't eat it. In two weeks I will be having a scan and I'm feeling like the doctor is going to wonder how it disappeared! On this diet, I've already lost ten kilos, so it's no problem dropping the weight if you eat correctly. And, as a benefit, I feel fabulous! 🌺 Good luck.

[Hidden in reply to Jacbowden]

Hi Jacbowden

Sorry to hear of your reoccurrence but great news on the care fil earing and subsequent improvements.

Can I ask how long before your reoccurrence? It is a concern for me

[Jacbowden in reply to Hidden]

Lavendergirl,

I didn't get a recurrence ( unless you count a benign lumpectomy fifteeen years prior) I was misdiagnosed. So, I had the mastectomy and chemo, BEFORE they knew it had spread - a big no-no!

The point is, currently there are NO chemo treatments ( conventional) to KILL cancer stem cells. It just kills the bulk of the tumour ( daughter cells). The spread happens ( according to my reading) when your Immune system becomes suppressed, for whatever reason. If your cancer hasn't spread around your body, and the chances are small, then after a chemo sweep up, you should be good. Keep your diet clean.

🌺

[PennyHopes]

Hi Linnb23! So sorry to hear about your diagnosis! I got diagnosed with the very same type in late January, I had a double mastectomy on March 1st, lymph node removal last week and just got the clear pathology reports last night... I found myself just doing one step at a time, when I had to go in for the lymph node removal was a particular low point because I was only 3 weeks post mastectomy but as many of the ladies here can attest, actively battling this thing helps! Accept all offers of help and know you can do this!!

[Jacbowden in reply to PennyHopes]

Why don't they remove the lymph nodes whilst you were on the table? That's what happens in Australia. Interesting seeing differences.🌺

[PennyHopes in reply to Jacbowden]

I wish they had!! But on initial diagnosis everything looked clear and now that 10 more were removed- we really really know they are clear!! I'm just happy everything is proving clear on me - I've even offered up my ovaries if they thought it would help matters 😀

[haagr]

Hi Linneb23

I was diagnosed with DCIS in September, had a lumpectomy in October and radiation in January. I was petrified, anxious and depressed. I barely ate or slept. The only thing that calmed me down was a meditation video I found on the internet. I will attach the link for you below.

Now that treatment is over I am fine and enjoying my life. I wish the same for you. Reach out to your fellow survivor sisters if you need to express your feelings and fears or have any questions. We all have been there and truly understand this emotional roller coaster.

youtu.be/Jyy0ra2WcQQ(Not working as expected?)

R from NYC

[wishfulthinkingxxx]

We're in this together then! I go in for surgery on the 18th too - lumpectomy and sentinel node removal on my left. I had the same surgery on my right side 04th Jan 2017 and it went well. Just remember - you are going to be fast asleep when it's all being done and when you wake up it's all over with. I am much less apprehensive this time round and if I can do it - YOU can too! Love and prayers to you xx

[Jacbowden]

Linnb23, I know exactly what you are going through, which is what is so good about this group, we all know to some degree. It's awful.

My 'team' stuffed up my diagnosis and so I had my breast removed, lymph nodes then chemo, BEFORE they found metastasis. I finished the four rounds, as I had started anyway. When the oncologist gave me two months off treatment following that, I began the Rick Simpson Protocol that very night and in two weeks time ( scan) I will have proof of this having worked. I'll keep you posted, but along with a massive diet change I'm feeling amazingly well and it's only been just over two months since the last chemo. Good luck, but never think the doctors know everything. Find your own health as well.

[Linnb23 in reply to Jacbowden]

I admire your positivity and really hope you get the good news you are hoping for. What is the other diet and health you have found that helped you. I have read about the Rick Simpson Protocol but really not sure how you would start on this should the need arise. Interesting how you make the stuff though. Thank you for the support, this is a lovely group with amazing people who all have one thing in common although all with different stories to share. Please keep me posted as to how you get on.

[brianna29]

Its natural to feel scared. I remember it well. Take each day as it comes. Good luck xx

[Linnb23]

Well had my planned surgery on the 18th April but surgeon decided that it would be better if he did an axillary clearance too. All went well and I came out of hospital the following day. Felt sore, but manageable with pain relief. 2 days later I really didn't know what was going on, I got a sore throat, terrible cough and on the Saturday had to call the emergency services and was rushed to hospital with sepsis. I had managed to get a hospital acquired infection pneumonia and to top it all they found a large haematoma in the breast and had to syringe it out. Well after 6 days if intravaneous antibiotics, and everything else they threw at me I managed to get home yesterday, but still feel quite ill, bonus today though I had my drain out on the 10th day even though it was still draining over 70ml. Will see what happens next. Wishing everyone all the very best whatever stage of this journey you are at. Xx