An Introduction

I’m late introducing myself and late discovering this forum. I’m a 65 year old poet and photographer. I’m an American married to a Brit who works in IT. I’ve lived in the UK 16 years. We live on the West Sussex coast. Towards the end of November I had my regular breast screening. I almost skipped it. It was so close to Christmas and I was supposed to be writing out Christmas cards. Those cards never got written. I got a letter asking me to come for a follow up on the 11th of December, three days before my birthday. I hadn’t noticed anything different. One nipple was slightly inverted but I’ve always had inverted nipples and I’m 65 and your breasts change so much with age. I was sure there was some mistake and considered moving my appointment to some time in Jan. And then I took a good hard look at my breasts. One nipple was definitely more inverted than the other and the entire breast just seemed to have fallen. It felt like it had happened overnight but I suppose it hadn’t. The thing is, I never felt a lump.

On the 11th of December I was given a second mammogram, an ultrasound and 6 biopsy samples were removed. There was a “spot” behind my nipple that the consultant was sure was cancer and another one deeper and to the side of the breast he was less sure about. In the end they were both cancer. Initially they thought they were quite small. I had a lumpectomy on the 23rd of Jan. They removed two tumours. The growth behind the nipple was 2cm. They were unable to save my nipple. They removed 2 sentinel nodes as a precaution but believed they were clear. They weren’t. Both the nodes and the tissue around the nodes were positive for cancer. I’m ER+ but HER2 negative. I had my first cycle of chemotherapy on the 21st of March. My next one is the 11th. I will receive 6 and a solution to prevent osteoporosis twice. I also have to inject myself with G-CSF to encourage the bone marrow to make more white cells. After chemo I’ll start hormone therapy for 10 years, have another surgery to remove the rest of the lymph nodes, then radiotherapy. Zoledronic Acid, the med used to prevent osteoporosis, will continue for three years. They say if all goes well my treatment might be finished by Christmas. So, a year.

On this past Monday my temperature spiked, roughly 10 days after chemo. I was given intravenous antibiotics and some more to take home. They make me very tired. I don’t feel particularly well.

So, that’s my story. Most days it still feels like this is happening to someone else.

[Debs1962]

Sorry to hear you started the awful BC journey, I had BC three years ago now, I am 55 and recently retired.

You have ER + which is same as mine, I take letrozole also I was diagnosed with osteoporosis so take alendronic acid, but that drug is believed to protect your bones also from cancer, so take comfort from having that at least!

I hope you tolerate the chemo ok, and it will be soon over for you. What surgery did you have? I opted for mastectomy with implant stright away, all went ok and I am happy with result.

There are loads of ladies on here to give advice and tips about all aspects of BC so just ask.

Love Deb x

[Hidden]

Sorry to here you’ve had to join us, but so glad you’re went for your screening, now your on the way, hopefully to recovery. I was like you, a routine screening, then a call back, and it was cancer, I opted for a mastectomy, it hadn’t speak to any lymph nodes, but the consultant took some as a precaution. I opted for reconstruction, then 6 months later had the other side, lifted and reduced to match.

We are moving to West Sussex (Selsey) in 2 weeks time, so it was reassuring to hear that your receiving the same sort of care I had, now all I have is a annual mammogram and check up, and take Letrozole, Aledronic acid and vitamin D, for the next 2.5 years, but it’s a bit worrying changing health districts and doctors. I’m due my annual check for osteoporosis a few days after we move ( I will keep this appointment, then change over medical centres after that).Unlike you I didn’t need chemo, so I wish you all the best with that. A year seems a long time at the beginning, but you’ll look back and realise how quickly that time has gone.

Take care and good luck with your treatment.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

West Sussex has a great Breast Care program. It’s supposed to be one of the best in the country. I’m further east than you, under Worthing Hospital.

You’ll probably be under St Richard’s Hospital which is a fabulous hospital. I lived in Chichester for awhile and my in-laws in Bognor Regis so I’m very familiar with St Richard’s. I wish you much luck and happiness in your new home.

I’ll also be on letrozole and zoledronic acid which is another version of aledronic acid.

Thank you for your message!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your very reassuring message, I wish you all the luck with your ongoing treatment.

My family live in Lancing and Worthing, so we are downsizing from a 3 bedroom, town house in Kent,to a ground floor flat in Selsey, with NO stairs, to be nearer them,can’t wait.

Take care.xx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

No stairs. Ah, I dream of such a life. We’ve been living in Lancing since 2006. We moved down to West Sussex from London to be near my in-laws. They passed in 2015. We were planning to move to the West Country but then I got cancer. I have two dogs. We’re close to Lancing Beach and the South Downs which is a wonderful thing really. Selsey is lovely. I think you’ll like it. ❤️

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your reply, my auntie and 3 cousins live in Lancing, my mum and dad are buried at Lancing cemetery.

We have a home in Cyprus, so hopefully going there for a while, after we move, and I’ve seen the bone specialist on 25th, then I’m coming back for my cousins wedding in July, and taking my aunt back with me for some Cyprus sun, that will do her good.

I hate this cold, grey weather, in the sunshine it’s much easier to walk, swim,and I take my neighbours dog for a walk, just enjoy being outside.

Take care, and look after yourself.xx

[jackearls1000]

Hello there ...I am very sorry that this has happened to you ....I have finished all my treatment and its been a very long hard year .....I had a lumpectomy chemo and radiotherapy ...all I can say Is to plan treats in between each appointment so that you have something nice to look forward to ( a small celebration ) ....I bought a wig at which I was horrified with ...but enjoyed wearing it ..and if you can match it now the only person who will know will be you ...I went to slimming world every week which was my normal thing for the past 4 years ...I'm a weigh lady ...I was able to watch my weight with the steroids ....but more importantly I weighed nearly a 100 ladies and non of them knew ....I found great joy on this ..lol ....I walked loads....fresh air is the best medicine ...and when I felt tired and not bothered just a walk round the block made a huge difference ...my hair ...well I had the cold cap ...but still lost 75% of my long black hair ...but I got through it ...its growing now and I now only wear my wig once a week to slimming world ...and that's because I don't want to explain ...my last chemo was January and last radiotherapy was two weeks ago ...so please be kind to yourself and try to enjoy the good days ....and don't forget there is always a lovely lady on here any time of day to help you on your way ....they were brilliant with me .....take care of yourself ....Jane x

[Redwine50]

Sending hugs .stay strong and you can kick this horrid things butt.x

[geetha0804]

Be brave... you can beat it.

[carolinenailsea]

I was sad to read your story, you write such a clear picture of the complexity of the treatment we go through. It does feel very surreal when you are in the middle of what is a long treatment journey. You sound very strong but its ok to feel sad,mad,angry, frightened and every other emotion. I hadnt realised how big the emotional impact had been on me until I look back over the past year. Its now just over the one year anniversary of my diagnosis and I am doing really well. I wish you well with the chemo and the rest of your treatment. Look after yourself and be kind to yourself. Hugs Caroline xx

[Hidden]

All of your responses were so wonderful. I was so moved by each of them. I’m supposed to have my second cycle of EC with Zoledronic Acid tomorrow but my white count and CRP is high so the nurses are a bit on the fence about it. Waiting to get an okay from the oncologist. My husband gave me a number 2 buzz cut yesterday. I’m still adjusting to the “new me.” It’s a bit depressing, to be honest.

Thank you, everyone.