Many Choices...

[Annie69]

I was given the diagnosis 4 days ago. I am now a woman with breast cancer, my head keeps telling me. With nobody in the family line a sufferer of this I always thought I was immune. No.

I was given a lot of options and chose an 18 day drug trial which should shrink my lump and leave me with a smaller area to cut away. Then, perhaps just a little radiography. Don't know if I made the right choice. The specialist breast surgeon obviously thinks so. My daughter would prefer me to have everything cut away asap. She thinks this is the most effective and fastest way of getting rid of it. She says the surgeon will enhance his career by finding patients with the right profile for the trial, but she is very upset and probably doesn't mean it.

Has anyone else had the choice of a trial?

[Jennymary]

So sorry to read of your diagnosis, when I was diagnosed in 2013, I had surgery, on to Oncology where I was offered a chance to be part of a trial, this was based on chemo, I took part it worked, and the test has now been approved by NICE, and is now being offered to patients, when appropriate, one thing to think about, the breast surgeon wouldn't have offered you the chance to be part of the trial if you weren't ,100%plus suitable for it, I wish you well, be kind to yourself, take each day as it comes, and you'll come out the other end x

[Annie69 in reply to Jennymary]

Thank you so much, Jennymary. I'm so glad it worked for you. I am going to go along with the trial. I think it is all just sinking in now. Thanks for your best wishes. x

[Maz1965]

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. When I was diagnosed in 2014, I had it in my head that I would get a mastectomy, mainly due to the fact my lump was 6cm. My oncologist advised to go down the chemo, surgery, radiotherapy route - although the chemo was very harsh, it shrank the lump. In fact, the lump totally disappeared and I got a smaller area cut away.

Your surgeon will have discussed your treatment plan with various members of the team and they are the experts in this field.

It is an upsetting time for you and all those around you. Good luck with the trial.. you will get through it.

x

[Annie69 in reply to Maz1965]

Thank you so much Maz. You are very kind to reply in such a comforting way. x

[Gracie66]

Dear Annie69,

I know exactly where you are in your head right now thinking you were never going to have these words said to you because the chances with your family history were practically zero.

Tomorrow is the first anniversary of my operation and I'm a brand new woman now. I've had mastectomy and reconstruction chemo, I didn't have to have radiotherapy. I knew nothing at all about any of it and I went along with my health professionals and surgeons and took their advice. They are doing this all day everyday and they're very good at what they do so like maz1965 said he has your best interests at heart and wants the best results for you so well it's a very difficult and scary time put your faith in him and you will be fine.

I have found this website invaluable for advice and support and information.

The very best of luck to you in your 'journey'. We have your back when you get a bit wobbly.. xxxx

[Annie69 in reply to Gracie66]

Hello Gracie. Thanks for your reply. It is very comforting to hear these successful experiences from you and Jenny and Maz. It is very calming and reassuring and very kind. x

[Jenny1410]

Which my lump was smaller than 10 cm maybe I would have had different options 12week post op still can't get my head around it

[Annie69 in reply to Jenny1410]

Hi Jenny. Mine is 4.5 cm but I am imagining it growing bigger all the time. I'm still waiting to hear from the trial people, I wish they'd get a move on!

I think 12 weeks doesn't sound a long time to come to terms with something so radical and potentially life changing. You sound very brave and strong to me. x

[Jenny1410 in reply to Annie69]

Hi Annie not brave at all struggling with arm movement after having lymphnodes removed I also have cancer in my thyroid still awaiting radiotherapy as I have restricted arm movement I've only stopped feeling sorry for my self the last week or so and yes when I was first checked it was 5cm when my op day came it was actually 10cm so mixed fillings really glad in one way but left with one boob leaves me regretting having it done I'm sure I'll get there in the end it's just life changing stuff we have to get used to

[Annie69 in reply to Jenny1410]

Oh dear, Jenny. You've had a bad time. I've read about the arm movement problem - sounds really nasty, and the thyroid. It almost seems if they are discovering things one bit at a time. Bad luck.

I had a call today from my cancer nurse - I can't have the trial because I take Methotrexate for RA, but they knew that last week when they offered the trial. I can just have Letrozole for 6 weeks to shrink the thing then a wide local excision. There are other choices but they all seem to be just variations on the same thing, with or without matching up the other breast. My natural breasts are 40G so I can lose a lot without missing it!

Annie x

[Jenny1410 in reply to Annie69]

Big busted my self nothing Seems to match up at the moment my silicone is to heavy around the scaring so trying all sorts

[jolly_tots]

I suggest you go to canceractive.org and start attacking this from the dietary and supplement side if you haven't already. Hyperbaric oxygen is something else that is effective. I have no experience of trials - sorry.

[lozzap50]

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis . I was diagnosed in Feb 2015 ,my lump was 3.5 cm and I was asked if I wanted to take part in a trial but my partner thought I had enough to deal with so I declined . It made no difference to my treatment though and started on gruelling chemo on 2/3/2015 .It was tough going but after 15 rounds of chemo I was told that thankfully the lump had shrunk considerably and after surgery to remove what was left they told me it had disappeared and gone . I went on to have 15 rounds of radiotherapy and a year of herceptin ,which I finally finished in May this year .I struggled with every side effect possible and still have some of them but hopefully they will get less and less and I can move on and not worry that it may come back .

This site is great and I've read things that I didn't know and have passed on to my partner and family as some people think after you get the all clear thats it everythnig is back to normal but I know now that its not.

Good luck in all your treatment x

[Annie69 in reply to lozzap50]

Thanks Lozzap. I heard today I can't join the trial because of one of the drugs I am on for RA. Never mind. I hope your negative results last forever. x