Hi, I was diagnosed with OC in November last year. I had my 3rd chemo on Weds, and having a Cat scan on Tuesday. all being well they hope to operate on the 2nd Feb. I'm staying positive, however have had a knock back yesterday. I had a recall for my routine mammogram, it turns out I have a small tumor in one breast, they took biopsies and I get the results next Thursday. I told my oncologist last Tuesday that I had a recall, she said they recommend you not to have routine smears and mammograms and that it was probably just thickening of the tissue caused by chemo. How glad am I that I had it done. On a good note my cancer counters have gone from 3400 to 1300. Apologies for being very naive with wording etc. Any feedback much appreciated.
Caz
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caz54
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I am having treatment for BC at the moment. I wouldn't worry unduly about the small breast tumour (easy to say, I know) - mammograms can pick up non-invasive cancers such as Ductal Carcenoma In Situ (DCIS) which have the potential to turn into invasive cancer. Even if it's invasive cancer, a small tumour can be removed via lumpectomy and treated locally with radiotherapy. It doesn't usually even need chemo if it hasn't involved lymph nodes.
They will also always take biopsies from fibroademonas - these are not cancer and will not turn into cancer.
I have just had chemo followed by lumpectomy and am awaiting radiotherapy. My 4.7cm lobular tumour had spread to my lymph nodes so I needed chemo. I also have a couple of fibroadenomas which are safe and still in there - no worries at all about them.
Best wishes and remember if the tumour is cancer (and it might well not be), if it's small the chances are it's easy to treat and won't have spread.
Hi Caz, wishing you a warm welcome to this site. It has helped me more than I can say. There's always a kind and supportive word here but also more often than not someone has experienced something similar and that helps us to feel less alone.
I must admit I have not been told to stop routine mammograms ( no point having smears cos I have had my cervix removed along with everything else). But your onc maybe correct in thinking the treatment has effected the breast tissue. I am afraid I don't know enough to comment further except to say there are lots of reasons for further investigation- not just cancer.
I think you are absolutely right in getting it checked out though and it's good that whatever it is is small. It's tough that you are dealing with this as well as the OC you must feel overwhelmed.
Your response to chemo sounds positive and it's good you have a date for your op. How is the chemo going?
I was having a down moment when I posted yesterday, aches and pains from chemo and a sore boob from biopsies. Not going to get me down today, I have decided, I have cleaned my cupboards out today! Does anyone else get a mad rush of scrubbing, tidying and throwing away after chemo? I do this after each session ( not a bad thing though, I don't think my home has ever been so tidy and clean!)
I find the worse side effects are the shooting pains in my OC area, fingers and toes. Paracetamol extra helps though and the GP has prescribed some sleeping tablets as I have insomnia.
Yours and Rebecca's replies, have made me think it may not be cancerous, but I tended to think the worse! Even if it is, its been caught early and I'm having chemo anyway which I was told would work on anything there as well.
I hope you are doing well and I thank you so much for your supportive and friendly reply. I will feel able to post on here again.
I had to laugh Caz, your reply came through as I was hoovering the skirting boards in my bathroom- yes I had chemo yesterday! Unfortunately the energy doesn't last so some of the house is a fright.
My house now looks a little worse for wear Elaine, the energy has diminished and aches have set in. Only another couple of days, and should start to feel a bit better. Today I can hardly get out of bed!
Rest if your body is telling you that's what it needs. I do hope you feel a bit better tomorrow as I think you have your scan. Hope all goes well for you this week.
Hi Caz, wishing you a warm welcome to this site. It has helped me more than I can say. There's always a kind and supportive word here but also more often than not someone has experienced something similar and that helps us to feel less alone.
I must admit I have not been told to stop routine mammograms ( no point having smears cos I have had my cervix removed along with everything else). But your onc maybe correct in thinking the treatment has effected the breast tissue. I am afraid I don't know enough to comment further except to say there are lots of reasons for further investigation- not just cancer.
I think you are absolutely right in getting it checked out though and it's good that whatever it is is small. It's tough that you are dealing with this as well as the OC you must feel overwhelmed.
Your response to chemo sounds positive and it's good you have a date for your op. How is the chemo going?
I've not heard of recommendations not to have mammograms & smears. I don't have smears, as my cervix was removed with my uterus, ovaries etc 7 years ago, but I have continued to have routine mammograms, as I would want to know if there is a problem. I guess the only thing is that it must be harder to accept & deal with having a recall or finding a problem if it is during the time you are having treatment for your oc rather than after treatment is finished.
This is true, I have been checking myself and had found nothing to be concerned about. So it was a bit of a shock. However like I said whatever it is they caught it early, so hopefully will not be too much of a problem.
Glad to hear your doing well and I hope the CT scan brings good news too. I was diagnosed with BC just prior to having a diagnosis of OC. Of course my BC could not have been caused by chemo as it was diagnosed before I started chemo. I was never told not to have mammograms and I continue to be checked up by both breast care team and the gyne/oncology team. After I finished chemo for the OC I had a short break before starting radiotherapy for the BC. Surgery for the BC before the chemo. My cancer is hormone driven. Take each day as it comes Good Luck x
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