My story
Last August following a normal mammogram through breast screen, I finally decided to start HRT after years of hot flushes. 3 months later I went for an ultrasound to check out an existing thickening that had started to worry me. This area was normal, but imbedded in the base was a small 4mm lesion. A fine needle biopsy confirmed that this was invasive ductal carcinoma. A new mammogram showed no cancer and nothing had changed from the previous one 3 months before. 6 days later I was in hospital for a lumpectomy. The 4 mm lump was actually 21mm and a grade 3. More surgery was required to ensure better margins than the 2mm that were confirmed. Due to the aggressive nature of the tumour I decided to have a mastectomy and lower level nodes removed after consultation with my surgeon. An MRI was also done to see if any other surprises lurked within. Nothing showed up, but my decision to have the mastectomy was the right one for me. All the 9 extra nodes removed were all negative to cancer, and I was very relieved. I still needed chemo, and this commenced in January and I had 4 cycles at 3 weekly intervals ( taxotere and cyclophosphamide). I was lucky to have minimal side effects, and am now 5 months past my completion. Following extensive research I have decided to have a prophylactic mastectomy and then reconstruction of both breasts using tissue expanders followed by silicone implants. This is booked in for September 28th. Before my appointment with my surgeon, I had my annual mammogram and ultrasound, ( 3 months early ), so the surgeon would have recent results. The mammogram was normal, but on ultrasound a new lesion was discovered. This was like history repeating itself. I had a core biopsy this time as the lump was suspicious, and a 2 day wait for results. Fortunately the lump was benign, but this scare has given me absolute certainty that my decision for prophylactic mastectomy is the right one. Any doubts about it being rather radical have now all gone. 20% of tumours do not show up on mammogram. I never realised this before, and I feel very lucky that I still went and had my lump checked out even when I thought nothing was really wrong. My tumour was ER+/PR+, so my HRT was feeding it nicely. My prognosis would have been quite different if I had waited another 21 months till my next mammogram. I'm back to having hot flushes again after 3 wonderful months of relief, but I'm not complaining anymore.
Member blog
Accupunture
Hi ladies, can anyone tell me if they have tried accupunture for relief of hot flushes? My oncologist recommended it as an option to try before using other medications. I am well and truly over these hot flushes, and am looking to try something different. He said it was also good at helping with sleep.
Love Chris xx
Femara side effects
I started taking femara 3 months ago, and for a while I thought I might have been one of the lucky ones who didn't get side sffects, apart from the hot flushes. In the last couple of weeks it has dawned on me that my stiff hips and achy legs might actually be early side effects. My legs ache all day long, rather like chemo legs, or flu like legs. Also when I stand from sitting, or first get out of bed, I walk and hobble like an old lady. My hip joints get better as I move around, but my legs just ache all day.
Huge Hematoma
Hi Ladies, just wondering if there is anyone who has experienced one of these? I was in Perth last week for 5 days , and on the morning of my return I developed spontaneously a very large haematoma on my recent mastectomy site. It was 1 day short of 3 weeks post op for me, having had a precautionary left mastectomy and bilateral insertion of tissue expanders. I had been given the all clear to travel, and we had a very relaxed few days, and I didn't even drive or lift a heavy suitcase.
Breast reconstruction begins on Wednesday
After months of trying to decide what to do, and finally getting around to making a booking, the day is nearly here. On Wednesday afternoon, I will be going to hospital and having boob number 2 removed and the insertion of tissue expanders on both sides. After finalising my booking about 6 weeks ago, I had a breast cancer scare in this remaining boob, so I know that this is the right thing for me to do. However, I'm still very nervous about this procedure and am becoming more scared as the day approaches.
User network activity
- Chris replied on "Breast Cancer, taking control" by professor John boyages on 22 May 2012 at 11:12AM
- Chris replied on how long was your hosptial stay on 21 May 2012 at 11:45PM
- Chris replied on Sleeping in Hospital on 21 May 2012 at 02:55PM
- Chris replied on First post op appointment on 21 May 2012 at 02:41PM
- Chris replied on It's like hurricane on 21 May 2012 at 02:32PM
- Chris replied on Diagnosed yesterday on 20 May 2012 at 08:06AM
- Chris replied on Anne on 17 May 2012 at 11:21PM
- Chris replied on Anne on 17 May 2012 at 11:21PM
- Chris replied on Reconstruction ? on 15 May 2012 at 08:51PM
- Chris replied on Radiation burns on 15 May 2012 at 09:00AM
