Im newly diagnosed and waiting on the results of an MRI before my surgeon finalises my plan going forward. As it stands now, I’ll be having a lumpectomy, followed by radiotherapy and then hormone therapy.My question is a bit out of the box and was hoping for some insight.After having surgery, and hopefully the surgeon is confident that margins are clear and lymph nodes are clear, do I then refer to having ‘had’ breast cancer or do I still ‘have’ breast cancer?So basically, when do I transition from ‘present tense’ to ‘past tense’?I know this question is a bit out there but I’m just wondering how do I describe my condition after a hopefully successful surgery.

SYLV1E I've pondered the same.In my head I am certain that the cancer has been ejected from my body however I'll be on hormone therapy for many years to come so at the moment I think of it as "having treatment for". It seems that some people get told by their medical team at some point along the way that there is No Evidence of Disease (NED). I'm looking forward to hearing that some day.

‘Having treatment for’ sounds right to me. Im still getting my head around ‘being that person with breast cancer’ so being told No Evidence of Disease will be amazing.I’ve decided not to tell anyone (except my husband) until after I have the surgery and we know the game plan. Both of my girls have absolutely beautiful neuro-spicy kids, so I don’t want to add to their stress until we know the full picture.

Not intruding at all, more than happy to talk about it, I've found it to be very useful in feeling less isolated and maybe removing some of the stigma and fear around cancer.I was originally told surgery, radiation and an estrogen blocker for 5 years. When they went in they found 2 tiny satellite tumours and the multi-disciplinary team foudn it to be grade 2 and weren't sure if chemo may add benefit to treatment so then that entered the equation.It's all fluid and nothing is concrete until it's concrete is what I have found. So in order to manage my expectations, I am just trusting that I'm in the best hands and they got it early, so I'm going to be ok. It's been really hard not knowing and being in this limbo state, but I'm just busying myself with work and life and just reminding myself that this is but a speedbump.Good luck with your surgery, the waiting sucks, but medicine for this stuff has never been better!

Hi, I wonder that myself. I have had surgery, and being early stage my oncologist said that I may not even have any cells left in me. However, because they can’t know for sure I have just started radiation therapy and will be on Tamoxifen for five years. So I find myself wondering too, do I say I have breast cancer or I had breast cancer. Being treated for breast cancer feels like too much of a mouthful for me 😁! I suppose until the oncologist says there is no detectable disease I still have it - it doesn’t feel right to say I do or don’t though. I think maybe it’s just that I don’t want to think about having it.BTW, I am just down the road from you at Lake Macquarie 😉😊. We can compare notes!

Hi SYLV1E that's a really good question, I reckon I will say 'recovering from' after my surgery and then 'had' or 'having treatment for' while having radiotherapy. Incidentally I have the same plan as you (at the moment) MRI next week, plan finalised, surgery and RT and HBs! Snap?! (I hope that's not too flippant)Good Luck with your journey 🙂

Is it ‘have’ or ‘had’ breast cancer?

34 Replies

Tani12
Member
11 days ago
Hi Sylvie, I was diagnosed late 2023. Had a single mastectomy and then 6 rounds of chemo. I simply say that I had treatment for breast cancer in 2024 and since then all my scans are coming up clear. Wishing you all the best during your treatment and beyond🤗
WendyFeng
Member
13 days ago
Hi Sylvie,
I have done all of these and now on daily hormone therapy, and expect it for another 9 years, if no cancer recurring during my 10 years of treatment , then clinically , i can cancer free. We always carry the fear but we will be fine and live with the problems, still can have a normal and happy life:)
JacquiS
Member
19 days ago
Hi, I wonder that myself. I have had surgery, and being early stage my oncologist said that I may not even have any cells left in me. However, because they can’t know for sure I have just started radiation therapy and will be on Tamoxifen for five years. So I find myself wondering too, do I say I have breast cancer or I had breast cancer. Being treated for breast cancer feels like too much of a mouthful for me 😁! I suppose until the oncologist says there is no detectable disease I still have it - it doesn’t feel right to say I do or don’t though. I think maybe it’s just that I don’t want to think about having it.
BTW, I am just down the road from you at Lake Macquarie 😉😊. We can compare notes!
- SYLV1E
  Member
  19 days ago
  Wow! That’s just a forty minute drive from my place! 😄This new world we’ve found ourselves is so small yet way too big at the same time.
  Im still waiting for a surgery date and it can’t come soon enough. I was expecting to get a surgery date last week but my surgeon decided I needed an MRI as she found another suspicious area when she examined me. We’re hoping it’s just more DCIS than was imaged on the mammograms and US. It’s just adjacent to my other DCIS so fingers crossed that it just means the surgeon will have a clearer idea of the margins.
  Would be great to compare notes once I have something worth sharing. Yeah, that doesn’t sound right but I’m sure you get my meaning. 😁
  - JacquiS
    Member
    17 days ago
    I’m happy to catch up if you ever want to, given we are so close. my surgeon also found another suspicious area - so I ended up with three biopsies in total. Two were benign, but the radioactive scan they did showed tracking towards one of the benign areas so she took it out as well just to be safe. I hope you get a date soon.
    Are you going through the Gateshead clinic by any chance?
K1llAB
Member
22 days ago
Hey SYLV1E
I was diagnosed in late May, had a lumpectomy and a second surgery to get clean margins. For all intents and purposes, I am cancer free, but I am still receiving treatment. I am awaiting oncotype dx test results though, so I don't know if I am chemo & radiation + meds or straight to radiation + meds and I too don't really know where I fall now. 'Receiving treatment for BC' has been my go to. It's a weird spot to be, but you're definitely not alone.
I guess it's all learning, use what feels comfy for you.
Best of luck x
- SYLV1E
  Member
  22 days ago
  Im so sorry you had to go back for another surgery; that must have been a blow to hear that. Im finding that im holding it all together for now and just waiting for that surgery to be over so that we can make a plan and to have to virtually start over again? I think that would break me for sure.
  I do hope you get some good news from your test results so that you can move forward without having to go through chemo.
  I don’t mean to intrude, but did you know prior to your first surgery that chemo might be needed?
  I was originally told no chemo but now they’ve found a third area adjacent to the others, Im getting nervous.
  The MRI results should be back by the end of this week so I’m hoping it’s nothing to worry about or to at least give the surgeon a clearer picture so she can get clear margins.
  Fingers crossed for good results for us both. xo
  - K1llAB
    Member
    21 days ago
    Not intruding at all, more than happy to talk about it, I've found it to be very useful in feeling less isolated and maybe removing some of the stigma and fear around cancer.
    I was originally told surgery, radiation and an estrogen blocker for 5 years. When they went in they found 2 tiny satellite tumours and the multi-disciplinary team foudn it to be grade 2 and weren't sure if chemo may add benefit to treatment so then that entered the equation.
    
    It's all fluid and nothing is concrete until it's concrete is what I have found. So in order to manage my expectations, I am just trusting that I'm in the best hands and they got it early, so I'm going to be ok. It's been really hard not knowing and being in this limbo state, but I'm just busying myself with work and life and just reminding myself that this is but a speedbump.
    Good luck with your surgery, the waiting sucks, but medicine for this stuff has never been better!
arpie
Member
23 days ago
It's a 'tricky one' SYLV1E xx You are actually having the same 'course of treatment' as me. Surgery, Radiation & Hormone Treatment.

Following surgery, they have 'removed' the cancer (and all going well, with clear margins/nodes.) However as you are probably having radiation afterwards .... treatment is then 'ongoing'.
Then, as Hormone Suppression will be ongoing (usually for 5 or more years), treatment is ALSO 'still ongoing'!

So 'Having Treatment For' is a great way of describing 'where you are at' up til that point in time.

I believe that the term 'in Remission' is also a very valid way of explaining to family & friends that you have completed treatment at that point in time.

After completing the Hormone Suppression ... you may then also consider using the term NED (No Evidence of Disease) ....

I still prefer 'In Remission'.
- SYLV1E
  Member
  22 days ago
  Thank you for your reply. It’s very sad to realise that there are so many of us on this journey but I’m so grateful for the support from others who understand.
  ‘Receiving treatment for…’ seems to resonate with me and I guess that still applies prior to surgery as well.
Moomincorn
Member
24 days ago
SYLV1E I've pondered the same.
In my head I am certain that the cancer has been ejected from my body however I'll be on hormone therapy for many years to come so at the moment I think of it as "having treatment for".
It seems that some people get told by their medical team at some point along the way that there is No Evidence of Disease (NED). I'm looking forward to hearing that some day.
- SYLV1E
  Member
  24 days ago
  ‘Having treatment for’ sounds right to me. Im still getting my head around ‘being that person with breast cancer’ so being told No Evidence of Disease will be amazing.
  I’ve decided not to tell anyone (except my husband) until after I have the surgery and we know the game plan. Both of my girls have absolutely beautiful neuro-spicy kids, so I don’t want to add to their stress until we know the full picture.
KalGal
Member
24 days ago
Hi SYLV1E that's a really good question, I reckon I will say 'recovering from' after my surgery and then 'had' or 'having treatment for' while having radiotherapy.
Incidentally I have the same plan as you (at the moment) MRI next week, plan finalised, surgery and RT and HBs! Snap?! (I hope that's not too flippant)
Good Luck with your journey 🙂
- JacquiS
  Member
  19 days ago
  Yep, breast MRI’s are definitely a bizarre experience!
  - SYLV1E
    Member
    19 days ago
    Yep. Leave your dignity at the door. 😂
- SYLV1E
  Member
  24 days ago
  I’m sorry that you are going through this too but it is strangely comforting that I’m not alone. I know that’s a huge contradiction but I’m sure you know what I mean.
  I had my MRI last week and let me tell you, it’s a very weird experience. Nothing painful or daunting in anyway but definitely not what I was expecting. 😁
  With our treatments running along the same lines, it will be nice if we can keep in touch on here so that we can compare notes.
  I live in the Maitland area in NSW.
  - arpie
    Member
    22 days ago
    I am Mid North Coast, NSW SYLV1E xx. If you ever come over to the coast, I am happy to meet up for a coffee & a chat xx. Shoot me a message 😉
    
    Are you aware of the IPTAAS (Isolated Patient Transport and Accommodation Scheme) where you can claim for both fuel and accommodation expenses if you have to travel more than 100k (each way) or (I think) have 200k (over 2 weeks) ....
    Check out the GROUPS .... Connecting Rural, Regional & Remote Areas for info xx