Hi All! So today, on my 39th birthday, (yep happy birthday to me) I was told I have breast cancer. A 10mm Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (Grade 3) All of this means not a lot to me. I have seen the specialist and been advised to read the Guide for Women with Early Breast Cancer and talk to others in the assistance of making a decision - either lumpectomy or mastectomy??? I have a follow up appointment on Friday to discuss any questions and inform of my decision I guess. Help x

Hello Rene, well I'm glad you have come on this site as we are all in this journey together Happy Birthday by the way. I too had a 12mm lump aso grade 3 and I had a lumpectomy.The surgeon will remove it and surrounding tissue to get what's called a clear margin which means no cancer cells in that margin. Also he will remove your sentinel node from under your arm it's your soldier node when he suggests you read the early breast cancer info that is a GOOD thing. I had surgery a month rest them chemo every 3 weeks for 4 times you will have chemo too Rene because of the grade 3 don't hesitate to have it!!! another month rest then I would say you will have 6 weeks radiotherapy then may or may not have hormone therapy for 5 0r 10 years depending if your BC is hormone sensitive anyway take a big breath because it's do able keep in touch with your progress Christine xxxx and it is a Happy Birthday cos you got the bastard early xxxx

Hi Rene, welcome & happy birthday. I would also ask about having chemo before surgery, which is to increase the likelihood of needing lumpectomy only. My surgery will be two weeks before my 50th birthday, my gift to myself!!!. I'm halfway through chemo, having 6 cycles. There isn't any difference in survival rates, and most likely less invasive surgery. Just something to think about. I do know that I have cancer in my lymph nodes & will be having an axillary clearance. You need to ask if you will be able to have a sentinal node biopsy. I don't know if they do this with pre surgery chemo. Keep asking questions, there's a lot of support, from women with many different experiences along their journey (a catch word that I really hate, but it expresses perfectly the path we're all on). Take care, Lyn

Welcome to the site and Happy birthday not the best present but great they have got it early. The ladies have given you good advice, mine is get yourself a diaty and note pad. Appointments will be many and it is always a good idea to write quetions down as you think of them. Take your questiondswith you and remember no question is dumb ask away.. Use this site I found it helped take carexx

Hi Rene, a pretty crappy birthday gift I'd agree, but great that it has been caught early. I'd just add that it might be good to have a chat with your breast care nurse before Friday to talk about some of those decisions and explain some of the foreign language we're suddenly having to get our head around. Sometimes it just helps to verbalise some of those questions with someone who can help and guide you in the right direction. The Guide was invaluable throughout my treatment (I'd just dip in & out of the relevant sections as trying to take it all in at once was overwhelming and used it to form my questions for whichever specialist I was seeing), and of course nothing beats talking to those who've been there and can offer some words of support and understanding, so feel free to post any time you have a question, are confused or just want to vent. Best of luck with your next steps and decisions. Jane xx

Hey Rene. Happy birthday.?? i would suggest taking one appointment at a time and take someone with you. I found i became overwhelmed with all the info i had to process so having another set of ears really helps. Take care and look after yourself. Maryrose

Breast Cancer Diagnosis Today | BCNA Online Network

13 Replies

rowdy
Member
10 years ago
Welcome to the site and Happy birthday not the best present but great they have got it early. The ladies have given you good advice, mine is get yourself a diaty and note pad. Appointments will be many and it is always a good idea to write quetions down as you think of them. Take your questiondswith you and remember no question is dumb ask away.. Use this site I found it helped take carexx
lrb_03
Member
10 years ago
Hi Rene, welcome & happy birthday. I would also ask about having chemo before surgery, which is to increase the likelihood of needing lumpectomy only. My surgery will be two weeks before my 50th birthday, my gift to myself!!!. I'm halfway through chemo, having 6 cycles. There isn't any difference in survival rates, and most likely less invasive surgery. Just something to think about. I do know that I have cancer in my lymph nodes & will be having an axillary clearance. You need to ask if you will be able to have a sentinal node biopsy. I don't know if they do this with pre surgery chemo. Keep asking questions, there's a lot of support, from women with many different experiences along their journey (a catch word that I really hate, but it expresses perfectly the path we're all on).

Take care, Lyn
scotty
Member
10 years ago
Hello Rene, well I'm glad you have come on this site as we are all in this journey together Happy Birthday by the way. I too had a 12mm lump aso grade 3 and I had a lumpectomy.The surgeon will remove it and surrounding tissue to get what's called a clear margin which means no cancer cells in that margin. Also he will remove your sentinel node from under your arm it's your soldier node when he suggests you read the early breast cancer info that is a GOOD thing. I had surgery a month rest them chemo every 3 weeks for 4 times you will have chemo too Rene because of the grade 3 don't hesitate to have it!!! another month rest then I would say you will have 6 weeks radiotherapy then may or may not have hormone therapy for 5 0r 10 years depending if your BC is hormone sensitive anyway take a big breath because it's do able keep in touch with your progress Christine xxxx and it is a Happy Birthday cos you got the bastard early xxxx

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Breast Cancer Diagnosis Today

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