Hello again Fiona, I had just turned 49yrs when I noticed my nipple had became inverted and that was the start of my very long ordeal. Despite regular checks and mammograms from 40yrs (due to lumpy breasts and my mum having had breast cancer) nothing unusual or sinister had shown previously. Turns out I had three tumours; 2 invasive lobular carcinomas, both oestrogen positive (and one of which was about 6cm) and a small but aggressive invasive ductal tumour, which was HER2+.
Although I'd originally had a lumpectomy, as the extent of the lobular tumours weren't known, or showing up on diagnostic tests, once the surgery and pathology came back and clear margins couldn't be achieved, I had to go back for a mastectomy, so no choice there! My sentinel node was also positive, hence the axillary clearance. I had 6 rounds of chemo (Taxotere & Carboplatin), 12 months of Herceptin and radiotherapy was recommended due to the size of the tumour/s and the fact some of it was sitting close to the chest wall. I finished active treatment in July 2013 and had a DIEP flap (tissue transfer from the stomach) breast reconstruction in 2014. My decision-making around treatment was very much guided by my medical team, although I did get a second opinion on the oncology side of things, but they were very similar in their recommendations. I had somewhat more choice with the reconstruction but given the radiotherapy treatment, it was always likely to be a tissue transfer procedure of some sort, so it was more a matter of who, when and how (public or private). My choice to go ahead with a complex reconstruction was questioned by a few, well-meaning people who were concerned about why I'd choose to put myself through more surgery, but it was a positive and pro-active thing that I could do to reclaim some of what was lost, particularly my battered self-image, and for me, it was the turning point in my recovery, but I am equally aware that it is not something others would choose to do. The important thing is that we are given the information and support to decide for ourselves what is right for each of us and our circumstances.
It has been a long road and very tough on my family - my children were 8yrs and 13yrs at the time of diagnosis - but I am grateful for the support I received both on here and from some absolutely wonderful people in my community (including some I didn't know well beforehand) that helped me through. Best wishes, Jane xx
