further surgery

Hi Lessan, thankyou for mentioning your hormone therapy. I have had a calcified lump for 15yrs and in Oct 2014 found another lump right beside the first  this one was cancer and 4.5cm  big have had lump removed chemo,starting radiation in few weeks then tablets for 5 years (well plan so far).They did not remove the calcified lump, did not ask why  But I had trouble with menapause for 5 years before and did not take hormone treament as I wanted it to end as soon as possible im 55 years old my 22/28/31 yr old children do not want a little brother,sister now.Had a period after being diagnosed.How much does my body hate me,so they tell me the Chemo will stop my periods,well silver lining on the cloud( i will wait see)  .I have been wondering if taking treament would have saved me from breast cancer and in your example obviously not .So one less "why" to think about..

I have Lymphodema from the surgery and had cording which is gone after 10 weeks with treatment.Lots of youtube to tell you what to do at hiome & a wellbeing massager that drains my arm every 3 weeks plus showen my what to do at home. Arms a little bigger than other but aches when fluid collects and burns and feels heavy even in the still numb areas from surgery.Now 4 monthe still numb under arm,down scapula and some between elbow and armpit.  Its been a while siince you posted.like to know how you went . perky

 

Hi Lessan, thankyou for mentioning your hormone therapy. I have had a calcified lump for 15yrs and in Oct 2014 found another lump right beside the first  this one was cancer and 4.5cm  big have had lump removed chemo,starting radiation in few weeks then tablets for 5 years (well plan so far).They did not remove the calcified lump, did not ask why  But I had trouble with menapause for 5 years before and did not take hormone treament as I wanted it to end as soon as possible im 55 years old my 22/28/31 yr old children do not want a little brother,sister now.Had a period after being diagnosed.How much does my body hate me,so they tell me the Chemo will stop my periods,well silver lining on the cloud( i will wait see)  .I have been wondering if taking treament would have saved me from breast cancer and in your example obviously not .So one less "why" to think about..

I have Lymphodema from the surgery and had cording which is gone after 10 weeks with treatment.Lots of youtube to tell you what to do at hiome & a wellbeing massager that drains my arm every 3 weeks plus showen my what to do at home. Arms a little bigger than other but aches when fluid collects and burns and feels heavy even in the still numb areas from surgery.Now 4 monthe still numb under arm,down scapula and some between elbow and armpit.  Its been a while siince you posted.like to know how you went . perky

 

Hi Lessan, thankyou for mentioning your hormone therapy. I have had a calcified lump for 15yrs and in Oct 2014 found another lump right beside the first  this one was cancer and 4.5cm  big have had lump removed chemo,starting radiation in few weeks then tablets for 5 years (well plan so far).They did not remove the calcified lump, did not ask why  But I had trouble with menapause for 5 years before and did not take hormone treament as I wanted it to end as soon as possible im 55 years old my 22/28/31 yr old children do not want a little brother,sister now.Had a period after being diagnosed.How much does my body hate me,so they tell me the Chemo will stop my periods,well silver lining on the cloud( i will wait see)  .I have been wondering if taking treament would have saved me from breast cancer and in your example obviously not .So one less "why" to think about..

I have Lymphodema from the surgery and had cording which is gone after 10 weeks with treatment.Lots of youtube to tell you what to do at hiome & a wellbeing massager that drains my arm every 3 weeks plus showen my what to do at home. Arms a little bigger than other but aches when fluid collects and burns and feels heavy even in the still numb areas from surgery.Now 4 monthe still numb under arm,down scapula and some between elbow and armpit.  Its been a while siince you posted.like to know how you went . perky

 

well what a shock I got today at my appointment.  I went to tell my specialist I had decided on radiotherapy without further surgery and instead came away needing chemotherapy! 

It turns out that part of my post surgery pathology results show positive to both hormone receptors. I'm convinced that the hormone replacement therapy I have been on for the past 24 years has played a big part in my developing this cancer. I believe this because some years ago I had a small lump in my  breast that was hormonal so my GP reduced my hormone drug and the lump disappeared. I now have to stop taking it and after I've had my chemotherapy,  followed by radiotherapy I will be on hormone blockers for 5 years! 

Although this has all happened so quickly, I believe I will overcome it and I refuse to let it bring me down. I've done too much crying lately so now I'm focused on doing what I have to do to beat it 

thank you everyone for your comments.  I have made my decision and will let my care team know tomorrow.  I've decided that, since I was given the choice,  axillary clearance must not be essential in my case,  so I will just have radiotherapy.  

Thanks for all your well wishes and I hope everyone does well with their treatment. 

thank you everyone for your comments.  I have made my decision and will let my care team know tomorrow.  I've decided that, since I was given the choice,  axillary clearance must not be essential in my case,  so I will just have radiotherapy.  

Thanks for all your well wishes and I hope everyone does well with their treatment. 

Hi Lesann, I have only recently had to make the same decision and opted to have the axillary clearance. I too was worried about the potential of Lymphoedema. To assist me in making my decision I spoke to my surgeon, medical and radio oncologists as well as attending a lymphoedema clinic at the Mater Hospital (Newcastle). All the doctors had recommended the axillary clearance as it means that I may not have to have radiotherapy post chemo (start that in a couple of weeks, oh joy!!!), however it was the physio who ran the clinic that really made my final decision easier. If I had the AC and had lymphoema it could be managed although a pain in the butt, however for me personally the risk of cancer spreading from the lymph nodes was higher and the ramifications that would entail versus lymphoedema made my choice in the end quite easy.

At 44 with a young family I still have a lot of living to do, and whilst I currently feel as though I have come out on the losing end of a street knife fight ( 1 week post surgery and AC has been more painful that my mastectomy), I don't regret my decision in any way.

All I can suggest is ask the questions of the surgeon and the rest of your medical team, but if possible speak with a physio/massage therapist who is dealing with this on a daily basis as well. You may find that some of the changes you have to make to your lifestyle to potenially prevent/manage lymphoedema you are already doing.

All the best

Therese

Hi Lesann, I have only recently had to make the same decision and opted to have the axillary clearance. I too was worried about the potential of Lymphoedema. To assist me in making my decision I spoke to my surgeon, medical and radio oncologists as well as attending a lymphoedema clinic at the Mater Hospital (Newcastle). All the doctors had recommended the axillary clearance as it means that I may not have to have radiotherapy post chemo (start that in a couple of weeks, oh joy!!!), however it was the physio who ran the clinic that really made my final decision easier. If I had the AC and had lymphoema it could be managed although a pain in the butt, however for me personally the risk of cancer spreading from the lymph nodes was higher and the ramifications that would entail versus lymphoedema made my choice in the end quite easy.

At 44 with a young family I still have a lot of living to do, and whilst I currently feel as though I have come out on the losing end of a street knife fight ( 1 week post surgery and AC has been more painful that my mastectomy), I don't regret my decision in any way.

All I can suggest is ask the questions of the surgeon and the rest of your medical team, but if possible speak with a physio/massage therapist who is dealing with this on a daily basis as well. You may find that some of the changes you have to make to your lifestyle to potenially prevent/manage lymphoedema you are already doing.

All the best

Therese

Hi Lesann

I was having surgery in DEC and taken out 1.5mm cancer cell, also 3 lymph nodes at the time, 1/3 had 0.34 micromet DCIS found.  I was proposed to have axillary clearance (ac) at the post surgery appointment, but they let me think about it.

I was very frastrated at the time, I search and search a lot of information, how big 0.34 micromet represent, and how's the side effect after ac.  I believed ac is a kind of permanent damaging to my body, buecause I'll lost a kind of "functional" feature myself.  However, according to the doctor proposal it should be the best option for me.  I was very confused and worry about my decision they let me think of.  So when the next appointment, I still think of alright : have to put the trust to the medical team.  U know what, while I was about to said go ahead with your proposal, the team decided of not going to do ac; but confirmed Chemo and Radio.  I confused again, and then my Surgeon in-charge immedicately came to explain to me, since Chemo would done a big job to flush all potential cancer, and mine was 1/3...and not worth to perform ac.  I felt relief (especially my own concern about the permanent damage); After that, I firstly met my Oncologist about the chemo schedule.  He is a very very kind and wonderful doctor, explained me in a techical and common way using different type of wordings.  He said from Onco point of will, 1/3 with 0.34 micromet, they count this mean = nothing.  So that's why they turn down ac surgery.

I am just finished my 6 course of chemo in June, now get ready for Radio on 21JULY.

Lesann, this is my case for sharing only.  Since everyone is different, and I am a public patient, which in fact met different medical personnel in different areas, so...I am quite alright with the plan for me now.

Take care and good luck

Rosanna

Hi Lesann

I was having surgery in DEC and taken out 1.5mm cancer cell, also 3 lymph nodes at the time, 1/3 had 0.34 micromet DCIS found.  I was proposed to have axillary clearance (ac) at the post surgery appointment, but they let me think about it.

I was very frastrated at the time, I search and search a lot of information, how big 0.34 micromet represent, and how's the side effect after ac.  I believed ac is a kind of permanent damaging to my body, buecause I'll lost a kind of "functional" feature myself.  However, according to the doctor proposal it should be the best option for me.  I was very confused and worry about my decision they let me think of.  So when the next appointment, I still think of alright : have to put the trust to the medical team.  U know what, while I was about to said go ahead with your proposal, the team decided of not going to do ac; but confirmed Chemo and Radio.  I confused again, and then my Surgeon in-charge immedicately came to explain to me, since Chemo would done a big job to flush all potential cancer, and mine was 1/3...and not worth to perform ac.  I felt relief (especially my own concern about the permanent damage); After that, I firstly met my Oncologist about the chemo schedule.  He is a very very kind and wonderful doctor, explained me in a techical and common way using different type of wordings.  He said from Onco point of will, 1/3 with 0.34 micromet, they count this mean = nothing.  So that's why they turn down ac surgery.

I am just finished my 6 course of chemo in June, now get ready for Radio on 21JULY.

Lesann, this is my case for sharing only.  Since everyone is different, and I am a public patient, which in fact met different medical personnel in different areas, so...I am quite alright with the plan for me now.

Take care and good luck

Rosanna