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cams_mum's avatar
cams_mum
Member
15 years ago

Last week I realised I had breast cancer

It finally hit me last week that I have breast cancer.  I knew it was coming, but didn't realise that when the realisation hit, it would hit hard.  All it took was something completely unrelated at work to trigger it and I was an uncontrollable mess for about an hour.  Somehow I managed to pick myself up, and get on with it and thankfully have been feeling back to my old self ever since. 

Since being diagnosed it has been a blur of doctors appointments, operations and researching all that I could to work out what it was we were dealing with.  The support of my Husband has been amazing, and since he is the one that found my lump and made me go to the doctors the next day, I will be forever grateful.  He is my Angel and I love him.

I had my first appointment with the Oncologist and Radiation Oncologist last week.  I have since started tamoxifen and have my planning appointment on 2 September for radiation therapy and start my treatment on 19 September. 

For my diagnosis, I fall into the 'grey' area group in that they are not quite sure how to treat me.  The jury is out on whether chemo would have any effect.  I am considered low risk, as I am hormorne receptor positve, HER2 negative and the lymph node negative. They only negative was the size of my tumour (2.9cm).

I have chosen not to have chemo and just take the hormorne blockers.  I discussed this with my hubby as I wondered if I was being seflish about not wanting chemo.  He supported me all the way and said that the decision was mine.  He is completely confident that the worst is over and we can get on with our lives with our baby boy who has just turned one.

 

2 Replies

  • louiseg's avatar
    louiseg
    Member
    15 years ago

    Hi Cams_Mum,

    I have a son called Cam (Cameron) too!  Mine's a bit older though (13).

    I have been unlucky enough to go through BC twice - once aged 35 and the second time last year at age 42.  I didn't have any chemo the first time as it was all DCIS and hadn't escaped the milk ducts - lymph nodes were negative too.  The second time it was an invasive ductal carcinoma 2.5cm, lymph nodes clear, hormone positive, HER2+ negative.  This time I had chemo as for me it was going to reduce my risk of recurrence from 15 to 11% and I really didn't want to have to go through it all for a third time!  I am also on Tamoxifen for 5 years.

    I was a little hesitant to have chemo when the reduction in the risk was such a small amount but then I had had BC before so my decision to have the chemo was more or less as an insurance policy against it coming back, if that makes sense!

    Whatever decision you have made though, you are the one that needs to be comfortable with it.  The first time for me there was no thought of chemo.  I had mastectomies both times and with clear lymph nodes you DO wonder.

    Good luck with your treatment and hopefully your radiation goes well,

    Louise :)

  • louiseg's avatar
    louiseg
    Member
    15 years ago

    Hi Cams_Mum,

    I have a son called Cam (Cameron) too!  Mine's a bit older though (13).

    I have been unlucky enough to go through BC twice - once aged 35 and the second time last year at age 42.  I didn't have any chemo the first time as it was all DCIS and hadn't escaped the milk ducts - lymph nodes were negative too.  The second time it was an invasive ductal carcinoma 2.5cm, lymph nodes clear, hormone positive, HER2+ negative.  This time I had chemo as for me it was going to reduce my risk of recurrence from 15 to 11% and I really didn't want to have to go through it all for a third time!  I am also on Tamoxifen for 5 years.

    I was a little hesitant to have chemo when the reduction in the risk was such a small amount but then I had had BC before so my decision to have the chemo was more or less as an insurance policy against it coming back, if that makes sense!

    Whatever decision you have made though, you are the one that needs to be comfortable with it.  The first time for me there was no thought of chemo.  I had mastectomies both times and with clear lymph nodes you DO wonder.

    Good luck with your treatment and hopefully your radiation goes well,

    Louise :)