*TAMOXIGANG* 43 *

[MaryAnnSingleton]

New thread !!

I was dx 1st may this year and after a lumpectomy in June was told that it was invasive ductal breast cancer, grade 3 and the lump was 2.3 cm I think. Had sentinel node biopsy at the same time which was positive. Started chemo in July and so far have had 3 fec and 1 tax, 2 more tax to go then a full node clearance and radiotherapy

On a brighter note had a nice pub lunch and gossip today

And I'm 42, was 41 when diagnosed
Wish they started mammograms at 40 might have caught it earlier

tiny As you'll see from the stories so far,everyone's cancer is different and the treatments given vary from hospital to hospital.
I was diagnosed in 2009 with invasive ductal carcinoma and associated DCIS - grade 2, 2.4 cm - sentinel node biopsy showed clear lymph nodes so after lumpectomy I had radiotherapy and tamoxifen.
In 2012 I was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer with multiple lung mets across both lungs and am on 3 weekly cycles of Capecitabine,an oral chemotherapy- this continues until it no longer works. However, I am working and swimming like a demon and in training for 5k Swimathon in March, so there's hope and life beyond advanced cancer

Hoping my post might finally work...

Got my CT results - all clear :) I got to see the images myself which was interesting. My insides look quite different to normal people! Also got a referral for an endoscopy next month to check for polyps in my upper GI tract. At least if there was any cancer there it'd show up on the scan :)

I was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer at 21, just had my one year check up. I now know I have FAP which is what caused the cancer. I've had a pan-proctocolectomy and now have an ileo anal pouch. I had six months of chemo (XELOX) ending in July.

More good news, my Hb is now 92! So nearly in normal range, iron tablets obviously helping :)

Welcome tiny but sorry you've had to join us.

Waving to all x

Yay for you, Ruby! Go celebrate.

I was diagnosed May 2011
Mx and node clearance within a couple of weeks .
Baseline ct revealed lung secondaries .
6 rounds of chemo .
5 weeks of rads .
Went into remission for a year .
The bugger has started growing back in my lungs again , but not enough yet to warrant treatment .
Prob starting chemo again at the end of this year .

I was given 2/3 years at diagnosis .
2.5 years later , I'm treatment free (for now) and relatively healthy !

So many names to remember. Thank you ALL for being so lovely.

I feel a bit stupid, but I don't even know what type of BC I have. The Consultant did say, but I didn't take it in. I was too busy thinking NO, NO, NO and kicking myself for not self-checking regularly. My smears are up-to-date, I even paid out to have my moles to be checked over, I just didn't think to look after my boobs - I thought I was too young and cancer doesn't run in my family. The number 3 was also mentioned, but I am not terribly sure in what context. I will ask again at my oncologist appointment tomorrow, hopefully my brain won't melt at this appointment.

So after what I can't tell you about my cancer, what I can tell you is that I am a Mum to a wonderful little boy who is two years old. We live in a lovely part of South London, yes there are some parts, and I am 37 years old.

Ruby - Congrats on your results - must be a weight off of your mind.

Great News Ruby

I found it really interesting to read about the journeys you have all been on. I cried!! For the first time since diagnoses. I realise that there really is life, during and after cancer. I feel like my life has been on hold for the last few months! But now I can see that I have to make the effort to get on with living and see this for what it is, an illness! But an illness that I can beat.

I have spent so long saying 'why me'! I need to stop that. I thought I was being punished for being a 'bad' person. But I'm not. It's just one of those things. Something else to deal with before I finally get, ' the happily ever after ' that I have been dreaming about and wishing for, for years.

Might come back on later and write my current diagnosis. Although as it's recent I don't think I need to. I now need to go have a good cry and take some flowers to a very special place.

Sorry if that made no sense at all. Having a really emotional day xx

Yay ruby that's great news .

I was diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma in feb 2012 shortly after dd2 was born ( have two dd aged 5 and 1). Had lumpectomy then found cancer had spread to my bones and lungs. Since then have had chemo two lots of radiotherapy and a bunch of operations to sort out my spine and neck plus various infections.

Got ct scan tomorrow (been brought forward) to check out sore swollen spot and lump on my neck plus do usual three month check.

Kurri if you are lurking am thinking of you.

I am not expecting good news. Am tired and beyond fed up especially as this will muck up yet another holiday (I have had to cancel or postpone about 5 holidays since diagnosis. It's not very fair on my family).

Even the return of montalbano this weekend is only raising a small smile.

Great news Ruby

Gigs - whatever your results (and I have fingers crossed that they will be fine) surely you will still be OK for your holiday - hopefully a week away wouldn't make any difference?

I am 45 and was diagnosed on May 23rd this year with 6cm grade 2 IDC - 8/8 for ER+ and neg for evrything else. Had SNB which showed micro met in 1st node (2nd node clear) but did not go on to have clearance. Had 3 rounds of FEC then chemo abandoned as it was not effective - had mastectomy (with temp tissue expander) instead and diagnosis changed to 1.3cm IDC tumour surrounded by DCIS. Now on weekly Paclitaxel (tomorrow is week 3 of 9) - decision still to be made about Rads but hopefully I don't need them so can have reconstruction finished in Jan.
Mine is a very unaggressive tumour (KI-67 of 5%) - confirming one of Amber's points that chemo works better on some of the more 'rude' types and is not effective on some of the boring ones - thereby evening the odds out somewhat!

Really - when I got my diagnosis someone said to never think 'why me' and instead think 'why not me' - I have found that thought to be very helpful (but that may be just me).

Have worn my wig all day with no problems but may go to the hairdressers for a trim at the front as it has been in my eyes a bit - am sure that will cause some ammusement. .

Gigs, no wonder you're fed up. Bloody cancer. Will sit on the box, hand holding, hugs whatever might help tomorrow am thinking of you. xx

oh gig -hand holding for tomorrow and on the box for you..
Am so happy for you ruby - did you take a pic of your scan ?
tiny forgot to say that I have 16 yr old son !
righto- off to swim...

Thanks all- I think fact mr gigs away and I am feeling bit shitty doesn't help . I am more gutted about potentially ruining my trip away.

Still it's gbbo tonight.

I need to join you ladies, here's my thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/1882646-I-need-massive-handholding-please

Bowel cancer in 2011, 6 months of chemo, all clear in April 2012, DD2 conceived July 2012, born april2013.

Today been diagnosed with peritoneal disease and liver mets.

welcomeknitting - sorry to hear your news but come and join us.

I have breast cancer but we have a few ladies here who have secondaries and will be able to tell you all about how they carry on with their lives whilst managing their cancer very well.

And if your name means you knit you will also find some fellow crafters - wool stock piles seem to be common place on this board .

Gigs will be thinking of you tomorrow you won't get the results straight away though will you ?
Knitting Ive just recommended you come over here and now I see you have welcome but sorry you have to be here

Looking forward to gbbo not looking forward to starting steroids again tomorrow !

I do knit, but have 20 rows left of DD2's blanket that I started in January, the pain has left very little inclination for knitting

Hand squeeze for knitting -another advanced cancer lady here. Green eyed -will be holding your hand virtually tomorrow. Sorry about your ex-my father did same when I was 2 and my dsis 6minths(). Fucking prince among men he was.

Feel bit better thanks to offloading on therapist , specialist nurse and some beans on toast . Gritting teeth now as will get thru this.

Good luck to gigs and cat for scan/results.

Thanks to everyone for sharing stories. I'm learning something from everyone. I'd like to share my story but I'm not sure what it is yet....

Hugs for knitting. I am a novice here and in the breast cancer arena, so not much to offer you except my heartfelt good wishes. I hope you have some rl practical and emotional support around you. You will certainly find all kinds of good things here.

Back from Mr Consultant, who did the final lymph node checks etc for this year on me this evening. All OK.

Knitting, sorry that you're facing more of this, but glad you've found us. Putting a on for you, and for everyone else who needs one.

Gigs, pleased that you've offloaded onto your beans on toast, nurse and therapist (not sure about the beans on toast experience, but they do say they're a bit therapeutic ). for you?

Are we doing who's who? Hi, I'm Amber (well, on here, anyway) and was diagnosed in Jan 2011 with a 2.3 or 4cm lump (don't ask...it was a measurement fight between specialists) in one boob. HER2+ ER-, grade 3 (fast little s*d of a cancer). Had 4 x FEC and 4 x T chemotherapy, which resulted in cancer disappearing from view ("pCR"). Then lumpectomy. Then radiotherapy. Then Herceptin for four months, which hated me (rare that it does that), so I had to stop taking it very early on, which wasn't a good thing. Left me with nerve damage. Still here. Good. Oh and I'm autistic and quite mad but useful for occasional facts and a decent

Knitting - I am so sorry to hear your news - big hugs. How did your LO take to the beaker? I know that the Tommee Tippee ones can definitely hold warm milk and be sterilised.

Gigs - Hope scan goes well tomorrow and that you get good news.

Yay for all clear amber. And definitely on agenda.

On a lighter note, I see that GBBO clashes with the footy, so I think I'll be watching tv in the kitchen as am outnumbered on this one!

yay for Amber, and for Ruby earlier.

"occasional facts"..... Panic-quelling words of wisdom, more like!