Breast cancer advice

[switchname]

Hi all

Feeling a bit fragile at the moment and I am hoping for some advice.

Four years ago at age 44 I had a low grade DCIS which was removed via lumpectomy. I didn't receive any radiotherapy at the time as I had two surgeries and the second one found no evidence of cancer cells.

I was recalled today following a routine mammogram and had several 3D mammograms, an ultrasound and a core biopsy. The radiographer indicated that he could see a lump rather than old scar tissue which had been reported on the past. My lymph nodes in my armpits were clear in the ultrasound.

Can anyone give any indication of the possible way forward assuming this is cancer. I don't have very much breast left (small chested and already had two lumpectomies). I guess I would need a mastectomy and a reconstruction. Do they typically do this at the same time? Also I guess radiotherapy? I am very keen to avoid chemo so do you think this may be on the cards if it hasn't spread?

Sorry about my muddled thoughts. I'm still shaking and in shock and am in the house on my own with no one to talk to. Thank you for reading and for any insights. x

I'm so sorry, it's horrible for it all to come crashing back to you so shockingly.
I can't say what they will do in your case but just wanted to offer some reassurance about possible treatment.
I've had chemo for breast cancer, radiotherapy and a mastectomy with auxiliary node clearance and simultaneous reconstruction.
The radiotherapy was fine, tiring towards the end and my skin broke down but it healed very quickly afterwards and I was able to cook dinner/go for walks etc on it.
Surgery was much easier then I had expected, the pain relief was excellent and I was able to be active on a weekend away 6 weeks after the surgery. Key here is to start doing the exercises the physio gives you as soon as your told to and be consistent.
Chemo is not fun but nor is it as miserable as the films would have you believe.
I was on a two weekly cycle and in those two weeks was really only need to stay in bed unwell for about 48hrs. I never threw up and only got a few of the possible side effects.
Just give yourself a chance to breathe. Not being in the lymph nodes is very positive news although I'm sure it doesn't feel like that right now.
If you want to pm please do.

Thank you so much for your kindness @M0rT. I'm very happy you are now well and got through your treatment.

May I ask what type of reconstruction they did and also if they did anything to your other side? Sorry, I know this sounds vain and superficial but it is a worry to me. Also, did you lose your hair on chemo?

Also, what type of breast cancer did you have?

Maybe I'm wrong, but I would hope if mine is small and contained, I won't need chemo.

Trying to pull myself together for the kids coming home from school now. 😢xx

Hi,

I had mastectomy, chemo and radiotherapy. I didn't have reconstruction so can't help with that but as the pp said chemo is not as awful as all the films/media show. I did lose my hair but it grew back. I found it very difficult but came to terms with it.

I understand the need to know everything now, it's scary and it feels like the more you know the more in control you are.
I did lose my hair but it came back fine, highly recommend if it comes to it shaving your head before you start as it hurts while it's coming out.
But you are right they may just do a mastectomy and radiotherapy if your lymph nodes are unaffected.
I had what's called an LD Flap reconstruction, they didn't touch my other side.
I was also offered a DIEP reconstruction which is more common. It seems to depend a lot on what your surgeon specialises in.
I know of women who have had reductions done on the other breast to match up so I think it is possible.
My breast cancer is pretty rare, micropapillary so probably not very helpful for you.
If you are on Facebook see if there is a support group for breast cancer for your area, that will give the most useful information as treatment can very slightly from hospital to hospital.
For example there is an option to trial a cold cap to prevent you losing your hair in some hospitals but not all.

Hope you’re okay - sending hugs.

Thank you so much all for your support. A bit of a sleepless night but I'm ok. I'm so annoyed I didn't ask about possible treatment options at the time. I was in total shock yesterday.

@M0rT May I ask why did you choose a reconstruction rather than implants? How does it look/feel now and also the area that they took tissue from?

Thanks 🌺

I chose the reconstruction I did because it's all done in one operation and I was sick of hospital by then and just wanted one and done.
Also I'm small boobed so implants weren't necessary to match up and they sit too high to only have it done on one side. Your original breast ages and sags like the rest of you!
It looks fine in clothes to me and my DH still likes sex with me so it can't be that off-putting naked. Scars are fading daily and even in a bikini aren't really noticable unless you were staring now.
I can't stress the stretches for a good recovery enough and I still do them.
I really hope you get news next week that it's surgery, radiotherapy and back to the daily grind with you. 🤞

Thanks so much M0rT. This inside info really means a lot to me. I'm very pleased your life is back on track! 😊

Did you have to take any hormone therapy afterwards?

Just because your lump is small and contained doesn't mean you won't have chemo. I discovered only yesterday that there are 11 different types of breast cancer and this determines what treatment you have.

I was diagnosed with lobular cancer last year. My cancer is ER:PR + & HER2 which means I needed Herceptin which can only be given alongside chemo.

My cancer hadn't spread to my lymph nodes either. I finished chemo on the 9th Feb and radiotherapy last week.

Chemo wasn't as bad as I thought and in the grand scheme of things I'd have done anything to stop the cancer returning.

Massive hugs

Honestly it all depends on the histology. I am small breasted, had a few “hot spots” so small areas of oestrogen positive cancer through my breast. I had mastectomy but declined reconstruction (wanted the operation to be as simple as possible).
After the Op they look at the cancer in much more detail and do lots of different testing on it. Then they work out if you need any extra treatments and if so which one.

I didn’t have any. Literally just mastectomy. That was 6 years ago.

Not everyone will require radiotherapy or chemo.

Sorry to hear you may have breast cancer. I am undergoing breast cancer treatment now. Normally next appointment you have biopsy results, if confirms cancer they tell you type e.g. lobular and if hormone positive/ neg, if HER2 positive/neg and grade (speed grows at). I then had a MRI of breast and a CT of body but they don't always run extra tests especially if believe small and contained. Then got results and told surgery first as HER2 negative, they said had I been HER2 positive they would have started with chemo. for my cancer (lobular around 5cms cubed).

In my case they did a mastectomy and no reconstruction as reconstruction with it would have meant 1.5 month delay and I preferred cancer out. That operation was fine. Then they test that and see if spread to lymph nodes, mine had to one so then I had another surgery to take out lymph nodes on that side. Then at my hospital they put the results in the Predict Breast NHS model (free online) to see best treatment and discuss at MDT. If hormone positive you get hormone treatment. I will have 3 weeks radiotherapy, some people get a week with smaller cancers, they seem to use it a lot at my hospital but people mainly complain about tiredness and it being everyday so overall not too bad.

On that model my hospital do chemo if the 10 year benefit when all fields are filled in and hormone therapy selected as well if hormone positive of over 5%, 3% to 5% they do a further test. More likely with larger cancers and those in lymph nodes and pre menopause rather than post but depends on individual results. I was also very keen to avoid chemo but sadly just the wrong side of the border on that so start on Monday. You do lose all your hair and will feel rubbish in it I've been told but it means some women stay alive. They don't know exactly which women those will be, in my case they said 94 women like me will have no benefit, 6 will live to 10 years because of it so it wasn't totally clear cut with risks / side effects involved but in the end I went with the recommendation. I would just focus on surgery if that's first, don't worry about chemo, could well escape and if you don't there are lots of women going through it / been through it who can help and there's a cancer support thread. Hope you don't need it.

Thanks Aurea. Hope yours isn't cancer.