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Hi all, Just a short introduction to you all. I have just been diagnosed with Lobular breast cancer and have been reading the boards with great interest. There is a wealth of experience here and I feel so comforted at the thought of being able to share my inner most thoughts whilst having to go through this process. It is a very surreal feeling having been given the information for my treatment and it still does not feel like its happening to me, more like I'm talking about someone else. I have just started taking Femara and as my medical history is very complicated I have lots of worries over adding to my very large medicine cupboard. The odd thing is I have not even cried other than when I got the news, I'm not sure if its because i still don't believe it or I'm holding it together for everyone else in the family. The biggest shock I got was the other day when I noticed a girl in the local shopping centre with a bandanna and the sleeve for lymph edema, she made me want to go over to her and hug her and say hey I'm going to be with you in another while.The very thought of being able to chat with someone who is going through this is so good. I'm not in the least bit vain but have the same issues most women have and like to try to look my best. I dont have a face like Sinead O'Conner for baldness and have ample boobs so the thought of having one gone is scaring the bejaysus out of me. I am so confused over the whole discussion on re-construction. Do you do it along with your mastectomy or later? what are the pro's and con's to it all. I have read some of the information you guys have posted which is definitely helping. I too like some of the posters here have had enough of people saying ahh theres great success for breast cancer and I know someone who had it 10 years ago and they are great now etc. Its so daunting the idea of the whole process and I would be really happy to join you all in the different topics that arise here. Thanks for taking the time to read and I look forward to hearing how you all are getting on. Love and peace Ger53

Just wondering whether many of ye lovely ladies have a family history of BC with a negative BrCa diagnosis ??? Here our our family stats. Interestingly they all run down the paternal line if that is the correct word for father. 1 - My aunt, my dads youngest sister diagnosed aged 45 about 8 years ago now. Mast, chemo, rads, tamoxifen - she is doing well today. 2 - me, diagnosed at 39 two and a half years ago. Mast, chemo, rads and now a clinical trial instead of tamoxifen 3 - my first cousin, so my dads brother's daughter, diagnosed about a year ago aged 41. Mast, chemo, tamoxifen 4 - my aunt, another sister, diagnosed last week aged 70. My cousin and I have both had negative BrCa results but holy God, this has to be too many in one family. I should add my dad is one of nine. All are still alive and range from about 75 to 55. Any thoughts???

Hi I went to see Oncology Doc today and he suggested I start taking Arimidex and Zoladex. has anyone been on these? How is zoladex given? Is it an injection? The nurse said something about a pellet??? I was a bit taken back cause i thought I would be on Tamoxifen. I dont mind what I have to take but just wondering if anyone else has taken these durgs? The staff are great but as always it is good to hear from people who have firsthand experience. Sunflower

Went back for results of 2nd excision today and they still haven't gotten a clear margin. Unfortunately, my consultant is on hols for 3 weeks, so I only spoke to Registrar. My options are: 1. Have 3rd excision done (Day procedure) in the hope that they'll get it this time, but big possibility I'll lose nipple. If it is clear, then that could be the end of it and I may not need radiotherapy as previously suggested. If NOT clear...then it will definitely be a mastectomy and I will want recon and reduction on healthy breast. 2. Forget the above and just have a mastectomy with recon and reduction. I am leaning more towards option 1 in an effort to try and spare the breast as long as possible. The thing is....DCIS is very treatable and I know they will get rid of the cancer one way or another...but at this stage, what has me rattled, is, if I have to have a mastectomy and recon how I'm going to look afterwards....am I very vain or wha? I need to do a bit of research into mastectomy and recons. I am in Waterford Hospital and they only do implants which I'm not enamoured with. The Registrar today says that they rarely do TRAM flaps nowadays as many people were getting hernias after them. He mentioned Latissimus Dorsi recon, which didn't appeal to me either. I have heard that DIEP is the "Rolls Royce" of recons and that Beaumont Hospital do them. Has anyone else any experience that they would like to share with me re DIEP? Latissimus Dorsi? Which Surgeon? Which hospital? Is it all covered by health insurance? I am going back on Aug 25th to discuss options with my consultant but would like to have my homework done beforehand. Thank God for this site and such wonderful people as you all are. Sending you all the healing angels.

Hi there Mimiraffo, I know you are going in for surgery tomorrow and I will be in touch with you, just wanted to post a note here on the message board to wish you all the very best for a very speedy recovery and hope you are not too worried. I'll pop in to see you and if there are any special requests for anything please let me know. Go girl go! I'm with you all the way! Hugs Ger

Hi guys, I'm in my forth week of Femara, hormone therapy and I definitely feel like there is a reduction of the lump in my breast, is it possible for this to shrink completely? Ok maybe this is wishful thinking that I may not have to have a mastectomy. I have cancer in the lymph nodes as well and not sure if this actually reduces it too. I'm so confused over what should be happening. Part of me feels if I need surgery should it be happening sooner rather than later and will things change dramatically with the hormone therapy. thanks in advance for any advice on this. ger

Hi, Just wondering if anyone has stage 1a with micro invasion <5cm which is HER2+? I am trying to decide whether to take aggressive treatment and have chemo and heceptin? My oncologist had said it is my decision and to weigh up the risks but his 'gut feeling' is not to have further treatment. Any experience would be appreciated. Also if any of you went for a second oncologist opinion in Dublin area - who did you go to and how do you organize it? Thank you

Can anyone tell me how long it takes to come through,I applied more or less straightaway last March and all reports have been sent back to the Insurance Company. Im feeling good at the moment and would love to bring the family on a special holiday. Hair starting to come back and im in great form. Thanks CeeDee

Just wondering if anyone has heard of them. I had a nutritional therapy appointment the other day and they recommended taking them. Salvestrols are natural compounds in the diet which are converted inside diseased cells, by a specific enzyme, into compounds that can destroy the diseased cell. They are part of a natural rescue mechanism and may be essential to maintain good health. This is an article they gave me to read about Salvestrols: http://www.beating-cancer-gently.com/su ... udies1.pdf Just wondering if there is anyone out there who is taking them and has noticed any difference.

Having had to wait 3 weeks till my consultant returned from holidays and in the mean time seeking a 2nd opinion, spoke to breast care nurses in Beaumont and the Mater, spoke to wonderful women who have had mastectomies and reconstructions, googled till all hours of the morning(s)...I thought I had myself around to the idea that a mastectomy was the way to go!!! I have been so anxious the last few days...fluctuating between the fact that (a) the cancer will be gone and (b) what will I look like with a "foob"? Met my consultant today, and following much discussion, and finding out a lot more information about my situation, we've decided to re-excise for one last time and hopefully get a clear margin. If not clear this time, then its definitely a mastectomy. I am much happier this evening and even if it isn't clear this time, I know I'll have given it a good shot at preserving the breast. It's a pity I hadn't had this conversation 3 weeks ago, then I wouldn't have had such an anxious 3 weeks, but I guess this is where I'm at now...so re-excision on Aug 31st...results on Sept 15th...fingers crossed! This site is a God-send, even to write on here is therapeutic! Bless each and everyone of you on your journey! Micheline.