Breast Cancer

My best friend has just been diagnosed with DCIS, has had surgery and awaiting radiotherapy. She was also diagnosed on routine scanning, ( first time) She ha no grandchildren yet, whilst she is facing some daunting treatment, she is relieved and feels blessed to have been " caught" so early on.

I went for a routine mammo a few weeks ago. I received an appointment from the Spanish Health department to report at a certain time/date. When I arrived at the mobile screening unit I was surprised to find there wasn't a queue. In fact they said they had been quiet all day. Seems such a shame when a quick test will show up anything that needs investigating. I shall be there again next time they send me an appointment.
So pleased you seem to be back on top form, granmouse.

Twenty two years on, still here, still as bossy and fussy as always.

Lynette you are an inspiration-if I manage 22 years from dx I will be 84 and I'd settle for that

Two years on and full head of hair again, 75% energy levels and on my third grandchild! Thought it was the end of my world at the time but brilliant medical treatment, family support and love is the most amazing healer. Found the rather large lump myself despite regular mammo's!

Sounds great so far nonnasue-the first two years are crucial so you are over the hump so to speak.Mine was triple negative so 5 years is my personal 'hump' and that will be up in October-fingers crossed.

Six years on and doing fine. Mine was found by a routine mammogram too, so please everybody, keep those appointments even though they make you feel like two pounds of pressed meat.

I had my mammogram screening about 3 weeks ago and all is well. My late Mother had breast cancer in 1993, so I am always a bit worried.

My lump was found through a routine mammogram. I had the lump removed and six weeks of radiotherapy. Ten years one and still getting checks. So far so good. I can't say I've noticed any difference in my energy levels. I was back at work two weeks after the surgery and had my radiotherapy treatment in the afternoons, after working during the morning. Everything done and dusted in three months. I took Tamoxifen for five years and Arimidex for a further three years..

2010 was my year for breast cancer, chemo and radiotherapy. No doubt that the mammogram saved my life, as the lump was quite small, but the cancer had already spread to my lymph nodes.
I have met such brave women, just getting from one day to the next takes courage at times. It's good to hear from all the survivors.

2008 was my year for the BC , I still hate saying the word. I had a lumpectomy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and herseptin, I amstill on tamoxifen and have regular checks. I lost all my hair, eyebrows and eye lashes and all body hair, really horrid time, but my hair etc has all come back, better than before.
I still have regular checks, now 3 years on and so far so good.

I had a "worried well" private mammogram three weeks ago today - recalled two days later for more mammograms and scans, saw the surgeon the following day (thank goodness that at long last our medical insurance is kicking in), biopsied the following Monday and operated on a week ago. Still reeling a bit from it all. Got the brilliant news last night that my lymph sentinel node is clear (10mm lump) so no chemo. Waiting for radio and the results of my fish (?) test which is probably on the high side of normal so may need herseptin.

Wow - all you brave ladies. This is quite a test of stamina isn't it? But we're lucky to live right now when they know so much more about it all - our daughter's godmother died at 47, a very harrowing memory still.

What do you all think about this article?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8668725/Breast-cancer-screening-has-little-detectable-impact.html

The W H O International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) estimates that there is a 35 per cent reduction in mortality - but a group of international cancer experts say they can find no evidence that screening has led to faster falls in deaths rates from the disease.

Sorry, did not click the automatic links button.
What do you all think about this article?
www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8668725/Breast-cancer-screening-has-little-detectable-impact.html

The W H O International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) estimates that there is a 35 per cent reduction in mortality - but a group of international cancer experts say they can find no evidence that screening has led to faster falls in deaths rates from the disease.

There is always an ongoing debate about screening, including does the x ray exposure cause more harm than screening does good. I think Tamoxifen was introduced during this time period which may have muddied the waters. Also they keep changing protocols. I would probably have had some chemo if I had had my cancer removed a few years later.

Did you spot their typo "precancerous legions in the mild ducts" - mmm I think they mean lesions, not rows of tiny Roman soldiers don't you. Can't get the journalists these days!

Without routine mammo my cancer would never have been found-even the surgeon described it as 'subtle' and had trouble feeling it.I had to have a wire put in before the op so they knew where it was.
I agree about exposure to x-rays and when/if I get to 5 years I'd go back from annual to triennial screening.I also refuse ct scans unless I have symptoms in the future.

2003 was my year - had the lot including chemo. Feeling great now (always said with fingers firmly crossed) apart from the ** knee, of course! My OG calls us the "sisterhood" and we are. X

EVERYONE who has breast cancer should read Jane Plant's book "Your Life in Your Hands". She is an earth scientist (geologist), a highly reputable scientist who has been awarded the CBE, and has also had breast cancer which has recurred a number of times. Knowing that in China and Japan the incidence of breast cancer is very low, she took it on herself to research the probably link of diet in both breast and prostate cancer. This book is the result, suggesting that the consumption of dairy products may play a substantial role in the incidence of these Western civilisation cancers. The book is interesting, informative, NOT AT ALL cranky, very helpful and full of good suggestions.

I had treatment in 1997/98. January 1997 I decided to "get fit". On a Sunday morning in June a him indoors was at work I decided I would do the house work (I worked full time) in my nightie and then have a shower. I therefore put my contact lenses in and did the house through before having a shower. Because I could actually see myself in a mirror (I am short sighted and usually shower before I put in Contact lenses) I preened myself turning this way and that and congratulated myself on the fact that "getting fit" had worked and the body looked better. Fate does like to laugh at you sometimes! I noticed a dimple in my left breast right under the arm and which felt like a hard blackberry. Knew what it was immediately, told myself not to be silly and worry, but just knew. Went to the Doctors asap and had treatment within days. Unfortunately the lumpectomy was not sufficient and I had a full mastectomy with lymph clearance a week later The surgeon had said to me before the first surgery that he only had my consent to a lumpectomy and I wish I had picked up on this and told him if he found more he had my consent to to whatever he considered best. As it had been less than 24 hours since I had received the news, my brain was not really working. I then went on to have chemo and radio therapy over the following 6 months, took Tamoxifen for 5 years. My surgeon was wonderful - I way him recently in the street and be remember my name etc and gave me a big hug.

What rubbish - it saved my Mother, it saved a friend. I have regular scans - but at least it is only 1 boob!

Exactly - so worth it. (I have one and a half!)

I see they are again the doubting the cost-effectiveness of screening, because of the number of false positives.

Next thing, they will be advising against all regular health checks - after all, most of them find nothing wrong, and a lot of the anomalies that are found need further tests !

It's not the false positives that we need to worry about - it's the false negatives. Out of interest, Polly, what made you go for a private mammo?

This is a vexed question.
My sister had a lumpectomy (2 actually, as they did not take away enough first time) at age 38 + radiotherapy.
Last year, aged 51, she had a regular mammogram which was clear.
A few days later she found a tiny lump in her breast - same one as before - and thought it was probably nothing, as she had just had the all clear. However, she did have the sense to go to the doc and finished up with a mastectomy - it was a new promary tumour.
I think the message is to have the mammogram if offered, but not to stop observation and examination.