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Hello Everyone, First time using a forum here so please bare with me. Just a small bit of background first. I am currently 35yrs of age and still in the throws of side effects, complications, surgeries etc. Especially 4 years post diagnosis. I was diagnosed with left breast cancer in March 2014. Unfortunately this was just 3 weeks after my mum passed away from secondary cancer. I started immediate chemo. Double mastectomy was delayed by 6 months due to bi-lateral near fatal PE’s. Whilst waiting for surgery, I tested positive for the BRCA 2 gene mutation hence the decision to have the double mastectomy. I had a lot of discussions with different doctors on whether I should have my ovaries removed at such a young age to prevent ovarian cancer. All of my mums sisters and first cousins had had cancer at this stage, I was first in the family to be diagnosed so young. My oncologist advised against it for a number of reasons, 1. I had not yet had children, 2. The younger you are, the more horrific the menopause symptoms are, particularly as you don’t enter menopause naturally. We tried to compromise around age. He said 40 was best but at a push he would agree to 35. Post chemo, double mastectomy, radiation therapy I was put on tamoxifen. I received pelvic ultrasounds every 3 months to monitor my ovaries. This scans kept showing a thickening in the lining of my womb and on a few occasions it showed blood and free fluid. I was actually diagnosed with ovarian cancer at one stage to be told three days later it was a wrong diagnosis. Each time I had to travel to another hospital to have further investigations. We came to the realisation that it was most likely the tamoxifen causing the thickening of the womb. However there was still a real concern there that it could turn more sinister. Especially after I had a large benign tumour removed from my pancreas (another risk of BRCA 2). To cut a very very long story short, at age 34, I had my ovaries removed in November 2017. Just two days post surgery I felt like I had been hit by a train and thrown into a lake of sweat. Every day has been an absolute nightmare and really makes me ponder if I am able to keep going. I met with a new oncologist 2 months after my ovarian-surgery(my other one had since retired). The oncologist took me off tamoxifen and put me on Letrozole stating that the removal of the ovaries meant I didn’t need tamoxifen anymore. I asked her what could I take that would help these debilitating symptoms the menopause was throwing my way. She advised me that all that was safe to take was evening primrose oil. When I asked how long would it take before it started working, she said 3 months. I just broke down there and then, too tired of being too strong for too long. I had had a discussion about my symptoms with my GP the week before and I understood at that time that it was not safe to have HRT so I didn’t even broach the subject. She decided to phone my GP and together they both came up with a tablet named Dixarit. I think it is primarily used for migraine but does something with the blood to lessen hot flushes. Anyways, just 3 weeks after starting Dixarit I noticed a slight decrease on the severity of the hot flushes. But it did not reduce the frequency etc. The letrozole has since caused the severe pain and swelling in almost every joint in my body. My hands, my fingers, my thumbs, my hips, my knees, my ankles and every single bone in my feet. Getting up out of bed every morning is a real real challenge. I have been discussing this with my oncology nurse over the past couple of months. We were suspicious it was the Letrozole causing this and she decided it was time for me to see the oncologist again. But this time she told me my original oncologist was back doing locum for a couple of months and would I like to see him? I thought ‘hell yeah, this man saved my life’. It was the best day of my life in years!! The oncologist was able to tell me that the swelling and pain is a condition called Tenosynovitis. I had already stopped taking the Letrozole 6 weeks prior to this appointment, the symptoms had not yet lessened because I had not had any treatment. He has put me on a one month course of steroids and oh my god, 3 days in, my ankles have a normal size again and I can actually stand without holding onto things. My little doggies wag their tails and run to the door because they’re able to go for a walk again for the first time in months. So during the consult with my original oncologist, he told me that I could in fact have HRT now because all my risks have been taken away. And if I really wanted it, he would prescribe it. I have no breasts and no ovaries so he more or less said the cancer cannot come back there. I asked about my pancreas and he advised that it was not driven my oestrogen and I was not at risk by taking HRT. I am pondering why the new oncologist did not suggest this the day I broke down in her office. I was an absolute mess. I have yet to make a decision yet on the information I have been given. Has anyone here had any experience with BRCA genes, menopause and HRT? anyone taken HRT surrounding similar circumstances and had an improved quality of life?

Not sure about the dcis, that sometimes is missed if no calcifications are present I believe. I had a 2.5cm tumour with nearly 6cm of calcifications and had to have a mastectomy on my left side last July. I went back for my annual mammogram two weeks ago and was recalled for a suspicious cluster of calcifications. I had another biopsy today. The odd thing is that I was told today that the cluster wasn't presenting itself on the mammogram and the calcifications were scattered but they biopsied the exact spot I was told the cluster was. They also said the calcifications were on my mammogram last year and hadn't changed much in appearance. I asked why on earth they hadn't been checked out last year and got some nonsense reply. I'm not quite sure what to believe.

Hello everyone, I'm going for my first biopsy tomorrow morning and and pretty scared. I found a "lump" in both breasts only two weeks ago. My doctor found one area of thickened breast tissue in my right breast, and three In my left. My doctor was obviously concerned, so sent me to the breast clinic asap. I'm worried, as I get rib pain, on my left side, and also feel some aches in my bones. I'm panicking, as the areas of thickening are quite large, to feel at least, and my left breast causes me quite a lot of pain. Not all the time, but last night, I found it hard to sleep with the pain, and it hurts when hugging or even just sitting/lying down (again, not around the clock). Should I be concerned about this? Or are all these symptoms unconnected? I'm 36, no known history of breast cancer in my family (as of yet). I think this thickened tissue could have been there for some time, as I've recently lost weight.. about two stone since March (my mom passed away in early March). Another symptom I'm having is that my hands and feet go numb, very easily.. again, I'm not sure if any of these things are connected or not, but i may as well document them here, so I can refer to them. Any advice or support welcome. Thanks.

Was referred urgently for triple assessment to the Mater. Was supposed to be seen within 2 weeks, got an appointment for 4 weeks. I phoned Beaumont, and managed to get an appointment for next week, one week after been seen. I would advise others to get a copy of your referral, and phone around other hospitals to see if you can be seen earlier.

hi . first time using this . diagnosed with stage 2 grade 3 breast cancer last month . age 42 . have had lumpectomy with sentinel node biopsy . didn't get clear margins so had second surgery. sentinel node clear . original tumour was 2.5cm grade 3 . my oncotype results are back but I've been told oncologist gone on hols and won't see me until June 19th . is there any one else that can even give me recurrence score ? I'm going out of my mind waiting .

Hi, just wondering if anyone has had their breast implant removed altogether and not replaced due to Capsular Contracture.

I have a lump in each breast and was sent for a mammogram last Friday to mater in dublin I was examined and then send for a mammogram and then was told I could go home that the Dr would be in contact when he looks at the scans taken which could take 2 weeks to get results is this the normal procedure. I am just turned 48 thanks

I went to my GP about 7 weeks ago as I had a tenderness in my left breast. He didnt think there was anything to worry about but sent me to a breast specalist to check just in case. I met this Dr who said my physical exam on both breasts was normal but he referred me for a mammogram (my first) as theres a family history (my grandmother) Anyway mammogram showed 1.2cm lesion on my right breast.This was confirmed by ultrasoud and i had biospies taken.This was 12 days ago and i`m still waiting for results. Just wondering if this wait time is normal. Thanks

Hi, I am wondering if there are more women in Ireland that feel that you are expected to have reconstruction after mastectomy? I am in my young 40's and had my single mastectomy in June. I was very clear on that I did not want to do any reconstruction but rather removing the other breast and go completely flat. When I told my wish to my doctor and nurses at the Breast Check they looked at me funny and asked me if I had talked to my husband about this. When I said that it would not really matter since my body is not my husband's to decide over, they said that they still wanted me to take a bit of time to make my decision. I have later realised, through going on-line, that women in other countries are feeling the same pressure as I did to have reconstruction rather than going flat. Is there anyone in this forum that recognise this? I feel that even the ICS information leaflets are not showing what are the benefits of going flat (=no reconstruction) and how you can work on loving your body without breasts. Any one recognising these thoughts?

Hi Everyone, As a 28 year old woman who is currently 3 months post chemo ( I did 4 rounds of TC for my IDC Stage 1 Grade 3) I am finding it difficult to adjust the idea of living sans wig. So I'm searching for an alternative. There are hair integration systems available in UK with the likes of Mark Glenn Studio where they use a breathable mess that attaches to your own hair (I shaved all of mine off during chemo and now have circa 1 inch re-growth to work with) and they bind in a hair piece which lasts for 2/3 years but needs maintenance every 6 weeks. You can shower, swim, run your hands through your hair and It wouldn't move - you treat it just as you would your own hair. Sounds good right? but I cannot find anyone in Ireland that does this. Given that there is maintenance required every 6 weeks going back and forth to LDN just wouldn't be a realistic option. Does anyone have any knowledge or experience with this type of hair solution? Thanks, Elle