I have breast cancer

AdorableAlice said:
Adorable Alice waves to Jaycee - your pm's and support were wonderful, thank you so much.

The comment about dismounting is so true, especially if the op is on the right breast/arm as that is the arm/hand that stays on the top of the saddle as you jump down. Ouch to say the least. I got off my small cob, only 15.2 by standing her next to a bank and doing an inelegant slither off whilst holding the poorly boob with my left hand. Even now a year on I can feel it in my armpit if I jump down without care.
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Waving back at you! xx It's annoying the armpit business isn't it? Gets you when you least expect it and doesn't let you forget it's there for awhile! :eek:
 
stacey_lou said:
Firstly id like to say how sorry I am and I wish you a full and painless recovery.

Secondly I was going to post along these lines as I wondered how you tell the difference between a lump and hard breast tissue? The reason I ask is last week I noticed on the top of one of mine is a hard lumppy tissue it doesnt stick out but I can grab around the sides of it? Should i be concerned Id hate to waste a doctors time but its not on the other one and I was really after advise?

Do breast lumps stick out ?
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Stacey_lou - Phone the doctor in the morning - first priority

Some years ago I found a lump and I have lump free boobs so I immediately phoned the doctor and saw him that morning.

I also had a massive bruise but could not remember bumping my boob recently. The only thing I could think of was a few weeks earlier I had tripped in the living room and landed hard on the top of the corner of a winged armchair. The doctor suggested that the lump was the result of a very deep bruise that had only just shown itself on the surface.

BUT he also insisted that have a scan done and one was made for me later that morning. I was lucky it was just a very deep bruise.

Since then though I check at least once a week and I now go for my mammogram when the reminder arrives.

DON'T RELY ON THE MAMMOGRAM - as I wrote earlier a friend had just had a clear one and yet two weeks later found a cancerous lump.
 
I think horsey women are their own worst enemy, we are so used to being battered, sat on, kicked etc we just ignore the aches and pains.

The year before I was diagnosed I had an argument with a charolais bull and a gate. He hit the gate and the gate hit me square in the chest. I had intense pain and bruising on the left hand side. Fast forward a year and the surgeon is asking me if I had any symptoms. How the heck was I going to tell him a bull had flattened me and I had done nothing about the long lasting pain. It was all academic because the cancer was in the other breast anyway ! but in hindsight I should have dealt with the pain that had lasted a good 4 months.
 
Tnavas said:
Stacey_lou - Phone the doctor in the morning - first priority

Some years ago I found a lump and I have lump free boobs so I immediately phoned the doctor and saw him that morning.

I also had a massive bruise but could not remember bumping my boob recently. The only thing I could think of was a few weeks earlier I had tripped in the living room and landed hard on the top of the corner of a winged armchair. The doctor suggested that the lump was the result of a very deep bruise that had only just shown itself on the surface.

BUT he also insisted that have a scan done and one was made for me later that morning. I was lucky it was just a very deep bruise.

Since then though I check at least once a week and I now go for my mammogram when the reminder arrives.

DON'T RELY ON THE MAMMOGRAM - as I wrote earlier a friend had just had a clear one and yet two weeks later found a cancerous lump.
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I will call them yes, my great Grandmother lost a breast to Breast Cancer in her early 20's and she lived to be 87 when she died in 2004 so she did well and this was around a time when cancer was unherd of.

Thank you for comments, My boob did feel bruised for a few days last week which is how I noticed the lump but like you couldnt remember banging it.

I do feel for the OP heres me with my little issue and hers is real! I do wish her all the best to a speedy recovery
 
stacey_lou said:
I will call them yes, my great Grandmother lost a breast to Breast Cancer in her early 20's and she lived to be 87 when she died in 2004 so she did well and this was around a time when cancer was unherd of.

Thank you for comments, My boob did feel bruised for a few days last week which is how I noticed the lump but like you couldnt remember banging it.

I do feel for the OP heres me with my little issue and hers is real! I do wish her all the best to a speedy recovery
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Phew, mission achieved.
 
I had a mammogram
I have a large lump at top of breast. Luckily it was diagnosed as a floating cyst. Yes, do have any lumps checked out
 
A doctor would rather you see him 20 times for lumps that turn out to be nothing, than miss that one time when it could be something needing treatment.
They really, really REALLY don't think of a lump check as wasted time - so always go and get checked if you have even the slightest concern!
 
OK so I booked an appointment, I told them what it was for and they got me an emergency appointment after work. I really do feel like Im making a song and dance out of more than likely nothing.
 
stacey_lou said:
OK so I booked an appointment, I told them what it was for and they got me an emergency appointment after work. I really do feel like Im making a song and dance out of more than likely nothing.
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Well done. Hope the appointment goes well and it turns out to be nothing...but always worth getting things checked.
If your horse had a suspicious lump I suspect most people would be straight on the phone to the vet (and we have to pay for those!)
 
little_critter said:
Well done. Hope the appointment goes well and it turns out to be nothing...but always worth getting things checked.
If your horse had a suspicious lump I suspect most people would be straight on the phone to the vet (and we have to pay for those!)
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Funny you say that my last horse who passed away did have a lump and his was cancer. Poor baby,
 
A great friend who kept her horse with me at the time had breast cancer - breast removed and the works.

She found riding very therapeutic. With the blessing of her OH and her consultant, she used to come out (I was doing her pony for her anyway) I would have it and mine tacked up ready, and we would go for a little amble round the lanes. she found the radiotherapy made her very tired (she once fell asleep just sitting on the stable yard wall while I went indoors for a pair of gloves) and used to go straight home for a lie-down after, but she said it made all the difference to get out in the fresh air on her beloved pony. NB We put a lead rein knotted round her pony's neck so that in the case of any trouble I could lead him from mine. But it was never needed. He looked after her as though she was a baby.

She couldn't do stable work for a long time, but it all came right in the end. All my good wishes go with you for your op. Please let us know how you get on.
 
I have had breast cancer and a lumpectomy. This was ten years ago and I also had chemotherapy and radiotherapy. From my experience you will have to give it a while before you ride because not only does the arm swell a little when the lymph nodes are removed but you will feel really tired. I found carrying on as normal as possible was the best therapy and still do. I fitted all my treatment round my normal routine and found this to be the best way forward. Good luck with it all. xx
 
Does the treament make it impossible to work? It would terrify me more if I had it that I could work and therefore struggle to afford to keep my horse where she is more than the actual illness.

As far as I am concerend my mare is my life, obviously my partner is too but its always been my horses who have kept me in line and made me the person I am.
 
stacey_lou said:
Does the treament make it impossible to work? It would terrify me more if I had it that I could work and therefore struggle to afford to keep my horse where she is more than the actual illness.

As far as I am concerend my mare is my life, obviously my partner is too but its always been my horses who have kept me in line and made me the person I am.
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That all depends on the individual and the job they've got I think.
For me there was no way I could have worked through chemo treatment, but would have been fine through radiation therapy, but can't be absolutely sure as I wasn't working at the time. I know of ladies working through both treatments, or one or the other, as I said it's all very individual. And of course, not everybody has to have chemo, or even radiotherapy. I also know of several people who had the lumpectomy and that was that. I even know of one lady who had a mastectomy and no further treatment after that! And all these ladies are thriving by the way!
When do you have your doctor's appointment?
Don't forget, most lumps are innocent, so don't panic just yet
X
 
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jokadoka said:
That all depends on the individual and the job they've got I think.
For me there was no way I could have worked through chemo treatment, but would have been fine through radiation therapy, but can't be absolutely sure as I wasn't working at the time. I know of ladies working through both treatments, or one or the other, as I said it's all very individual. And of course, not everybody has to have chemo, or even radiotherapy. I also know of several people who had the lumpectomy and that was that. I even know of one lady who had a mastectomy and no further treatment after that! And all these ladies are thriving by the way!
When do you have your doctor's appointment?
Don't forget, most lumps are innocent, so don't panic just yet
X
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Thank you, tbf I am more of a S**T happens kind of girl so I dont panic not really :) , to be fair im not even thretting just want to get it clear what it is and I can forget about it.

I had an appointment last week (actually posted about it) she told me she doesnt usually refer people but would like to see me in 2 weeks to see is SHE thinks its changed. Slightly annoyed as I know my own body and I know its a new addition to my body so Ill go in 2 weeks and push to have it checked.

Today it hurts like hell almost like I have thorns on the inside of my bra.

Glad your friends as thriving, this ill is a sad story which is herd all too often in my opinion
 
stacey_lou said:
Thank you, tbf I am more of a S**T happens kind of girl so I dont panic not really :) , to be fair im not even thretting just want to get it clear what it is and I can forget about it.

I had an appointment last week (actually posted about it) she told me she doesnt usually refer people but would like to see me in 2 weeks to see is SHE thinks its changed. Slightly annoyed as I know my own body and I know its a new addition to my body so Ill go in 2 weeks and push to have it checked.

Today it hurts like hell almost like I have thorns on the inside of my bra.

Glad your friends as thriving, this ill is a sad story which is herd all too often in my opinion
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Oops, I'm sorry, must have missed your post about your appointment.
Funnily enough, I saw some program on telly about cancerous tumours, apparently they don't cause pain, so probably a good thing your lump is hurting;-)
Thinking about it, mine didn't hurt, I wonder about the other ladies on here??

Zonda, I hope your recovery is going well
X
 
stacey_lou said:
Does the treament make it impossible to work? It would terrify me more if I had it that I could work and therefore struggle to afford to keep my horse where she is more than the actual illness.

As far as I am concerend my mare is my life, obviously my partner is too but its always been my horses who have kept me in line and made me the person I am.
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Should you have to face treatment you will find out who your real friends are and they will look after your mare for you. Just be ready to have a shock at who the 'real' friends actually are.

Moving onto to the pain issue. I had no pain, no lumps or bumps and no symptoms whatsoever, but pain should never be ignored. Your GP would sooner tell you it is hormonal pain today than have to tell you that you have breast cancer six months down the line.
 
AdorableAlice said:
Should you have to face treatment you will find out who your real friends are and they will look after your mare for you. Just be ready to have a shock at who the 'real' friends actually are.

Moving onto to the pain issue. I had no pain, no lumps or bumps and no symptoms whatsoever, but pain should never be ignored. Your GP would sooner tell you it is hormonal pain today than have to tell you that you have breast cancer six months down the line.
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umm you havent seen my post have you lol my doctor doesnt want to refer me despite a family history of it on my mothers side. My mare is on full livery so jobas will be done just a case of paying for it. Was just curious beacuse like most my horse is my world and couldnt imagine what it must be like being that ill and not having your horse there as comfort
 
jokadoka said:
Oops, I'm sorry, must have missed your post about your appointment.
Funnily enough, I saw some program on telly about cancerous tumours, apparently they don't cause pain, so probably a good thing your lump is hurting;-)
Thinking about it, mine didn't hurt, I wonder about the other ladies on here??

Zonda, I hope your recovery is going well
X
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I'm afraid this is not true - and it is what got me into more trouble than I needed to be :( The tumour itself may not be causing the pain but once it gets to a certain sized its effects on surrounding tissue may well cause pain.
 
Zonda. How did you get on. I had breast cancer 20years ago. Had lumpectomy which really was ok. But then had to have larger area removed. I had radio therapy and chemo and was not affected at all by either. I was 45 at the time and used to ride my pony after treatments and because I worked all the way through I used to have a little laugh and think that I was skiving off work. Last march a mammogram picked up cancer in same breast. Very small only 0.7 cm but because I had had previous radiotherapy I had to have a mastectomy. I decided to have new boob made out of my tummy. I recovered well but did feel very tired this time as I am now 64' I had op in July and first rode in Oct. my nurse said to me everyone is different and you row your own boat. Hope all has gone well for you.
 
KrujaaLass said:
Zonda. How did you get on. I had breast cancer 20years ago. Had lumpectomy which really was ok. But then had to have larger area removed. I had radio therapy and chemo and was not affected at all by either. I was 45 at the time and used to ride my pony after treatments and because I worked all the way through I used to have a little laugh and think that I was skiving off work. Last march a mammogram picked up cancer in same breast. Very small only 0.7 cm but because I had had previous radiotherapy I had to have a mastectomy. I decided to have new boob made out of my tummy. I recovered well but did feel very tired this time as I am now 64' I had op in July and first rode in Oct. my nurse said to me everyone is different and you row your own boat. Hope all has gone well for you.
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Inspirational post.
 
Sleighfarer said:
I'm afraid this is not true - and it is what got me into more trouble than I needed to be :( The tumour itself may not be causing the pain but once it gets to a certain sized its effects on surrounding tissue may well cause pain.
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I wonder if that is what they were referring to on the program then. If so, they didn't make it very clear, which is not a good thing. No mention was made on surrounding tissue at all....

Zonda, I hope your recovery is going as it should.
X
 
Did anyone ever hear from the OP after her operation - just a tad concerned we haven't heard from her

Did she PM anyone to let them know how it went?
 
Hi all. I had thought this thread was now dormant but it is not as dormant as I had thought. So, here is the update. The lumpectomy was fine, and I was back riding a week later. However, my horse has not been well for a while, he got a large heamatoma in December which has gone down a lot, and then a ridge of scar tissue developed but I have not been happy with the way he was moving. He is very reluctant to canter (I have posted a thread about this already). So this week I decided to call the vet as this has been going on for far too long. The vet diagnosed arthritis in both hocks.

So, the next day after this I had the results of the lumpectomy. Not good news! There are precancerous cells in the margin around the lump and there is cancer in the lymph nodes. I am going back for more surgery next week (Wednesday again) and more tissue will be taken from the original margin and all lymph nodes under my arm will be removed. I was told I would not be riding for a good while as my arm will quite painfull. So in light of my surgery, pain and his arthritis I decided to throw him into a field and abandon him until I am ready to deal with his issues. Dear lord!! When I turned him lose in the field and he was establishing himself with the other 2 he is sharing with, you should have seen him move. It was breath taking in it's beauty and drama. Why will he not do this in a dressage test?!? Horsie is happy as Larry for the moment and I will work out a treatment for his arthritis when I am feeling better.

I am still optimistic but while I thought I had a small bit of cancer before, I now feel I have "proper grown up" cancer. This feels more serious. But, as stated somewhere above, people don't die from breast cancer anymore so I expect to make a full recovery, just not as quickly as originally anticipated.

Thanks to all who have posted here. Your support is wonderful. Stacey_lou, I hope you have been checked out by now.
 
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