Thank you for taking the time and giving of yourself even as you navigate your own journey with breast cancer. I wish you only the best of the best in outcomes as you continue along.

It is thank you. Hope all goes well with the injections. Be thinking of you

What you’re giving in this video is so selfless and brave. Thank you. No one can talk about “it” like someone who is walking through it! ❤

Aww what a lovely comment. Thank you !

Amazing insight, you’ve made my cancer journey more digestible with the information you’ve shared. I had a mastectomy in July for exactly the same diagnosis as yourself with a tumour that was 5.4cm and Friday just gone finished my radiotherapy. However, I have this underlying fear now I’m at the end of my treatment that I’ll get it again, or I’ll miss the sign of something changing ,the whole thing makes me feel vulnerable . Thank you for sharing this, as these are the bits of information that they forget to tell you . Keep up this amazing job, you make me feel less alone .

I'm sorry you've joined the club. The fear does fade with time. I promise you

Hi Liz, thank you for your update! So sorry to hear that you have to take meds for the rest of your life and that you must plan your life after it. I know this feeling with my lousy stage IV recurrence. First, I was completely shocked and sad. It felt as if all my life had gone to pieces. 😢 But we girls are strong. There are so many meds today for every type of BC so we can continue our life for quite a long time. You as a surgeon know it better than me. And there will be fun and joy again, I promise. Just trying my first steps in my new life. Just had a lovely 24th anniversary with my husband. All the best for you and a huge hug from Germany, Beate. PS: So happy to hear that you won't get radiation any more! ❤

Thank you Liz for the informative update. I’m learning so much from you about my own breast cancer journey. Wishing you all the best and sending big hugs your way.❤

thank you so much x

You are so easy to listen to. So genuine and well spoken. I love your vlogs, I’m just sorry that you have to speak to such a hard, scary and very personal subject. You are so generous to share with us what you already know and also everything you are now learning. Any of us could find ourselves in your same situation down the road. Speaking for myself, I feel that you have given me confidence that these things can be faced and dealt with, because you are doing this every day, and doing it brilliantly. It is an honor to be with you on your journey and I hope that everything goes your way now from here on out. You truly deserve that❤

Thank you so much 💛

Dear Liz, I just want to tell you that a few minutes ago I just finished "Under the Knife" and I'm so proud of you! How you managed to NOT drive off the bridge given how badly you were suffering is just a miracle. I totally get how hard it is to wear that professional mask, but I think you've discovered (like me) that what patients want and need is to hear the truth and to feel seen and understood. I was sad to hear that your colleagues were stuck in "old thought." I have more respect for a doctor who is honest and yet makes me believe that I can get through treatment. Trying to find a new purpose for life is not easy, but please know that you are doing SO much more now for patients than you ever did in the theatre or clinic. Thank you, thank you. xoxo

Thanks for keeping us updated through this difficult stage, Liz. All digits crossed for you with hopes for minimal drug side effects. Since my mets became triple negative, i obviously stopped letrazole. I tried capecitabine but got nasty skin side effects so stopped that. Now no drugs, just waiting....

Cancer can be so blooming cruel. Sending you a huge hug x

Hugely informative as always thank you Liz. It’s one of those videos that you need to watch again straight after to try and take it all in. That’s a lot that you’re going through again thanks so much for taking the time out to keep helping the rest of us BC patients understand the treatments available if recurrence happens. Sending lots of positive vibes your way 💕

thank you x

Thank you Liz for another inspiring video. I wanted to pass along how helpful your information has been and to thank you for your vulnerability and honesty in discussing the emotional impact of having BC. Like you I also miss my mother who passed away 20 months ago. When I as at one of my lowest points during chemo I remember crying "I want my mother!" My only silver lining is that had she been alive to witness my suffering, she would have been devastated. I have found that taking so many toxic meds has been unsettling for me, as I avoided even a Tylenol in the past if I could help it because of the organ associated damage. It's such a difficult journey we are on. Keep on keeping on....and in the meantime let's hope new treatments come along that will be more effective in eradicating cancer. Hugs!

Wishing you all the very best with this, Liz.

Thank you so much!

Grateful Liz for all this important information, will be keeping you in my thoughts and wishing you the very best with your new treatment💕

Thank you so much!

You don't have to be brave for me. 💗 I can only imagine how scary all of this is. One day at a time, girlfriend... one day at a time. xoxo

Thank you. I could never be as brave as I see others like you sharing their journeys and experiences when they have serious medical conditions. Sending Healing energy and positive energy☮️🌺💜

Thank you for the update and information, Liz. Always informative. I wish you the best as you embark on your treatment. I'm starting Year 3 on an AI. I do a check every month (on the 1st) to see if anything has come back. Your videos and podcasts have helped me feel less alone and more informed. Cancer changes your life in so many ways that others not going through it often can't see. That can be lonely, but thanks to things like your channel, it doesn't have to be as isolating as it once was. Thanks again.

Good idea to do it on a certain date. Might sound odd, but I never thought of it. 🙈🫶🏽

Thanks for the update. I would be disappointed too with lifelong treatment - it’s the constant reminder and the realisation of your ‘another new normal’. I hope you swerve the side effects. I’ve started back at the gym this week too after a break (fibro not cancer). Does feel good doesn’t it? Sending lots of love. x

You should write a memoir!! I too have lobular breast cancer and will be on tamoxifen for the rest of my life. I’m thankful for people like you who share their stories. It makes me feel not so alone. Bless you. ❤

"Under the Knife" just bought it £10 WOB 👌

I have! it's called 'Under The Knife' ❤️

ooh - let me know what you think!

Wishing you well with your treatment Liz. I had my first Fulvestrant injections a few days ago, administered simultaneously by 2 lovely nurses and no, they didn’t hurt. The only noticeable side effect for me was my pee smelling like a men’s urinal for a couple of days, but all okay now. The following day I started on Abemaciclib which has made me quite nauseous but, with the help of anti sickness meds, that’s easing too now. I start Denosumab next month. Mine is SBC so it’s easy for me to accept all this treatment as necessary but for you I can see it will take some getting your head around. Good luck xx

Good luck 🍀

THANK YOU again for such a succinct and honest summary and update. May I suggest that PERHAPS treatments will evolve and be brought to trial and successfully AND you may NOT be on all of this your whole life? SO many strides being made, as you are well aware. You have so much GRIT and GRACE, you'll DO WELL!!!!!!!

Hi Liz. Thanks for the update. Wishing you well for the next stage of treatment. I have also started a new regime of treatment with exemestane and abemaciclib, and tbh I'm finding it very tiring already but hopefully it will pass soon 🤞. Keep strong lovely lady x

Im just getting to the tired stage...

Thank you Liza for sharing your experience, knowledge and feelings with us. I hope you feel good while taking the new medications and that they will be effective🫂

aaww thank you

Thank you for your update dr Liz, Wishing all the best with your treatment ❤

Thank you x

Hi Liz! Thanks. I watched 3 times so I understand everything. Your a rock star! Invasive lobular carcinoma also 😔

Glad it was helpful!

Honest, concise, emotional, informative and deep. Wishing you well as you navigate this go around. 😀

Gosh you have been through the mill and I want to say a huge thanks for all your posts which are so informative. We have all learned so much from you. I hope and pray the new treatment will not be too severe. Thinking of you xxx

thank you - fingers crossed

Praying for you. Keep encouraging us. Melanie x

Thank you Melanie. I'll do my best x

Good luck from the bottom of my heart that the side effects will be bearable. 🍀 And again thank you for being so open. ❤

thank you x so kind

Thank you for sharing your story. It is tough. I am sorry you are having to go through this again. I have found the videos helpful. I was floored last year by a local reoccurrence and I am worried about it coming back. I found the bit about checking for skin changes very helpful I didn’t worry last time about 1 spot but now I know ( from reoccurrence) I need to, it was helpful to see the pictures. Thank you.

I'm sorry you've had a local recurrence and I hope this video was a wee bit helpful

Thank you so much for sharing your journey! Your knowledge also is so helpful in understanding everything. Just had a lumpectomy and another to get margins.

Glad it was helpful!

I just found you and am so glad I did. I had a mastectomy 4 days ago. You covered a lot of useful information. Good luck with your treatment.

Happy to help. Hope you recover quickly 

That is a lot to manage. I admire your sharing your story for everyone's benefit. This is desperately needed. I wish the best for you and that you tolerate the drugs well. I had early stage but multi focal grade 3. It never leaves your mind.

it's a real rollercoaster isn't it?

Thank you for this interesting video about being both a patient and a doctor. Can't help but think that knowledge is power in this situation, but also the opposite that perhaps it can be scary knowing too much? Two recurrences sounds like a LOT to deal with. You're so strong! I just ended my treatment for HER2 positive- Hormone negative stage 3 Invasive ductal carcinoma and DCIS grade 3. (the reason it was stage 3 was tumor size >5cm) No lymph node involvement. As of last month I'm considered NED after a year of chemo, operation and radiation, but it hasn't really sunk in yet. Constantly alternating between happiness and grief as well as dealing with side effects still. This is the fist video of yours I've come across, but wanted to ask you if you opted for a mastectomy the first time? I wanted a mastectomy but they were not listening to my wishes and persuaded me to have a lumpectomy - it still feels unsafe in a way. Would be interesting to hear your perspective. Will go back and watch your earlier videos too. Wishing you the very best with your new treatment plan! Hope all goes well ❤

I had to have a mastectomy as I had a large tumour in a small breast

@@DrLizORiordan Maybe a bit tmi, but I have a B cup so also not very large. Oh well now it's done, can only hope for the best. They did say if the margins weren't clear or there's a recurrence I will have a mastectomy done. Thank you for your answer.

Gosh it’s a lot Liz isn’t it. Really hope you get on ok with your new meds with minimal side effects. Thank you for your informative videos xx

thank you x

Yes it’s intense and overwhelming. Nobody is prepared for this and getting used to the situation is so difficult. I am dreading my scans every time. It would be nice to get over with the story of cancer but we can’t. It keep us in unknown but maybe it’s better than to think all will be good then get a bad news we didn’t expect. Mostly cancer changes life things need to be organised around it. It’s dreadful for this to affect us for the re of life. I never expected it at the beginning. It’s so confusing a big day of the surgery a small thing removed but it’s just the beginning. Beginning of a new life for some time. Maybe life can be even more precious when we know we may die sooner than later?

Thank you very much Dr for your sharing. A lot of information about the breast cancer recurrence is really helpful. May GOD bless you always. ❤

thank you

Thank you for sharing this, such a vulnerable thing to do. I have a question about exemestane. I had early-stage breast cancer and was put on the requisite aromatase inhibitors. I've cycled through Anastrozole and Letrozole and due to side effects! I'm now on Exemestane. My heart dropped when you said you were saving it for the possibility of metastatic breast cancer? I'm wondering if it’d be wise to do the same. My side effects with Letrozole were tolerable, and honestly, exemestane’s side effects are about the same. I'm thinking, perhaps I should save Exemestane in my arsenal for the future? I loathe having to worry about this!

Thanks for this video Liz and best wishes for the future xx

Thank you! You too!

Wow, that's a lot to be going on with. Thanks for the information. Best wishes 👍🏻🙏🏻

So nice of you

I admire you walking two paths simultaneously. It must be so hard 4U emotionally hiding your true feelings. In solidarity I have the same cancer as you Lobular. Do you feel MRI monitoring is better than waiting for reaccurence via annual mammograms.

Brilliant talk! Thank you so much and hoping the side effects are minimal.

That is a lot to take in. Wishing you strength. Love from Amsterdam ❤

Thank you so much!

Thankyou for the videos and update, im new to breast cancer. I have my surgery in a couple of weeks. Its in the upper inner quadrant well barely in breast tissue and rests on my chest wall. Its about 30mm though i hope has not grown much bigger since my diagnosis. Still not hit me yet, im sure it will

Dear Liz. Your videos are incredibly helpful so thank thank you. I have had a recent lumpectomy which was sucessful but am very fearful and investigating a mastectomy. I have been repeatedly told that my survival chances are the same with radiotherapy. However, what about risk of local recurrence? I am only in ny early 40s so also fearful of a new cancer as I have very dense breasts. Do you have a video on this? Doctors are reluctant to remove healthy tissue but I feel almost convinced this will happen again 😢

Thank you for sharing. I’ll also be in treatment for life due to high risk of recurrence. I’d love to hear your take on immunotherapy and it’s potential

Thank you for your update and for sharing. ❤

You are so welcome

Thank you again Liz for sharing your journey so candidly. I have a question, is advisable to continue with arm exercises during radiotheraphy.

Yes, absolutely

❤ Thank you, thank you, thank you. My question, is it more likely for me to have a recurrence if my stage 3, triple negative cancer entered the skin? All the kindness and love to you, Dr. O’Riordan.

Thanks for the update dr Liz .. I'm so sorry you have to go through all of this. I wonder if the option to return back to work is on your table.for me it helped distracting me during my active treatment . Actually I'm afraid i couldn't work properly with tamoxifen. I haven't started it yet and im really scared i lose my job because of it as working everyday is something important for us to keep going .

I know how hard it can be, I can never return to work because my arm doesn't move properly so I can't operate

Everything is going to be just right! You have to talk to your husband let him know he has to be patient and don't take things too personal, because some time you are not going to make sense.

Thanks for sharing and great it was still local, even though awful you have to go through all the cancer again and take those horrible medications. I am on zoladex monthly and it´s going to be an issue when I return to work. I wasn´t told one thing at all to watch out for recurrance, before when I had dcis or now with my recurrance so this is great you are educating everyone on this. I had stabbing pain come on and was told it was from radiation therapy but it was the recurrance in the same area seen on screening a few months later (7mm lump). I have cording and my physio centre only specialises in breast cancer and 2 sessions which were pretty painful worked really well and I can move it a lot now and I am doing exercises twice a day before my next big surgery. She is also and giving me a sleeve and more exercises to prevent lymphadema for after my next surgery.

Thank you for sharing this with us. Keep up with the shoulder exercises x

Thank you for sharing , it's always at the back of my mind that my cancer will come back too. I had breast cancer in 2020 and had a mastectomy - single. On tamoxifen and i take number of supplements recommended by my naturopath and fellow cancer survivors. Do you recommend that i take a blood test every few months just to be sure i don't have a recurrence and if i do we catch it quickly. I'm in Canada, Nova Scotia.

Lizthankyou for your update, xx i was diagnosed may 2022 and did paclataxol, trastuzunab and pertuzanab..........i had this treatment for 11 months also i had lymph node involvment and skin nodules so in a nutshell it was her2+ er- pr-............ after the 11 months of aggressive treatment, i was eligible for a clinical trial called the diamond trial in Australia for second line of care, so im currently on durvalumab, and trastuzumab, i now have 4 small shadows on my ribs ;((( so its a watch and wait from scan to scan xxx

Hi Liz thank you so much for all your information. It is so useful. I had a mastectomy in July and 1 node positive and 1micrometasis in snb. They have advised not to do axillary clearance and treat with radiotherapy. Do you think this is ok? Im 48years old. Im a bit afraid to take the risk. Thank you again .

Hi Liz I also have lobular cancer I forgot to say in my previous message. Thank you again.

Incredibly helpful - thank you.

You're very welcome!

Thank you again for all your Sharing you do with us… I just want you to know I was diagnosed with stage four ER positive PR positive lobular breast cancer that was metastatic at the first diagnosis in my bones… And I just don’t want you to be too fearful if something does happen that Way I’m doing amazing… My first oncologist put me on Pikray for the same mutation you have along with the injections in buttocks. I didn’t do well on the target therapy. Was then switch to ibrance with Letrozole .. I ended up switching to a larger hospital in Chicago Northwestern medicine and they switched me to just Letrozole which I have been on since 2021 I believe March. I did have trigger finger after about five months and joint pain. I had to get injections into both my hands and I also sometimes get hip pain but it all has settled down and I’m back to my normal workouts other than running are used to run all the time now I just ride my bike and do a lot of resistance training but for the most part I feel pretty amazing and I just want to take the fear out of reoccurrence. If someday people do become stage four there’s so many new medication‘s and ones that are to come still in the future… no one wants this disease or a stage four diagnosis but I have to say I feel great! And I’m sorry for those who are on medication‘s that don’t allow them to feel so good it’s awful. I know I’ve been there I did have problems with getting shots for my bones. That caused me to get a jaw infection that I’m still being treated for on and off which is unfortunate because I don’t believe I really needed that medication. My bone density scans are completely normal. I guess I am in early stage four cancer. My bones are very strong and have not really been affected by the cancer yet… I wish you well in and peace with this journey you’re on, and others are on… And again I want to say thank you for sharing everything you do share with us you’re an amazing person!❤

Thank you so much for sharing this with me. You have given me hope for the future x x. x

I’m so glad I could help. ❤️ You have helped me in so many other ways…

Thank you Dr. Liz- Question ?? If a patient develops some autoimmune issues while dealing with a GYN solid tumor and post-pelvic radiation therapy. Is it safe to take “Levothyroxine” for Hashimotos.. or is it a tumor promoter??? Should the oncology team weigh in on the decision- not just general practice doctor? From USA. Thank you so much for your Vlogs and public education!❤️🙏

Hello,dear Doctor Sincere question Do you ever think of doing no treatment and just enjoying whatever life you have left It must be very hard to know the Cancer may come back again whether you stay on Meds or not Asking with respect Warm Hugs 🤗

I do - but at the moment I am cancer free and not in too much pain and I want to stay that way for as long as I can. I may feel differently if I get stage 4 disease

One more question How does being without estrogen affect your skin,hair and mood ?

the same as it does for menopausal women

I love your videos. Thank you so much. I have learned so much. I finially got a 2nd opinion i shoukd have done earlier. She said the first dr should have tried to chemo adjusting dose. The new oncologist said i do need the radiation and that its 2 late for chemo 4 mo since surgery. I have a 1 in 5 chance of reoccurance elsewhere so mad i didnt follow my feelings. Your videos give me courage

How do you keep so fit? I have been diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, ER Positive and HER2 Negative. I have many concerns but one of them is weight gain from future hormone blockers. Any insight would be appreciated. Thank you.

Not everyone puts weight on with AI’s. I’ve been on them 2 years and have remained the same weight. I go to the gym, and generally keep moving despite the joint pain from lack of estrogen.

I exercise 5 x a week - cardio and weights training and I make sure I eat 30-40g protein with every meal. My new podcast is coming next month -'So now I've got breast cancer' and I'll be talking about exercise in one of the episodes

you;re right - some women don't put on weight and others do. exercise will help the joint pain

Re knitting: Have you heard of knitted knockers? If not, check them out. I think they deserve more ❤ & more knitters. Anyway, all the best to you. You are in a scary situation. Let's hope they are able to get some trials done.

Yes I have - they are awesome x

Love watching these . Am not alone . Would love a helpful video on zoladronic acid infusion. Do they help . Side effects etc . Iam 15 mths post op now and had to have dental work 3 months ago . Two cysts and a wisdom tooth out . Painful . Thats delayed my injections but but very worried about side effects of the acid . Help x

Dr. O'Riordan, do you think that lobular cancer is worse than ductal or more likely to return than ductal?

It's not as simple as that. It depends how large the cancer is, whetehr your lymph nodes were invovled and waht the receptors are

I'm due in for my op less than 2weeks. I'm her neg but also oestrogens and testosterone responsive. My sister had tamoxifen but I believe that's for oestrogen responsive cancers. I know I'll know more next week when I see my consultant but will I be on something different to my sister?

How do you try to prevent hair thinning on the medicine? Thank you

I'm not sure you can

I thought you had a segment on that. Ok thank you

I have just had my first 2 injections no real side effect only a feeling of a hang over as they contain alcohol and I’ve been t-total for years

❤️🐞

How common is it to get a cyst close to original tumor in 6 mo

I didn't realize you could get breast cancer after a mastectomy.

yes you can get a local recurrence

I have had cancer 4 times in 11 years, the most recent was breast cancer which was surgically removed. I am on tamoxifen for 4 more years and every day is miserable. You stated in previous videos that you were on hormone treatment post cancer. Are you now telling us it isn't effective because you had a reoccurance of breath cancer? Why should I continue to take a medication that makes ny life hell if it is not that effective?😊 I am ER positive. My previous cancers were lung (21 months chemo) , adrenal (radiation) , adrenal metastatic (surgery). I am 78. Is it worth the misery?

Also lost my gall bladder due to chemo causing large gall stones. And I had it backwards. My adrenal gland was surgically removed, and my adrenal metastasis was radiated.

Doc mostly where is the areas location breast cancer left or right

55% breast cancer are left sided and just over half are in the upper outer quadrant