Oh help please. Shock diagnosis.

[peaceanddove]

I am in shock so sorry if this is garbled. Just had results back from a breast biopsy. I have invasive ductal carcinoma. Apparently it's very small, too small for the surgeon to even feel. And he says they have caught it very early. It looks like it hasn't spread to lymph nodes. It's either a grade 2 or stage 2, I can't remember. I need a lumpectomy soon followed by three weeks of radiology. I will need to take an oestrogen inhibitor as it is oestrogen sensitive. I feel sick and can't stop shaking and just feel like my world is ending.

Does anyone have any hope for me?

[Wombat22]

thread
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis
Have a look at this thread OP. They are a wonderful, supportive group and many have been where you ar

[Wombat22]

Don't know why my post has been cut short?
The cancer support thread is the best place to get advice. Many have been in your position and have had very positive outcomes.
Step away from Google. It is full of horror stories.
Good luck peace

[Trumpton]

I second what Wombat said .
We are all supportive and I can honestly say that I would be much the poorer without those wonderful people .
It’s a weird thing but once treatment started I felt much more hopeful .
Sending you hugs .

[peaceanddove]

Thank you so much. I have copied and pasted this post to the cancer thread. I had forgotten about it. My head is all over.

[CherryPavlova]

Hope isn’t necessary really. A very early oestrogen receptor positive is generally very treatable- particularly as there would not seem to be lymph node involvement.
It’s a boring few weeks of surgery and treatment but then it will be fine.
Next appointment ask your surgeon for a prognostic indicator printed off. It will reassure you about outcomes in the longer term.
Most women with breast cancer live and are cured these days.

The surgery may well be day surgery. It’s relatively minor - although it won’t necessary feel like that at the moment. Buy a soft sleeping bar or vests with built in support for post surgery. You’ll wait a few weeks between surgery and radiotherapy to allow healing. You can go back to work, drive, cook, swim do everything normally after a couple of days.

Radiotherapy is more boring than painful but you might get the equivalent of sun burn. It’s usually daily making work more challenging and feeling like you almost live at the hospital. Apart from the actual appointment, you can carry on ask normal.

The Tamoxifen is fine. You might feel a few hot flushes but I barely noticed any side effects.

You’ll be fine and over and done with fairly swiftly.

[peaceanddove]

Oh thank you so much. Your post has given me so much comfort that it made me cry, but in a good way. Thank you for being so kind. Can I ask if you have had the same, as you sound very clued up?

[peaceanddove]

Oh I'm sorry, yes I can see you have been here too because you take Tamoxifen. Sorry, my head is jumbled at the moment, not reading properly. Thank you again.

[Thinkingabout1t]

Sympathy because you’ve had the horrible shock of a cancer diagnosis, OP. I felt the same when it happened to me many years ago. But as others have said, yours sounds like a very good prognosis.

I hope your experience will be like mine: early diagnosis, quick treatment, good careful checks afterwards, almost forgotten it now. Best of luck xx

I know so many people who have

[percheron67]

OP. S sorry to hear your news. I am not surprised that you are all over the place. I have had two friends diagnosed with bc in the last eighteen months and they are doing well. My thoughts and prayers are with you.(Also, a very big hug).

[Thinkingabout1t]

Ooops!
I know lots of people who have survived cancer. It’s brilliant how treatments have progressed in the past few decades.

[CherryPavlova]

Mine was quite a large tumour with significant lymph node involvement. I had the lumpectomy with all the lymph nodes removed too. I needed six cycles of chemotherapy then eight weeks of radiotherapy.

Luckily it was also oestrogen receptor positive and I had ten years of Tamoxifen, but I’ve just finished. I’m not expecting to die anytime soon.
I can’t say it was a nice experience but it wasn’t awful either but I would go as far to say I came out the other side more confident and stronger.

My children were fine after initial worry. There worst fears were around whether it meant their father would have to cook and whether I would embarrass them by going out without a wig on. Neither happened.
You’ll not lose your hair, so one less stress.

Once the shock is subsided a little, you’ll be fine. It’s entirely manageable and often kicks people into a healthier lifestyle so they actually live longer.

[user1471453601]

Please, be reassured with what others are posting.

I've experienced something quite like your situation. Ductal carcinoma in situ. Very small, couldn't be felt. I had day surgery, the recovery was a breeze. I had to do arm exercises for a few weeks as they also took out the sentinel lymph node under my arm.

Three weeks of daily radiotherapy was boring, inconvenient and tiring, but doable.

Never forget, cancer is a word, not a sentance.

Good luck

[peaceanddove]

These posts are wonderful to read, thank you so much. I just felt so shell shocked. Logically I know the prognosis is excellent and I'm lucky it's been caught so early. But at the moment my panicking heart is over ruling my head and it feels like the end of everything. Stupid isn't it.

I have teenage children and this is their exam year. So I don't want to tell them as I'm hoping that this can be over and done with in two to three months, with none the wiser. I intend to keep going to work normally as much as possible, so it's likely they won't notice anything and DH is on hand to help.

[CherryPavlova]

My children were exam years too. I was diagnosed in June so very, very close to exams. I made the mistake of not telling. They knew something was up and imagined it was worse than it was. They were huge relieved it was ‘ only breast cancer’.

I think you have to tell them once you’ve got your own head around it. You’ll be surprised how nonplussed and egocentric teenagers can be!

[JinglingHellsBells]

Just wishing you well. Nothing to add to the wonderful posts here but hope all will be ok for you

[peaceanddove]

You're probably right CherryPavlova, teens are so wrapped up in their own world's aren't they. Can I ask how long ago you were diagnosed?

[Bunny1987]

Really sorry to hear this,God bless you, its good that its been caught early and I can only imagine what you must be going through.
Did the hospital give you any details of any support groups that you could reach out too for some support?.
You are not alone, I dont post on here often but I do come on here alot and there seems to be alot of support on here.
Wishing you all the best xxx

[CherryPavlova]

I as diagnosed June 2009. I spent a week post surgery in hospital watching Wimbledon in a heatwave.

[peaceanddove]

That actually sounds quite relaxing Cherry Pavlova. Your posts have really helped me so much, thank you.

[Mysocalledlifex]

my DH mum & gran both had this caught it early so they are both doing well, his mum has had the all clear for 6years now.
Its a shock & scary just remember we have amazing doctors that will look after u.
Wishing you all the best x

[peaceanddove]

Thank you, that's what I really need to hear right now. On another note, I am very confused why I don't seem to have a lump like everyone else? The consultant examined me and even he couldn't feel anything?

[MaitlandGirl]

My mum received this diagnosis in 2000 / it was picked up on a mammogram by a trainee radiographer with a VERY good eye.

Mums just turned 80 and is in really good health. She’s currently hosting my energetic 19 year old for an extended holiday and doesn’t have any long term problems from the surgery.

[Santa01]

peaeandlove, I'm so sorry to hear about your diagnosis, hopefully it will be a quick and speedy recovery.

Can I ask what your symptoms were?

[weebarra]

Handholding. I absolutely know what you are going through, you will feel like the world has been turned upside down and you'll never be normal again!
I was diagnosed with cancer in both breasts and lymph nodes in 2013. I had the whole lot, double mastectomy, chemo, radiotherapy, drugs. Not pleasant, but I'm still here and currently cancer free.
The prognosis for you is very very good!

[peaceanddove]

Hi. I didn't have any symptoms at all. I went for my first mammogram because I turn fifty this year, and that's what picked it up. That's why I'm so shocked.