Absolutely bricking it biopsy!

[PaperbackWrighter]

Absolutely terrified about getting breast biopsy results tomorrow at consultant appt! Told by radiologist it looked ominous at ultrasound. Just need my hand held! 🥺

I have not done many chores! I did change the bed. Then went shopping. May have got slightly confused between hospital and holiday wear! Then went to the hospital for the pre surgery injection which was fine. Nearly ready now I think.
Any news today for your plan? How are you feeling ? Xx
Will update post event! Could do with a glass of wine but not allowed…

@bewilderedhedgehog Oh shame on the wine, but I guess it’s sensible! This time tomorrow it’ll all be done - what a relief for you!

I rang the mri unit at the other hospital today to see where I was in the queue. They said they’d ring me tomorrow (Saturday) with an appt. I’m hoping it’s early in the week. I’m feeling ok, coping, less anxious. That’s today though. Who knows tomorrow?

Speak soon (& enjoy those new PJs!) xxx

@PaperbackWrighter
Good news that you will get the appointment through today!
am just about to get up. Didn’t sleep brilliantly but here we go!!
Will let you know how it goes! Xxx

All done and home! Went ok. Feeling tired and a bit confused with the anaesthetic but went well. No drain which is good! How was your day? Did you get your appointment through? Xxx

@bewilderedhedgehog That’s fantastic news! So glad you’re home and it all went well. And great not to need a drain. Really pleased indeed to hear from you so soon!

my day went fine, nice evening at a friend’s with a takeaway curry. Not had the appointment yet. Will chase up again on Monday.

Sleep well! Xxx

@PaperbackWrighter
Thankyou! And your evening sounds spot on!!
Have woken up to bright sunshine which is lovely and feel my spirits have lifted a lot.
i think chasing on Monday is spot on. Frustrating that you have to but it will be much better when you have a date to fix on.
any plans for today? X

@bewilderedhedgehog That's great news! So pleased for you that you woke up with lifted spirits. Hoping to do the same soon but must admit today has been hard. I'd called the MRI unit at the specialist centre myself on Friday and they said they'd hopefully ring me back Saturday with an appointment - they didn't. At this rate, I'm starting to wonder whether I'll get an appointment in time for my results to make the MDT meeting a week on Tuesday. Not sure I can cope mentally any longer that that! Will ring them again first thing tomorrow. For now, I'm watching the football. Hope you're having a good evening and are not too woozy from the anaesthetic. xxx

@PaperbackWrighter
I think definitely phone them again tomorrow. I wonder if they know how awful it is to be waiting for calls and appointments. I am sure it will be sorted soon but I really feel for you - I was in the situation last week of total uncertainty and it’s just horrible.
All ok here except I tripped and hope I haven’t done any damage…
Are you managing to work through this??
Everything crossed for you tomorrow xx

@bewilderedhedgehogSo sorry to hear you tripped and hoping you feel fine today and it was just a little trip. Have you got nice things to watch / read / eat?

You won't believe this but I rang the MRI unit this morning and apparently the consultant there wrote to my hospital breast clinic on Saturday saying they hadn't sent all the images / information and he couldn't action further until they did. I rang my clinic I'm afraid in tears and they're looking into it and getting back to me. Still waiting to hear. I'm now v worried I won't make next week's MDT in time.

I'm not working atm - my work is project by project for different clients and I've turned down a couple of things pretending I was too busy working for others. One of the ones I turned down is a v demanding nightmare-type client who I have decided to sever ties with anyway, but I just couldn't face it when the other nice client asked and I still hope I could get through this without having to tell any clients about it. (Obviously I'll need say I'm having surgery but that could be a sports injury!)

Honestly, what a life! Hope you are doing well xx

Finding today a bit hard but am really frustrated on your behalf. I am not surprised you were in tears - I would have been as well. Are they going to action it today? Xxx

@bewilderedhedgehog Sorry to hear that you're finding things a hard. Are you feeling any better as the day has gone on? I suppose the initial euphoria of having had the op done might come and go, and then you'll have the usual ups and downs of our lives with this.

The MRI place have my images now. So I'm just waiting to hear about the appointment. Quite an officious person there - she has emailed the consultant and now we have to wait for him😞

@PaperbackWrighter
Yes you are spot on - the realisation that there is more to go….sounds like radiotherapy next.
Good that they have your imaging now - hopefully they will hurry up and get you an appointment through. It’s tiring though having to chase these things - and your officious person doesn’t help….
Went for quite a long walk today and that did help - are you getting out?? Xx

@bewilderedhedgehog How are you getting on today? Hope things feel better and maybe you had another nice walk? I tend to walk a lot because of the dog who is large and energetic but recently walks have been feeling more of a chore than a pleasure.

Had my bleakest day since diagnosis yesterday when discovered the specialist MRI only does clinics Sat afternoon, or Wed morning, and I had missed Wed morning and no guarantee I would get on to the Saturday list, putting any hope of my surgery another couple of weeks away. Don't think I've cried so much in one day since my dad died 20 years ago. Things look better today - the specialist radiologist looked at my MRI images late last night and emailed that he can't see where they want him to biopsy as it looks like cysts to him. So he's speaking to the radiologist at my hospital, and the consultant is also involved and will update the nurse I've been speaking to. I'll find out more later.

The death certificate of who I thought was the elusive eldest great-aunt arrived today. I was really excited. It was her, and she did have breast cancer, so then I cried again. For her as well as me as I've become a bit attached to her.

Hope your day has been tear free and that you are getting some sunshine in your area xxx

@bewilderedhedgehog By the way, it was 1943, so things a bit different then!!

@PaperbackWrighter
good to hear
that things are progressing today - although yesterday sounded just awful. Sounds like you may not need the biopsy and things can move on??
Here I am feeling very sad. I think the reality of the next few years combined with finances and personal issues with partner. Everything has come together, and not in a good way
I have everything crossed that tomorrow you find out what will happen next - and that it is minimally invasive. Have ordered a book today - diet and exercise for breast cancer. Hoping it will be useful.
Shit day, but tomorrow is a new dawn!
hugs to you xxxx

@bewilderedhedgehog well I've had the great news that they don't think I need the MRI guided biopsy after all - the consultant radiologists have overridden it. (Just wish the lower grade radiologist hadn't deemed it necessary in the first place.) So I'm seeing the consultant surgeon Fri morning and they'll look to book my surgery asap. Only thing, I'll need to go ahead without the gene test result. And then I guess if it did come back positive (which isn't really expected), I'd be back in for prophylactic surgery😬

Still, I do feel soo much better about things today.

I'm so sorry to hear that you were feeling really sad yesterday and I totally get it with the onslaught / realisation of everything. It's hard when you're factoring in other people and also finances. I was thinking, do you want to switch our chatting to Mumsnet DM, or I'm very happy to carry on here. Whichever you prefer, just thought I'd mention it.

I found out this morning one of my regular clients has asked my design partner to quote for some regular work we do for them as a pair but not me for words (they don't know anything about my diagnosis). And another client we thought was in the bag for big project Sept / Oct has given it to another pair. But I reckon I got the news the right way round - cancer in one breast, lost the work! Have you been in touch with Macmillan? I got registered with them via the Support Line and they sent me a pack. Looks quite helpful. I've also spoken to Breast Cancer Now helpline a few times - all nurses on there. They do a buddying service Someone Like Me which I'm going to join. They match you with a volunteer who's been there, done that, and they act as your phone support, as much or as little as you'd like. How are you feeling today? Hope better xxx

Hi both I got this diagnosis in March and after three biopsies, an MRI, and an oncotype test I had surgery in mid May. Was supposed to be lumpectomy but ended up mastectomy with immediate reconstruction with an implant. Don't need chemotherapy, started three weeks of radiotherapy this week. It's been absolutely shit, although the treatments have all happened on time and the care I've received has been very good. I just hate the whole thing.

I was recommended a Facebook group called Linking Lobular Ladies, they are so kind and welcoming and seem to have every possible combination of treatment/surgery/drugs so there's masses of knowledge shared.

All the very best for your continued treatments 😊

@PaperbackWrighter
Hello! Sorry I've been absent for a couple of days sorting things, but feeling better than I was, thank you :). Good idea to DM and I will do that later today. Am so pleased it's Friday!!

So pleased to see your news that you don't need the biopsy! The best news! How very frustrating though to be waiting for that and then you didn't need to wait after all...
Hopefully by the time you read this you will have an actual or estimated date for surgery.

If your surgery is similar to mine, which it sounds like, then recovery has been quite straightforward - hope it will be the same for you. The most difficult part has been sleeping in the surgical stockings, bra etc. It feels like going to bed ready to get up if you know what I mean! For sleeping I have now bought a couple of Sloggi bras and they seem to be the most comfortable. Wound is healing well as far as I can see and I seem to have full movement of arm and shoulder. The odd twinge but nothing more than mild discomfort now.
So I am planning to go back to work on Tuesday, and will do half days for a week. Sorry to hear about your work - do you have regular ongoing clients as well to keep the money moving??
Hopefully your update will be surgery news!!!!

@Edenvale
Thank you for those tips and for sharing your experience. Very helpful to understand what the future treatment might be. Sorry the radiotherapy has been awful. I know what you mean about hating the whole thing. I have had excellent care so far, but I don't want having cancer to define me. I am now keen to get it over with. My understanding at the moment is that I have an appointment early August when I will get the results of the surgery and know whether more surgery is required. Then radiotherapy. Unlikely to have chemotherapy, but will have drugs for 5 years I think. I suspect that may actually be the worst part but am going to think about each stage as it happens. Any tips to manage the radiotherapy??

I've just had my 4th session of radiotherapy. The actual experience is fine, the radiologists are lovely, kind, gentle, patient and reassuring. I've also had clear explanations of what will happen on the table (you lie down and the machine swings over you to zap you from the correct angle). None of it is difficult but I'm really struggling with my mental health for all sorts of reasons, and this daily trip has floored me this week.

The radiographers listened to me and today I was able to speak to their counsellor who is also a radiographer but is also trained in cancer counselling. She was so nice.

So the RT itself isn't too bad, it's just the overwhelming crapness of having cancer that gets me. I'm sure I'll survive! (literally)

Hi all, I’m on a similar journey and have been heartened by your support for each other. Mine is hormone receptive bc.
I has my operation (lumpectomy) and node biopsy a week ago. I’m waiting on the results from the operation whilst will determine next steps. That’s next week. I have fingers crossed for only radiotherapy followed by endocrine treatment.
it really is a pile of horribleness.

I'm ducking in just to cheer you on. I had hormone positive BC diagnosed in 2010. Grade 3, stage 3, vascular invasion, so pretty full on. I had a mastectomy, chemo, rads. My tumour was small but highly aggressive. I honestly thought I was toast. 14 years on though and I'm still clear (touch wood!). It is a horrible thing to go through, but the best thing can happen - it did to me. You're all incredible and you can do this. Just keep going! xx

@dancingwhilstfacingthemusic
Hi there! Yes your treatment sounds very similar to mine, and I also had surgery last week but my appointment is not until 7 August so a little while to wait.

How have you found the recovery so far?? I am finding the physical part not bad, but keen to understand next steps now as I'm finding it hard not to be able to plan anything!

@Edenvale
I am so glad they were able to take time to talk with you - do you feel better for it? Hopefully the 3 weeks will pass quickly. As you say it is very disruptive though. Do you have a long journey for radiotherapy or are you quite close?

@PaperbackWrighter
Hope you are OK (or as OK as you can be....). I have PM'd you xxx

I am finding the surgical stockings a bit much in the heat and extremely unattractive! Am resisting the temptation to just take them off however as I think that would be a bit foolish of me but I can't wait to not have to wear them any more!!!

Hope everyone has a restful weekend xxxx

@bewilderedhedgehog I’m doing ok. Very tired today but to be expected. Had my Mirena out 2 days ago so my body is a mess of hormone withdrawal too I guess.
mmm the surgical stockings are a treat, eh?! I’ll be glad to get those off but can see the reason to wear them. I’m into the second week’s shoulder exercises now - advanced stuff!

@bewilderedhedgehog yes also to the planning, really tricky in so many levels.