Likely breast cancer after ultrasound

[spartanrunnergirl]

Hi all after routine mammogram I was referred for an ultrasound, which I had today and the radiologist said it's likely a cancer, thus did a few core biopsies. I did not know that cancer could be detected at ultrasound stage but she was pretty certain it was cancer and said the biopsies were to see what they were dealing with. Has anyone else had this? Thank you

Thank you, in hospital in the day stay ward now just waiting to be taken down for my op at some point this morning. Feeling anxious but also grateful this is the first part of my treatment getting underway. X

Before you know it you'll be waking up after it's over 😊

Morning all, just thought I'd pop on an update.
I came home last night from my surgery. They said it went well. Took me a while to come round from the anaesthetic and felt very groggy. Also felt very emotional.
Didn't sleep great last night at home as just couldn't get comfortable. Need some extra pillows I think.
My wee was bright blue because they injected me with dye to find the nodes so that was interesting!
Finding the bras too uncomfortable to wear right now, too sore under my armpit and tight on my chest even though I bought bigger sizes! Nurse said maybe don't wear one for a couple of days until swelling settles. Try again in a few days.
Just planning on resting up in front of the tv today.

Pleased the op is done. Was told I'll have to wait 3-4 weeks for the follow up with the results of the margins and nodes biopsy.

Hope everyone is doing ok xx

Well done @chococakey that’s a real move along the way. Rest up and make the most of whatever takes your fancy on the tv. Thanks for coming to update us and hope you are as comfortable as possible. Hopefully someone can find you a couple of extra pillows for later.

Well done @chococakey, hopefully your recovery isn't too bad. I had a v pillow after my surgery to prop me up, really helped with getting comfy. Someone said to me about getting bra extenders too, not sure if that might help. Good luck with your results!

Glad to hear you are out the other side now @chococakey and I hope as the next couple of days progress you become more comfortable. That blue wee always surprised me after surgery, it stuck around for a few days!

Sending all good wishes for a smooth recovery and that this time next week you are enjoying Christmas with your family xx

@chococakey congrats on coming through the surgery phase ahead of Christmas, and all fingers crossed for your test results.

Sloggi do a bra called Zero Feel which I've found I can step in to and pull up- no fastening. It wouldn't do for running (iyswim) but might offer enough support and security for the post-op period, and is supremely comfortable.

Glad the surgery went well @chococakey and hope you feel steadily more comfortable over the next few days.

Well done @chococakey I hope you get lots of rest and recuperation.

So glad you've had it and are out the other side @chococakey ❤️

I forgot to mention the blue wee! Or unicorn wee as I called it! It does hang around for a few days but soon back to normal!

I wore Primark cropped vest bras in a size up immediately post surgery as they were soft and stretchy with just enough support to not feel restrictive. You are likely to want a bit more support after a week or so. I hope you're feeling much better in time for Christmas! 💐

I've just had a chat with my oncologist and he said he considers me to have no evidence of disease 🎉 A nice present for Christmas after a shitshow of a year! I wanted to share the news, and I truly hope you all get the same news in the next few months xx

Great news @SunnyValemin - so pleased for you

Thanks for all the well wishes everyone xx

Haha unicorn wee is a good description!
Mine is still pretty bright blue. Looks like toilet duck bleach haha.

@SunnyValemin That's fab news just before Christmas

Well done @chococakey . Hope you can take it easy up to and including Christmas. Lovely news @SunnyValemin .

Woohoo 🥳 @SunnyValemin awesome news!!

Ok ladies, those who've had radiotherapy some questions if you have the time to answer.

I'm on session 12 of my 15 sessions. Skin is ok, a bit rosy, and maybe a bit dry. I was given a big tube of flamigel to use which has been good.

My breast though feels like a bowling ball and is now BIGGER than the other one! I can liken it to breastfeeding days - when you are overfull of milk with added mastitis,very tender to the touch and achy.

Any shared experience of this .. Will it settle after radio? Tips to help ease it. Any advice would be very welcome! Thank you x

Yep it's horrid! Mine blew up like a balloon. I used 100% aloe gel and E45 lotion and kept both in the fridge (might have already mentioned that here). It will settle but you might get a lot of shooting pains, hard bits that feel lumpy. My boob is fine now but it's taken a few years and I do still get periods of pain. I personally think they should be clearer on what radiotherapy does.

To add, I kept frozen flannels in the freezer. They helped a lot. Your BCN should also be able to give you cooling patches to help with the swelling and mastitis feeling.

Thank you @TheFormidableMrsC it's reassuring I'm not the only one but horrid that you have had this too.

I think because the actual procedure of radiotherapy is very straightforward, it can sometimes be mistaken for a symptom-free part of the process and it's really not.

I agree with you - I think there should be much clearer info about what to expect. All they ever really says is you might feel very tired and you might get a bit of a sunburnt look/feel to your breast, but actually when you think about what's being done to the cells of the breast it's quite significant i'm not surprising there are other side effects. I shall try putting the gel in the fridge. I feel reassured that it will settle down even if it will take some time. X

Yes I agree, it "seems" to be a fairly simple stage of treatment but it's hugely damaging and I feel that is brushed over. I had a lump appear and you can imagine the state I was in. It was radiotherapy damage and it has gone now but be prepared for that. Massaging the E45 (which I still do daily) helped break down the scar tissue. Radiotherapy pain can continue for many years. I have a friend who made a representation to Macmillan about them making information a lot more honest and realistic.

Thank you both for this discussion - it's very helpful as I expect to be starting radiotherapy in January.

Trying to think how to word what I mean here ... I wonder if because mastectomy is such a huge thing, WLE is always seen as the preferred option and so the fact that radiotherapy has to go alongside it is almost glossed over or minimised?

(Pre-op decisions were a bit complicated for me as it was clear from the start that even with WLE I was going to need some sort of reconstruction (small breast!). I wanted to avoid radiotherapy (worried about the fatigue on top of 6 mths of severe burnout) so was asking about proceeding directly to mastectomy/reconstruction. In the end that wasn't possible for other reasons but even during that conversation the side effects you've mentioned weren't brought up)

I had a mastectomy and still had 15 sessions of radiotherapy, but I think my side effects were minimal because I had no breast left. I agree though, it was brushed over. I didn't understand about the breathing technique (my cancer was left side) really until I went in for my tattoos. I also found people thought I must have finished all my treatment because I'd done the chemo - their faces when I explain I'm still in treatment for 3 more years, never mind the hormone therapy.

I was told by my BCN to request alhydran (I think that is the spelling) cream from my GP for the radiotherapy burns. It worked wonders on my skin reducing the redness in days.

@quietmaelstrom I agree with you on this. All the focus is on the surgery for sure and then getting the histology results, and of course that's right and understandable, as this is the biggie to get the cancer removed and to plan next steps. The radiotherapy felt like this little thing I'd have and then it's all done, when in reality it's not. I was really pleased with the post surgery aesthetic of my breast, and wasn't aware off just how many post surgery changes ( visually and physically) it would go through and the time it will take to settle down and get to some type of new normal.

To reassure those who have not yet had it .. I have coped very well with radiotherapy and have got on with all aspects of my life. Kept very active, back running -in two bras... crop top with a sports bra over the top!

However I do think there is a lot about radiotherapy side effects that no one tells you/talks about.

Sorry @SunnyValemin I was worried I would word it wrongly as I was tired - I know radiotherapy can be needed with mastectomy as well. I made too general a statement.

What do you mean about breathing technique?

@quietmaelstrom when you have radiotherapy to the breast you use a technique called breath hold - so the radiologist will ask you to hold your breath when they're doing the initial scans and also when they are actually doing the radiotherapy treatment - this is to protect your heart. It's always something that will happen if you're having treatment on the left breast. My cancer was in the inner upper quadrant of my right breast and I've also been asked to use the breath hold technique.