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

@quietmaelstrom sorry I hit entered too soon and I don't know how to edit!

It's a very straightforward technique. You can stop and start breathing all the way through each session the treatment (I was worried I'd have to hold my breath through the whole thing each time 🤣).

The radiographer comes over the mic and says hold your breath… Now breathe ... hold your breath… Now breathe etc. I've had a shitty cold during part of my treatment and haven't been able to do it very well so it's just taken a little bit longer, they are very patient. The machine I am on also senses my breathing so if I start to breathe, it will stop doing whatever it's doing.

Thanks @spartanrunnergirl - mine is left breast so will be doing lots of breath holding!

@quietmaelstrom no worries! The breathing technique is as @spartanrunnergirl has said. Depends where your cancer was. It's not that bad, I found I could do it easier if I had eaten before. My early morning sessions I really struggled, but the machine sense if you let go of your breath and stops. The radiographers at my hospital count every 5 seconds over the mic too, so you know how long you have left. I held my breath for 25-30 seconds each time but if you can't for that long they just adjust the machines. Sorry, I didn't mean to worry you about that, just no one had really told me about it!

I agree that radiotherapy isn't mentioned as 'a thing', I had someone tell me (who hasn't had cancer) that it's really easy, just a bit of a belt and braces formality 😬

I listen to a couple of podcasts - The Perky Pair and And Then Came Breast Cancer, both of which have episodes on radiotherapy, which I've listened to to educate myself, as I was clueless and like to research.

Yes that's how it was described to me. I mean the actual sessions are easy enough. I actually quite enjoyed going as it was during lockdown and the hospital was 30 miles away so it got me out for a few of hours. I had an intense course of treatments over 5 days so I was burnt to a crisp 😩. I do wish they had been more clear about the side effects. I didn't actually ever feel tired which I was told I would and I was also told there was a risk my ribs might crack. They didn't. However, there was zero mention of the long term side effects that I am still dealing with now (although they are lessening as time goes on). You don't want to frighten people because it's a necessary treatment but at least if you're well informed you can prepare and find coping strategies.

I had an intense 5 days of radiotherapy - I was told my breathing wasn't good enough(!) do they adjusted everything to protect my heart. I do agree no one really said that much about radiotherapy as if it was minimal part if treatment .

Depending on my post surgery results I am probably facing radiotherapy too, my cancer is also the left breast so helpful to read about the breath holding etc.
Still got to wait for my post surgery results before I know for sure what my next phase of treatment will be but consultant said if clear margins on my surgery then it would be radio followed by hormone treatment.

Still a bit sore and tired over here post surgery but it's only been a few days. Have been trying to do my exercises best I can but it is sore under my arm. Boob doesn't feel too bad.

Wishing everyone a nice weekend x

Good to hear from you @chococakey! Hope you can take it easy over the weekend. That under arm wound is annoying isn't it -.exactly placed to catch on bras and be irritated by every arm movement! X

@spartanrunnergirl Oh yes the under arm one is in such an annoying position, every arm movement is so sore and it's right where all the bras I bought sit. My boob doesn't feel too bad (the incision was made just above my nipple) but the under arm is very sore.
I'm trying to do as I'm told and just rest and do my exercises but I'm not someone who finds sitting down and relaxing very easy. I'm usually always on the go so I'm finding "resting" tough!

Popping in to give you all a Friday night wave. I’m reading along but too tired to contribute at present - sleep is difficult after treatment, so I’ve fingers crossed as the week goes on.

Wishing everyone facing extra challenges all the best.

The days start to get longer from tomorrow. 🌅

Morning everyone. Hope everyone is ok.

Wonder if anyone can give me some advise about showering after my surgery?
I'm so confused by the advice I was given.

So today I am 5 days post surgery and they said I can remove the dressings.

I have had my husband help me carefully wash under my arm with just a damp flannel up till now but I just feel so dirty all over and would also love to wash my hair.

The leaflet I got from the hospital said don't use any soap or deodorant on that side until I go for my follow up appointment (which I don't even have a date for yet) but doesn't specifically say about showering. In hospital they told me to keep it dry for 5 days till the dressing came off.

So if I take the dressings off can I shower but just avoid soap on the wounds?
Or should I just stick with a general strip wash and try and avoid that boob and underarm all together?
I'm also not trying to google it or anything for fear of seeing things I don't want to read so thought I'd reach out to you lovely ladies of your post surgery washing advice.

Thank you! X

I wasn't allowed to shower for 10 days after my surgery, I was specifically told not to though. my nurse told me to have a very shallow bath to wash 'the essentials' which made me laugh 😂 might be worth a quick call to your breast cancer nurse if we can't help you here xx

Thanks @SunnyValemin 😂Haha yes the essentials!
I'm just dreaming of a lovely shower to feel more clean and wash my hair but I'm just not sure it's advisable if I have to avoid soap on the wounds.

The advice I've got on my paperwork kind of contradicts itself as it says to keep it dry until day 5....which implies showering would be ok but then it also says avoid all soap and washing the wound area until you've have your clinic appointment (which I suspect won't be for another 3-4 weeks yet).

@chococakey yes it is a bit confusing. My clinic appointment was 8 days after my surgery, so hopefully you won't be waiting weeks! They took my bandage off in the hospital though and then glued my wound, after that I was ok to shower. I do remember them saying not to use soap on it for a while though and to pay it dry with a separate towel. I bought a pack of flannels and just used them for drying. I did my hair over the bath with my mum's help, once I'd done that I definitely felt cleaner.

That shower will be glorious when you get in! That one and the one after I'd had my picc line taken out are honestly two of the highlights of a crappy year 😂

Hopefully someone else might be able to offer a bit more advice ☺️

@chococakey clinic didn’t do anything with my boob dressings for at least a week. I think they changed the top one but I wasn’t allowed to get the wound wet for at least a couple of weeks- it was sooner either way the lumpectomy wound, which was about 14 days to showering. Either way the implant I reckon it was about 3 weeks. I did sit in a shallow bath, which was relaxing, but needed to be able to push up to get out with one hand.

Hair-wise, my family helped me with washing. This was done over the bath, using the electric shower head, but equally could have been done over a sink with them using jugs of water. They put towels on the floor to make me comfy kneeling down, another towel on the bath edge for me to lean on and a small towel on my shoulders to stop the water going down my neck. At first they did the full wash, shampoo and rinse with me directing as I couldn’t lift my arms. Gradually I did more, whilst someone helped the shower head in the right place over the bath.

@dancingwhilstfacingthemusic thank you for the advice x

I had this amazing clear plastic waterproof stuff stuck over my dressings when I came round after the op which was shower proof so I had v quick showers from the get go but did wash hair by leaning over the bath. I guess a call to the breast nurse is the way to go. So nice to have a good wash and hair wash though, I felt much more human. X

Thanks @spartanrunnergirl my dressings are white with a big clear sort of plaster over the top. Almost covering my whole boob and underarm area.
You're right about wanting to feel more human with a shower. That's how I feel right now. Think I'll leave it for today and call my nurse tomorrow for advice.

@chococakey I washed my hair over the bath and then ran a bubble bath that was shallower than normal. I put a hand towel over my shoulder and then had a good wash everywhere I did the area around my boob and armpit very carefully with no splashing. It was fine and it felt nice to sink into hot water. My friend has a shower so she fashioned a cover out of a bin liner and did it that way.

Evening all, I know a few of you have appointments and treatments happening tomorrow so just wanted to wish everyone well for your Xmas eve tomorrow x

I'm on day 6 post surgery and felt like I made a bit of improvement today, feel less sore and like it's healing well. Feeling anxious though as I've been told I'll have to wait 3-4 weeks for a follow up with any results.
When I first got it confirmed as BC I felt mildly reassured as I had a plan of surgery in place, now we've passed that point I feel I'm back in an anxious waiting period again so just trying my best to keep my chin up and focus on healing x

I'm glad you are starting to heal@chococakey
Amidst the awful waiting it is great to feel your strength coming back.

Hi @chococakey thank you for the good wishes for the Xmas Eve crew! Cannot believe I'm gonna be at the end of my radiotherapy tomorrow!! No idea if I'll be skipping out that clinic or crying my eyes out with relief 😬🤪

I'm glad to hear you are improving and healing well it's amazing actually how quickly our bodies recover from this surgery.

I'm not surprised you're beginning to feel anxious about the next stage - we focus so much on the operation and then of course when that's done and we've got a little bit of strength back, we start to think about the next stage.

3/4 weeks does feel like a long time to wait for your results. I guess with Christmas and New Year happening that might add a bit of time to the usual timelines?

I hope you manage to have a lovely Christmas with your family, and can manage that anxiety. Before you know it you'll be having your next appointment, and don't forget - the biggie is done - the cancer has been removed - and the next stage is of all about making sure you have the best possible outcomes long-term. Xx

Thanks @chococakey. I’ve mine tomorrow morning. Goodness knows how the Christmas meal will get prepped as I’ll be asleep with the antihistamines afterwards. It’ll happen somehow. Navigating Christmas for the first time without dad and with cancer treatment is not how I saw this year going.

Stay busy. Not an easy time and I know we are all wishing you well.

I hope it goes ok tomorrow @dancingwhilstfacingthemusic grief and cancer are a tough combo X

@chococakey glad you are feeling a bit better! I was lucky (or unlucky I suppose) that they knew I needed chemo right away, so I didn't have to wait too long after my op to move on. I hope you aren't waiting too long, it must be very frustrating for you. Look after yourself and extra choccy for you!

I have bisphosphonates starting tomorrow, but need another blood test before they will let me have another round of different tablets. Levels slightly too low this morning. Not feeling very festive anyway, lost my dad a few weeks ago and it just all feels a bit rubbish. Hoping I might feel more up for it after my hospital visit.

Hope everyone has as nice a Christmas as possible 🎅🏻 xx