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

Also @ncduetooutingsituation welcome. This is not a downbeat thread at all. I wouldn't be here otherwise! I am glad you are facing full recovery but I am deeply sorry about your sister 💔.

I have just posted about Turkey tail as you mentioned it.

I recommend the Primark 3 pack of soft cropped bra tops. They saw me through and I still sleep in them now. Not the most supportive but really comfy.

Welcome @ncduetooutingsituation.

Glad your surgery has gone well, and your results are good. So sorry to hear about your sister - no wonder this is even more difficult emotionally for you 🤗

Re bras: Immediately post-op (first procedure - lumpectomy with reconstruction) I had a vacuum dressing and the hospital provided a sports bra which they wanted me to use. After that I wore an M&S BodySoft non-wired bra. For comfort/sleeping I used M&S bralettes.

One warning, though. With the nerve damage from the surgery / reconstruction, about a third of my breast and half my wound was numb. I didn't realise until I had worn the softest bralette for 3 nights that a seam was rubbing on the wound and had opened it in 2 places 🤦🏻‍♀️. This was just before I was told I had to go back for repeat surgery, so I had the wound tidied up again(!) but it is worth checking very carefully where any seams will sit.

As there's been mention of supplements, I thought I'd also mention aspirin. There is peer reviewed research which shows that taking aspirin can significantly reduce risk of recurrence. There is some info on this on Breast Cancer Now and CRUK. I take 75 mg a day. It feels like an extra bit of protection.

@chococakey brilliant news about clear margins, but it seems to be part of this horrible disease that you have good news and then are side swiped by something you don't expect. I didn't have time between diagnosis and treatment starting to have my my eyebrows done, if you do then it's one thing you can do to prepare. Definitely talk to your BCN about everything.

I have cold capped throughout - depending on the chemo drug this can help keep your hair. Amongst the Friday crew at my day unit, those of us who've had EC chemo have all lost most of our hair. It's known to do that. Once I switched to a different chemo drug my hair started to grow back.

@dancingwhilstfacingthemusic good news on your liver scan, and good luck with your oncologist appointment today.

I'm glad the op went well @Fillybuster , and brilliant news @quietmaelstrom

My final chemo (perhaps for good, or perhaps not 🙄) is on Friday, then an appointment with my surgeon on Saturday. My mind is blank, what questions do I need to ask?? Then I have an MRI (oh joy!) and an appointment with my oncologist for results at the beginning of February. I don't know why the surgeon appointment isn't after the MRI? They are talking about surgery the third week of February.

I'm back to my oncologist tomorrow..a bit nervous that he may have info from my genetic test. Also I will report on my first 2 months of hormone therapy. I'm not loving the various side effects.

@StartupRepair I hope you can get some sort of help / direction tomorrow. Can you remind me what drug you’re on (if you don’t mind sharing) and the side effects? I’ve been told I’ll be on letrozole when the current fun is over.

I had a very productive phone call with a great team member (last time’s was a disaster as the person kept mixing up my information). They’re starting my EC this week (bloods allowing). Given the issues with nausea/ sickness and other side effects on paclitaxel, they’re going in at 70% dose. If my liver levels are any more raised they’ll reduce the epirubicin to 50%. She explained that liver issues cut down on how the body processes the chemo, hence additional nausea. They’ve prescribed strong anti sickness drugs to layer with other sickness drugs.

These are the last four of my treatments. I’m finding this one hard and it’s not started yet. Having kept my hair through cold capping I am fed up that it’s now likely to go, but I’m most concerned about more illness. I guess the hardest hours are before the dawn.

@dancingwhilstfacingthemusic that all sounds very tough. Hope the last treatments are easier than you expect.
I am indeed on letrozole. My side effects include aching arms and legs, weird stomach pains, poor sleep and irritability x1000. I really hope it is different for you.

@StartupRepair no party, this? I hope you get some help for this and that any other results are kinder than the experiences we’ve already had.

I think there’s an alternative, Femara, which can be prescribed but this is just a random hire I made a while back. I don’t know what triggers are needed to try an alternative drug.

@dancingwhilstfacingthemusic,
@StartupRepair
No advice or information to offer- you are both having a much deeper and tougher journey through this than I. Just to say how much I admire your fortitude and your generosity in sharing. Sincerely wishing you an easier ride than you are preparing for. Stay strong. 💐 💐

Best wishes to all - am so grateful to have the experience of so many to draw on as I go along this road.

Glad you had a useful interaction today @dancingwhilstfacingthemusic - that plan sounds very sensible, and with good explanations for any changes. Hope the sickness isn't too bad.
Sorry about the side-effects @StartupRepair. I will be due to start tamoxifen after radiotherapy and not sure what to expect - the side effect I am most concerned about is sleep disturbance, as I have a history of significant migraines which are worsened with any sleep problems. Just need to remember not to worry about it before it happens ...
@BatshitCrazyWoman congratulations on being (hopefully!) finished with chemotherapy this week. The surgeon/MRI timing does seem a bit unusual - perhaps they will talk about things generally in this appointment and then catch up with you again for more detailed discussion with the MRI results before the actual procedure?

Post surgery appointment for me tomorrow. Hoping I will hear something about the next step, which should be radiotherapy.

@dancingwhilstfacingthemusic that sounds like a useful appointment, and I'm glad there is a plan to help manage any side effects. I wasn't sick on EC, but the 'C' part, cyclophosphamide, made me dizzy, light-headed and spaced out, which was very unpleasant but not a lot they could do about it.

You might be right @quietmaelstrom . It just seems more efficient for me to have an appointment with the surgeon after the MRI, rather than one before and then another one afterwards .But what do I know?!

Checking in to say hi and see how everyone is getting on. The hospital sent me home with a couple of front opening soft bras by a brand called Anita which I’ve been sleeping in, and using my normal non wired soft sports bras the rest of the time. Apart from the wire in my side, all the surgical incisions went from the top, so I’ve got a slightly comedic setup with a load of padding stuck around the breast with just the nipple poking out the middle. (I guess you have to find your laughs where you can…). I’m feeling less sore today, and a bit less wiped out from the GA….another day or two and I’ll be getting grumpy about missing the gym!

@chococakey how are you doing today? Been thinking of you ❤️‍🩹

@quietmaelstrom if sleep impact if your biggest concern, can you investigate taking melatonin during the treatment? I wonder if that might help offset any side effects of the chemo?

@BatshitCrazyWoman sounds like a good question to ask is to understand the order of coming appointments and scans? There’s probably logic in there somewhere, but probably never hurts to check!

@StartupRepair & @dancingwhilstfacingthemusic keeping everything crossed for you for your respective appointments today.

@ncduetooutingsituation how are you feeling post-surgery? It sounds like you’ve been through so much trauma and it’s all caught up with you. Hope you’re getting good support in RL as well as from the amazing women on here. Sending hugs 💐

Sorry to hear about your sister and your current diagnosis.

I am on a waiting list for flap reconstruction (due to see the plastic surgeon on Valentine's Day!) as my cancer breast is so damaged by 2 surgeries and radiotherapy.

Unfortunately in the meantime I have had a not great routine mammogram. I had to go back for a 3d mammogram, ultrasound and 3 biopsies last Friday.

I'm obviously catastrophising. I also just hope if I need surgery they can do my flap reconstruction at the same time? My surgeon has recommended a full mastectomy on the damaged breast anyway

I have skimmed and am sending love and smiles to the respective posts. I’ve just done EC 1 of 4 and am home with my party pack of drugs to counter side effects. I thought I would be wired from the steroids but I’m wiped out.

@catin8oots the waiting is so hard especially with a new concern.
I had a good appointment with the oncologist. Best news is that I have no genetic markers for breast cancer. He says my sister and I have been struck by lightning.such a relief especially for my DD and our other sister
He is giving me a month off letrozole and then I will try Tamoxifen. He said 'you don't want to feel awful every day for 5 years because then you will feel defined by having breast cancer and you don't have to be'. Lovely man.

@catin8oots sorry you ended up having biopsies and are back in that dreaded cycle of waiting for results - hope all will be well.

Hope this week is easy on you, @dancingwhilstfacingthemusic

@StartupRepair great news re genetics results 😊 Also that does sound like a very good oncologist, who can look at you as a person and decide with you the best way forward.

Follow-up for me yesterday showed that things are healing up nicely. No more surgery (yay!) so next will be radiotherapy.
I will be referred to the oncologist for planning but not to start radiotherapy for 8-12 weeks, apparently (maybe because they've been in twice, so more time to heal?).
Meanwhile I am to start hormone treatment now, rather than later. I am perimenopausal (last period October) so lovely surgeon has advised 2 years tamoxifen, then pause for bloods, then 3 years letrozole if properly postmenopausal at that point.
(Similarly to your lovely oncologist @StartupRepair - he said there could be an argument for doing bloods and starting letrozole now, but as I had been so unwell prior to diagnosis he didn't think the next 2 yrs of additional side effects for minimal benefit were warranted)

@StartupRepair good news about the genetic results and the tweaks to medication. Sounds like you have a good oncologist there.

Glad to hear that there is no further surgery @quietmaelstrom

in doing ok so far although very tired. Some bladder irritation so I’m on the cranberry juice. I’m taking all the sickness drugs. Don’t want a repeat of the last time! Hoping things don’t go downhill when I stop the course of top tier anti sickness (aprepitant).

Hope all the drugs do their job @quietmaelstrom .

Sorry that was for @dancingwhilstfacingthemusic . It is so good when the oncologist shares their thinking @quietmaelstrom .

Had my post surgical review with oncologist yesterday morning. Thought it was going to be all done & dusted, especially as she had originally said no further treatment would be required.

Turns out the DCIS was significantly larger than expected (now described as advanced as opposed to early ) and despite taking out around 2cm of tissue, the margins aren’t clear.

You know where this is heading, right? More surgery next week: now waiting for date and times whilst I frantically cancel all our plans. Including half term break - skiing 2 weeks after the next surgery isn’t on the cards! And, like @quietmaelstrom, there’ll be radiotherapy in 8-12 weeks time, once I’ve fully recovered from both surgeries. And ( trying not to think about this one too much), if the margins are still not clear after the next one, then back to the mastectomy conversation.

I’m trying so hard to be grateful that it’s not any worse: I know that many of you are dealing with much more aggressive and challenging diagnoses and treatments, but I’m failing a bit on that front today. I think it’s the mental aspect having spent a week recovering from surgery and knowing I’m going right back to square 1 again next week (only this time with less confidence in the outcome).

Someone please give me a shake and tell me to stop being such a wuss!

@Fillybuster I would feel exactly the same in your shoes, the shock of the treatment and changing is horrible. Take some time for yourself I think to think it over, write down any questions you have. Get some chocolate or whatever you like and watch a film under a blanket. I'm really sorry you didn't get the news you were hoping for. It's understandable feeling how you do, so try not to be too hard on yourself.

I've been reading everyone's updates, it's a year since I had my first clinic appointment and then next week a year since my diagnosis. I was feeling ok about it and then going back for a mammogram brought it all back. So I'm taking my own advice, pizza and a film after work today, sod the diet 😂

@Fillybuster this is tough news for you and must feel so unfair. I think this chat is a space where you don't have to be grateful and positive. Just acknowledge this is a bit shit and there will be better days ahead. Xx

Gentle hug, @Fillybuster - and no, you're not a wuss. It's a horrible feeling when things shift and suddenly you're dealing with yet another unpleasantness that you weren't expecting, having only just got your head around the first one.

Be easy on yourself. It is horrible. You will get through it. People will be here to help.

@Fillybuster that's really shit, I'm sorry. Stuff coming out of left field seems to be par for the course, but it is tough to deal with x