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

@Fillybuster you poor love. This has dragged on too much. I had exactly the same on my first review. They hadn’t spotted any DCIs on my scans and were surprised that the initial diagnosis of ductal cancer wasn’t the full picture (this is typical though). I went back in the following week for a cavity shave and it was no problem, possibly feeling less of an issue recovery wise than the first one. Bummer though. They also found that the lump was 4.5cm, not 2cm as on the scan.

My tumour was right on the lateral margin so for me, the surgeon could clear that and the DCIs but didn’t have a 1mm clear margin on my second op. Trust me to be the very small proportion needing another go. I was given the choice of a third clearance of that tissue or to have a mastectomy. I chose mastectomy and immediate reconstruction (I wasn’t down for radiotherapy, which made the reconstruction choice more available). That third op went well and recovery was pretty pain free. Not what any of us need eh?

deffo pizza and a film tonight. We’re also having a film, timed to finish before I nod off on the sofa. I’m buggering on through chemo (EC currently) and have just done my first filgrastim injection so am feeling like a legend.

keep going mate. From what friends of mine who’ve been through this say, it does become a memory. One friend described it as the Covid years experience in that it was horrible but gone and doesn’t register so much. 💐

Thinking of you as well @SunnyValemin. Good to be a year out, not so good that the wobbles still happen. Hope you enjoy the pizza.

Good afternoon ladies. Sorry, I had to take a few days away from being online after my appointment last week as I was in a bad place mentally. (To catch anyone up, I had my lumpectomy just before Xmas then had the results last week that despite clear margins there was a positive sentinel node so now waiting for oncology appt for chemo, radio and hormone therapy).

I just convinced myself I was going to die. Wasn't going to see my little boy grow up (he's 6, I'm 40) and lots of other bad dark thoughts. Had a terrible weekend. Couldn't sleep. Had to get the GP to prescribe diazepam as I was having terrible panic attacks.

Had a good call with my BCN on Tuesday who "talked me down". She tried to reassure me that all this additional treatment is to really make sure everything is clear and trying to prevent reoccurrence. She said it will be a tough few months but there is light at the end of the tunnel out of this darkness. I have to put on my hard hat, strap myself in and get ready for the ride over the coming months.

I'm hoping I'll feel better once I get a plan from oncology but I don't even have an appointment yet! I can't bear all the waiting inbetween everything. Had my lumpectomy 17th Dec and waited a month for results and now just back in the waiting system again. Feels so casual from the hospital. I keep reading people who started radio/chemo only a couple of weeks after surgery.

I do have an appointment next week to discuss genetic testing, they said results of that won't affect my current treatment plan apparently.

I appreciate all the support I've had here. It's meant so much to me to have supportive people who listen and inspire me to be strong for what's coming. We can do this 💪
Hope everyone has a good weekend. Sorry if I haven't tagged, my phone is being a bit slow at the moment but I wish everyone well and thank everyone for their kind words and support.

@Fillybuster Sorry to hear your heading back to surgery. It's hard when the goalposts suddenly change, it's what happened to me. I thought I was going from surgery to radio and now I've had the news I need chemo too. The mental aspect is tough. Keep strong x

@SunnyValemin I can imagine going for the mammogram brought alot of it back on this first anniversary of it all. I would feel exactly the same. Enjoy your pizza night x

@dancingwhilstfacingthemusic Haha, I always nod off on the sofa too when we watch films at home. I have to make sure we time the start of it just right so I can make it through to the end lol. Hope you're doing ok with your chemo x

@quietmaelstrom & @StartupRepair both your oncologists sound lovely, looking at the bigger picture with the drugs. I don't know what drugs I'll be on once I've finished chemo/radio, hopefully I'll find out once I finally get an appointment with an oncologist! Hope you're both ok x

@BatshitCrazyWoman That's a great milestone to have finished chemo, that doesn't make much sense about the appointment before the MRI, makes more sense to have it after x

Aargh @Fillybuster, that's rubbish. I am sorry. BC reminds me of snakes and ladders- you inch your way to the top of the ladder and then the snake ruins it all for a while. Someone else brilliantly described it on here as a ghost train with periodic jump scares.
You do realise no-one here is going to call you a wuss, right? You are navigating a horrible situation that is frightening and depressing by turns, whilst (I presume) maintaining a cheery optimistic face for your children. That's exhausting, and you have to be allowed to take the mask off from time to time for a break: use us for that.
And I'm really sorry about your cancelled holiday- I'll bet you were looking forward to that wonderful sense of wellbeing in the mountains. Can you change the booking to Easter? Or have a different kind of holiday?

@chococakey I'd like to think that apparent casualness from the hospital might reflect the fact that their plan for you from here is preventative more than curative- so there isn't the same urgency they would have if they had to shrink a tumour before operating or similar. I'm not sure that kind of wait for radiotherapy is unusual- I waited three months after surgery for mine.

Sorry you had such a difficult few days @chococakey. I'm glad the breast care nurse was able to help a bit. I do think it's important for us to hang on to the fact that the cancer has been removed and the extra treatment is to mop up stray cells and prevent recurrence in the future. Not easy with all the chopping and changing and hanging about!

Yes @PemberleynotWemberley I've been told 8-12 weeks until radiotherapy - I think they need to be sure everything has healed up OK

Thank you all. Can’t begin to tell you how much I needed and appreciate your messages today. I’ll pick myself up, dust myself down & get back on it once I’ve had a day or two to get my head right. And yes, this thing feels like a sadistic cross between snakes & ladders, a jump scare ghost train and some kind of weird nightmare where you have no idea of the rules but have to play anyway…I definitely prefer exploding kittens!

@chococakey it sounds like you’ve really been through the mill emotionally over the last few days. I’ sure all the waiting with no updates makes everything feel even more damn out of control - I’m glad the BCN was able to give you proper support and explain it in more detail. Sending so much love your way.

Snakes and ladders is a perfect analogy. You do feel like you start climbing up only to be sent back down again!

I'm feeling a bit better now I've had some time to process things and talk to the nurse and realise I'm perhaps catastrophizing a tad. Needed it brought back into focus that the cancer has been removed and that's a key part of the whole journey. Thank you also for your messages to help 'talk me down' a bit! Everyone here is an absolute inspiration.

I'm just very much a planner, an organiser. I like to know what's happening and exactly how. All the disorder and waiting just makes me start getting anxious and my mind starts to wander.

@Fillybuster I'm sorry to hear this. I had very similar.
Operation for DCIS but follow up appointment 2 weeks later I was told the margins weren't clear and I had to go in for a second surgery.
Then followed by radio.

As other PPs have said it's thinking you've got over one hurdle just to be confronted by another

It really does go through some relentless stages. I hope you’re doing ok @Fillybuster and @chococakey (& everyone else).

EC chemo after effects are certainly making themselves known. Day 6 today and I’ve tottered on a 10 min slow walk with dh as I wanted to move about (filgrastim has made me achy too). Chemo mouth is kicking in and my throat is grungy. (Just having a moan as it’s crap). 3 to go once I’ve recovered from this cycle. Some days this bastard thing is hard to ignore.

@dancingwhilstfacingthemusic Sorry to hear the side effects are making themselves known at the moment. You've done so well so far x

I'm not doing too bad. Still very anxious to get my oncology appointment which isn't until next week. Anxious to find out exactly what I'll be facing. If anyone has ideas for good questions to ask then please let me know. I can never think of the questions when I'm at the hospital!
I know I'll be having chemo, radio then hormone therapy but that's all I know right now. I don't know drugs, sessions, side effects etc. All things I need to ask.

Just feeling a bit in a limbo period.

Hope everyone is doing ok x

@chococakey having been where you are I can empathise with how daunting that all sounds. Before I started chemo it seemed like a mountain to climb. The only thing I can say is one foot in front of the other and you’ll get through it. I had 6 months of chemo, completed at the end of August and, looking back, it goes quicker than you expect. I’ve since had my lymph nodes removed and 4 weeks of radiotherapy and have just started a targeted therapy so not quite at the end but getting there. And you will too xx

Remember, this is a chapter in our books, not the whole book xx

Hi everyone, just catching up with the thread this evening after some busy work days. I just wanted to send a wave to you all and say hi.

I'm feeling a bit lost for words as everyone is dealing with such a range of challenges of varying PITA (pain in the arse) levels of mental or physical issues. Sometimes it is just shit. A footnote in my life story is how I like to think about it all, but I know that fingers crossed I'm done now, bar tamoxifen, and have had a very straightforward plan.

On a side issue I feel like my nipple is about to fall off at the moment 🤣 it has become all irritated again ... one month after radiotherapy, no idea what TF is going on there!

Oooh, that doesn’t sound like much fun @dancingwhilstfacingthemusic - hope it eases soon. My mum swore by old fashioned lemon sherbet sweets for dealing with chemo mouth, if that’s any use?

Great to hear from you @spartanrunnergirl, and glad you’re doing well, sore nips aside. Although…ouch!

@catin8oots that’s exactly it. Sorry you had the same. How are you doing now?

Going in tomorrow afternoon for the next op. This time 10 days ago I was blithely confident that it would be once-and-done, with no follow up treatment. Now all I want this time is for the biopsy margins to come back clear and I’ll take the radiotherapy down the line over any of the possible alternatives. Sigh. Snakes and ladders here we go…

Sending love, hugs and good vibes to all ❤️‍🩹

Hope it goes well tomorrow @Fillybuster!!

All the best tomorrow @Fillybuster (& yes, sherbert lemons are my weapon of choice!).

Good luck for tomorrow @Fillybuster x

Thanks @Pixilicious1 It is just such a daunting mountain in front of me right now. I feel like I'll feel a bit better once I know exactly what I'm facing x

Nice to hear from you @spartanrunnergirl hope the sore nips don't cause too much trouble! x

@dancingwhilstfacingthemusic Lemon sherbets were my MIL's sweet of choice during her chemo a few years ago. She's already stocked me up with them in preparation! But I'm not someone who likes boiled sweets particularly 🙈 x

@chococakey I hate boiled sweets but am very happy with these sherberts. It’s doable, a day at a time. The limbo really is the worst.

Sweet dreams (even sitting up), you awesome lot.

All the best for tomorrow @Fillybuster

Sorry the mouth/throat is feeling rubbish @dancingwhilstfacingthemusic. Sherbet lemons sound good. I have heard people say that pineapple (chopped fresh/tinned helps as well - may be worth a try?

Good to check in with everyone. Loving the snakes and ladders analogy.

A question for those who've had radiotherapy: I now have an appointment for late Feb with the oncologist. However, it's a telephone appointment. So far all my appointments have been in person and I'm a bit bothered about this (still struggle to concentrate/remember things with the burnout and it's not great on the phone).
How detailed is this appointment likely to be? Would I be unreasonable to try to change it to an in-person one?

@quietmaelstrom if you think a face to face appointment would be better of course you’re not unreasonable to want one! I found the radio quite straightforward to be honest, once I’d been referred for it the radiotherapy team sent me info about it and I am a massive googler and there’s lots of useful info on the breast cancer now website.

best of luck for the next phase x

Hi @quietmaelstrom my oncologist appt was quite straightforward and looking back it could have been on the phone. although I think if a phone call had been offered, I would've felt exactly like you and wanted a face-to-face meeting. It's more reassuring somehow, isn't it?

The actual appointment consisted of him reviewing the histology report from my surgery, the information from the MDT meetings and letter from my consultant with other details about me and my family history. He the covered his recommendation of the radiotherapy treatment plan and his explanation of that, his recommendation on hormone therapy for me, and an explanation of the radiotherapy planning meeting and timelines. He did give me a prescription there and then for my first lot of tamoxifen so if that's relevant to you, might be worth adding to your list of questions.

Another who doesn't like boiled sweets but who mainlined lemon sherberts here! I still have chemo mouth 🙁 Also sugar free gum, and those M&S sugar free strawberries and cream sweets. Hope you start to feel a bit better soon @dancingwhilstfacingthemusic And one down, only three to go ...

Hope everything goes well today @Fillybuster

@chococakey my oncologist set out my plan in great detail (obviously, things do change, and you end up going down a snake rather than climbing a ladder). I found it quite reassuring. And then just thought about it as each thing is a step on the road, just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

@spartanrunnergirl ouch!

My stepmum bought me some sweets called Queasy Drops which were really nice. I know also that a friend's husband who really struggled with his mouth found a lot of relief from pineapple juice. Maybe worth a try?

Hope today went well @Fillybuster

Thanks all - may have a chat with the breast care nurses first

For all ladies that have had a single mastectomy in the recent past - I understand I have to order some kind of v shaped pillow so that I can sleep upright at home . Can anyone recommend one or better still even link me to one ?
I know about the pillow to go under the arm and am about to order one from Etsy .
thank you everyone