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

@spartanrunnergirl chemo is going far better than expected so far. I'm managing so far to keep up my full exercise regime, which was very important to me. I think the steroids are keeping me very alert and they've caused me a bit of insomnia, and horrific acne but I'll take that if it means I'm still active.
Worst part about it is the cold capping which I'm finding only just tolerable. That part of course is optional but I'm doing it for teen DD trying to keep things as visually normal for her as I can

Glad you are still able to be active @Daisy03 exercise is really important to me too and basically the two thing I want to keep doing/do after this is ride my bike up big hills in the sun, and run far on trails in Wales! Really hoping you are able to keep moving through your treatment, thanks for replying, x

@dancingwhilstfacingthemusic Best of luck for today's results 💗

@Londongirl78 thank you .. that's encouraging
Hope your DD is now ok

@dancingwhilstfacingthemusic thinking of you and your results today - hope they and you are okay.💐

@spartanrunnergirl just been out on my bike for an early evening ride- it's really important to me, both to claim some time to clear my head and as part of staying well. When I was diagnosed I had two young sons and would have gladly accepted any trade-off just for the prospect of being there as they grew up. I take tamoxifen daily- which I don't enjoy, but I know it's one of the things keeping me alive and well so embrace it. My sons are 16 now and have no idea I was ever ill. I have scars and radiotherapy tattoos which I would not have volunteered for. But they remind me every day that I'm alive and seem a tiny trade off to have made.
Sending you every possible best wish for your treatment and recovery, and thank you for starting this life-affirming thread.

Phew. At last, good news. The sample cleared on my mastectomy was clear of cancer. However, given where the cancer was, there was a difficult margin on the lateral side which meant that mastectomy was necessary. If I had opted for one more go at the lumpectomy I would be looking at a further op.
oncology appointment next week to line up the chemo treatment.

also, for the first time in a few weeks, wine.

So glad to hear this @dancingwhilstfacingthemusic ! Enjoy the wine xxx

Yes my surgeon seemed to think I’d escape chemo as my invasive was small even with HER2 but the pathology has changed .. how are you getting on with it ?

Good news that hopefully it’s all gone now - enjoy that wine !

It’s the closest thing I could think of to describe this journey!
Im ok .. 2 weeks in and I’ve got a Seroma which is annoying but the worst thing is having to sleep upright

Thanks @spartanrunnergirl - appreciate it. Right now I’m trying not to give it any headspace at all, whilst absolutely climbing the walls because I can’t go to the gym and lift heavy weights or have a nice long hot bath, which are my two main “go tos” for dealing with stuff. But I’m hopeful that’s the worst thing I’ll have to deal with, and that by the time the bruising has gone down I won’t be worrying about anything worse. How are you getting on with it all?

Fingers crossed that it turns out to be a cyst or similiar xx

@Rockschooldropout the chemo is going well. I’m having side effects from the steroids more than anything. Third session today and I’m just ticking them off and getting on with it.
I’ve not had any fatigue as of yet so guessing that will come

@Rockschooldropout googles seroma oh that sounds horrid the gift that keeps giving eh? I keep thinking to myself … in 10 year this will be a foot note in my life.. My mum is 80 and has had breast cancer twice and is so fighting fit and vital which is so wonderful.

Oh @Fillybuster that was me last week. I had my biopsies last Wed. Pacing the house wanting a bath, wanting to go running and also not telling anyone before I knew some details, the waiting game is truly awful. Do you know when you’ll get your results yet? Fingers crossed it is good news for you xxx

Oops sorry quoted the wrong post there @Daisy03 and @Rockschooldropout !

Hi OP, I had the exact same diagnosis almost 5 years ago. I had a lumpectomy, chemo, radio and Herceptin. I was very fortunate that I sailed through the treatment and also managed to hang onto most of my hair thanks to the cooling cap system. What helped was exercise. I walked a six mile round trip for every treatment (aside from radiotherapy as that was at a different hospital a distance away so I had to drive). It made a huge difference to the side effects of chemo. I never felt sick or tired. What did affect me was the steroids which made me super hungry and frankly a bit batty so I found sleeping a bit of a challenge.

My advice is keep up with your exercise as it will serve you well. I felt grateful it was lockdown and fabulous weather so the long fast walks were enjoyable and by the time I walked home I was feeling great! Sounds mad now but that was the case! I wish you luck going forward

let’s hope for a winter of bright sunny days so we can carry on with our outdoor routines and exercise. I have an appointment with the special bra fitting nurse soon as I like to walk daily and currently am hanging on to my smaller operated on boob or stuffing my bra with lavender bags - I’m going to need something much more supportive for my marching rate!

sorry to hear of the seroma @Rockschooldropout I had a couple with my first lumpectomy - they drained them on my second op. Are they talking about syringing them off? Otherwise the body will eventually absorb them.

nodding along with the bath / exercise. Yep! I’ve got permission to raise my mastectomy side arm over my head for the first time in three weeks this coming Friday. The other side is a frozen shoulder. I’m really missing my yoga but will have to go in gently as it hurts my scars to put pressure on the operation side. I’m following a couple of accounts on insta that help to avoid the surgery sites, which helps. Bath-wise, I have to admit to running a very shallow one and sitting in it so the water comes nowhere near the scar or dressings. Bliss! Can’t wait for a deep soak but given I’ll be getting a pic line for chemo, that’ll have to wait until next Easter, I think.

The radiologist who did my ultrasound guided biopsies was the first clinician to be honest with me. She's sees a lot of breasts and experience told her my lump looked like cancer but only the biopsies could tell us for sure. She was right. Treatment has been effective and I am currently cancer free. Hoping to stay that way!

I know several people that were diagnosed after a mammogram , fortunatly it was caught very early before a lump was found and all have been absolutly fine after treatment . Still a horrible thing to go through though x

@TheFormidableMrsC your journey sounds very similar to mine. It’s really motivating to hear your hair was successful as that is what I’m finding the hardest part.
like you I’m keeping extremely active, walking everywhere and keeping gym workouts up. I do wonder if tiredness will get worse as chemo goes on but I’ll cut down slightly if I have to.
lovely to see you come out the other side

Thank you for your kind words! Have you been using the cap? I was absolutely determined that however awful it felt, I was determined to stick with it. I did lose some hair but as I am blessed with a lot, it wasn't very noticeable. I also kept my eyebrows although they thinned a bit. Psychologically it made a huge difference not looking like a cancer patient. It's not for everybody though and there is no shame in that at all. I was told that chemo would have a cumulative effect in terms of tiredness etc but it didn't happen and I'm certain it was that long fast walk home from each treatment. Keep going, you'll get out the other side

@TheFormidableMrsC i have been using the cap and am 3/12 sessions in, I find the first 30 minutes intolerable but know if I have in now I’d waste the previous sessions, it is ok after that first 30 minutes. For me my daughter is 13 and I’d like her to see me as being ‘normal’ as possible. My hair is very thick so I’m hopeful, I’ll wear a beanie though as my roots are going to be looking very rough shortly and I previously washed my hair daily.
your comment about tiredness is inspiring, I’m determined just to keep going 💕

I'm so impressed you're all exercising through treatment! I'm on dose dense EC for four treatments (every two weeks) and it wipes the floor with me! I just start to feel better, then it's time for the next one 😞 Dose dense EC is hard on hair and I've lost loads despite cold capping 😞

On the plus side, I've so far not had issues with my skin, and don't feel sick. Just a much reduced appetite (so have lost weight). It's different for all of us.