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

Sorry this is such a tough time @chococakey . Keep hanging in there - I'm thinking of you.

Sorry it's been so tough @chococakey - glad the PICC is proving to be useful already and hope the discomfort from the insertion eases soon

Hope your shoulder is easing up a bit @StartupRepair

I'm going well thanks @quietmaelstrom . Finding the Tamoxifen not too bad after a few weeks of it.

Glad you're going well @StartupRepair ( 😳 sorry I briefly confused you with @SunnyValemin - hope the shoulder is improving @Sunny)

Thank you ladies x
I need to pull myself out of this funk, think I’ve tried so hard to put a brave face on all this since November - it’s hard keeping up that fake smile after all these months.
Got EC number 2 tomorrow, at least I feel less apprehensive about what I’m getting myself in for. Just need to try and get through it.

Signs of spring are helping, the slightly lighter evenings, the sun shining (even if it’s cold!) and the garden starting to come into life again are the little things that are lovely to see.

@StartupRepairThats good tamoxifen is going well so far. I’m not sure what tablet I’ll be taking after my chemo and radio is done. They haven’t specifically said. Oncology said they would discuss radio and hormone therapy once I’ve finished my chemo. Think they just want me to focus on getting through this now.

@quietmaelstrom thank you for thinking of me
Results half in, still trying to get to grips with the lingo/terminology. No lymph node spread, hormone positive, scan results weren’t back but she could see images. I’ve got another scan this week and clinic appt to plan once we know regarding herceptin. Looking like lumpectomy, radio and tamoxifen but as my appt was a bit rushed on Weds (and the dr didn’t know I hadn’t been given a diagnosis so launched straight in) I’m now starting to formulate the questions I need to ask.
I can now fully echo the thoughts of everyone on this thread who says the waiting is the worst - I’m a lot calmer and focussed now than I was in the period now known as the endless space between something and nothing
Thinking of all x

@chococakey I found the first EC affected me mentally and I wasn't told about it so it was a real shock. Honestly thought I was going insane. I found it got easier as I ticked the cycles off. Be kind to yourself.

@quietmaelstrom thanks! Finally been referred so hoping to see someone soon.

Hope everyone else is doing well x

That sounds pretty ghastly, @Chococakey, I am sorry. You've really been through the wringer. I can't speak about chemo from personal experience, but I do think pp are right when they say it gets easier as you are able to think, 'x down, y to go'. You've shown huge courage this far and I'll bet there are many silent readers who are following your progress because it's theirs too. Horrible as it's been for you at times, you know you can do it.

@PreVerbalGerbil You are getting close to some really important decisions and if that plan for lumpectomy+radio+Tamoxifen is right it's very doable (not easy, but manageable). That was exactly my treatment. Sending you best wishes for a speedy resolution, and do remember that you can always go back with more questions if you need to.

It sounds an awful lot @chococakey and it’s no wonder you’re feeling overwhelmed. I hope the Picc settles down (took a week or so for me) and makes things easier all round. As others have said the first chemo is such a body shock. I hope your team listens to how you’ve been feeling and can do things to make future sessions less horrendous. Keep feeding back to them if you’re not well, they need to know. One down and hopefully two away by the end of tomorrow. How many sessions do you have in total?

@StartupRepair glad to hear that the tamoxifen is going well.

@SunnyValemin hope the shoulder is easing. It’s not fair to have these extra things on top of treatment.

@PreVerbalGerbil glad to hear things are more manageable now there’s more clarity over the plan. Really pleased to hear about the nodes, very good news.

waving to everyone else.

I’m off to a “look good feel better” this week. Perfectly timed as my hair is shedding madly. Still no wig - been on order for nearly 3 weeks now. Hair is ok enough without a wig but I’d just like a bit of the old me back.

My feet are odd. I have had a sensation like very dry skin across the bottom of both feet for a few weeks now. Moisturising hasn’t changed things and I’m wondering if it’s a bit of neuropathy. The top of my left foot feels like I’ve broken a bone and is so sensitive I can’t get my usual sensible shoe on. No swelling or redness though. What with a tight chest and breathlessness indicating anaemia, I may have to phone the onco nurse next week.

@dancingwhilstfacingthemusic enjoy the look good feel better. I loved getting a little gift bag of various products and the people running it were so kind and encouraging.
It is about 6 months since my double mastectomy. Last night I had a dream in which I was talking to someone about my scars. I think it has taken that long for my subconscious to really absorb what has happened. This whole thing is quite a journey, isn't it?

@dancingwhilstfacingthemusic I’m having 8 cycles in total so by the end of tomorrow I’ll be a quarter of the way through it I guess!
I’m on a fortnightly cycle.

I cold capped and plan to do the same again tomorrow. Haven’t noticed any hair loss yet but still early days.

Let us know how the ‘look good’ workshop goes, I think my hospital run them as well so I might have to go along when the time comes.

Well wishes to everyone this coming week x

Gosh @chococakey, it sounds as though you’ve really had a rough time of it. I imagine that the effort required to put a brave face on for your everyone around you, especially your son, has taken quite a toll. I really hope things start to get a bit easier for you. “A quarter of the way through” is a great start! Hope tomorrow goes ok and you feel less awful afterwards.

@quietmaelstrom when do you start radiotherapy?

@PreVerbalGerbil I found having a plan, and some definite information, made everything much easier to process. I had two lumpectomies followed by radiotherapy, and although it wasn’t the most fun I’ve ever had, it’s all been manageable. But I’m sorry you had to cope with the consultant assuming you already knew - that’s really not ideal.

@dancingwhilstfacingthemusic no suggestions on how to help your poor feet (ouch!!!) but I do hope the look good day gives you a bit of a boost. My mum gave up on wigs (too hot, too scratchy) but did get really good at doing clever things with silk scarves - there’s some great YouTube videos out there.

I’m doing ok. Radiotherapy side effects have been unpleasant but manageable, and will hopefully begin to ease of - esp since I’m starting a new job next week! Definitely ready for a new start, and to move on from all of this, although I might be in bed by 8pm every night for the first few weeks!

Sending love, hugs and good vibes to all xxx

@PreVerbalGerbil glad you now have some results (even if not transmittred in ideal order) and can start to get your head around things. So pleased that nodes are negative. Hope the rest of the results come through this week and you have a proper plan.

@dancingwhilstfacingthemusic 'look good feel better' sounds good - is it a 'looking forward' type of session? I hope you're continuing to enjoy steops towards normality (though sorry about your foot symptoms).

You posted as I was typing @Fillybuster - do you feel like the side effects are settling yet? Hope the new job goes well!
I start tomorrow (and I think @BatshitCrazyWoman is due to start soon too?)

On a different note - have started watching some stuff by Dr Liz O'Riordan (recommended initially by @spartanrunnergirl I think) and this week she has a Youtube video on hot flushes as we were discussing upthread which I thought was helpful

I am in 'the wait' as I have a breast clinic appointment tomorrow for a lump I have found.

I have read through this thread from start to finish and I just wanted to say, whatever my outcome tomorrow and further forward, you ladies are wonderful and I have a new found respect for anyone going through this.
I just wanted to share some heartfelt good wishes from a random stranger on the internet as you have all been through so much 💚

Thank you @AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanc and very best wishes for your appointment tomorrow. One step at a time- and don't Google !

My chemo has been delayed for a week. White blood cell level is too low. Have to just try again next Monday. They said it’s 0.8 and needs to be 1 so it’s not super low to give me any medicine but it just needs more time to get back to the right level apparently. Also dissapointing as I’ve built myself up for it today!

@AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlancwishing you all the best for your appointment. The waiting is absolutely the hardest part. Once you know what you’re dealing with, it is definitely easier to deal with. The anxiety of the unknown is hard! Even if it is cancer there are so many treatments available and you’ll always find support here too :)

@chococakey you’re really going through it. Once you’ve started chemo you just want to get on and tick them off. I’m really sorry you’ve had this delay after everything else.

@AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanc sorry you’ve had to find us but there is good support here. Do not google is the number one rule. Hopefully you’ll be one of the majority where things are not sinister - wishing you well for tomorrow.

@StartupRepair the mind aspect really needs to careful steering eh? People keep saying “it’s all
behind you” to me as I have just finished chemo and that is really the last thing that it is. I’m succinctly frank but kind with them as I need them to know how things are for the sake of our enduring relationship.

@quietmaelstrom the look good feel better is a two hour workshop. I think it’s things like drawing brows in and makeup to compensate for no eyelashes. Looking forward to it. I’m going to investigate the “moving forward” course too, which is the mental health side of things. I hope your treatment today goes well and that side effects are manageable. I’ll check Liz’s guidance on hot flushes - I have handheld fans spread around the house!

@quietmaelstrom the side effects were….odd, is probably the best way to describe them. A weird mix of specifically physical around the treated area (skin blisters, bad sunburn-like sensitivity), which I still have but are starting to reduce now mostly, and more general all-body deep down exhaustion with a bit of nausea. As a combo, it’s been like a bad bout of mastitis mixed with that full on pregnancy tiredness where you fall asleep as soon as you sit down on the sofa (well, I did!). Generally totally manageable compared to the grimness of chemo effects, but not a huge amount of fun. I did have a couple of bad days last week where I was super wiped out, but we realised afterwards that the rest of the family had been dealing with a bit of a virus, and suspect that I had the same thing in parallel with the RT effects, which probably left me feeling worse than I would have done otherwise.

My oncologist recommended the stratum xlt cream, which I’ve been using religiously twice a day for 3 weeks. It’s not a big tube, and is quite expensive, but I’ve been suprised at how long it’s lasted….the only treatment I didn’t have it on in advance (my first) was the one I had the worst reaction to. I’ve also used ice pads & aloe gel to help with the burning, and found it really helpful, even now, to have some scraps of silk to put inside my bras to stop any rubbing.

Fingers crossed for you & @BatshitCrazyWoman

@AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanc welcome to the club that no one wants to join, with some of the nicest, kindest women anywhere on MN 💜 You’ll get great advice and support on here, no matter what the diagnosis, and yes, as everyone else has already said, the number 1 rule is Don’t Google! Fingers crossed for you 🤞

@chococakey thats so frustrating. It feels like you’re having such a hard time of it at the moment. Hope you can find something nice to do with your time today so that you’re not sitting feeling too frustrated.

@Fillybuster thanks for sharing that re the side effects. I don't think people understand how challenging it can be on the physical side as well as the extreme exhaustion. I hope you and the family are on the up after the virus too.

@Fillybuster do I remember rightly that you had to cancel a family holiday because the timing was too soon after your treatment? Sounds like you really could use a refreshing break to recharge those depleted batteries. Somewhere you can doze in the sun during the day and then sleep all night.
Apologies if I've got wires crossed....

Thank you for the info about side effects of radiotherapy @Fillybuster For some reason, I'm dreading it almost more than chemo. They gave me a booklet about it which also mentions pieces of silk in your bra. And I was thinking, I don't have pieces of silk lying around that I could use ?! Plus the oncologist said it would be more comfortable not to wear a bra at all ... confused now! Did your side effects start straight away? And how long after radiotherapy did they last (my birthday is about three weeks after I finish, I don't know if I should make plans or not!

@chococakey oh I feel for you, it's been so rough. Hopefully you are feeling better soon and you might have a few days feeling normal ish I hope.

@dancingwhilstfacingthemusic the look good feel good course is great, I came away with some amazing stuff and all for free! Worth having a look at where they are put on near you too, some are at fancy spas / hotels. I was referred to the moving forward course automatically by my nurse. Definitely worth going to but emotionally hard, hearing everyone's story.

Sorry, I never manage to catch up on all the messages. My brain isn't taking things in the way it used to and I get a bit jumbled!

Hope everyone else is doing ok. The lighter evenings seem to be helping but I am feeling the pain of losing my dad last year now, as well as the constant reminders of treatment last year. Even seeing the Easter eggs makes me antsy! Xx

@BatshitCrazyWoman yes, the random piece of silk was a bit of a head-scratcher! In the end my mum found an old silk scarf she’s never liked that I cut into squares, but the alternative is to buy a short piece from a haberdashery or online. It definitely helps with the rubbing.

And yes, the advice is confusing. I’ve been told no underwired bras for a minimum of 6 weeks, also no baths (sigh…..) and only lukewarm showers. To be fair, my skin is visibly pink in the treatment area, so I’m not all that inclined to stick it under very hot water at the moment anyway! I was also told to avoid bras if I can, but then at the same time, they worry about the skin underneath your bust esp if you’re reasonably large (which I am), so wearing a soft crop top or sports bra helps avoid too much chafing. The best advice was to mix it up, and use a variety of tops / air / nothing to avoid anything in particular causing a reaction!

My oncologist also told me I couldn’t use any deodorant for the full period and 6 weeks after. Luckily the nurses (& booklet) disagreed on that front! That was probably the thing that I was most worried about, which I know sounds weird when I write it down.

In terms of timing….im starting a new job exactly 3 weeks after finishing treatment, so I’ll report back. But the oncology team all seemed to think this wasn’t too stupid. So hopefully your birthday plan will be ok? I made it out to a friends party this weekend, at the 2 week post treatment mark, and managed to dance until 1 am, although I felt pretty grim the whole of the next day! 😂

And yes @PemberleynotWemberley you’re spot on: we had to cancel our half term hols as it was too close to surgery. We’re going away for a bit over the Easter break, a few weeks after I start my new job, and I think that will be EXACTLY what I need!!

@SunnyValemin hows the shoulder?

Thanks everyone. I’ve been to my appointment and feel absolutely bamboozled !

Examined by Consultant and told nothing to worry about. Will be a Papilloma.

Nodule showing on mammogram. Showed signs of calcium on ultrasound. Needle core biopsy taken (3 samples). The radiologist x-rayed them before they are going to be sent off. Also mention of a lymph node being small but I have no idea what relevance this has.

Asked if she agreed with Papilloma as mentioned by the Consultant - she said rare to find calcium in a Papilloma.

her synopsis was it be something of no concern at all but could also be the first signs of something to be concerned about. Only way to know is with biopsy.

So I find myself back in the wait