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

Yuk, seromas are so uncomfortable. I had them after my first op and they were cleared on the second. After the third op I had a drain which leaked a few times. It was a damp experience and I was glad of bed pads and spare pyjamas.

for those going through chemo, I’ve been chewing extra strong mints and also “gin gins”
which I found on Amazon and which are great for chemo mouth/ nausea.

Do also consider applying for a little lifts box if you’re having chemo, radio or just surgery. It’s just for people with bc and you need to provide evidence but it gave me such a boost.

www.littlelifts.org.uk

@lisalisa so sorry to hear this, you will get lots of support here on Mumsnet. It is weirdly lonely I have found in real life as there are so many great friends/family etc around (being as great as they can be) but ultimately they don't know the particular agony of a recent diagnosis and all the medical stuff / types of cancer and emotional distress. Sending love and sisterhood to you.

I've got my lumpectomy tomorrow after diagnosis beginning of the month. Xx

Best of luck tomorrow, @spartanrunnergirl . It'll be a huge relief to be rid of that lump!

@StartupRepair it sounds like you've really been in the wars- I'm sorry it's left you feeling so low. Be kind to yourself, you've been through a lot. I hope you'll be able to start growing stronger soon. There's so much help and support for women with BC- draw on it as much as you need to. Good luck. 💐

All the best tomorrow @spartanrunnergirl You’ve got this! Xx

Good luck! I honestly found it a quick to recover from operation. I only needed pain relief for the first day after. Hopefully you'll also feel a huge amount of relief once the tumour is gone. Psychologically it's huge. Let us know how you get on. I had my cancer diagnosis and treatment during the pandemic so it was hard not having friends around me but as a PP said, there is a lot of support out there if you need it so do use it.

Sorry I’ve been offline for so long. Couldn’t face an update whilst still dealing with so much uncertainty, but have been thinking of you all and so appreciate all the kindness and support.

So far: first biopsy showed DCIS. MRI scan showed the entire breast lit up with a web of something. Was told mastectomy seemed likely. But found out today that second biopsy from a different part of the breast has come back clear. Now waiting a further MRI scan and potentially an MRI biopsy after that. But if everything remains clear other than the first, then treatment route is a lumpectomy. I’ve been all over the place emotionally and mentally the last few weeks, hence not checking back in as I just couldn’t find any of the words.

@spartanrunnergirl hope everything goes smoothly for you tomorrow - I’ll be thinking of you 💐

@Fillybuster so sorry that concerns are confirmed to some extent and that you don’t have a clear plan yet. I can appreciate the whirl and thankyou for coming back to share. We all have to do this at our own pace and from what you’ve seen on the rest of the thread, the only certainty is often uncertainty earlier on. You’re dealing with a lot just from the “something is happening pov” - keep being kind to yourself.
Have you a timescale for MRI yet?

@spartanrunnergirl I hope all went well and that you have had a comfortable night.

I’m awake and a little wired from chemo 2/16 (paclitaxel), the antihistamines knocked me out but the steroids have won!

@Fillybuster sorry to hear this, it is impossibly difficult particularly early days where you want certainty and all you get is grey area whilst you wait for test results. I was out of my mind with worry.

I'm now home from my lumpectomy and it was all very straightforward. Feeling tired (cannot sleep well atm) but no pain to speak of. I will get histology of tumour and node in a couple of weeks. Xx

The waiting is so hard with so many different scenarios going through your mind.
I have had good news following my double mastectomy that chemo is not required and I will start hormone therapy soon. Still tired and teary after surgery but getting stronger every day.

Well that is good news @StartupRepair after such a shocking process xxx

Really pleased for you, @StartupRepair that you won't be needing chemo. It sounds like you've already touched the bottom and can start building yourself up again from here. But you've been through so much- don't be pressured into full bounce-back mode to please everyone else, take it at your own speed.

That’s super news @StartupRepair as the others have said, take time for yourself and seek some talking help, it’s a roller coaster and a battering experience however we are helped through it x

Great news @StartupRepair . I hope you're resting and recovering well @spartanrunnergirl

I had my genetic test result, and I'm negative for any variant, so good news. Feel very teary about it for some reason.

Thank you all - I feel so lucky and grateful. @BatshitCrazyWoman that is big news and no surprise you will feel emotional.

Great that you’ve had good news @BatshitCrazyWoman gawd knows we are all due some at some point and it’s lovely to hear of others with these glimmers of light in dark times. (Or bloody great lamps, if you like).

@StartupRepair and @BatshitCrazyWoman - every bit of good news is so welcome, so pleased for you both.

@spartanrunnergirl how are you feeling? Sending loads of love and 💐

I’m still waiting for the 3D MRI scan, hopefully sometime this week. Consultant has quite rightly suggested that I sort out genetic testing too, in case that add extra information to whatever next steps are required, as my background puts me into a high risk group despite not much family history of bc. Some days I feel like I’ve got my head around all of this, and others I’m just totally flattened. It’s an awful lot to process when I still don’t know what it is I’m actually facing into. But overall, I’m very grateful that it’s nowhere near as scary as it could be, and am in awe of the bravery and courage of so many pps in this thread 💗

I'm feeling good generally. Tiring more than usual. The arm and shoulder on the breast surgery side is pretty numb and I'm getting quite a bit of nerve pain (shooting, tingly, stabbing type pains) which comes and goes. I understand that's quite common, hoping it will settle down. Wounds seem to be healing ok. Looking forward to hearing the results from the surgery now and getting a plan for next steps.

Hope you get going with your next MRI this week as planned @Fillybuster. Guess once that's done you'll be able to move ahead with treatment? X

Yes stabs, electric shock feelings are normal. I still get them nearly 5 years on. The numbness has only just started to recede so don't worry as it's early days for you. What is really important is doing those exercises every day. Don't miss them. You have to do them. Glad you're doing ok!

I’ve just had a procedure to put the port in and starting chemo tomorrow

@lisalisa one more step along to getting through this thing. Well done. I hope you’re comfortable- my picc line settled after a few days and has been so helpful for bloods and treatments so far.

Lots of helpful advice to glean from these threads if you want to - lots of people in your phone wishing you well too.

Have they said how many treatments you need?

Please may I say hello?

Have just been diagnosed (29/10) with grade 2 lobular cancer in left breast. This has come a bit out of the blue - following a call back from a year 5 follow-up mammogram that I was having because of 'abnormal cells' found on biopsy in the right breast in 2019. All fine in the right breast, no lumps, etc.

I'm telling myself that it's good that it's been picked up as early as possible but am still in the 'feeling a but numb' stage. MRI was today, plan from surgeon hopefully next week.

The most difficult bit so far has been telling my lovely parents.

Sending good wishes to all on the thread

Hi @quietmaelstrom welcome to our shitty club full of awesome women 💗💗💗

So sorry to hear about your diagnosis. There is nothing like hearing those words, even if rationally you know it's early and treatable, it's still really tough. Telling parents is really hard. I found that really difficult, I'm their little girl (however old I am!) and they were/are so concerned for me. Telling my daughter too was really difficult.

Getting a plan in place was comforting to me and I've now had my op which was much more straightforward that I expected. I still go a bit out of body like I'm observing someone who has cancer and then realising oh fuck, I have cancer!

Mumsnet has been really really supportive as a place I can come and just post what's next, or how I feel about things, so do keep in touch here. Wishing you all the best for the next stage of your treatment plan. Xx

@quietmaelstrom your username is perfect! The waiting is the hardest bit.