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

@lisalisa good luck with your treatment today, what type of chemo regime are you having, I’m 6 weeks into mine and it’s not too bad, I’m really looking forward to it being done though.

Thank you @spartanrunnergirl and @StartupRepair - I'm never great with uncertainty so I know I'll feel better when there's a definite plan, whatever it is!

Hope recovery from surgery goes smoothly for both of you.

Waving to @quietmaelstrom sorry you’re here but hopefully it has been caught early.

good luck to everyone having treatments today and in the next few days.

@quietmaelstrom sorry you’re here, but welcome 💐 Absolutely get what you mean about the uncertainty- it’s so hard not knowing exactly what’s going on. Hope you get answers and a plan quickly.

@lisalisa how did it go today? Hope you’re not feeling too sore.

@spartanrunnergirl I totally get what you mean about telling parents and kids….thats been the hardest part of all of this so far. My kids have taken it all pretty well - I’m lucky to have 3 fairly sensible teens, and I’ve basically banned the family from talking about any of it until we know more. My sister is a GP, which is somehow both helpful and super unhelpful, as she keeps trying to give me more information about treatment options than I’m ready to hear before I get all the results from the consultant. I’ve generally been trying to avoid telling friends anything at all, especially because I still don’t really know quite what it is I’m telling them yet…I’m usually super social and I’m going to have to deal with it at some point, because I can’t avoid them all forever!

Ive just got home from the 3T MRI scan. If they decide the biopsies are “concordant” then I think treatment is lunpectomy & regular checks, if not, then more biopsies. Fingers crossed 🤞

Sending love and good vibes to everyone having treatment. And thank you again for the advice & support. This is definitely the group I wouldn’t want to be part of but am deeply grateful to be in 💐💜

Hi everyone. I've had this happen to me today. I'm 40 and went for my first mammogram (was offered early mammograms due to family history of cancer).
Got called back 2 weeks later (today). Was expecting them to tell me they just needed to take new images.
So was floored when they said they had found something.
They did an ultrasound and said it looks like cancer. Biopsies were taken today. I've now got to wait 2 weeks for an appointment with results.
Radiologist said she was 99% certain it is cancer. I also didn't know they could be so certain from a scan but she said she can tell due to the shape/formation but biopsy will confirm. But she needs to be honest with me and tell me she is certain it's cancer.
I am in shock. Started having panic attack in the room. I have a young son.
I'm terrified about what happens next.

I was told not to google anything and just wait for the appointment in 2 weeks time.
She scanned my armpit and said my lymph nodes are fine - which I take as a good thing?! Other breast also clear. But a 'suspicious lesion' (she called it that) was found in my left breast. I haven't felt any lumps or changes.

So hoping I can join here for some support and chat as right now I can't tell anyone in real life other than my DH who is very supportive.
I need more time to process this before I can speak out in RL.

I'm here
Terrified

I've been through this with the sonographer, likely cancer on ultrasound and a biopsy.
I was referred to the cancer specialist and had a few tense days. Oncologist happily told me it was a non cancerous tumour.

I hope you have the same result.

Thinking of you @chococakey 💐

I'm just a couple of weeks ahead of you, and told no-one but my husband until after the appointment when it was confirmed by biopsy. At that point I told my parents and siblings (we have no children).

I'm now in the phase of further investigations before planned surgery. We've decided to tell no-one else until we have further details and know what the plan is.

Different people need different time to process things, and need to do so in different ways. You will find the way that is right for you (and your DH). We are still working it out for us.

Thinking also of you @Hetookthecorkscewtoo 💐

@chococakey and @Hetookthecorkscewtoo the waiting was the hardest for me. Especially not telling people and trying to pretend life was normal. It was weirdly a relief when I got my diagnosis, could get support from others and had a plan.

@chococakey Sorry you've had to join in. When I had my ultrasound, the radiographer didn't say I had cancer but he did say "it's not a cyst or a fibroid" which doesn't leave much else. He also said "your lymph nodes are clear which is good news". So I knew well before it was confirmed. So yes that is good news. Absolutely do not Google. That really protected my mental health. You will feel much more in control when you know what you're dealing with

Oh @chococakey it is terrifying isn't it. You get this nugget of info - likely cancer- and then the wait for results, whilst your mind goes into overdrive.

I had my last meeting with my surgeon consultant today before I start with the oncologist and was reflecting that the first week of my whole journey was by far the worst- the not knowing details, the worrying, the waiting for results drives you crazy with fear.

Until you get the biopsy results, you can't be sure, however take some comfort from the fact that they have seen the lymph nodes are likely clear and the point of a screening program is to screen you for exactly this, thank goodness you have had the mammograms.

I'll be keeping you in my mind whilst you wait for your results, xx

I thought I'd update the thread with my good news! I saw my consultant today 10 days post op and am delighted that there were clear margins around the tumour and my lymph nodes were clear. Therefore, I'm being referred to the oncologist to have a course of radiotherapy before I then get hormone therapy, likely tamoxifen.

October has been quite the month from getting my diagnosis by ultrasound on the 2nd of October to my operation on the 30th of October.

I'm recovered from my operation and feeling fighting fit. An observation from all my tests and treatment so far, is that the thought of it and the waiting for it (test results, procedures) has been far worse than actually going through it.

I wish I could go back five weeks put my arms around my terrified self and tell her it's going be okay, because it is going to be okay, and I am okay. X

This is fantastic news! I know exactly what you mean, it's so frightening but the reality is far less awful. That was my experience too although I did have to have chemo and immunotherapy. I realise this isn't the case for everybody and admittedly life isn't quite the same after you've had cancer, but having an early diagnosis and treatment makes all the difference. So pleased for you!

So pleased to hear your update @spartanrunnergirl - hope all continues smoothly

That’s really great news @spartanrunnergirl

This is great news 👏 🙌 👍

@spartanrunnergirl
Pleased to read that positive update. It gives me some hope too. I'm at the worst stage. The not knowing what's going to happen next. I feel like a ball of stress and anxiety inside and I'm struggling to function.
Just need to somehow get to through the next 2 weeks till I have my appointment with the biopsy results and the 'what happens next' plan.

Thanks to those of you who said my lymph nodes being clear should be a good sign. I'm really trying hard not to google so that has helped save me a google.

Sorry to all of you in this awful club. This is a great place for writing down those feelings and a space away from google! Xx

Hello @chococakey and @Hetookthecorkscewtoo I’m sorry you’ve had to find yourselves here but there is good support and often great glimmers of positivity as people get good news on their journeys. I’m currently on chemo following mastectomy and reconstruction. Mine was picked up by mammogram with a similar experience from a kind and very experienced ultrasound professional. I had no idea my life would swerve like this in May when I went for my mammogram. Hopefully I’ll be through it all and getting back to things by next May.

MRI result today was good, in that there is no disease in the other breast or in lymph nodes on either side.

However, there are patches of abnormal tissue in the left breast around the tumour, which may or may not also be cancer. So - more biopsies, probably multi-modal (have been warned it will be a long morning). These will help clarify the extent of disease and inform surgery.

I do now have a confirmed surgery date in early December.

Ho hum.

Well that’s quite a lot of good news there @quietmaelstrom Clear lymph nodes is a major win as is a clear breast on the other side. When do you go for the biopsies? They’ll make sure you are well numbed.

Agreed @dancingwhilstfacingthemusic - could have been much worse!

Repeat biopsies are end of November.

Rereading my earlier post I do sound ungrateful. It wasn't meant like that; more that I would like to have the investigation stage over and a clear plan (I'm never great with uncertainty).

Good news @quietmaelstrom. Really pleased for you re the lymph nodes. Quite the journey for you with all the biopsies and scans. Must be very draining for you, hope you are able to get support and look after yourself. Xx

Also I totally get you about the uncertainty! So hard to bear. I pictured my journey as stepping stones across a stream, and one stone at a time was what I focussed on, but sheesh it's hard work.

There were two other things that I focused on early on. I listened to a podcast - I think it was a Liz O'Riordan one, where her interviewee said breast cancer is a shock and it's traumatic, but it is not a medical emergency so if things take a few weeks you're going to be okay.

The other thing I'll always hold on to was the ultrasound doctor when she told me my lump was cancer, looked at me and very clearly said this is treatable and it will be an inconvenience in your life, that is all. It might not be a description that works for all, but I really liked that, and it works for me.

I love that, @spartanrunnergirl something for us all to hang on to.

absolutely, @quietmaelstrom its such free fall whilst we are waiting for a plan. It is better when we get one although there is still the odd curveball. Sounds like they’re doing what they do best and being super thorough.

Chemo 4 / 16 for me tomorrow, assuming I get no late delay due to issues with bloods. There have been a few elevated liver readings so I’m keen to see what today’s results are.