Likely breast cancer after ultrasound - thread 2

[spartanrunnergirl]

Welcome. The original thread (linked here ) was started after I had a mammogram recall and was told at the ultrasound that it was likely I had breast cancer - before biopsies were taken, and before I was ready to hear that (if you are ever ready to hear that).

I drove home gulping down tears with no idea what to do and no idea how to get through the days until my biopsy results. So I opened Mumsnet and made the original post, hoping someone might read it, and they did! One full thread later we are still sharing support, experiences, and advice. We’ve celebrated breast cancer wins and thrown virtual hugs around those who’ve needed it. (We’ve all needed it 💗)

For anyone opening this thread because they’ve found themselves in the same situation I was in … this is a hugely kind and caring bit of Mumsnet - where we’ve all felt that awful fear waiting for scans, tests, results, or with an early and uncertain diagnosis.

You are not alone.

This is the awful club - full of awesome women💗

Hi @tryinghardtostaycalm I’m so sorry to hear this. I had a single mastectomy and reconstruction with implant last Sept. They may give you a half moon pillow to tuck under your arm for walking around - I found mine really reassuring. I took a pillow for the car journey home too, resting my arms on it. I was find to walk up and downstairs although had dh to supervise me at first as I was a bit muzzy as I recovered from the op.

I recall sleeping propped up to start with, a pillow flat behind my back and a further two in a v shape. I later popped one under my knees. As I recovered, I found that being propped lying down with my back on a pillow and another one to hug/ pop the reconstructed boob on was comfy. You’ll find what works for you.

I was surprised at how good the pain relief was, only needing the odd paracetamol in the days after.

have they said if there’s a plan onward?

@AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanc hope you’re doing ok. I had a leak from my drain area after a couple of days. I was more active than usual and whatever had built up soaked my clothes. It was fine once it had done that and I got a sterile dressing on it. Just my luck!!

Hello. I have stumbled across this thread having been to the GP a couple of weeks ago after finding a lump in my left breast. Have an appointment at the breast clinic tomorrow and I’m getting more and more anxious about it. The lump is big, and I’m convinced I can feel pain going into my armpit (although this could be psychological). I’m a single parent to two teenagers and am terrified of the worst case scenario. Reading some of the stories here is giving some comfort. I’m not sure why I’m posting really in all honesty.

Welcome ❤️. This is the worst bit, the not knowing and waiting. Hopefully by tomorrow you’ll have some answers and it’ll be nothing to worry about. If the worst happens, you can see here how we’ve all got through and you will be supported here if you need it. Good luck 💐

Hi @BirdyJanhope it goes ok tomorrow at the clinic. MrsC is right the waiting and not knowing is really hard, the toughest bit. Xx

Hi @BirdyJan. I hope you get on well tomorrow.💐

Hi @BirdyJan. What MrsC said. Sorry you have this worry on your plate- it's so scary especially if you have dependents and you probably worry more for your kids than yourself. But as a Mum you also have deep wells of strength and courage to draw upon and people who love you and will want to be allowed to help you through what comes next. You are at the worst part now because you have no answers yet. Once you do, there will be a plan to get you through it and you can start making progress.
Very best of luck tomorrow. 💐

Goodness I’ve had a day. Been waiting for mammo results because I can never find the courage to call. I was told 3 weeks for results. This morning I got a letter via an app asking me to attend a “breast surgery appointment”. I called BCN in panic and she asked me to call the clinic so I did. The mammo was clear 😭. It’s just a five year discharge appointment from the surgeon. The letter was worded so badly that I thought they’d somehow missed giving me some info and I needed surgery. I can’t quite calm myself. My stomach is still in knots. So really good news but my goodness I wish they’d write a clear letter 😩

Fantastic news @TheFormidableMrsC 💐🌼💐

C'est formidable, Mme C!
Sounds like an emotional roller coaster ending in a very good place- I'm really delighted for you.

Omg @TheFormidableMrsC! What a rollercoaster!! So pleased it’s all clean and FIVE YEARS BOOM!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉

Hi all.
I discovered this thread a few days ago. Firstly, I wanted to say the support on here is amazing and I salute you all, elated when those post they have received all clear results and hold the hand of those that have to have treatment. I’m 50 had my first mammogram last week, and had a recall letter for appointment 9th June. I’m trying not to spiral but it’s hard isn’t it. Xxx

Thank you for kind words ladies! It’s a relief!

@PeachsliceIt’s a bloody difficult thing. I had a recall back in 2018 and it turned out to be a knot of tissue that they wanted to double check. Remember that lots of people get recalled, especially after the 1st mammo as there’s nothing to compare to. Things that show up as well as tumours are cysts and fibroadenomas. You’ll have an ultrasound to double check. 9/10 lumps are not cancerous so try not to tie yourself in knots. We’re here if you need 💐.

@BirdyJanHow did you get on today?

@Peachslice i can understand your worry but @TheFormidableMrsC has it in a nutshell there.

stay nice and busy and do not google.

We can have a virtual handhold as I’m due my first mammogram since all this nonsense started last year - got to go end of next week. Glad it picked it but what a palava it has been.

@TheFormidableMrsC
Wonderful news !

@TheFormidableMrsC Sorry you had another jump scare along the way but what a great outcome. Huge congratulations 💐

@Peachslice You're in the right place. Hoping all is well at your appointment

@BirdyJan I hope your appointment went well

I have my results appointment tomorrow. I've done so well keeping the thoughts at bay but it's definitely getting harder. I'm not worrying as such, I just know what I don't want them to say but I've just got this feeling in my gut and so far along this journey my gut has unfortunately been right.

For those of you that have had chemo, did you immediately go along with the recommendations of the professionals or was it something that needed consideration ? My thought process currently is that if they tell me having chemo will give me an additional 50% chance of it not coming back then it's a no brainer but if it's more like 3% then I need to consider the potentially huge life changes that come with receiving chemo and make an informed decision.
Equally, I don't want to be reckless, I want to be around for my kids (and hopefully grandkids) for many, many years to come.

God, it's hard !

@AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanc
thank you for taking the time to reply. I have everything crossed for you tomorrow xxx

@Bimblesalong good luck next week. Why can’t we have all the tests and results done in one day! Xxx

Good Luck next week @Bimblesalong

Yay great result @TheFormidableMrsC !! Phew!

Hope your appointments go ok @Peachslice @Bimblesalong and @BirdyJan for the one just gone. 🤞

@AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanc good luck for tomorrow. Hopefully chemo isn’t on your roadmap. I guess just to prepare you, my experience of my results appt was that I was simply told that, after discussions at the MDT meeting, the oncologist wants me to do chemotherapy and the headline reasons but that was the extent of it! No recurrence % discussed or any info about the type of course so it’s not something I’ve been able to consider and make a decision about. In some ways it’s been good as I haven’t had anything to google!!

I finally get to meet with the oncologist on Monday, a month after my results. It’s been another long waiting period!!

@TheFormidableMrsC I'm so pleased for you! I had a similar experience in January after my first annual mammogram, appointment made straight after and I was sure they'd found something! I'm so pleased for you.

@AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanc I was under the impression it's something to do with your oncotype score, and anything over a specific number they recommend chemo and under they don't. I never had that thought, as it was in my lymph nodes was told straight away I'd need chemo and had no choice. Hopefully you don't need it. My oncologist did explain the % to me for the additional targeted therapies I'm on, but not for chemo or radio.

@Bimblesalong good luck with the mammogram!

Sorry to everyone else I've missed, I've not been around for quite a while with one thing and another.

I finally got some of the cording sorted under my arm, and now my physio thinks I might have early symptoms of lymphoedema. Praying it's just a bit of swelling due to the exemestane but will see. Watch and wait for a week. Got an appointment upcoming about reconstruction though so I can get that process started. Still not convinced I'll do it but want to understand the process better before I decide.

Happy Wednesday to you all! Xx

@TheFormidableMrsC Great news to have a clear mammo. But you’re right about the misleading letters you receive sometimes that send you into an unneeded panic! But great news and a welcome relief.

@BimblesalongI am sending a virtual handhold re the first mammo.

@AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlancI went with the recommendations from the oncologists. I wasn’t given (nor did I ask for) percentages. I trust what they recommended for me. After surgery they have the MDT meeting and come up with the plan tailored for you. It all depends on your tumour size/grade, lymph nodes, your age, menopause status etc etc etc. lots of factors come into what the plan is for you.

I was recommended to have chemo, I’m currently 6 out of 8 sessions down. It’s tough, I’m not going to lie, but I feel like I have to throw everything at it as that what was recommended to me. So I’ve had surgery, now I’m going through chemo, next will be 20 sessions of radiotherapy and then after that tablets/hormone blockers (but I don’t know what tablets or for how long yet as that’s all going to be discussed with me after I’ve finished radio).

@SunnyValeminPleased to hear some of the cording is easing a bit. Hope you don’t have lymphodema though. Good idea to find out all about the reconstruction and then you can make a decision once you understand what’s involved.

hello to everyone else hope your all ok! Xx

@AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanc I was told no need for chemo & it didn’t seem to be an option. My consultant mentioned it would have given only a 2% improvement on my figures -which I think were either 10 or 15 year survival rates. However taking tamoxifen for 5-10 years would give me a 4% better survival rate and it was strongly recommended I take this (I’m 46 and premenopausal). Good luck for tomorrow’s results.

Good luck for today @AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanc

Morning everyone. I had my appointment with the oncologist yesterday so will
be having chemo soon. Just have to have another scan and they took more bloods and a heart trace yesterday. Agreed to go on the trial for removing the affected lymph node only when time comes for surgery. They will insert a special clip there at the same time as the other clips. Came back with a lot of reading material so will plough through that. They offer a session where you can visit the chemo suite so think I’ll
do that so I’m a bit more prepared. I probably should have asked loads of questions but didn’t . I’m just going with the flow. She mentioned the cold cap and advised to do that, also
mentioned a wig so assume I’ll get more info on that. She advised me to get a Covid and pneumonia jab. So I’ll book those through GP. I’m going to buy a fabulous summer beach bag to hold all my stuff, get a nice blanket, charge my kindle and I’ll be ready to go!

@mightneedalargesnifter you sound positive about cracking on with your chemo. Do you know when it’s likely to start ?

@chococakey I totally understand trusting the advice given by the professionals and essentially ‘doing and we are told’. It definitely sounds like a tough slog for you, you’ve had / got it all.

@SunnyValemin we have talked about Oncotype but this isn’t done as a standard in my hospital. The team decide whether this is element is necessary and then if so, they send off to California. It’s an unknown whether it’s necessary for me.

@MonOncle good luck for Monday. How are you feeling ?

@chococakey nice to hear from you! You're so close to the end of chemo now. I agree with you, I've not turned anything down, I want to throw as much at it as possible and know I've done everything I can to prevent it from recurring. I'm hoping no lymphoedema but I suppose I'll deal with it if it is. Good luck for your last chemos!

@AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanc ah right, I thought it was just done as standard at all hospitals. Funny how different hospitals have different approaches isn't it. Fingers crossed for you x