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 ladies, thank you all for your stories and support. I had my results call today and I'm clear - age related tissue changes apparently. Thank you all so much for your support and stories, sending love, hugs and strength to those of us that are still going through treatment or waiting for results 💐

That’s really good news @7catsisnotenough

In smaller good news of my own, my first annual mammogram on the remaining boob has come back as no problem. Phew.

Zol infusion for me on Monday and hopefully then a break in additional treatments.

Sorry you're in the horrible waiting zine, @NoLemonLemonade

Great news @7catsisnotenough - so pleased for you

Great news @Bimblesalong / Dancing - another marker on the road to recovery

Amazing @Bimblesalong / Dancing. What a relief that must be !!

Hiya. wondering if anyone has any chemo/hair loss advice. My hair is shoulder length. I’ve been cold capping, really successfully through Paclitaxel/Carboplatin, but now I’m half way through EC and am very thin on my crown with bald patches if I part it. If I lose much more, I’ll have to cover it. Surely it will just look awful when it starts to grow, and my crown is covered in short curly hair? Do I shave it? Leave it? Any advice welcomed

Hi @Purple1181 well done for getting through so much. Hair loss is very individual and EC is hard on hair. I did 12 paclitaxel and 4 EC with cold capping. I kept most of my hair through pacli and shed a lot on EC. Reading the posts on the paxman facebook page, it seems that there typically is a major shed on EC at 21 days. That coincides with my experience and I thinned a lot on top then. I wore a lot of hair bands and did a combover to cover the thinner top bits.

I’m 14 weeks post chemo now and the patches have regrown a little, enough to cover the thinness. I’m waiting on my curls! I’ve decided that what works “now” is my watchword rather than worrying ahead. I was tempted to shave mine when it was falling a lot but very pleased I didn’t.

Thank you, that’s really good to know, part of me thinks if I’m at the point where I’m covering it anyway, it might worth leaving it be to see how it looks with the re growth, rather than going extreme and shaving!

So happy for you 💐

@NoLemonLemonade hi I’m in a similar situation. Age 50 and recalled after my first mammogram last month. I have cosmetic breast implants (done 20 years ago).
I went for my recall Breast Clinic appointment last week. Taken to a room where a Nurse said area on my left breast has flagged up that they want to look at again, an area of calcification. My understanding macro calcification ok, micro though can sometimes indicate an issue.
Had an US with radiology consultant. She said calcification isn’t something you can feel as in a lump, most times it’s normal age thing but can be pre or early cancer. She did a physical check and us including armpit, she said lymph area looked clear and nothing is causing her worry but only a biopsy can be 100%.
Had a mammogram biopsies and return appointment for this morning.

I rang breast care now and their nurse was good and said a positive sign that dr didn’t highlight any area of concern which she said they normally would do if they see something. So that calmed me last week.

I then got a call before 9am today saying biopsy results not ready and either further tests not completed, second opinion needed. I have to go back Wednesday morning. I’m now terrified and fearing the worst. Meant to be going to Italy in 2 weeks. Life upended.

So sorry @Peachslice

It doesn't yet mean the worst - sometimes there are things that genuinely do just need to be double-checked - but horribly stressful.

Best wishes for Wednesday (and for the waiting time in between 💐)

The hospital has rung again, biopsy results now on Thursday. It’s like a rollercoaster. The lady on the phone mentioned there was a shortage of pathologists , but who knows.

@Peachslice. So sorry you are having to wait , it’s a horrid time 💐

Sorry you’ve got to wait @Peachslice it plays havoc with your brain doesn’t it ? Hopefully this way they will have everything needed at one appointment rather than requiring multiple visits.

I had my surgery yesterday and I’m feeling good apart from having to revisit the hospital this morning with a leaky wound. The joys !
All cleaned up and re-parcelled now so hopefully no more issues.
Don’t want to speak too soon but this one is so seeming much easier than the previous with lymph node clearance.

I don’t know what they knocked me out with yesterday but I was out for the count. Couldn’t keep my eyes open in recovery and went straight to bed for a 10hour sleep when I got home. Maybe that’s why I feel good today 😆

Hi all. I hope it’s okay to jump on this chat, I have triple negative breast cancer, have had seven rounds of chemo and multiple delays due to being neutropenic. I was supposed to be having my final round today. Tomorrow I have to meet the surgeon to discuss the results of my MRI and talk about the lumpectomy.

I’ve been quite level really considering everything but feeling really out of sorts today, I’m absolutely shitting myself that they will tell me there’s still loads of cancer because I still have quite a big lump . I’m a single mum, mt teen has SEN and health issues, life has been so tough for so long and now this. Really finding it difficult today.

I’m really sorry to read that you’re having such a bloody difficult time. Like you I was also a lone parent to a child with SN so I really get the additonal fear and worry when you’re in that position.

I hope having a meeting will allay some fears and bring you a plan going forward and I think all of us here will tell you that getting the bugger out is really the thing that shifts your mindset so hopefully that will be soon! Do use the Breast Cancer Now helpline too if you’re feeling overwhelmed because they are brilliant 💐

All the best for recovery @AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanc

Welcome @KurtShirty. This thread is for anyone who needs to be here.

As @TheFormidableMrsC says, hopefully with discussion and a clear plan you will feel your mind more at ease - uncertainty is always difficult. Sorry that things are combining to be so tough 💐

Glad you’re on the mend! Superstar! ❤️

Thank you @TheFormidableMrsC , that’s kind and wise. I think maybe I’m particularly overtired tonight, an evening walk and an early night in order

So glad it all went well @AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanc hope you’re now being well looked after.

Hi there @KurtShirty, hope you feel better tomorrow 💐

@KurtShirty hope today goes well for you.

Thank you @quietmaelstrom and @mightneedalargesnifter , really appreciate the welcome and kind words

@Bimblesalong how did you get on with the zoledronic acid? Hope you've been ok x

Thanks @SunnyValemin Uneventful infusion day. Felt tired and a bit dizzy yesterday so kept things simple. Lifting out of it today, all being well. They’ve also given me a mega vit d dose to take every month.

@Bimblesalong hope you're back to normal by tomorrow! I had to have that vitamin d tablet at some point, now I'm just on normal ones from the shops x

Thanks. Tired today but the letrozole pains and general hot weather aren’t brilliant for sleep. Glad to have a bit more protection against recurrence in there.