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💗

@AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanc I’m so sorry, it’s good to let it all out. Hope you’ve got someone there to give you a hug. As @Bimblesalong says once you have the plan in place, you’ll get booked in with all your appointments and start getting rid of this crap.

💐for you

Thanks for the comments, I feel glad that I have found this thread, everyone is so supportive🙂

I started my radiotherapy yesterday. Second round today. May get a bit of reddening on that side they said. I look like a flipping drumstick lolly. And my feet and hands have swollen up. And my throat hurts. But otherwise I'm grand.

@MrTiddlesTheCat I hope you are a bit better today and the swelling goes down. The heat will certainly not be helping. 💐

Hi everyone. I am new to this thread. Last week I was recalled after my second routine mammogram which I had the week before.
Within 40mins I’d had another mammogram, ultrasound, biopsy & told the small lump deep in my right breast is very likely cancerous.

The bcn was amazing, so comforting was very honest and said it looks like it’s an early diagnosis, 11mm and not showing in my lymph nodes on the ultrasound. She said it will hopefully be lumpectomy & radiotherapy but need biopsy results to confirm the type and grade (is that correct?) which will determine treatment plan.

So shocked, I’ve gone from 3 days of manic type behaviour to this strange nothing. I can’t really explain it but I seem to be thinking about it constantly but can’t really remember what my thoughts are. I just feel oddly empty now.

I’ve spent the last few days reading all of this thread from the beginning which has been massively comforting and I’m amazed at the wonderful support & knowledge and although I don’t what to be here I’m grateful to have found a support line out there.

Hello @Sunshinesmilingthrough so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. It’s really shocking isn’t it? And everything tilts slightly in your world to something unknown and scary. I had the exact same experience - mammogram recall, and ultrasound where they told me I had an 11 mm tumour - likely a cancer, but nodes looking clear.

The biopsies will tell your doctors exactly the type of cancer - Because there are different types of breast cancer and knowing the exact type will help them design a plan that will deal with it really effectively for you.

I was diagnosed in October 2024 and finished treatment (bar 5 yrs of hormone therapy) end December 2024.

The waiting for results was the toughest time for me, and it’s not surprising you are feeling out of sorts. Be kind to yourself and feel what you need to feel.
Happy to answer any questions you have xx

@Sunshinesmilingthrough Really sorry this has happened, I am also in a very similar position, had a mammogram picked something up had a biopsy and confirmed cancer, small like you and picked up very early. I was advised an operation and radio therapy, just waiting on the hospital getting in touch now.

It is really scary but on the positive we have both had it diagnosed early so this is good, sending lots of positive thoughts your way xx

Hi @Sunshinesmilingthrough , you will find lots of great support and advice here.

@MonOncle & @mightneedalargesnifter how are you both feeling a couple of weeks in ? Do you have your next appointments Friday ?

@Lovewine1975 @Sunshinesmilingthrough
I'm an occasional contributors on this thread. I wonder if you both have what I had - Ductal Carcinoma in Situ - its an early cancer which had not spread outside the duct?

I had a 15mm lump removed on December 30th, 5 lots of radio in March and frolicking in the Med in June. Its a shock and throws your plans awry for the immediate future but you can definitely do this. This group will be a great support as will several good FB groups plus "Breast Cancer Now".

One step at a time. You will feel better once your plan is in place.

@AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanc
Thanks for asking. All ok here. After the first week I’ve been absolutely fine. Skin dry but not sensitive, runny nose stopped and inside nose now ok. All the little things, gone. Had appointment with Oncologist today so all good for treatment on Friday all being well with bloods on Thursday . Feel I’m more ready this time as know what to expect. Hope you’re doing ok?

Great to hear you've coped so well with it. Fingers crossed for another positive session / recovery this time !

Hi @Sunshinesmilingthrough so sorry you are here, but welcome! 💐 for you. Have you got support around you ?

Thank you for your messages.

@Lovewine1975I hope you don’t have to wait too long to hear from the hospital, I left the hospital with an appointment booked for this Wednesday coming, I am already amazed at how hospitals deal with things different timescale wise.

@spartanrunnergirl& @Yamyamabroadthank you for sharing your treatment history it was comforting to read @Yamyamabroadfrolicking in the med sounds fantastic hope you had a lovely time. We had an earlier than normal June holiday without children, which was wonderful and I’m now so pleased we’ve already been away this year.

@mightneedalargesnifteryes I have support around, DH, 3 semi functioning adults still living at home and close friends.

did anyone have really bad shoulder arm pain after the biopsy? I get a pain every time I lift my arm not sure if it’s linked, slept funny or it’s my arms being in the air at a concert at the weekend. Gym is now a no due to arm but can I run? biopsy was Thursday, forgot to ask and I have found different answers.

thank you again ladies for your responses

@Sunshinesmilingthrough I didn’t have any pain after my biopsies. I’d give the hospital a call.

Hi @Sunshinesmilingthrough I was told leave off running for a couple of days after my biopsies (2 x core) did not have any other pain but mine was upper/inner quadrant.

Shoulder issues is the only problem I still have from my treatment- its quite troublesome. I have difficulty lifting my arm up straight but need to do the exercises more frequently. Its quite common

@AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanc I’m mostly doing really well but my hair is falling out rapidly despite the CC. Had a big cry about it this morning. I don’t have a time for my next treatment yet but that’s very in keeping with my experience with the local oncology dept so far! I’m expecting it to be Friday. When is your appointment?

Welcome @Lovewine1975 @Sunshinesmilingthrough ❤

@Yamyamabroad frolicking in the med made me smile! Goals for next year!!

@MrTiddlesTheCat that sounds rough, especially in this heat. How many sessions do you have?

Did anyone who lost their hair get a wig? Did you wear it? I’m wary of spending lots of money on something I’ll never wear.

I'm so glad you are feeling really well @MonOncle but I am very sorry about your hair, even with the cold cap. Are you going to persevere ?
I have my appointment tomorrow.

@AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanc hope you get on ok tomorrow
@MonOncle my appointments are all set up til end of October. I got the schedule along with all the medication they gave me before I left after my first chemo treatment. Isn’t it odd that hospitals all work so differently. They even set up an appointment for the bloods for this week. No news in the wig front so I need to set that up somehow through McMillan.

@MonOncle I lost loads of hair, despite cold capping (EC chemo is a bastard for hair, I've met a few women who lost hair despite the CC). I moved from EC to paclitaxel and my hair stopped falling out, and started growing back. My last chemo was 24th January, and my hair is a couple of inches long now, and thick.

I cried a LOT when great handfuls of hair was coming out. I'm so sorry you're going through this. I have two wigs, and wear one every time I leave the house, you do get used to wearing one.

I've booked in for hair extensions at the end of this month, which I'm very excited about.

Waving 👋🏻 to all, so sorry that you've all ended up on this thread. I've 'graduated' to the recovery thread now as my active treatment finished just before Easter.

@mightneedalargesnifter its just my EC treatment appts that haven’t been scheduled, everything else is, including all my weekly paclitaxel treatments. I’ve got a two page schedule .

@AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanc my hair still looks ok, if thin, so I’ll carry on with the cap for the moment. Hope tomorrow goes well as can be.

@BatshitCrazyWoman thank you so much for letting me know your experience. Did you carry on cold capping with the paclitaxel or did it grow back without it? Exciting re the extensions!!

@MonOncle if you do start to thin, ask at chemo/ your nurse for an nhs voucher. That covered most of the cost of my wig.

sending all the best to everyone.

I meant to say, I carried on cold capping, even though I was losing hair, and I can't be sure but I think it's what helped my hair grow back so quickly.

@MonOncle I cold capped for my first 2 EC chemos but all my hair fell out anyway. Sadly the cold cap did nothing to save my hair. It honestly was so very distressing losing my hair, one of my lowest points for sure.
I didn’t cold cap anymore after the hair all went. I’ve just finished my chemo, I had 4 x EC and 4 x Paclitaxel in total.
I have a wig and wear it all the time. I have a 7yo and I want to keep things as ‘normal’ as possible for him. I don’t want him to see me without hair. But that’s obviously just me and my own situation. You have do what’s best for you and what you feel comfortable in. I bought a wig that looks like my regular hair and my hospital gave me a credit for £120 towards it so that helped with the cost. I think most hospital will have some help towards the cost. My chemo unit advised me so I’m sure yours can too.

———————-

Hello and waves to everyone else! the oldies and the newbies on the thread.
I’ve been a bit absent as I’ve been keeping my head down and steamrolling my way through my chemo. I finished it 2 weeks ago and start my radiotherapy for 15 sessions next week. Felt like a big milestone getting to the end of chemo. What a slog it was. But I made it!
After my radio I then have an appointment in September with oncology to discuss my next steps - which will be medication of some description as my cancer is ER+. But I don’t know what they’ll be suggesting for me yet.

Best wishes to you all x