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💗

I was very pleasantly surprised by how quickly and efficiently the NHS managed the whole process for me, every appointment was ready and waiting at the correct time. I expected problems but I am very grateful that this pathway was very smooth for me and thank goodness every day for the NHS.

@Sunshinesmilingthroughthat’s good news you have your operation date at least now and not long to wait.

I think it’s yet to hit me properly think that if will on Tuesday when I’m at the Breast Care Unit. And they talk to me about treatment x

Hi everyone. Hope you are all doing ok
@MrTiddlesTheCathope your burn is healing and manageable.
I had second chemo on Friday. Coping much better this time (probably as we are not in the middle of heatwave!) think the injections taken for 7 days are the main issue and make me feel tired and out of sorts but otherwise no headaches or any other side effects so I’m very grateful. Someone suggested pumpkin seed oil capsules to support hair loss, so started on them. Worth a try. School
holidays start today so really hoping I can do my bit with childcare with grandson over the next few weeks. He’s a bookworm so quite easy to entertain😉

So glad to hear you are coping well @mightneedalargesnifter . The lower temperatures must be a godsend !

How are you doing after cycle 2 @MonOncle ?

Hi, hope you are all doing ok.

It’s a week since my confirmed diagnosis and I’m feeling like a a fraud and I don’t really understand why. My anxiety over the fact I’ve told family, some friends & work and my team all know (I agreed to this) makes me feel like I’m making a huge drama out of it.

I think it might be due to mixed reactions such as you’ll be fine, it’s early, so many people have it, my friend had that & was all sorted in a couple months - all well meaning comments but they just trigger me to think I am being over dramatic.

sorry all a bit of a ramble - just needed to write it down. Xx

@Sunshinesmilingthrough I think that’s a pretty common feeling and I’ve certainly felt the same way. I’ve never felt like I have cancer. For me it was 7 weeks from first seeing the GP to having a mastectomy so in theory I no longer have cancer and it feels like the world’s shortest critical illness ever. I haven’t even had time to get my head around the diagnosis before it’s been removed.

@Sunshinesmilingthrough I was exactly the same. Told everyone then felt a bit silly and dramatic. But I think it’s better that people are in the know (even if they do say daft things sometimes and I feel I’m supporting them, rather than the other way round ) 😂

@Sunshinesmilingthrough I think that's normal. I also encountered a lot of those sorts of responses - eventually I decided to just nod along, or on a bad day say 'oh have you spoken to my oncologist, if you know it was caught quickly' 😂 I didn't feel like I had cancer til I had chemo tbh - and I had a mastectomy before that so technically didn't have it anymore. Good luck with your treatment xx

I also totally get this. I technically don’t have cancer anymore. Pretty sure I’m going to look and feel like it once I start chemo 🙄

I can relate to that feeling at the beginning @Sunshinesmilingthrough , it’s a strange time but you’re not dramatic! It’s weird how people want to minimise it.

@AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanc it’s been very similar to round one (sick on day one, anemic feeling thereafter), but my mental health has been very bad. I’ve really struggled with watching my hair come out and feeling like my life has been snatched away from me. I feel guilty my son isn’t going to get a summer holiday this year. I could go on. I’ve just read that low mood is a side effect of one of the anti sickness meds so that could be why I’ve been so bad!!.

Thanks to everyone who responded to me about wigs, I’m going in for a fitting tomorrow and hoping I come home with something!

@Sunshinesmilingthroughi feel like this too, that I shouldn’t be so upset and worried. Me and my DH have a close friend who has cancer and he is very very ill. What I’m going through is nothing compared to him it doesn’t seem fair, I’m going to be ok hopefully, and he might not.

Thank you so much for all your responses - reading them all has calmed my anxiety and helped me stop over thinking.

@Lovewine1975how did you get on yesterday at your appointment.

@MonOncle I’ve got my wig appointment tomorrow too. Fingers crossed we get something really nice. Not going for anything radical!

@Sunshinesmilingthroughthanks for asking, it went ok, so much information glad my DH was there with me to ask questions and remember it all.

Saw the Dr who will be doing the surgery, am going to have a lumpectomy and some of my lymph nodes removed plus radiotherapy. She said the cancer was a grade 2.

I have to go for an MRI first, she just wants to check my lymph nodes again. Surgery will be end of August.

I went home and balled my eyes out first time I’ve done that, it just felt so overwhelming, like I’ve finally realised I have cancer.

Sorry you're struggling @MonOncle . I hope you are feeling a little lighter the last couple of days 💐

I haven appointments coming out of my ears - it's wild ! I am still working full time and plan to work as much as possible outside of feeling rough but the amount of bloody appointments, I'm going to struggle to get any work done even if I felt 100% well 🙄

Question - did everyone having chemo have their covid / flu jabs ? I've been advised today that I should have them but my treatment starts on Wednesday so not sure I can turn it round in time

@AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanc Hi I was advised to have the Covid and pneumonia vaccines so booked them through GP. I think I had them the week before I started chemo. But I can’t remember anyone giving timescales. Sorry not much help.

@AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanc I had mine yes on the advice on oncology. I had chemo every two weeks, and I was advised to have in the days just before my next cycle, when my white blood cells would be at their highest. Didn't stop me catching COVID though two months after chemo ended 😂

Welcome to @Lovewine1975 @Sunshinesmilingthrough and@xplodingkitten - this is a good place to be, though sorry you need to be here.

Sorry your facing the full works @AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanc but good that they've got rid of all the cancer that was there. Best wishes to you and @mightneedalargesnifter for the chemo.

Well done @chococakey for getting through the chemo! Sorry about your hair. Hope the radiotherapy goes smoothly.

Waves and good wishes to everyone else - sorry for missing people out. I've been AWOL for a couple of weeks as the heat really got to me - the combination of hot, thundery weather and drug side effects meant that sleep was a problem and the migraines came back 😟 Glad to be a few degrees cooler.

Mindblown that I can't get them because apparently they aren't available until September. Baffled how the advice in my area can be to get one when they aren't available ! Tried GP, Pharmacies and even had my BCN ringing around - nada !

@AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanc no one said anything to me about having them so I haven’t. I guess I’ll get them when they’re rolled out after summer. Good luck for Wednesday!

Morning everyone. Hope you are all doing ok. I feel much better now injections are finished but again was much better than last time. Actually going out for lunch today with DH and looking forward to getting out of the house! I’ve watched so much tv🤷‍♀️. Arranged to see a friend tomorrow and having grandson overnight and all day Wednesday. No hospital appointments this week before it all ramps up again next week. My friend is having a fundraiser coffee morning for McMillan this week and has raised £165 already! I got some biscuits made for the occasion and have made some ribbons to give out . It’s in Scotland so can’t be there but will definitely be there in spirit. Tesco donated some raffle prizes. I’m so impressed by her efforts. My wig should come this week, my hair is thinner now but not coming out in clumps . Maybe the cold cap is working. Thinking of you all x

You sound like you are doing great @mightneedalargesnifter . It must be so nice to have some lovely plans this week. I’m really pleased for you.

I had a day of tests yesterday - echocardiogram, ECG and bloods. I have my PICC and wig appointments today. The women doing my bloods absolutely butchered me yesterday. My arm is literally blue. So will be glad to get my PICC in and not have that again

Thank you @AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanc it’s certainly a busy time for you. You’ll be glad to get the picc line in. My DH had the training to do the flushing which saves hospital appointments in between treatments which is great, may be an option for you. The picc is no
bother and certainly saves lots of pain I think. The hospital appointments calm down once treatment starts and I can feel a rhythm to them now. Ill
be thinking about you tomorrow. You’ll be in good hands 💐