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 so sorry to hear that and hopefully this session has gone smoothly
🤞🏻
I’ve been in bed since Monday . Really hoping to get up today as feel
useless! New low is wearing incontinence pants ‘just in case’ . They are snazzy black ones though! Sense of smell and taste weird again. The heat hasn’t helped but of course happy for everyone else enjoying the school holidays! Poor DH has been dealing with vertigo as well as looking after me. He has the pic line flush and redress today so hope his hands are less shaky 🤷‍♀️What a pair of old crocks. Best wishes to everyone.

Hi everyone. I’ve just read through both threads and thank goodness for them both.
I came home on Wednesday to a letter calling me back for further tests following a routine mammogram. I’m 47 and on the early screening programme.
My appointment at the breast clinic is on Monday afternoon.

I firstly thought the worst but reading through all of your posts has talked me down considerably and helped me get some perspective so thank you all for sharing your experiences - you are all dealing with your own journeys with such grace and generosity, and understand that it is not through choice or design that any of us find ourselves on here. It’s just shit bad luck.

I am generally a positive person, but this has wobbled me.

So I am hoping for the best and planning for the worst. I’ve already decided if it’s cancer it can fuck right off. And that’s what I’m going to tell the doctor if it is. After I’ve had a meltdown probably.

My immediate concern is the biopsy so any tips on how to prepare for that will be appreciated.

thank you

Fingers crossed for you @declutteringmymind. It's horrible to get those letters.

You won't necessarily have to have a biopsy (?), the nurse told me when I went to the clinic that I'd been recalled for an 'asymmetry'. They did more mammogram images and an ultrasound. They can do a fine needle biopsy as well. I didn't find either too bad, you get local anaesthetic for the core one if that's the next stage (the fine needle one can fail a lot due to 'scant cellularity'. They didn't tell me that.🙄) It just feels like pressure and a loud noise. Stressed me out I'll admit, but more the thought of what they were doing it for, than the actual procedure.

Only tip for the biopsy is to look the other way! I don't need to see a 'core needle' thank you!

The radiologist should advise you/prepare you when they look at the ultrasound. Hopefully it is just a cyst or something. 🤞

@declutteringmymindso sorry your going through this, it’s such a shock getting the letter I went into a total meltdown, you just don’t think you will get one!

When I went to the screening centre I had a coupe of mammograms, an ultra sound and a core needle biopsy. It all happens so quickly I wasn’t prepared in the least for the biopsy. They give you a local anaesthetic which totally numbs your breast, then the biopsy itself only took a few minutes.

I can honestly say I didn’t feel a thing even when they put the anaesthetic in, the doctor and nurse where brilliant, it was over very quickly. Hopefully though you won’t need a biopsy and it will turn out to be nothing at all to worry about xx

@declutteringmymindsuch a worry bring recalled. Biopsy very straightforward. Totally numb, pressure, click. They might put a metal marker in as well where they have taken the biopsy. Tiny titanium thing, again no pain all very straightforward. Wishing you all the best for the clinic visit. X

Thank you all. I’m glad to hear that the biopsies seem straightforward. I’m keeping myself busy this weekend. The sunshine is helping massively.

To all of you in active treatment, I hope it’s being kind today

Stay busy @declutteringmymind Another voice here to say that my biopsy (& indeed, operations & chemo) was pain free. I hope you are one of the many for whom it is a “not cancer” outcome.

I agree the biopsy was fine. I had some bruising after but that was easy to deal with as it was all over and I brush very easily anyway. The actual procedure was no problem though

I was on an early screening programme as part of a clinical trial and I also got a recall. It was a knot of tissue that they wanted to double check. I didn’t need anything other than another mammo and an ultrasound so try not to assume the worst.

@declutteringmymind I had some biopsies this week in my breast and armpit and echo what everyone else is saying. I think the needle for the anesthetic was the most painful thing. There is bruising afterwards but again not too painful.
Wishing you all the best and hoping for a positive outcome for you.
Also sending love to everyone else. This group is very helpful to me at the early stages of diagnosis. Due to ADHD I struggle to stay on top of responding to everyone but I am thinking of everyone at all stages of their treatment 😘

@declutteringmymindso sorry you’re going through this, I was absolutely thrown when I received my recall letter it’s a shock when you receive the one
I echo what everyone else has said, the biopsy is not painful at all and the BC team are so lovely it helps you relax. If you do have one, which you may not, I would recommend taking it easy the days afterwards, I did far too much (leaping around at a concert) and my bruising took a long time to heal.
Wishing you all the best for the clinic appointment, hoping it’s a positive outcome for you 🤞

I will be having a mastectomy and immediate DIEP reconstruction on 11th September. I still haven't got my head round the fact that I need such radical surgery when there are zero physical symptoms.

@xplodingkitten glad to hear you have a date for your surgery. Not long to wait and it should be cooler for you in recovery. I hope it all goes well 💐

@xplodingkitten glad there’s a date at least. I had my mx and recon last Sept (20th). Recovery was good and lots of gentle autumn walks helped.

I did get a lot of pillows to ease my sleeping position. I had a drain - if you have one have some spare sleep clothes to hand and put some “pee pads” on the bed (I had a couple of leaks).

Thank you again everyone. Had a busy weekend and I’m going to have an early night.

@xplodingkitten, I’m glad you have a plan and you know what you’re facing. I’m sure it’s a lot to take in and as you say especially as you feel ok. I wish our bodies had some kind of early detection system but it’s a sneaky thing.

Hi all. I’ve just finished my appointment and it seems there was a something or no thing on the mammogram that is actually nothing! A more detailed type of mammogram and an ultrasound by the lovely consultant and I’ve dodged a bullet. I’ll keep on being breast aware though, and have decided to increase my exercise even more after reading around the topic.

Thank you all for your support and hope you are all doing ok today.

That’s fantastic news! So pleased for you!

Marvellous news @declutteringmymind

@declutteringmymind . Fantastic news!

Sure that was a tremendous relief @declutteringmymind. You will sleep easier tonight.

Thanks all. I came home and had a sleep as I didn’t sleep at all last night.

@declutteringmymindthats fantastic news, must be such a relief

I’m now part of this rubbish club - definitely have breast cancer - found a lump and was told it was cancer on 30 July , biopsies taken of lesions 1 and 2 Told last week it’s ER (osteogen receptive) I’ll need a full mastectomy of one breast, chemo and radiation, then hormone therapy. More biopsies taken yesterday of lesions 3 and 4 and auxiliary arm pit node. Bit frustrated as each step seems so slow. CT scan tomorrow to see if it has spread further. I thought cancer care was supposed to be swift but I’m finding delays at every turn and it’s so frustrating .

I had my gyne appointment today. Honestly felt so embarrassed wasting their time for what was most likely a menstrual bleed as I go through menopause. I expected to be in and out in a flash. 3 hours of tests later ...

They found thickening of the uterine linning and suspect cancer, so back to waiting weeks for biopsy results. They found a polyp which is most likely benign but mightnot be. And growths on both ovaries.

I can't stop crying.

So sorry to hear this @MrTiddlesTheCat I went through the same uterine biopsy process a year before my bc and it’s not a nice procedure.

For now, I hope you can cocoon and rest today, or whatever you need. It’s absolutely normal to cry, so allow yourself some time to process the worry.

💐