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 echo @Cheerfulcharlieit was much more straightforward than I feared. The post op bra is something to consider, perhaps you’ve been given advice on that from the breast nurse - a firm hold/compression soft non wired one. I had this one (I am an F cup) : https://www.amoena.com/uk-en/accessories/post-surgery-recovery-wear/sina-seamless-surgical-bra-rose-nude-45006/

i also got crop tops - just cheap ones from tesco to sleep in after the first week or so and they were my best buys - i still wear them under my sports bra and they just held everything together after the initial surgery effects had died down.

do the exercises - even if you can do them … I could do them all from the beginning - but the point is to keep doing them as you heal to support movement as scar tissue forms.

Use the breast care nurse if you are worried or unsure if things in your recovery. They are there for you so if you are worried about any niggles or not sure of something is normal get in touch, don’t dwell.

i hope it all goes as planned for you @AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlancit feels like a long while ago for me but reading your post brought those feelings back of worry and anxiety about what was to come, I hope you are coping ok still xx

Thanks @Cheerfulcharlie . I'm actually not remotely worried about it. I just want it done and out and moving on to the next steps. I am actually looking forward to a few days of doing absolutely nothing, it doesn't happen very often.

Bra's purchased and ready. I've got my V shape pillow and some underarm pillows on the way.

Thanks @spartanrunnergirl
I will look at those. I've got some front zip bras and seamless crops ready.

I am actually coping really well. Although I received a lovely gift from a friend last week which threw me a little bit as it reminded me I am actually quite poorly and I had almost forgotten. Very strange.

Sorry to bring back those feelings back of worry and anxiety for you.

Download things you want to watch, listen to and read. Get in treats to eat. Spoil yourself a bit.

No apology needed at all @AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanc! All I meant was that it reminded me of how I Felt at the time. I’m really pleased you’re feeling okay, it’s funny how people’s kindness can sometimes throw you a bit. I hope you enjoyed the pressie your friend sent you. Good shout about downloading nice things to watch and prepping for a bit of recovery time @StartupRepair

Thanks @StartupRepair . I've dusted off and charged my Kindle. It never gets used other than holidays usually. Also ordered some new books from Amazon.
I've got a list on my phone of things I will watch that DH hates !
Got a Tesco slot booked for the night before so we are well stocked.

@MrTiddlesTheCathello! How is recovery? I had my lumpectomy yesterday and I feel lousy today. The markers were put in by a guided ultrasound the morning of the surgery and I think the double whammy of stress has really hit me. I feel tearful and light headed today. And really weak… any tips to recover in the most gentle and effective way would be amazing. I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old but a bit of extra help this week but still a fight to find the peace to relax…

I'm doing very well. I felt wiped out the first couple of days due to the anesthetic but quickly got back to pottering about. I have soreness on the underside of my arm that feels like sunburn, which I'm told is the lymph system reacting to the surgery. But the incisions only really hurt if poked. I do get twinges of pain but they're short and ok.

Best tip, give yourself time to recover. Don't race to get back to do everything. Allow yourself time to cry if you need to and get as much sleep as you need. Let others pick up the slack.

I use a free mindfulness app developed by the US military to help veterans recover and I'm finding that really helpful with managing my emotions.

mobile.va.gov/app/mindfulness-coach

And make sure you wear your surgical bra round the clock. Here in Sweden the hospital give them to you and tell you to wear it 24/7 for the first 2 weeks and then during the day for the next 2. I get the impression that in the UK you have to sort them out yourself, which makes it look like it's optional to me, but it isn't.

And do your exercises. They're to stop the lymph reaction and scar formation from developing into a much worse problem.

So I had my operation in France (I live here) and absolutely zero info or direction for any type of bra at all. Sleeping without one and as chilling post op at home no thought to wear one either. (I’m an A cup so pretty small, no bouncing around or uncomfortableness for me). Should I be ensuring I am wearing one? So strange…

glad to hear you’re feeling stronger well done! I slept super well last night and feeling stronger too. Step by step x

Yes, you need to wear a post operative surgical bra. They're compression bras which reduce swelling and the risk of developing seroma. This is the one I woke up wearing:

https://tytex.com/post-op-bra-bianca

I just can’t believe I didn’t wake up wearing one or any suggestion of one after my lumpectomy 😵‍💫 Thank you so much for sending this link to me x

I wasn’t provided with one but I was told (UK private hospital) in advance to get a couple and to wear them for 6 weeks day and night although they said I could wear a lighter crop top type one at night after a few days. I am only a B cup, not sure if that makes any difference to what I was told. They said the compression would help and it stops the weight of the breast pulling on the wound so it would be more comfortable.

Good morning everyone. I’ve been lurking here since I found lump a couple of weeks ago (I retired at the lunchtime and had biopsies in the afternoon!)and found a wealth of information and welcome! I got the results yesterday having been told it was likely cancer. I will have a lumpectomy in breast and lymph nodes then radiotherapy. They are still waiting for the Her2(?) result unfortunately and this may change the treatment to chemo first before the surgery so hope to get that result soon but in meantime they will get me booked in. It has all happened very quickly and I’m really impressed. Im
lucky I have lots of support, my family are grown and feel
absolutely fine. Anyway hello 👋🏻

Welcome to the most unwanted group.

Thankyou . I know what you mean!

Welcome to the place no-one wants to find themselves @mightneedalargesnifter. Everyone here is lovely and kind and most of all, just gets it.
I love the name btw, after my own heart.

I've just had a call from the hospital and my surgery has been brought forward to Monday. Queue me now trying to tie up 1 million loose ends at work and get everything done that I thought I had a extra couple of days to deal with.

Welcome, @mightneedalargesnifter .Talk about an unwanted retirement present. But it sounds like your medical team are all over it. As they are moving ahead so efficiency it might be worth asking here for suggested questions you should be asking, otherwise you might be done and dusted before you work out what you'll need to understand! Hope the Her2 results render the easiest treatment options. And I hope your experience of retirement starts to improve!

@AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanc ha ha we have great names here (says something about us for sure!) Thank you I can see that this a very supportive place to be. Good news that your surgery has been brought forward. Don’r overdo it!

@PemberleynotWemberley Thank you. Because of this thread I had quite a bit of knowledge going into the appointment! I’m sure I’ll have questions though.

Can I ask about Ki-67 ?
Not something I’ve come across in all of trawling but got my full diagnosis today as keen to learn more.

Ki67 is a measure of how fast the cells replicate. <10% is low, 10-20% moderate, >20% is high. So higher the ki67, the more aggressive the cancer.

I’ve got to be honest, for me, this is where madness lies. I absolutely couldn’t deal with this level of information. I knew my diagnosis, I knew my treatment plan, I knew what was ahead for the next decade and that was enough. Ultimately we have little control over any of it. I do all the “right”
things and hope that they are enough to prevent recurrence. I take an aspirin a day. I exercise religiously. I eat well. But I do live my life as normally as possible. Anything else will send me over the edge of anxiety. I realise this is not the same for everybody ❤️

So is that how they give it the grade 1, 2 or 3 rating?

@TheFormidableMrsC what’s the aspirin for ? Is this taken for the hormone receptive type?

@AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanc - hope all the loose end tying up goes ok this weekend!

I totally understand this thought process @TheFormidableMrsC I’ve been reading about Asprin and also Loratadine.
To be honest, I wish I didn’t look into this part now but hey ho, that’s just my need to understand.

DH & I are actually off for a spa break today and I cannot wait