Likely breast cancer after ultrasound- thread 3

[SpartanRunningGirl]

Welcome. Previous threads :

Thread 1
Thread 2

The original thread 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).

Two full threads 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 💗)

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 breast cancer diagnosis.

You are not alone.

This is the awful club - full of awesome women💗

@LoudSnoringDog
Echoing NoName and OMG, there will be a bit of waiting about, and, then - It’s done! The thing you’ve been so apprehensive about is done, that tumour is out and being blasted to bits in a lab, being made to yield all its secrets to inform your subsequent treatment. And it’s done, and almost certainly not anything like as bad as your imagining.

Try for a calm evening, warm bath perhaps, as you won’t be soaking for a while post surgery. Herbal tea, something v soothing to watch. Maybe a hot water bottle. I found audiobooks invaluable during the wakeful nights.

Take something ‘to do’ tomorrow, books, magazines, iPad, crosswords, whatever works for you, just in case you have a bit of a wait.

It's horrid the waiting. You’ll get through it x

Thank you all. What happens after the surgery? How long do you wait to find out what’s next?

For me they took SNB and 2 axillary lymph nodes. They get tested along with the excised margin around tumour. If margins clear all good. If not may need another op to remove more. If nodes are clear, again, all good. If second node shows cancer cells will need to take more. I suppose if all is ok will get some radiotherapy and that’s it( plus Letrozole/ tamoxifen). If need further clearance likely will need chemo.
Im being hopeful that the lymph nodes ultrasound which showed clear will be accurate ! Find out in 3 weeks.

@LoudSnoringDog

That is a how long is a piece of string question. I had a results appointment 2 weeks later, with the disappointment of learning they had not got clear margins so a second surgery. Please note: most people do not need this. That happened a month after the first.

It then seemed to be a long old time to get full pathology, with a lot of iffing and biffing about maybe/definitely yes/no to chemotherapy, waiting for MDT meetings. Christmas may well slow things a bit, staffing levels may impact, dept I attended had a backlog as they’d been down a consultant oncologist.

Hopefully, you’ll have a clearer idea of what next before Christmas. Bit more of that crappy old waiting to come I’m afraid.

One thing I really wish I’d known was how difficult many people find the waiting, it wasn’t me being particularly feeble or needy. It’s challenging Be kind to yourself

For me almost 24 years ago and then other breast 8 years ago. I had the op then it took another two weeks for them to come back with a treatment plan as they they needed time to analyze the lump. I didn’t need another op to correct margins either time. I’m in France but it’s a pretty universal protocol Îd imagine. Once the lump is out and you have your plan the horrific waiting is over and you get on with getting better.

Evening, reading this thread is giving me some reassurance and answering some questions that have been going around my head - so thank you.

I was diagnosed with Stage 2 IDC with grade 3 DCIS ER +ve HERS -ve last week having had a lumpectomy (10th Nov) and axilla node clearance. Waiting on a referall to see the Oncologist as chemotherapy has now been recommended, this is a new addition to the radiotherapy and hormone blockers.

The waiting is absolute torture. Your body might be able to wait but it wrecks your head 😉 I am trying to stay calm atm as they have now found a third lump 24 years after the one in the breast that was treated to smithereens when I was 35 . Other breast had its own different cancer 8 years ago and that’s behaved itself ( touch wood) after being blasted to smithereens as well . so here I am again waiting for biopsy results. Anyone reading this is not the norm please don’t feel afraid but do go for check up mammos!!!

@LoudSnoringDog best of luck, hope all goes well tomorrow! I found the surgery totally fine, the anticipation was the worst bit and then the wait for results. My results appt was just over three weeks after surgery.

@OMGitsthebigC fingers crossed you get positive news when your results are available.

@Tumbleweed24 your diagnosis sounds like mine, I also had hormonal IDC and DCIS grade 3, finding out about chemotherapy was quite a gut punch when it wasn’t mentioned prior to the surgery. Hope you’re ok.

@Nonamelass oof you poor thing. I can imagine the anxiety given you know what you know. Hoping it’s nothing 💛

@MonOncle merci ! Exactement. Thanks for understanding. It is exactly that , I know what I know ( though I’m sure there’s lots of stuff I don’t and I really don’t want to find out about ) One voice in my head keeps telling me that I would have been so relieved when I was first diagnosed if I’d have known for that I was going to have a virtually normal life and see my kids grow up so Nonamelass just count your blessings that treatments have improved so much and get on with it Lots of worse things could happen than this etc etc. The other voice says God I can’t do it again !! But I suppose I just will , step by step.

Good luck for tomorrow @LoudSnoringDog , hope it all goes smoothly as possible.

@OMGitsthebigC and @Nonamelass fingers crossed for your results and you cope okay with the tortuous wait.

@MonOncle and @Tumbleweed24 that sounds really tough, especially if that wasn't on your bingo card of treatment at the outset.

I don't yet have a date for my surgery, I was told an estimate of end Dec/early Jan, but have now been asked to go for a contrast mammogram on Monday, so maybe that will delay things assuming they will have to wait for the results of that.

@MrPanksI had my initial diagnosis on 11th August and then a mammogram with contrast due to sense breasts on 26th August. Full diagnosis on 1st September and surgery on 16th September. So it probably delayed surgery by 2 or 3 weeks.
@LoudSnoringDogwising you all the best for 6our surgery.

All the best today @LoudSnoringDog

I meant to update over the weekend but had a bit of a strop since things didn't go as planned! I was expecting to get a plan on the call with my Consultant on Friday, while he did give some.good news (CT of chest, abdo, pelvis) didn't show any spread, the MRI seemed to have located the primary and an area in my left also lit up. I had another biopsy yesterday on the suspected primary and a marker inserted. The Radiologist said the left was just a cyst so no cause for alarm. Now back to the waiting game until the end of next week to hear what the results of the latest biopsy are!

Just sat in pre op waiting. My surgeon has let me know that I realistically won’t get to theatre until early afternoon. Everyone very lovely here. I’ve sent DP home so I can sit and binge watch on my iPad in peace!

May I sign in, please? In tears writing this. Went for a mammogram on Monday, because my mum had breast cancer in her 40s, and I thought I'd better get on with routine screening. Thought I'd be in and out in 30 minutes. Mammogram turned into a second mammogram, an ultrasound, a biopsy and (next day) an MRI. I have a follow-up appointment tomorrow afternoon. I'm frightened. My head is spinning. The scan etc was done privately, and I'm also worried about quality of care etc.

It was also my 40th bday yesterday and can I say this was the shittiest 40th I could have had.

If I can ask for some advice - what are good questions to ask at the appointment tomorrow?

Thanks to everyone reading. I'm glad to find this thread.

@JustGoClickLikeALightSwitch it is shocking when it moves so fast and the terror gradually grows. This is a very supportive place to be. We all know how awful it is. Sorry this ruined your birthday.

@JustGoClickLikeALightSwitchsorry you had such a crap 40th birthday. You are at the worst point now while you are waiting to find out your diagnosis. Hopefully because you’ve had all the tests already you will find out your full diagnosis today and recommended next steps. You could look on Breastcancernow or MacMillan websites to compile a list of questions. I didn’t know that there are several types of BC for example. Keep posting on here because there are so many other women here who will support you along the way.
My stage 2 er+ HER2- BC was found at a routine mammogram in July. I had surgery in July and 5 days of radiotherapy which finished last Tuesday. Yesterday I started my estrogen blocking tablets. Luckily I didn’t need chemo and my lymph nodes were clear. I didn’t get a full diagnosis at my first appointment with the breast surgeon and had to have a mammogram with contrast because I have dense breasts and they wanted to check that there were no other tumours in either breast and thankfully there was just the one.

@JustGoClickLikeALightSwitch so sorry you find yourself here. What a horrible shock for you on your 40th birthday. Hope you get clarity and plan at your appointment tomorrow and that you manage to get some sleep tonight.

@LoudSnoringDog I've been thinking of you all afternoon, hoping your op went well and wishing you a restful night and days ahead.

@Snoopy1612 Oh no, more waiting for answers, it is torture. Hope you are coping okay.

I got a call from today to book me in for surgery on 30th December. I am so relieved that it is happening quickly. I still havent told most of my family and friends, so that will be a job for tomorrow, as I dont work on Fridays.

Hi everyone, got my 2nd EC chemo tomorrow, and noticed tonight my hair has really started falling out, didn’t expect it this soon thought it was after your 2nd chemo?

I’m cold capping and will continue tomorrow, see if makes any difference, just a bit of a shock xx

@Lovewine1975 i had ec and cold capped. I had a massive shed at one early stage. Stocking with it, it was less severe and now post-chemo my hair has come back well. It’s not at all pleasant. I worse a chemo cap indoors and the lint roller was my best mate as my hair was everywhere.

@JustGoClickLikeALightSwitch oh I am so sorry to read that. What a shock for you. You did really well to have that routine mammo which has meant that whatever it turns out to be has been found earlier,before you felt anything yourself . It’s horrendous waiting for results, but the biopsy might not be positive for cancer and even if it is the treatments available nowadays are really really effective. Once you get your results they will ,if needed ,be able to give you a treatment plan and it will get easier. Sending you very best wishes.ps I had BC at 35 after finding the lump myself and only having it removed months later (as it was initially thought to be a fibroadenoma ) and I’m still here to tell the tale at 59 ;)

@Lovewine1975 sorry to hear about your hair loss, that sounds really upsetting. Hope tomorrow goes as well as it can x

@Lovewine1975 sorry to hear about your hair loss, that sounds really upsetting. Hope tomorrow goes as well as it can x

@LoudSnoringDog hope the op went ok and you’re having a restful evening.

@Lovewine1975 it is a shock when it starts falling out even if you know it’s going to probably happen . I think mine started falling out about two weeks after the first chemo. I didn’t do cold cap though (for fear of headaches mainly)