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💗

Thank you @dancingwhilstfacingthemusic@MrPanks@NonamelassThink I was in a bit of denial that it wouldn’t actually happen to me! It’s so bizarre loosing hair like this, at least I won’t be shaving my legs or anywhere else for much longer 🤣

Hi all. Op went ok. Im
a bit uncomfortable but have not long had some oromorph. I have been sick and nauseous pretty much since being recovery at 5pm. Even with the anti emetic I’ve struggled to keep anything down so they suggested I stay in overnight so I can get some more IV anti emetic at 1am.
surgeon says lump removed and also one lymph node.

@LoudSnoringDogsorry you feeling nauseous and struggling to keep food down. I have felt like that before after surgery but not this time. It’s probably best that you stay in overnight so they can keep any eye on you. Watch out for constipation from the fentanyl and cocodamol. I had to drink a litre of prune juice 3 days after my surgery but it did work after a couple of hours or so. It was a long night. Let us know how you are in the morning.

I know, it’s weird, you know it’s going to happen but are shocked when it does. I remember waking up and finding hair on my pillow and phoning DH at work in a panic. It does grow back really quickly when you stop chemo though ( as does the leg hair 😅)

Hi all. Home now! A bit uncomfortable and very tired! I stayed in as I was so sick. The very lovely nurse gave me IV anti emetic cyclizine at 0030 am and that really helped. Felt a bit woozy and managed to sleep intermittently between 0130-0630. Finally able to come home at 1100. My very lovely DP has been running around me all pm. Had a nap and now sat in my pjs in front of a lovely roaring fire watching Race Across the World.

the dr said I should hear from them in approx 6 weeks re next steps.

@LoudSnoringDog, glad you’re home and you’re feeling better. You'll probably feel tired for a few days due to the anaesthetic and extra energy needed for wound healing.
Look after yourself, take it easy and enjoy being pampered !

@LoudSnoringDog great to hear the sickness has subsidised and that you are being waited on by your DP. hope you have a restful evening and a good night's sleep.

@Lovewine1975 I too have lost a little hair, it just comes out in small batches and this was last week which is four weeks since last chemo and I cold capped.

I was worried because if you go too thin they cant continue cold capping but I went yesterday for second chemo and cold capped - keep on as it will help your hair.

@LoudSnoringDog glad to hear you are home. Hope you had a good night 💐

@JustGoClickLikeALightSwitch sorry to hear your news, it is indeed a terrible way to spend your birthday.
Everyone on here will tell you like they told me that this waiting bit is very hard and it is.
Do not google.
Be kind to yourself and the NHS are working to tight deadlines on this so you will be busy with appointments.

I have found the nurses on the unit that treat us are nothing but kind and willing to help you with all your questions and help you get through this medication-wise.
Lots of lovely people on here, very supportive and you can rant away as we are all in same boat, very angry and upset and shocked to find ourselves here.

Thank you very very much. Appointment postponed from Friday to Monday so I’m in limbo, gah. But a friend who had BC and who is incredibly level headed is coming with me then.

I’m glum today as I have started making plans to hand over a big volunteering thing I’d offered to run, which I won’t be able to do if I need any sort of surgery let alone anything else. Feel like I’m letting people down which I hate. I’m terrible at prioritising myself at the best of times.

@JustGoClickLikeALightSwitch being able to go with a friend who has been through it will really be useful as your head spins as they talk to you.

Good luck for Monday, best wishes.

@poptart how are you? have you managed to get sleep yet?

That's not true about the cold cap. I lost most of my hair between the 2nd and 3rd EC, but continued to cold cap for the remaining 14 chemos. Once I was on paclitaxel my hair started growing back.

@JustGoClickLikeALightSwitch this is the worse bit (that sounds illogical, but it really is). Don't Google, and once you have a plan, some of that anxiety and fear will lift.

@BatshitCrazyWoman thanks for that, I was told by the nurse that if it went thin it would freeze my head so its good if thats not the case as I am a superhero in coldcapping having been under it for four and a half hours yesterday!

@cantbelieveIamhere i had the same experience as @BatshitCrazyWoman , lost loads of hair on EC (was bald on my crown) but never cut it and had regrowth and full cover of hair during my last 5/6 weeks of paclitaxel. You can wear a surgical cap to protect your scalp, my hospital provided a net which I found unbearable so I ended up purchasing some fabric ones which I wore two of. I’ve got loads left so I’d be happy to post them if you get to that stage and want to continue capping. I had to really keep the faith at times as I did lose so much but I’m so glad I stuck with it. I had a haircut the week after I finished!

Morning all. 3 days after surgery here. Feel very tender and sore but sleeping reasonably well. Going to go into the park today and have a bit of a walk. Friday I was written off and yesterday felt a bit more normal, feels weird to be waking up on a Sunday not stressing about work tomorrow. I plan to try and get out as much as possible and stay active. I continue to try and be positive. Inside I have a tiny amount of fear that pathology will find some other issues with the cancer and this will change my initial diagnosis. I will remain outwardly positive though 😬

Hi everyone! OG from the original thread here. I've been off this thread for a while, lost a grandparent a few weeks ago and life has generally been keeping me busy.

Sending love to everyone going through treatment - it's crap, but you'll get there. I'm 16 months post hospital treatment now and doing ok.

Anyway, just popped on to say I love that whilst some of the originals from the thread aren't as active as before, it's so lovely to see support is still ongoing and those of you going through treatment now are here for each other 💕

Good to get out for some fresh air @LoudSnoringDog and that you’re feeling ok, if a little tender.
I’m over a week post op now and feeling quite itchy and a bit swollen. Back for wound check on wed.

Like you, I’m trying to be outwardly ( at least) positive as I don’t know what the pathology results will show up. I’m quite nervous about it but from what I’ve read it quite normal. Probably comes under “ scanxiety”.

I’ve lost track of where everyone is at. Hope your next appt goes ok.

thats a great term for it!

I’m doing ok - after the steroid insomnia came the pure exhaustion. I didn’t get out of bed much but thankfully I’ve got a bit more energy today.

Next Friday I will be at the halfway mark with my chemo - my fourth and final EC before switching to Paclitaxel.
Actually, I will be having a three week break in between, rather than my usual two weeks, because I told my BC nurse there is no way I am having my first Paclitaxel on Christmas Eve in case I react badly. There is no way I want to spend Christmas in A&E with skeleton staff.

I was originally due to have it on Boxing Day but the infusion suite is closed, so they wanted to move it forward by two days - meaning only 12 days in between infusions. I said nope!! I need an extra week to recover and enjoy Christmas 🙏

I’ve just been catching up with all
the recent posts and thinking of everyone whether you’re post op / results pending / head down getting on with it x

@PoptartPoptart good for you, halfway is a good place to be!
.

Good to give yourself time to recover and enjoy christmas too, my next chemo would have been due boxing day, so luckily its been moved to 29th so I hope to be able to enjoy my christmas dinner.
You do have to think about who might be about to help you if things dont go to plan.
Glad you have got some rest.

Magseed went in today.
Apparently lump is so small and deep that it was a) hard to find even with the marker they put in at biopsy
b) would have been impossible to pick up without a mammogram.

So --I am blooming lucky they found it so early (I keep telling myself!)

Radiographer also assured me that the surgeon is very skilled and takes pride in his neat work.

I do keep getting mad waves of anxiety tho - as with each appointment 'THE OP' is getting closer.

And breathe

I felt same about the op. Quite nervous. But once it was over I felt better. First stage of the journey completed and the cancer has been removed.
Try not to worry. It’s a positive.
Its just something that needs to happen.

@KimonoQueenmy lump which was found by a mammogram, was also very deep and could not even be felt by my surgeon. I had my WLE and SLNB surgery on 16th September and got clear margins and the lymph node was clear. I had my radiotherapy 19th November for 5 days. All healed, but a bit lumpy and feeling tired now. I started Letrozole last week and no side effects yet.
Wishing you all the best for your surgery.