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💗

I was freaking out. They actually ended up checking for a clot or something cos I mentioned the pain in my legs so often during radiotherapy (which I had immediately after the taxol)I I was starting to think I had MS or something. It actually really hurt to walk down steps and I was sleeping with hot water bottles on legs .In the end I got really good orthopedic type trainers and started walking as much as possible which seemed to help plus GP gave me vit D. Dunno if it really was that but it did eventually go.

@PoptartPoptart I had terrible temperature regulation during the peri-meno (I'm 56), that with insomnia and anxiety were the worst symptoms. I take mirtazipine which is an anti depressant technically, but it helps me sleep through the night. I've tried coming off it several times and the symptoms come straight back. I remember hearing Vanessa Feltz talking about taking off and putting on her cardy a hundred odd times during a radio programme as she was freezing then boiling - it was menopausal symptoms! Hope you find something that helps.

Thanks @MrPanks I will speak to my oncologist next week

@MonOncle I had joint pain when I first started prostap and exemestane. They don't hurt as much now (I'm about 18 months in) but it can flare up if I am given particular brands of the exemestane.

@PoptartPoptart my temp was all over the place during chemo. The oncology nurses told me to check it twice over 20 mins if it came up high the first time, and if it remained high to ring them. Usually by the time I did the second one it was fine though!

Hope everyone has a lovely Christmas 🎄

Just wanted to say Merry Christmas to everyone!! And thank you for all your advice over the last 6 months or so, its been invaluable, so glad I found this lovely group xx

Merry Christmas lovely bunch. Lots of love to each of you.

I'm still in HER2 waiting limbo and now will be til Jan. Argh. Not happy but going for distraction and hoping for the best.

Hope everyone has a peaceful Christmas with loved ones x

Happy Christmas everyone . Thankyou for all your support throughout the year 💐

Merry Christmas all. Thanks so much for the support and compassion shown over the past couple of months. Much love.

Wishing you all a happy and peaceful Christmas.

Had meeting with surgeon on Thursday and because the lump hasn’t really shrunk and there are still cancer cells in the lymph node they will have to do lymph node clearance rather than stay in the trial and mastectomy after all (last visit they said it would be a lumpectomy) . They just wouldn’t get the margins needed. They said they would try to get me booked in asap as chemo finished in October. They called on Friday to book me in for 30th December so that was great! Just need to get it done now. Heart scan and pre op done. It’s been good to have the distraction of Christmas. They said just to bring dressing gown and slippers so assume they must give some sort of support for after the op. I have cushions for under arm and some bralet things. Front opening pj’s, a cushion for the seatbelt in the car. In other news my hair is very thin now with hair being pushed out and new fluff coming in . Bit weird but looks ok - just! Hair on body coming back. Today I’m not going to think about it and watch all the Christmas specials going 😂

@mightneedalargesnifteroh that sounds like a lot. At least it is happening quickly, the waiting is the worst.

I’m struggling here. nurse rang on the 23rd to say they want to put me through the ct before surgery because the area of calcification around my tumour if added to side of mass comes to 5cm. I spiraled a bit after that but know they are just being thorough and apart from extreme anxiety I feel fine.

i have an appointment on the 8th and surgery two weeks after that. It seems so very long. Having the kids here and no routine plus lots of unhealthy food isn’t helping. Hoping to get out to the coast today.

hope everyone is having a restful Christmas despite all this cancer crap xx

@cancerycaramelbear I’m sorry! That’s what caused my delay extra ultrasounds biopsies sbd MRI scans but as you say it’s good that they take such care. In my case they were hoping to just take one lymph node out and do a lumpectomy so it was worth trying everything. Fresh air will do you good I’m sure, big hug from me.

@PoptartPoptart yes my temperature is up and down too especially during the first two weeks after chemo.
I have got too hot and had to stand outside and at other times too cold. I have had racing heart too, I mentioned it and was told it can be because low blood sugar and to eat something sweet even a sweet itself to stop that.

It is anxiety inducing and it could be menopause so worth checking with GP.
I think if you feel ill and temp is too high or too low then maybe A and E.
But as you have been - and got checked I wouldnt worry too much.

I had results of my surgery the other day. I was hopeful that nodes and margins would be clear, however, cancer cells were found in both of the nodes taken and there is no clear margin on one side of breast near axilla.
To make things worse my two 1cm masses had cancer cells between them so they’re treating it as a nearly 5cm mass now and I had to go for a CT scan to exclude distant mets ( although I have no symptoms).
Despite this and the news that I’ll need chemo and additional surgery after all,I somehow managed to really enjoy Xmas but am back in scanxiety mode which I was hoping to be free of over Xmas.
Hope everyone is managing to have a nice time over the festive period, in spite everything that’s happening to us xx

@cantbelieveIamhere thanks, it’s good to know it’s not just me. Thanks for the tip about eating something sweet

@OMGitsthebigC sorry to hear this. I had to go back for a second time. Healing was quicker, no drain and they tidied up the scar.
My ct was also clear. So wishing you the same news.

Thank you for this. It’s reassured me a bit x

@OMGitsthebigC Im so sorry to hear this. I walked a similar path from lumpectomy and forecast of radio, to more ops and then chemo. The second op was straightforward and recovery similar to the first. Chemo needs to be dealt with a round at a time and wasn’t as scary as I had thought although not a walk int he park at times. I got my brows microbladed ahead of time, which helped. 💐

@Lovewine1975 is it your final EC tomorrow? Halfway there?!

@PoptartPoptartit is tomorrow thanks for remembering, half way there is good I feel like there is light at the end of the tunnel now. Also had an appointment in the week about radiotherapy, that will be in April for two weeks, the doctor said it would be a walk in the park compared to chemo!

Hope you had a lovely Xmas, your next chemo is soon as well? x

@Lovewine1975 halfway there is a great milestone. Hope it all goes well.

I’m supposed to start Paclitaxel on Friday, but I’m still not well with an infection, my temperature is still spiking and I’m on yet more antibiotics.
I have an appointment with my oncologist tomorrow so I’ll see what she says.

@PoptartPoptartsorry your still not feeling well, and really hope your treatment doesn’t get cancelled because of it, I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you x

@Lovewine1975 halfway there - we blasted out BonJovi’s living on a prayer on our way to mine!

@PoptartPoptart I hope you can get some help to get over the infection and it doesn’t delay things too long/at all.

@Lovewine1975 @dancingwhilstfacingthemusic my oncologist has delayed my chemo on Friday due to my ongoing infection 😢
I’m so worried as it will mean a four week gap between finishing EC and starting Paclitaxel 😟
My temperature was 38.8 this morning 😮 I’m on two lots of antibiotics and if that doesn’t work they will admit me for IV antibiotics. Praying it doesn’t come to that 🙏 My only saving grace is that I’m not neutropenic, otherwise I’d already be in hospital.

@Lovewine1975 how was your last EC?