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 hope I may join in. Spent this morning at breast clinic, six biopsies and lymph node aspiration later consultant has prepped me for breast cancer diagnosis when biopsy results are back. Talking surgery and chemo or chemo then surgery depending on results. Thinks it’s totally treatable as I went to GP and sent to hospital for checks as soon as I noticed all was not well.

Mix of relief I have not imagined all is not well, I am now in the system and grump that this hung over the whole of Christmas making it all very flat. Avoiding Dr Google as that way insanity lies but still feeling lost in this place I never imagined to be in three weeks ago. Frankly if I have a boob that wants to play silly buggers then it can go ( pending hospitals clinical advice)

Welcome tribal. Sorry you are here. I am half a step further down the road than you and I agree with both not googling and this being a tortuous bit.

I have found it helpful to tell close friends at this stage. It’s been easier to bring (a limited number of) people along for the journey and seek support as I need it rather than needing to bring people in and share quite complex/fine medical stuff and need to explain background, tests and so on.

@triballeader welcome 👋 but so sorry you find yourself here.
This waiting part is the worst. Once you get your results, no matter what they say, you will then be able to get your head around everything and have a plan in place.
Hang in there and sending you love and positive vibes

Goodness me. I’m thinking about this now as will perhaps be having a mastectomy (to be confirmed )and will be asking for a double . I am definitely swaying towards no reconstruction, It just sounds like such a huge operation doesn’t it?

Welcome and sorry you find yourself here. Yep the waiting bit is so hard , sending you best wishes xx

Please shout if you want to discuss further or be pointed to resources.

I think there is a lot of assumption on the part of surgeons that every woman will want reconstruction but not everyone does. Yes, larger op than I would be comfortable with certainly. Though I know many make that decision.

As a starter I have found the FB group “Flat Friends UK” and the book Flat and Happy by Katrin van Dam very helpful - neither evangelical but just setting out plainly why some women don’t want reconstruction.

I need a single mastectomy (lumpectomy not feasible) and have requested a double mastectomy with (to use the surgical terminology) aesthetic flat closure. Of all the options available this is the one I’d be happiest to look down and see after coming round from surgery. Now waiting on a psych appointment to confirm.

Happy to chat more if you would like x

Thanks. I’m waiting for treatment plan after the7th ( the committee thingy) Oncologist said will likely be a mastectomy, it’s either a new BC or a recurrence of one I had 24 years ago so lumpectomy probably not feasible. I want it gone anyway. The other breast had different BC in 2017 which is why I want that gone too, and I’d rather flat than lopsided. Obviously skin has been irradiated on both breasts in the past so I’m quite doubtful about how that would easily work with a reconstruction anyway. I’m 60 this year so not a youngster anymore either. I will’ definately have a look at Facebook , aesthetic flat closure and the book you mention. I’m really not keen on such a huge major operation that reconstruction seems to be and fear that it might not be that successful in my case which will mean more interventions but would perhaps like ti leave my options open if I change my mind in the future. Thanks so much for your help xxx

@PoptartPoptarthow are you? Are you back home? x

No! This is my 6th night in hospital 😢

To be fair, I would’ve been discharged today as my infection markers are down, white cells up, all other obs ok. But there was only 1 junior doctor here covering 3 wards and he wasn’t comfortable discharging me without consulting with a senior doctor.
He promised me I can go home tomorrow, provided all my obs are still ok 🙏

Hopeful to have my first Paclitaxel on Friday (although I’m a bit scared)

Thank you so much. Feeling somewhat lost and veering from crying to hoping the consultant was right about this being treatable.

Cancelled everything for today so I can curl up in bed and feel battered but as soon as the 24 hours post biopsy’s is up l plan on a hot shower and clean clothes. DH has let work know and organised wfh and short notice leave as needed and is being very supportive.

Thank you to Nonamelass and PoptartPoptart your response has left me feeling a little less alone after yesterday. Was expecting it but it still hits like a ton of rocks. Thank you for your welcome to a club no one wants to join.

Welcome @triballeader. So sorry you are going through this. You’ll find lots of support here and you can have a rant if you want to!

@PoptartPoptart hope you get home today and feel much better.

Hello @triballeaderx I am
also a recent member of this unwanted club. Lots of support here. I have my post op results next week on my birthday. Just want to know what’s next for me now. The waiting around is frustrating

Not an asked for birthday present but I do hope all goes as well as it can for you and youHave more of an idea of what the plans are going forward.
You are aright the wait is somewhere between normal, surreal and nightmare at any given moment. Spent lunchtime mailing people I work with so they have time to organise cover so I have wiggle room to look after me.

Thank you for your welcome.

Thank you for your welcome, the ranting will probably come when the shock wears off.

Hello to other new people and sorry you are in this club but glad that we can be here to support each other. I got my CT results today, thankfully no sign of any spread so should be good for surgery in three weeks. Suggestions for things to do to pass the time welcome. Can’t buy any bras as don’t know how much of a reduction I’ll have. What else might I need to get to help recovery? I might look into Cook or similar food delivery…

Try and hold on to the ‘it’s totally treatable ´ they know what they they are doing with BC it’s so frequent and has so many options available treatment wise. I know it’s very easy to say though. It’s a horrible shock and this period of uncertainty about what’s going to happen next and waiting for results is awful. You will get through it though, you really will ,baby step by baby step. I had it at 35 and was an absolute quivering wreck at the time ! Here I am at 59 chatting to you😉 . They will give you a treatment plan and things will get easier honest sending you best wishes xx

I like Simmer and Field Doctor for meals, if you want a variety of single portion meals. The latter apparently does some sort of tailored cancer care meal plan but I haven’t investigated it in detail – I think it may be more to do with addressing changes in taste during and after chemo for example.

@cancerycaramelbear Thats good news. For after surgery I got pillows and cushions, pyjamas, front zipped tops, pull on trousers and that was about it, had surgery on 30/12 and can’t think of anything else I need apart from more vest tops as they seem to have disappeared!

I’m finally home after 6 nights in hospital!

I’m seeing my oncologist on Wednesday so I’m hoping she’ll say I’m ok to go ahead with my first Paclitaxel on Friday 🙏

Thanks to you all for your support x

Yay! Hope you are being looked after and have lovely clean sheets in your own bed!

Glad to hear you have made it back home. Look after yourself and hope all goes well on Wednesday.

@PoptartPoptartthat’s brilliant news your home, bet you can’t wait to sleep in your own bed after hospital! xx

Welcome home @PoptartPoptart !

May I join you?

Had a lumpectomy just before Christmas. A duct one, cant quite remember all the details off hand, a grade(?) 1, had two lymph nodes out in my armpit which now hurts like hell (sore, no swelling) and three weeks on doesn’t show any sign of getting better (although looking at the incision site it healed really well, as has round the nipple where the surgeon went in to take the tumour out). So im assuming nerve pain.

this is my third cancer, fortunately missed out on the bowl cancer as the polyps were pre cancerous, endometrial cancer next, fifteen years later, now this breast cancer (a year after DH passed) so feeling particularly fed up.

I’ve got the results of gene testing coming up soon because of my cancer history (and more recently my mums new cancer(s), two very rare ones in the past five years).

i’ m hoping for just five days of radio therapy (and ongoing tablets) but all depends on next test results.

Feeling rather anxious now, so fed up of cancer, DH had 2 blood cancers.

was just hoping for a quiet life, obviously not to be but thankful a regular mammogram picked it up as I hadn’t felt it.