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💗

@JustGoClickLikeALightSwitch thank you. Hope you are still moving in the right direction post op.
@MrTiddlesTheCat sounds like you have been through the mill and then some. Post as and when you need to x

@MrTiddlesTheCat so sorry you’ve been having a tough time with additional treatments.

I know exactly what you mean about feeling overwhelmed and also about being in denial.

I’m still having chemo and then radiotherapy is next, and I haven’t even started to process any of it. It’s pure denial and head down to just get through the treatments.

I worry that after the treatments are over, people just expect us to go back to normal and even be happy, but I fear it’s more complicated than that emotionally.
i think it’s very hard to understand unless you’ve actually been through it maybe.

I really hope your shoulder recovery goes as smoothly as possible.

Even when you get to the end, it's not the end. It's the next mammogram, the next cough that lingers a bit too long, the next bout of back/knee/anywhere pain that is probably just aging, but what if it isn't.

I managed to avoid the horror that is chemotherapy, cancer had other ways of putting me through hell.

When I went in for the hysteroscopy they said they didnt want to do a GA as they struggled to maintain my airway during the breast cancer surgery. Nobody had told me that, but I did have a killer sore throat afterwards. So I had an epidural and sedation instead. I was hysterical in the operating room as I was so scared.

They said the same about my shoulder surgery. They'd do a nerve block in my neck and then sedate me. This was as they were prepping me for surgery, I wouldn't have turned up if I knew in advance. The denial kicked in big time at that point, this wasn't real, it couldn't be happening. I was going to wake up soon and it would still be 2024. But it was real, and thankfully the nerve block didn't fully work so that had to put me under.

Sorry, that all sounds very negative. That was last year and last year can fuck right off, excuse my language. This year I'm getting better. It'll be my year of recovering my health and wellbeing.

@MrTiddlesTheCat sorry you had to go through that it sounds bloody awful, I agree with you about last year it can fuck off.

Good to see you back and hope that this year is much improved. I agree with the relentlessness of it all, I am in terror when another envelope comes with nhs on it and i dont know why, usually another appointment for something horrible.

@MrTiddlesTheCat that does sound bloody awful as @cantbelieveIamhere says. Very frightening too.

@cantbelieveIamhere I’ve been paranoid about envelopes for 24 years since my first diagnosis. Awful

@MrTiddlesTheCat that sounds truly horrific. I’m so sorry you were traumatised in that way. I don’t think medical professionals realise just how terrifying some of this stuff is for us patients.

@cantbelieveIamhere all my appointments and results come through on my NHS app, so whenever I hear it ping I break out into a cold sweat. It’s horrible isn’t it.

Hi all.

Results day for me on Thursday. Bricking it.

I thought Id got away with v little pain after the op on 9th. Now my nipple and breast have both started aching/hurting today.

And my SLNB scar is rubbing on my bra.

Is that normal?

Hoping you get good results. The waiting is awful isn’t it ? You'll feel better when you have a plan and you know what you’re dealing with.

I found that I had very little pain in the first 3 weeks post op but then started getting weird, random stabbing/ nerve type pains over my breasts and shoulder blade of affected side(I had lumpectomy and bilateral reconstruction/ mammoplasty, cancer only in one). I didn’t get any aching so I don’t know if that’s normal. I did think it was strange, though, that I was taking more paracetamol and ibuprofen after about three weeks rather than just after the op. Nerves knitting back together, probably.
I found the SLNB wound the most uncomfortable and had a small seroma with mild cording both of which resolved on their own. I did have to adjust my bra a lot of the time … to ease pressure on all scars. Even though these bras are meant for post surgery, I don’t think any of them are a perfect fit for everyone. I found the little heart shaped cushions amazing for relieving pressure at night though. Did you get any from the hospital ? Maybe speak to your breast care nurse tomorrow ? Mine have been excellent. Hope all is good x

@KimonoQueen I’ll be thinking of you on Thursday and hoping for the best possible outcome.

I had to really shop around for a comfy post op bra. They vary so much in size and cut. And it depends how low/high your scar is I guess. I found the M&S bras to be the most comfortable, and I know a few people who swear by the ones from Primark.

I would imagine the discomfort you are feeling in your nipple and breast is a normal part of the healing process - nerves and tissue settling down. If you had your op on the 9th it hasn’t even been a full three weeks yet. But you should check with your BC nurse if you’re worried.

Hi all. Day two after surgery. I’m doing well but having massive hot flush spells. Could be the oromorph? No temperature, just a tomato face! Did anyone else have the same?

@cancerycaramelbear glad you are doing well.
i didn’t have those symptoms after surgery, but I do get them after chemo (especially EC). Red flushed face that feels slightly warm to touch, but no actual temperature.
I assumed it was some sort of mild reaction to the drugs 🤷‍♀️
Maybe call your BC nurse to ask if you’re worried

The flushes have calmed down now, and I’moff morphine. Doing well, but feeling pretty fed up now the adrenaline has worn off. It’s a long road paved with crap!

It really is. Sending love and hoping things get a little better each day.

Hi All, I am back at home after a lumpectomy and lymph nodes investigation yesterday 8 weeks after a standard mammogram and 6 weeks after a radiologist said the words no one wants to hear. In the end it was confirmed as hormone positive HER- , waiting for post op results to see if the 12mm grade one diagnosis is correct.
During the last month I have read all three of these threads twice. As a result I've been prepared (and am prepared) for difficult conversations, medical decisions, op prep and any forthcoming curve balls and (as someone who likes to be in control and have all the facts) your experiences, wisdom and dark humour been invaluable. I don't know whether chemo is in my future or straight to radiotherapy and the (dreaded - one perimenopause was enough for any lifetime) tablets but whatever is next I know the answers to my questions and fears are here. So thank you all.

Current status: cancer can go and do one.
The whole thing has kicked off the sheer nightmare of my mums death within seven weeks from a very aggressive cancer that was everywhere, dad dying from stress causing a heart event within hours of her and the nightmare behaviour of bloody brother (now dead thank all that is good) whose personality disordered behaviour would have definitely made the grade for the stately homes thread. Started showing PTSD had to contact GP and now under CMHT for the trauma from then being kicked off my the now. Never had to use CMHT before but the CPN is compassionate and doing all she can to support me taking one step in front of another.

Grade 2 hidden behind nipple with 0+ DCIS surrounding and in lymph node.
Hello bastard chemo then mastectomy with lymph node clearance followed by expect more chemo etc.

Breast care nurse and surgeon were caring with nurse going extra mile. She is going to make sure I do not get appointments at the hospital my mum was at and has promised to let all staff I meet know what happened with my family so they can support me when I wobble. Not a Christmas gift I would have ever chosen. Told the risk factors for this little sod is being female and getting older, two things I cannot change. The plus points where being told I did the right thing by going to GP as soon as I spotted all was not right and that the treatment whilst rough and will be tough is aimmed at curing rather than managing.

Now going to drink hot tea as I do not drink and imagine myself pinning the bastard cancer against the wall and punching the crap out of it.

Lovely neighbour informed me about their own experience of breast cancer and why she has chose flat over reconstruction ten years ago. She shared to encourage me as she saw me just as I got back from the hospital and she recognised the face having been there herself. TBH reconstruction sounds like more surgery and messing about with than I want to take on. I would like my life back.

Hope the rest of you are doing as okay as you can on this unchosen marathon.

@VeronicaWestonI never really want to say welcome but these threads are so helpful and I have also read them all. Hope you are doing ok after your lumpectomy. My cancer is ER+ve and HER2-ve as well. Mine is going for oncotype analysis to dictate chemo decision. I looked under the NHS issue bra today at my scars and it’s all very bruised and raw looking but the shape from the bilateral reduction seems very symmetrical and I am feeling much better since I cut out the oromorph.

@triballeaderOh my, so sorry to read about all you have gone through already. Tough road ahead too. Sending strength. The curative thing is what I’m holding onto to make all the crap more bearable. Just have to think about getting past this nightmare. Although those bastard drugs are going to mix things up for a long time. Humph.

Sending love @VeronicaWeston @triballeader . I think these are the feelings to feel tbh - it'd be odd if you weren't raging at the difficulty and unfairness of it all.

Post-op appt with my consultant tmrw afternoon. I'm starting to feel the fear. I'm definitely up for Tamoxifen or one of its relations, but will it be chemo too? Let's wait and see! Argh.

Have been fairly well otherwise, moving loads, like the look of myself flat. Have gone on a clothes buying spree.

Sending love and strength for arse kicking to @VeronicaWeston and @triballeader

all the best tomorrow @JustGoClickLikeALightSwitch it can feel an interminable pathway at times.

News was good today. Evicted the little shite and nothing in my nodes.
So relieved.
Onward to the oncologist in a fortnight!

WOOHOOO!!! Amazing.

Fantastic news! Onwards and upwards!

Good luck for today xxxx keep on buying those clothes 😊

It was ok-to-good today - nothing in my lymph nodes so it looks like they caught it all - woohoo! ER+ so I will need either Tamoxifen or the other one whose name I forget - which exactly will depend on the outcome of genetic testing - tbc.

Apparently the surgeon and oncologist did a lot of umming and aahing about me in their meeting this morning, I think because one tumour was triple negative (FFS). I'll meet with the oncologist end Monday and see what he has to say - I suspect it's to do with the marginal benefits of chemo so slightly bracing myself but there we go.

And bandages are off! I need fluid drained from one side (seroma), another joyous task for Monday, but broadly happy and looking good.

All sounds positive! Totally exhausted here, so will post more later. But great to hear you are moving forward.