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 I hope your first radio session went ok today.
Come back and update us when you can.
I’ll be having radiotherapy around early April time, so any night or experience is very welcome.

@LoudSnoringDog just seen your question about radio. I had 15 sessions, hardly ever had to wait and was normally in and out in 15 minutes. Once took a bit longer but that was because they couldn't line my tattoos up, reset the machine and then it was fine. Hope it went well today! I recommend you ask your GP for Alhydran, helped my skin when it started getting redder towards the end of the radio x

joining :-). And seeking advice. I will get biopsy results next week but told it’s likely I have cancer. I was already stressed as at 55 I find myself unexpectedly unemployed. I have pretty good savings which mean I’m only entitled to jsa for 6 months and no pension to speak of. Can anyone who was/is unemployed tell me how they survived financially? I suddenly never want to work again tbh as I’m convinced it’s the stress of working all through Covid that gave me this. I don’t have the headspace to start a new job now anyway, and what I want from a job may change. If I could even get one.

Also apologies if this is covered somewhere, I couldn’t find anything.

I’m reading through everything, and thank you all for sharing your stories and hints and tips…it’s a lot to take in

Hi @arthurfrancis

looks like we will be doing this together.
I had my biopsy results last week, loads of appointments next week and chemo starting in 3 weeks or so.
Im also worried financially. I have little in savings but do have a small pension and fortunately mortgage free so it will be a struggle but I won't be destitute.
Im a foster carer but my income will cease immediately my young person moves out as he will have to do. He is extremely challenging and I won't be able to manage him and chemo.
Im 60 so still a few years off getting the rest of my pensions so will probably return to some form of fostering later on.
Im single but have wonderful friends, one of whom has just made me me a very kind and generous offer with financial support.

The breast nurse has put me in touch with a service I think run by CAB, who can advise on benefits so I'm waiting for a call from them.
As you are unemployed now I would also look at ESA, Employment and Support Allowance. You cant claim JSA and ESA at the same time, but ESA would be there when JSA runs out. I think everyone really needs to talk to a benefits adviser as indivual circumstances are so different
Such a lot to deal with and think about

Hi @Ted27 , thanks so much for responding! I hope we can support each other through this. Of course I still need to hear results of my biopsy, I mean they COULD be wrong, but mind racing over how to get through it, and all hopes to have the energy to find and start a new job are just dashed. I’ll PM you too. Really good to have a buddy to take the journey with!

@arthurfrancis@Ted27just saying hello to you both. I know that Maggie’s centres have benefits advisors but there aren’t so many of those. The breast care nurses will definitely point you to the best source of support. Cancer brings so many worries doesn’t it? I am very fortunate to be ok with good sick pay etc but spend a lot of time worrying about elderly parents having a crisis while I’m not well. And about teenager being ok… Sending strength.

@cancerycaramelbear
thank you for reply. I only lost my job, with great benefits, before Christmas so can’t believe the timing. And one of my elderly parents IS having a crisis and I haven’t told them my circumstances as I can’t face the additional concern from their side or complicated discussions.

@arthurfrancisI get that. It’s what I’ve found the hardest, telling elderly family members. I felt like I had to manage their reactions as well as my own. That’s really poor timing with the job situation, such a lot for you at once. I hope biopsy results give you some clarity on next steps. I felt less anxious once I knew what I was facing.

@arthurfrancis So sorry to hear about your job. It's bad enough managing the actual medical issues without financial stress as well. I am still in my probation period so very limited sickleave just used up for post op recovery. I still don't know about chemo but if I need it I will have to work through it no matter what and of course, I am concerned about my performance because I am absolutely not at the top of my game! It is making me wish I had stayed in my old job despite very good reasons for the move.
And also not told elderly parents and if chemo remains off the table am not planning to. I can't manage their health anxiety on top of my own!

@VeronicaWeston thank you for your post. I empathise with you having to work through, that must be really tough..employers know, though right? I have hoped they would be more generous and accommodating if you need days off. And thanks for feeling the same way about telling parents! All the best and keep us posted on your progress

Elderly unwell mum and stepdad here as well. I don't have a huge family but I will tell my uncle on Wednesday and we can decide what to do about mum.
Both mum and stepdad are 82 and frail, my uncle is my mum's brother but very much younger and I'm closer to him than my actual brothers.
So next week is looking like MRI on Monday, trip up north to tell family on Wednesday. Oncologist on Thursday, my son is also coming home and I'll tell him, Friday CT scan.

@arthurfrancis @Ted27
I understand some people are able to claim PIP if under state pension age (or Attendance Allowance over)

Macmillan have a benefits support section on their website if you dont have easy access to a face to face centre.

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/benefits-and-financial-support

Hope you get the support you need. Its bad enough having sodding cancer without wondering if you can turn the heating on

@KimonoQueen thank you for signposting. @Ted27 good luck with all next week. Update when you feel you can x

Hi I had my second session of radiotherapy yesterday. All ok so far, my boob feels a bit tender ( like when you press on a bruise) but other than that I’m fine and have felt well enough to continue with gym etc. session 3 of 10 today.
I was reading more about the taxoxifen last night and I’m really concerned about the side effects of that, more than anything.

@LoudSnoringDog did your oncologist recommended any special creams to apply to soften the skin before radiotherapy started?
I’ve heard it is beneficial to do this but I’m a couple of months away from radio yet so I haven’t really looked into it

@KimonoQueen I had zolendronic acid last Friday and this is how it affected me. They say that subsequent doses are easier generally.

It was nothing like I’d expected. I had been told it was like having flu. I haven’t had flu since 1987 and I know people say flu wipes you off your feet but zolendronic acid put me in bed for three days. The day after the infusion it was really hard to walk. You definitely get very achy bones. It started in my chest and slowly worked its way towards my feet. Today is the first day I’ve not been walking like a duck. When the symptoms started initially, they were quite severe but taking painkiller dialled it back quickly within half an hour.

I’m not saying this to put you off, but you do really need someone at home with you the first couple of days at least to fetch and carry drinks some food. I live alone and fortunately people popped in and out sorting me out food and drink drinks. Your first experience of it may be completely different to mine as well, so it’s hard too predict how you will feel.

I’ve got my next one in six weeks time, and I’m going to have a coffee table full of water Lucozade and other things like snacks. My daughter one day left me a prepared toasted cheese sandwich and I got her to get the sandwich machine out as well because I would never have been able to carry it from the utility room to the kitchen the day I needed it.

Having said that my appetite just disappeared

I’d gone for The Co-Codamol approach for painkilling but I think now spaced paracetamol and ibuprofen would’ve been a better option

Hope this doesn’t put you off, but I think I would’ve been better prepared if I’d have known what I know now

This is my third cancer, so my reason for having the infusion was based on my specifics. Hope that helps. Xxx

Radiotherapy one of five starts today

Still not quite back up on my feet following a Zolansonic acid infusion last Friday.

Feeling a tad fed up as I was expecting to be able to drive myself backwards and forwards, but that’s been shelved now and I have transport arranged. I thought I would be a lot more mobile during the radiotherapy. And a tad concerned if the radiotherapy is going drag me down further than I am at the moment.

I was awake at 4 am this morning bright as a button feeling okay so I got in the home office and did lots of financial spreadsheets that I really should’ve done last week and haven’t felt capable of doing (we have a family business). I’ve probably overdone it already, but at least I can pass the information on and now have a week off to do my treatment in.

Is there anyone that is six weeks post, five days of radiotherapy That can give me some idea of when the initial dump of fatigue sets in?

Hi
they said any moisturising cream preferably not perfumed but today my manager ( who was a breast cancer specialist nurse) sent me a tub of Neal Yard Remedies Calendula calming cream. She said this is excellent for the skin post radiotherapy

@KimonoQueen I discussed the effects of the zolendronic acid with the nurses today, they think I’ve had a particularly bad reaction to it. They are going to start my pain meds a couple of days before the next treatment.

@Thirdtimeunlucky2025 thanks for posting about the zolendric acid, that sounds dreadful. Its helpful to know what its really like or can be like rather than the propaganda.
I am sure some people sail through everything but I am not one of them and if there are side effects or a way of taking you out it will usually do it to me.

Hope they can sort it out for next time, how often is it given?

@Thirdtimeunlucky2025 thats a rotten time you had with the zol. FWIW I didn’t have zol the same time as my chemo. My liver results were constantly elevated so I wasn’t taking pain killers and didn’t want to have to take them for zol iyswim. I now have zol infusions every six months. The side effects of the first were just more tiredness and a little dizzy for a few days. Second cycle was better. We will see. I hope things improve for you on subsequent cycles.

I've had two lots of zolendronic acid now. Felt very flu-y the day after the first one. And felt absolutely fine after the second. Third one is next month 🤞🏻

Radiotherapy just made my boob a bit pink, and I felt really tired from about the seventh or eighth one (I had 15 in all). The hospital gave me some cream to put on afterwards. But you should have nothing on your skin when you go in for your radiotherapy session (that's what my hospital told me, anyway!).

Waving to @dancingwhilstfacingthemusic 👋🏻