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💗

@MrTiddlesTheCat i got mine within a week - the emotion hit me at the appointment so I’ve a suspicion they fast tracked the first ones at our hospital. Apparently this year onwards we will be able to log in to a website to see the results as soon as they’re ready.

Met my oncologist today. I’ll be starting six rounds of chemo (3 week cycles) with EC then docetaxel. All a bit overwhelming, probably starts in two weeks. Radiotherapy after that and will start Letrozole and Ribociclib after the chemo. If I don’t get on with Letrozole, he said he’d change me to tamoxifen but then I couldn’t have the ribociclib. Urgh, my brain is too full!

I've now had my MRI and waiting for results. There's a lot of uncertainty around whether I'm having a lumpectomy or a mastectomy and I'm getting anxious not knowing a plan or date. How long did you all have to wait between the initial diagnosis (ie biopsy results) and surgery?

Hi Switchd
I got my biopsy results on 5/11 and had a lumpectomy on 18/12. Then I had an abscess before having a mastectomy on 5/2. The treatment provided by the NHS is amazing but it does seem that there is so much waiting at times which is difficult.

I had biopsy 8 Dec then results two weeks later. My surgery wasn’t until 26 Jan. Christmas is a total blur in my mind. The wait was easier once kids were back at school.

To reassure you though, my grade 3 aggressive tumour didn’t grow in that time and was smaller when measured post surgery than they thought it was on ultrasound/mammogram.

Ok thank you. Because I've had to have an MRI and extra biopsy it's adding quite a lot of time in terms of booking appointments, reporting results and then being discussed at the MDT. They are currently thinking of mid-April for the op, but if it's a lumpectomy it could possibly be sooner which I would much prefer.

What was measured at my mammogram and biopsy and subsequent MRI actually ended being a lot smaller once the lumpectomy had been completed and it was measured properly.

Not a great day for me - the biopsy I went in for was technically tricky and they don't think they got the right area so I might need to have it redone. Also I got my MRI results which showed an additional suspicious area in the other breast which they have biopsied.

I had my diagnosis on 21-Aug and a lumpectomy on 20-Nov (which was actually a cancellation so early than planned!). During that time, I had a couple of MRIs and lots of extra biopsies, turned out I had two different types of cancer, 1 ductal tumour and 2 satellite tumours which were lobular.

Oh wow @MissFizzyPop that sounds like a long haul. I hope you are ok now.

Finally back home after a long day in the chemo unit. Oncologist switched straight from Duxetaxel ( sp) to Nan- paxitaxel rather than paxitaxel as it has a protein based carrier and she is fairly sure the three adverse reactions has I had at 5ml was due to an allergy to the carrier rather than the taxel

So relieved as this is the first time I have managed to complete the chemo without scary adverse reactions. Going to take it very steady.

That’s really positive news @triballeader
Hopefully now you’ll be able to have your weekly chemo without the fear of a reaction

Morning all! A quick tip from me… Yesterday, I booked a MacMillan appointment at Boots for beauty advice. Worried about looking washed out during chemo but I’m not usually a make up wearer. The woman there gave me some great advice and free samples with no pressure to book. It was great. I’m also going to a Maggie’s look good feel better session but I know not everyone is need a Maggie’s. Most are near a Boots!

I did a Look Good Feel Better make up session, they aren't all at Maggie's Centres (my nearest one of those is a long train and tube journey away). I did one in a cancer support centre in Tonbridge. I highly recommend it - got lots of nice make up to take away.

Got my 1 year mammogram next week. My anxiety is off the scale.

Wishing you all the best. My first one won’t be until probably August or September and I’m not looking forward to that.

@MrTiddlesTheCat It may, or may not help, you to know that off the scale anxiety at your point is quite standard apparently. I was a gibbering wreck. Lovely BCN scraped me off the ceiling. I was somewhat better with the second one. Towards blithe third time round.

I learnt that there is a known pattern; year 1 big post trauma struggle, year 2 sort of getting on/over, year 3 thinking maybe, with luck, it might be ok and cancer is no
longer governing my life

Not sure if this is the right thread to post on , haven’t been on mumsnet for ages. Had a two week referral because have been having dome breast pain. Even the GP said it was belt and braces as she couldn’t feel anything . Wasn’t worried at all . Consultant even had breast pain leaflet out , and then was examined , then mammogram , scan and biopsy of three ‘suspicious lesions’ . Still in shock , consultant said that if the results come back negative she would want further investigations and to prepare for positive result.

i’m in shock, have appointment next week for results. Everyone was lovely but definite change in atmosphere after scan. Husband wants to go private but is it worth it , what should I be asking , how on earth do you deal with the waiting . We had so many plans for this year and now i’ve messed them up plus I have elderly parents who rely on me . On top of everything the boiler has just failed .

You poor soul, my heart goes out to you. It’s such a shock.

i too found myself faced with unexpected biopsy’s and yes that was beyond scary. THe waiting is not fun. I can recommend the Breast Care Now website as it’s at least sane, upto date UK information and offers support to those waiting for results. Try to avoid Dr Google doom scrolling. that way insanity and extra stress and worry lie.The posters here are lovely and it’s a fairly safe space on mumsnet. Some of the longer term posters will be along as they can.

I went via the NHS and opted for the regional cancer centre as I have developed a phobia of the local one. NO way could I afford the chemo drugs privately. All but one of the staff have been kind, supportive and have worked very hard to make me feel a little safer. That really matters to me thanks to my horribly abusive now dead brother.Be as kind and as gentle with yourself as you can and it’s okay to need to cry when it all gets too much too.

You are allowed to reach out for support and I am so proud of you for getting yourself checked out when you did , that I know took some raw courage to do.

I can’t bear the thought of telling my father and stepmother , this is very identifying but both my step siblings have died from cancer in the last 2 years , both diagnosed in early sixties , I am 60. Also have two SIL currently in remission from BC , one now a widow 😔

SOrry chemo wiped me out.Just starting to surface again. It’s every three weeks with Phesgo injections and carpolatin. Oncologist skipped straight over to nab-paxitaxel as ithas a very different carrier to pacitaxel and she is pretty sure it’s the carrier my body goes hell no over every single time.

The change is taste has been way weird. I am eating pasta, creamy sauce and so bland it’s untrue. Tomatoes taste of neat acid and finding something to make water taste okay has been fun. I never use cordials as most contain aspartame thank goodness the supermarket stocks Belvoir and Greens sugar based cordials.

STart with who you feel comfortable telling and if need be reach out to Mcmillion Support, They are therefor you even if you just suspect it might be and offer a chat option, phone line seven days a week. GO at the speed you need to go at.

How you feel is valid, you do matter. You deserve support..

Thank you I really appreciate that, especially when you are having treatment yourself. Not going to tell anyone until I get the results, might be nothing, although when I said that to the consultant she didn’t seem very positive. Maybe they are negative with everyone so that they don’t get a shock and are prepared, or maybe that’s just wishful thinking on my part .

TBH mine told me to prepare for a formal diagnosis. I suspect they know a lot from just looking the ultrasound scans alone as they have such experience and as they tend to be more detailed than the mammograms. It’s still not great to hear though and you are allowed to feel as you do right now.

I was in bits when I started to post here but bit by little bit the encouragement from others in the same rotten unchosen club has helped me start to reach out for support IRL and actually disclose some of arsehole brothers behaviour with antisocial personality disorder to hospital staff so they can provide me with extra support too. Post here as and when you need to. Remember the risk factor of getting older and being female is one none of us could have changed. STill proud of you for getting yourself checked when you did.

You matter.

@cyclamenqueen I have had excellent care on the NHS. For all its faults, it seems that cancer diagnosis and treatment is still a priority.

I have known two ladies who went private on their husband’s health insurance from work. It seems that privately you get the nice extra stuff like lunch included when you have chemo, complimentary therapies such as massage, more choice over appointment times, etc. However, they found it more hassle liaising with their NHS GP and the private doctors - sometimes information wasn’t passed across or medical records weren’t updated.
Obviously it all comes down to personal choice and whatever you decide has to be the right decision for you.