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💗

Ok so attended my appt. Lovely doctor and nurse.
breast cancer in right breast
grade 1
HER 2 negative
Hormone receptor positive

lumpectomy booked for dec 4th then radiotherapy some time in the new year and hormone blocker medication

im strangely calm about this. Possibly because of this thread.
DP is upset but I’m telling him on the scale of shit outcomes, this is the lower end.

Hi everyone, reluctant joiner to the group !
Diagnosed Grade 2, oestrogen positive left breast. They did tell me more at my results appointment but I didn’t take it all in.
Plan is for surgery mid December. I’ve been given a few options but so far going for left lumpectomy and reconstruction. They’ve offered same reduction and reconstruction of right breast to make things even.
I’ve been told it will still be day surgery but it seems quite major for that ! Anyone else been through same or similar ?
I’ll have radiotherapy end Jan and hormone blocker will start somewhere in between.
Feeling very anxious. I’ve had to stop HRT suddenly and not sure if that’s causing worse health anxiety or is it just the diagnosis :(

@LoudSnoringDog

Well, you’ve got a few answers now. And you are correct, it’s ’lower end’. But it is still a bit shit. Be gentle with your self.

Interesting piece in the Times yesterday about early diagnosed breast cancer, in response to the Davina McCall story. Yes, we (early diagnosed people) are all v lucky, treatment has come on, it could be a lot worse. All true, and yet it shakes assumptions and confidence.

Take care, buckle up and get through it. Good you have short lead surgery date, and before Christmas too.

Come on here to ask questions or to vent about what ever you need to vent about

@LoudSnoringDog heavy sigh, so sorry it’s confirmed but as Granny Goggles has wisely said, you’ve got the answers.

@OMGitsthebigC sorry to see you have to be here. I also had a malfunctioning leftie, grade 2 oestrogen +ve. It’s very rude of our boobs to do this to us.

Hello strangers !
Apologies for my absolute rubbish communication for the last 3 months, I've just been in head down and get through mode. I've just caught up on the previous thread and great to see so many of you doing well !

About me
Diagnosed April 2025 (40 yrs) IDC, Grade 3, ER+/PR+/HER-. Surgery in May to remove (therapeutic mammoplasty) and full node clearance (16 taken), confirmed only spread to one. Didn't get clear margins to needed second surgery in June. Started chemo end of July - just finished 4 x EC and 4 x Docetaxel. Some days were rough, some days were fine - I seemed to get into a bit of a pattern with side effects which helped me manage - overall was not as brutal as I was expecting. Now waiting to start radiotherapy - 20 sessions I believe. Was hoping it would be done and dusted before Christmas but delays in appointments means it wont be so not thrilled about the daily hospital visits over the festive period and had a full on meltdown over it when I was told but ... just got to get on with it and then hopefully start rebuilding in 2026.

@AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanc So pleased to hear from you! Glad the chemo went ok and it’s done and dusted . Good luck with the radiotherapy. I’ll be thinking of you. 💐

Hi everyone, new to the club - received my diagnosis after biopsy on 30th October. I don't know the grade or stage only that they couldn't find the primary on the mammogram but did find in a lymph node in my armpit. I had an MRI last week and CT on Monday. I'm not sure if it's ok to chase my Consultant via email to his PA or if I'm being too impatient. Swinging between total doom and ignoring it all.....any advice appreciated!

Edited for typos

Hi @Snoopy1612 , newby here too. Just offering a hand hold really as I know how stressful and tortuous the wait is. I got my biopsy results last week after a two week wait in which my emotions were like yours … ranging from ignoring it and getting on with life to feelings of doom. My result was stage 2 hormone receptor positive. Due surgery in December then radiotherapy. Things could change. There is always that uncertainty but on the main, I’m staying positive.
It will be better when you get your results and plan. The not knowing is the absolute worst !
Do you have a breast care nurse ?Or another contact in your care team ? Maybe reach out to them if you do? There is no harm in contacting the consultant secretary either, although I doubt you’d get results quicker that way but you might get an idea of when to expect to hear back

@PoptartPoptart @Lovewine1975 @cannaecookrisotto

Apparently three days in bed after chemo isnt normal. Husband rang nurse at unit after I had been up all night coughing, this was Tuesday during day, he told them I have barely been out of bed since Saturday. They wanted me at a and e but I was too ill to go. They rang back in afternoon to check on me and I went in to a and e. Had everything checked, bloods - both arms wrecked now due to bodged attempts, ecg, chest xray, and lots of waiting but only 3 hours in total and I came out with antibiotics.
Slept 8pm until 7am and felt like a new woman yesterday. So, even though bloods didnt show anything clearly I had an infection.

Anyway now I am up in the middle of the night/day think its Thursday - tons of pain in back, think this is the white blood cell injection giving me stabbing pains.
Husband is now trained up to do the injections and now only 3 more to go. They make me feel awful so next time I will do them later in the evening.

Good luck to @Lovewine1975 for your start of chemo.

@poptart I agree with you about how you now cant plan anything, it is weird and of course we have never been in this situation before. Cant get my head around it, especially as I have been so ill.
Really we could all do with some counselling or something I dont know how you are supposed to cope with the emotional stuff as crying doesnt really help.

I post so that if anyone else feels really shit after chemo they dont linger like me and check with your day unit to see what to do.

Have just started Oscar our spaniel on his new meds but chickend out a bit and only gave him a small dose yesterday as scared of his reaction to it. Hes so adorable I get up at 3.30am and hes like oh hello mum and then back to sleep!

Someone tell me it does get better as I am sick of this already.

@cantbelieveIamhere Oh my goodness that sounds horrific - I’m so sorry you’ve had such an awful time.

The problem with all this chemo malarkey is that we don’t know what is ‘normal’. The list of side effects is so bloody long and everyone experiences things differently, so we don’t necessarily realise when things aren’t right.

I’m so glad you got treated and feel better with the antibiotics. I guess the lesson there is if in any doubt just call the number (something I will remember now thanks to you sharing your experience).

Just a question - have you tried taking the antihistamine Loratadine (brand name Clarityn) an hour before your injections? Many people on different cancer forums absolutely swear that it helps minimise bone pain and my BC nurse also said she had heard of it too. I took it religiously an hour before I injected myself (along with 2 precautionary paracetamol). Worth a try if you haven’t already.

I agree there should be more emotional support / counselling offered as part of this whole shit journey. I know Macmillan have the free phone service, but it’s not the same as having a face to face session with someone you can build a relationship with. I know anyone can self refer for talking therapy via the NHS, but this is general mental health support rather than targeted cancer support. Maybe ask your BC nurse if there is anything she can recommend? I think I might do that too.

Sending love and positive vibes for brighter days x

@Lovewine1975 Best of luck for your first chemo tomorrow - I’ll be thinking of you x

@cantbelieveIamhere that was a tough read. I could really sense your frustration with it all.
@Lovewine1975 hope the first session goes ok. Sending love

I had a call yesterday to book me in for the RFID tag next weds in advance of my lumpectomy on the 4th December. I think everything started to feel “real” then.
I was very tearful yesterday evening and can’t work out if it’s because of all this finally feeling real or if I’m possibly premenstrual because I had to come off the combined pill and am likely to come on my period at some point.
also agonising about how I tell my kids about this. All they will hear is “cancer”. My DD(12) is having some friendship challenges at school so I don’t want to rock her (already fragile) world.
It’s all so shit but I have to remind myself it could be very much worse so I’m trying desperately hard to be positive on the outside. On the inside I’m all over the place.
Bloody shit isn’t it?!

It is bloody shit @LoudSnoringDog - it’s a lot to deal with.

What you said about desperately trying to be positive on the outside but on the inside being all over the place really resonates with me - and probably with most of us on here actually. We are so used to putting on a brave face and putting other people’s feelings before our own and making sure everyone else is ok. So when something massive like cancer hits us, we still feel we like we have to be the strong one. It’s so hard.

Just a thought - when talking to your kids, could you use the word lump or tumour first, so ‘cancer’ isn’t the first thing they hear? For example - ‘I’ve found a lump and the doctor wants to remove it because it contains some cancerous cells, so I will have an operation / medicine to get rid of it and make me better’
You’re still telling them the truth and giving them the facts, but it just sounds a bit softer 🤷‍♀️
I don’t know - please choose to ignore me if I’m talking rubbish - I’ve been up half the night unable to sleep.

Take care x

@PoptartPoptartthank you, just did a chemo shop numbing cream, clarityn, and cling film ready for the injection - honestly how is this my life now! Trying to remain positive for tomorrow, sure I’ll be super nervous in the morning. When have you found the best time for the injections? xx

@cantbelieveIamhereI am so sorry you had such a bad experience sounds awful! Totally agree with you that we should get counselling of some sort, it is traumatic and so much to deal with mentally. Normally this time of year be excited planning for Xmas but this I have no enthusiasm for it at all! Anyway hope you start to feel a bit better soon xx

@LoudSnoringDogit is all so overwhelming I’m always crying it makes you so emotional. Telling your kids is hard, we told our DD who is 13 when I knew about the lumpectomy. She was really upset at first but when we explained about the surgery and removing the cancer she calmed down. She talks to her friends about it which I’ve encouraged and also informed the school specially now I’m having chemo as it will have a bigger impact on our lives.

Hope this helps in some way xx

@Lovewine1975 I always did my injections in the evening. My thinking was that if I did get any mild discomfort, I might just sleep through it!
I put the numbing cream on, took 2 preventative paracetamol, and 1 Clarityn about 8.30pm. Took the injection out of the fridge at 9pm. Jabbed at 9.30pm and then off to bed with a cup of tea and a book.
Best of luck x

Just adding my 2 penny worth re: injections.

I did mine at night for the first 3 rounds no problems but then out of nowhere I started needed to go for a wee multiple times a night and transpired because my bone marrow was going into overdrive during the night, it was disrupting my sleep. I moved mine forwards to 5pm and had no issues afterwards and made a huge difference to getting a decent nights sleep.

@PoptartPoptartah so you haven’t had any pain, literally slept through it?

@AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanci need to get up for the toilet at least once a night so maybe earlier will be better then. I am awful if I don’t get a good nights sleep and not good with pain either!

@Lovewine1975 No pain at all from the injections so far 🙏
Maybe I’ve just been fortunate, maybe it’s the Clarityn, maybe it will be different next week, but so far so good.

I had no bone pain from the injections. I also took Clarityn (and continue to now). I did however, have horrendous bone pain on Docetaxel and recommend going straight in with the Oramorph if it's prescribed. I tried to brave it for the first 2 cycles as didn't want to use it but once I did, was so much more comfortable.

Oh just remembered something I read on another forum - basically people were saying that changing the injection site helped. So some people had bone pain when they injected into the stomach, so they changed to using their thigh and the pain went.
I can’t vouch for that but a lot of people were saying it’s worth a try 🤷‍♀️
It’s all bloody trial and error and hoping for the best!

Thanks for everyones responses, I am in pain with the achy stuff from the filgrastim. I havent been able to eat much today and of course some of side effects may be from the antibiotics. Have been on anti sickness and anti other end meds.

I have tried the lotradine have had one before each injection, I dont know if the injections build up or what but this is shit.

I have seen some people only get 5. So do you need 7 or is 5 enough.
Have spent day clutching hot water bottle.

I wish I could sleep through these bastard injections but last night definitely could not.

Enough already am totally f.......off

Yes a regular emotional support contact would be good, but it would also be good if maybe a gp checked on you - is that a novel idea?

Aaah so maybe docestaxel causing bone pain too, and thigh instead of stomach might be an idea though I heard it hurt more there but I do have emla

whats oramorph?

Sorry @cantbelieveIamhere I'm not familiar with your situation but if you are on Docetaxel then I would absolutely say this is the main cause of your bone pain. I didn't have any on EC and then it was bloody awful on Docetaxel so definitely was not due to the injections.
My oncologist advised a scoring system for me to go by:
0 = no difference to normal life - no tablets
1-3 = low level pain and discomfort - paracetamol
4-6 = can't get comfortable, paracetamol not taking the edge off, noticeably higher level of pain - codeine
7-10 - absolutely stopping you from doing everyday tasks because of the pain - oramorph.
She prescribed me both codeine and oramorph just in case so I had them ready if i needed them. I used the codeine immediately and then the oramorph by cycle 3, it was the only time I felt truly out of pain.
Oramorph is liquid morphine. The tiniest amount helped take the edge off

Hi @dancingwhilstfacingthemusic @MonOncle just catching up ...
I hope your neuropathy has improved @MonOncle
I totally hear you with the hoping this would all go away after chemo @dancingwhilstfacingthemusic
I am due to start my radiotherapy in December and have been planning 'operation rebuild my life' and then a phone call with my Oncologist brought me crashing back down yesterday. She is recommending Letrozole and Zoladex now and then after radiotherapy Bisphosphonates and a CDK4/6 inhibitor which I believe to be ribociclib or similar.
I just want my life back.
I will be interested to hear how you get on

Reading with empathy at all the ongoing crapness.

Having had a miserable consult with an oncology specialist on Monday, I had a decent conversation with my favourite oncology nurse which has me feeling much better. She was very practical about exploring options if the ribocyclib isn't suiting me and let me vent about being medicalised again.

Basically, I have to attend the cancer centre every month for bloods, then go back a couple of days later to be given my 3-week supply of ribocyclib. They will monitor my immune response, liver, heart and red blood cells, all of which can be affected. I'll be issued with pills for vomiting and diarrhoea, and have to check my temperature twice-daily, just like chemo. Great. This is all a bit much but I'm going to try to style it out as well as I can.

Science is great, but fuck you, cancer.