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💗

Morning. Best wishes to all those going through chemo, radio, surgery.

I’m off to the cancer centre today for a pre-assessment for Ribocyclib to layer over my anastrozole and Zol treatments. Just when I thought it was safe to go back in the water …. I’m grateful to science but I’ll be back there twice a month for bloods and script. It puts it right in front of my face again when I had managed to get through some days without thinking about it.

@dancingwhilstfacingthemusic I hope it goes ok at the cancer centre today.

I can totally understand what you’re saying about being grateful for extra science advances but also wanting to move on and not have it all thrust back into your everyday conscious.

How long has it been since your initial diagnosis and treatment? I probably have read your story up thread but I get confused and mix different peoples stories up - chemo brain is definitely a thing..

@PoptartPoptart i was diagnosed after a mammogram recall in July 2024. I had a lumpectomy, a resection to get better clearance and then a mastectomy/ reconstruction as a third op as my cancer was tricky to get clear margins on. Nodes clear.

After Oncotype testing, I had 16 cycles of chemo from Oct 2024, 12 paclitaxel and 4 EC. I cold capped and used cold therapy mitts and socks as neuropathy was starting. I finished chemo in March this year and was put onto letrozole.

The support of the mn cancer groups has been amazing.

@dancingwhilstfacingthemusic that’s a lot.. no wonder you feel like you do.

@PoptartPoptartthe last two days I’ve felt absolutely exhausted, yesterday had nausea for a lot of the day but that’s calmed down now thank goodness. Today I’ve never felt so tired and lethargic, hopefully this only lasts a few days but I’m ok side effects are still not too bad x

@Lovewine1975 the tiredness is something else isn’t it?
Almost like a hangover, jet lag and a really really late night all rolled into one.

@PoptartPoptartthat is the best description 🤣🤣 I didn’t think I was actually going to drag myself out of bed today, I did just to lie on the sofa! How have you found your taste? This morning coffee was horrible and a banana didn’t taste great only ate half of it xx

@Lovewine1975 yes to bananas tasting horrid! What’s that about?! 🤷
I went off coffee pretty much straight away anyway, but can tolerate tea.
I also tried to drink some orange squash to break up the monotony of plain water, but that bizarrely tasted like burnt toast! It’s all very strange 😂

Evening everyone x I have an appt on weds to have an RFID tag fitted? Is this a bit like the biopsy?

@LoudSnoringDogI had this done for my lumpectomy and it’s similar to a biopsy where they use local anaesthetic to inject the tag, it’s ultrasound guided like biopsy but it’s over really quickly. When I had it done took about 5 mins if that and didn’t feel a thing x

Thank you. I thought as much but wanted to check

does anyone have advice on preparing for the op and recovery? Any particular vitamins I should consider? ( for immune system) any diet?
sorry I’m probably thinking out loud!

The breast clinic I attended don't deal with the operation (they just do the biopsy). So I've now been referred to another hospital to agree the procedure.

Thats not til 27 November. 2 weeks after the diagnosis. The clinic said probably 4 - 6 weeks once I've seen the surgeon. That seems like a horribly long time to wait....

@LoudSnoringDog drink as much water as you can the day before surgery, and as much again the day after.
Do the post surgery exercises religiously.
Try to eat ‘nutritionally dense’ food, veg and protein heavy before & after.

Have a v easy, delicious supper ready to come home to

Hi everyone! and hi lobular friend . I’ve had it.. nearly 24 years ago ( at 35) treated by lumpectomy FEC chemo ( that was the name at the time anyway) radiotherapy brachytherapy ( tubes in boob) chemical menopause and tamoxifen. Absolutely nothing since , until now , I’ve got to go for a breast MRI cos check up mammo ultrasound showed a small change an inner breast scar. It’s just to check it’s nothing but this is why Im back reading BC forums arghh. I did have a different cancer in other breast too found 15 years later during routine mammo, canalaire and not linked to the lobular and grumpily went through the whole lot again ( different chemo and no brachytherapy) that’s behaved itself for nearly 8 years ( touch wood). So take heart ! a part from the two years of treatment, the scananxiety and paranoia of opening envelopes with blood tests( I’m in France and they hand you copies of results there and then which can be actually terrifyingy) I have led a happy and very normal life

Thanks @Nonamelass it sounds like despite everything else you've been hit with, it's been positive for you. I just had to undergo a re excision of the lumpectomy site as they didn't get clean margins (2nd tiny tumour spotted behind original tumour). Get results of this second op on monday and if all good, my next step will be radiotherapy. I hope everything in your MRI is easily sorted/doesn't require treatment and you don't need to go through treatment again.

Yeah I could have done without it tbf as it took me a very long time to really put the first one out of my mind and they only discharged me after ten years ( just check ups) ,If only I had had a crystal ball that could have told me I would bring my kids up and meet my grandkids, I’d have relaxed.
It sounds really positive for you ! An oncologist once mentioned that had I been older they mightn’t have recommended chemo for the lobular but as I was young , back then it was belt and braces at full force!! Radiotherapy was a doddle for me ( chemo is a different story) and hope it will be for you too! Sorry you’ve had to have another op but best to get sorted once and for all from the beginning. I’ve had a mammo/ ultrasound nearly every year since.. which thankfully spotted the second one at a small size . Yep me too really really hope MRI is ok and it’s only normal scar changes. I’ve got a yearly check up with oncologist ( for the second bc) tomorrow so will see what they say.

I can sympathise on the long wait. I was diagnosed on 21st Aug and I'm having my lumpectomy on Thurs (20 Nov) - 13 weeks. I have had an MRI, biopsies/markers and another MRI in that time and I understand they need to know what they are dealing with but the wait has been looooooong...

Hello all. Bloody cold morning….

had the RFID in yesterday. A bit sore as there was a lot of pressure from the digging around of the needle. Had a pounding headache last night so had an early night.
today it just all feels very real. I’m more emotional for sure…

@LoudSnoringDog I get that too. Something happens and all of a sudden reality hits hard again.

I’m having a very tough time today (day 7 after EC #2) as my hair has now started shredding a lot.
I knew this would happen of course but I’m finding it really hard. I had a shower and a gentle hair wash and the amount of hair that came out really upset me.
I know it’s only hair. I know it will grow back. But it doesn’t make it any easier. Feeling very sad 😢

I know this feeling - it's not 'just hair' and it is very distressing. Sending a supportive hug 🫂

I'm 10 months post final chemo, (lost loads of hair), and my hair is about 4 or 5 inches long now.

@PoptartPoptartsending lots of hugs, that has got to be so hard no matter how prepared you think you are for it, it’s still your hair xx

@PoptartPoptart I also know that feeling too. It’s bloody rotten. On a practical note, I found wearing a soft chemo cap to be helpful to stop it shedding all over everything. A lint roller was also my friend.

8 months Pfc I have a smart salt and pepper colour Emma Thompson style crop. I cold capped, so thinned on top but kept a lot of hair. I now have a stray giant curl emerging from my crown 🙄

It is really tough when you start loosing hair. You know it’s going to happen and it’s only hair ( it does grow back quickly honestly) but it makes things more real and made me actually feel like a cancer patient.

@PoptartPoptart sorry you are feeling low and its horrible to see your hair disappear its just more evidence of the horror of it all.

Its day 14 f#or me and I am only just starting to feel a bit more normal.
So I hope they can change things for next time otherwise I cant cope with being out of action for two weeks out of three.

Poptart No, it is not only hair, and yes, it will grow back. And yes, as one friend said ‘You knew it would happen.’

But it’s part of our identity, the hair loss tags us as cancer ‘victim’, is surprisingly messy and uncomfortable, and is another signifier of the loss of agency that we experience.

It will grow back, that is another f*** journey, with random curls, texture change and other strange goings on. I’m two years out from end of treatment and love and appreciate my hair now.

Feel sad, take care. Get some nice warm
hats. 💕