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💗

@GrannyGoggles thank you for your encouragement, its really lovely to hear from people who are on the other side of all this shit.

I'm really struggling with the idea of a scarred/mangled boob from the lumpectomy and SNLB. I was merrily thinking it would be very tiny but it seems I'm wrong (only a quick Google not spoken to surgeon yet - that's next week)

Ive always had big boob's and whilst im v unlikely to get them out in public now (not least because im fat) they've always been my 'thing" since I'm not blessed with nice legs.

Am I being ridiculous?

It’s natural to worry and you’re not being ridiculous This is my experience: I’ve had a lumpectomy in each breast (15 years a part) and they aren’t mangled at all. They both look fine ( scarring around nipple but hardly visible once things settle down) Removal of nodes can be uncomfortable for a bit ( worse than the lumpectomy itself ime) but as long as you don’t do too much and do the exercises it’s fine very quickly and again the scar is hardly visible ( and it’s under arm in my case anyway) . Best wishes x

You’re not being ridiculous, it’s completely normal to worry.
Everyone is different but my experience of a lumpectomy and SNLB is very similar to @Nonamelass

I have a small scar under my arm from SNLB and a scar around my nipple which actually isn’t that prominent really as it kind of blends in with the colour of the skin under the nipple.
For the first 8 weeks or so after the lumpectomy my boob looked and felt quite lumpy, hard, and swollen. But just recently I’ve noticed it has settled down and feels and looks more normal each day.
There is no way you can tell I’ve had a lumpectomy when I’m wearing a bra and clothes.
The SNLB was more uncomfortable than the lumpectomy in terms of recovery, but just make sure you do the exercises as directed and you’ll be fine x

Please don't worry about your boob with a lumpectomy. I had a very large lump removed and my scar goes from my armpit across to nipple. The lump was right up against my ribcage And it still looks like a boob! To be fair I felt self conscious for a few months but now I really don't care.. I feel quite proud of my war wound and in time so will you

Thank you all for your reassurance.

Daft really I'm sure i wouldn't be so freaked by a appendix scar!

@dancingwhilstfacingthemusic @cantbelieveIamhere @Lovewine1975 @LoudSnoringDog @KimonoQueen
and anyone else I have accidentally forgotten…

I just wondered how everyone is getting on with treatments / waiting for results?

I’ve got EC chemo #3 tomorrow. I’m on a two week done dense schedule, so it all feels a bit relentless. I’ve only had 3 days of feeling normal ish.
I’m particularly not looking forward to the bloody steroid insomnia for the first few days. My husband has threatened to hide the credit card to stop me boredom shopping on Amazon at 3am 😆

Hope everyone is doing ok x

Hi @PoptartPoptart

im just about to leave for my pre op blood test. I have an appt on weds next week to have the lymph node dye put in and then lumpectomy on Thursday 4th.
I’ve felt pretty fed up about it all this week if I am honest. I’m trying to be positive but it’s really hard. Both my adult sons are home this week so I’m planning to tell them what’s going on, maybe that’s why I’m finding this week a challenge

hope you are doing ok. Thank you for asking. I’m strangely fed up of people in real life asking how i am but seem to quite appreciate the chat on here.

I don’t know why I’ve copied the first post!!

@KimonoQueen had a lumpectomy back in February - my (very faint, practically invisible) scar is around my nipple. I pretty much look the same as before. The neat little scar where the lymph nodes were removed is hidden in my armpit. I hope they makes you feel better about it all. But it's completely normal to be worried!

@PoptartPoptart I had dose dense EC, you really don't get much chance to regroup, before you're having the next one. I hope it goes okay.

I'm still waiting for results of my PET CT, to see if I have mets 😬😔

Hi @PoptartPoptart I remember the middle of the night shopping very well! Keep going!

I have started my chemu tablets alongside my anastrozole. My sleep hasn’t been brilliant on all this, so I’m glad my working life is flexible. They said that the side effects would probably build. Yay. I have a party bag similar to the one I took home each intravenous chemo. They’ll check my bloods every 2 weeks for the first few cycles.

Thinking of you @dancingwhilstfacingthemusic and hoping you have very few side effects.

Hi Everyone, mind if I join? Diagnosed yesterday following a recall for routine mammogram couple of weeks ago. Had repeat mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy, told likely cancer, confirmed yesterday- 18mm, grade 1 oestrogen and progesterone positive, Her2 negative. Plan is for a lumpectomy, remove 3 lymph nodes end of Dec/early Jan, then radiotherapy and 5yrs hormone blocker.

I am relieved

Thanks @BatshitCrazyWoman , we KBO eh?!

welcome, @MrPanks , so sorry you find yourself here. My diagnosis was very similar but escalated a bit! It’s all doable and science is amazing.

Oops, didn’t post my full message.

I am relieved it’s likely easily treatable but anxious about the treatment. I’m 56, married and got a 16 y DD, and a very demanding job. Just getting over a tough period between Jan and July when I had several colonoscopies and an operation to remove a massive polyp due to suspected bowel cancer, whilst poor DD was doing her GCSES. Luckily it was all fine. But feeling a bit sorry for myself and DH having to go through this now.

Anyway, just wanted to say hi and wish everyone well for your upcoming treatments.

@dancingwhilstfacingthemusic thank you. Sorry to hear yours escalated, that’s rubbish.

Hi

looks like I have the same diagnosis as you. My op is next Thursday

also trying to navigate how to tell my kids.

a warm welcome to you. We are all here together

Thank you @LoudSnoringDog . Sorry to hear that you’re in the same boat. How are you feeling about the surgery? I hope everything goes smoothly.

@PoptartPoptart sorry to hear you have only had three decent days, I have been given a reprieve after being ill for 17 of my 21 days cycle.
They have deferred my chemo for a week and reducing the docetaxal and giving me better anti sickness meds - akeynso or something that lasts 5 days.

Apparently if I think more positively about the fact that the dose will be lowered and sickness meds work it should all be ok next time.

did i sound a bit sarcastic.

Anyway I hear you about the side effects, its all pretty shit and apparently I cant avoid the white blood cell injections which made me iller everytime i took them

also fed up of christmas shit everywhere when i dont feel christmassy. You have been much more polite - hope tomorrows dose goes well and side effects are manageable - at least you have got to no 3!! good luck

@Lovewine1975 - how are you doing?

@PoptartPoptartI’m feeling ok thank you for asking, and back at work which felt very surreal after last week, I did get a bit of bone pain earlier this week but had stopped taking the Clarityn so wonder if that’s it. So just enjoying feeling normal before next Fridays chemo. I’ve not heard of dense schedule, that must be hard having only a few days feeling normal, how many cycles are you having? Xx

@cantbelieveIamherethanks I’m feeling pretty normal this week, making the most of it before next weeks chemo!
I hate the injections as well and think that’s where I got the unexpected bone pain from earlier in the week, I do hope things improve next time round xx

I have a call with my Consultant tomorrow so hopefully will get my detailed diagnosis, prognosis and plan - worried but at least I'll know what I'm dealing with.

It’s so nice to hear everyone’s updates.

@LoudSnoringDog I hope it goes ok telling your sons. It doesn’t matter how old they are, it’s still tough telling your kids.

@BatshitCrazyWoman keeping everything crossed for you as you wait for the results of your scans.

@dancingwhilstfacingthemusic good luck with the new tablets.

@cantbelieveIamhere I’m glad they have decided to give you better anti-sickness meds and at least your deferred chemo will give you a bit more recovery time. You had a really horrible time.

@Lovewine1975 glad you are doing ok. I’m having 8 dose dense cycles in total - 4 EC (tomorrow will be my third) followed by 4 Paclitaxel. I have no idea why our treatment plans are so different seeing as we have the same diagnosis 🤷‍♀️

@Snoopy1612 good luck with the call from your consultant tomorrow.

@MrPanks welcome. I’m so sorry you find yourself here too.

And best wishes to anyone else who is going through this horrible journey. Cancer can feel very lonely at times but this thread helps knowing we are not alone.

Hi all

@MrPanks I think im ahead of you by a few days with the exact same. And just behind @LoudSnoringDog - I told my (young-ish!) adult DC they have been very supportive.
Thank you @BatshitCrazyWoman - hoping my scarring will be like yours.

Had my consultant chat today . He was very reassuring. Said it was quite small (less than 10mm). Aiming to go via the edge of the areola to minimise scarring.

All being well at pre op - he wants to do it as day surgery on 16th Dec. Which to my mind would be amazing. Would love to evict Larry the Lump before the end of the year.

Then wait for the biopsy to see if theres any spread /make sure its got clear margins.

So much happier for a plan of action.

@PoptartPoptart @LoveWine1975 @cantbelieveIamhere @Snoopy1612

@dancingwhilstfacingthemusic

Thank u all for your kind words.
All positive energy and vibes to all of us slogging through it

Hi all it’s about time I joined this thread. I was recalled after a routine mammogram in July and diagnosed with IDC grade 2 Er+ HER2- in September. Had WLE and SLNB on 16th September tumour was 24mm (larger than expected) also had some DCIS, and the single node was clear. Finished 5 days of radiotherapy on Tuesday this week. I didn’t have the tattoos but some marker stickers instead. Boob was slightly pink yesterday evening but is ok today. Had a few shooting pains too.
I haven’t ventured down to the pharmacy to collect my Letrozole yet and I can’t say that I’m very happy about having to take it knowing the numerous potential side effects. I had been on HRT for 2.5 year at diagnosis and am missing it.