Grade 1 breast cancer

[ohdoriswheresthesalad]

I have been diagnosed with grade 1 Non specific type breast cancer today with dcis in situ. Lymph nodes clear from ultrasound.

I am massively worried. has anyone had any experience of this?

• [Title and first post edited at OP's request - originally titled Stage 1 breast cancer]

No I know. I just can’t cope with the unknown and the thought of everyone there knowing my fate before I do.

I need to stop reading it it’s doing me any good whatsoever. I’m back at work tomorrow for a week 🤞🤞 so that’ll distract me as I do long hours so won’t have time to sit and wallow.
my pack is still in the car I don’t want to look at it.

I have found macmillian to be helpful too.
thank you xx

Honestly think about your job and things you do every day maybe several times a day…you know what you are doing and it’s the same for them. They work on this type of situation ( and much worse ones) day in and day out. Trust them..
Maybe if you find this thread comfortable and supportive stay on here but don’t go off wandering around the other ones at least for now?
In my case bit by bit when I was ready ( literally probably years later) I found out it was grade 2 . Not grade one like you 😊 and here I am talking to you 24 years later and there will be people with grade three in my case too !
Worst case scenario you need a mastectomy.( it really doesn’t sound like they think you need it) and so what? It’s an operation they do every day and you’ll have a reconstruction and get on with your life!! Like hundreds of thousands of other women. When you go shopping later you’ll probably go past a few women who’ve had BC but they are justing living normal lives and its not written all over them.
Take heart you can do this !! baby step by baby step ;)

Exactly!!

Yeah I’m not going to wander about anymore. I’ll stay here.
it’s not the mastectomy per se that’s worrying me. Take it I don’t care. I don’t need it 😅
it’s the whole im sitting here trying to carry on as normal (trying 😂) and thy are in receipt of info about me that i don’t know about, they could cancel surgery a week tomorrow and i will be told with 3 days notice.
if I needed it id have rather been told straight off not oh well book the lump removal, sort work etc, you’ll be off around 4 weeks, the bcn were all these soft bras are good for lumpectomies, you’ll not be ill, recovery will be good etc.
then for me Thursday for the 3rd Thursday in 6 weeks I’ll walk in that room and be given a bombshell and all my thoughts plans etc are all bullshit and yet again I’m having difficult conversations with my kids parents sister grandads AGAIN cos I’ve been bombshelled AGAIN.

I have it in my head they’re looking for more c cells and that’s what it will be Thursday.

the scene in my head for Thursday -
I’ll walk in.
she’ll say “not good news again I’m afraid “
they’ll cancel everything, I’ll be in limbo again, work have no work for me as they’ve not given me any for 4 weeks as that is what I was told on the 4th - to plan for that.
I’ll end up with a mastectomy and chemo in February and be off work for months, this will affect my life, my kids, my partner. My work. My whole entire being is in this appointment Thursday YET AGAIN.

In a way though worrying about what they might or might not say on Thursday won’t change anything. So if you think about it you are just putting yourself through hell by worrying for nothing.
I reckon they are already pretty sure it’s a lumpectomy but if that changes you will face it ! You are stronger than you think 😉

You’ll just ring work and tell them and see if they can give you hours, there’s always people off with bugs in this season so they might need you anyway. I honestly think it will be a lumpectomy though 😉

If people around you are being all maudlin and negative that’s really unhelpful and there’s actually no need for it !!! tell them you are sick of talking about and put a comedy on the tv or something ?
😊

I know all this but it’s like my thoughts over take and I can’t be talked down.
it possibly will be a lumpectomy it’s just my head.
no one or anything has given me any reason to think otherwise. Other than my head.
people around me are very sad face , hey @Ikeameatballlunch😂
very pity looks, oh are you ok, do you need anything. I know they mean well but again this does not help my anxiety as it’s feeding it?
I’ve currently done all my housework, food shopping, Xmas wrapping, beds changed, and am watching call the midwife Xmas special with a M&S shortbread biscuit 🍪

Wow so busy yesterday ! Well done . It’s great to keep your mind busy. Have a nice day today 😊

EVERY PREDICTION I HAVE IS COMING TRUE

So I called up pre assessment and asked when ill be seen, she said they will book it Thursday for Friday as they have no clue for what surgery I’m booked in for.

Rang and spoke to an BCN and she has told me that I need to prepare for the possibility of a mastectomy just like we were told in the appointment?
If the area is bigger they’ll have to take the whole thing, it’ll be no option. I won’t get reconstructive surgery until months later.
ill need drains that will need to be removed over Xmas.
she was talking like it was a 80% chance that it will happen.
she kept saying we won’t know until Thursday but you will have to decide there and then if you want it done as the slot can be given to someone else!
3 days to prepare for a mastectomy!!!
what the fuck!!

Ok

1. breathe. They are saving your life here.
2. call a breast cancer charity help line - they will be better at understanding everything and giving you a list of questions to consider. There may be some choices and options you don’t know about. There may be some tips they can share with you.
3. there is always a level of diagnosis during and after all cancer operations- they look at size and biopsy parts. The cure is also part of finding out more about it.

You are more than capable of getting through this.

write every single question you have down. Share with a very supportive person who isn’t panicking you.

ask the team all of them - preferably have your person with you.

write down the answers or ask your person to do so

I have a lymph node scan this afternoon to check for what may be a lump or may just be scarring.

thinking of you

I found I sometimes didn’t process what people were saying to me in my appointments. I mis understood things. I think you need someone who is very calm to hear what they’re saying to help you

My partner said it was said like 2 options but the lumpectomy was at the forefront

This is YOUR success story. No one is quite sure of the plot yet - but you have the best care possible coming your way

I am not prepared for all this. This was not in the plan!!

I’ve had to take a tablet this afternoon, i genuinely couldn’t cope at work.

It’s hard but it is in their hands really as to what needs doing. They’re going to give you the best care and treatment to keep you well and healthy and make sure everything is gone
it is hard to let go a bit but if you have to have a mastectomy to get rid of the cancer then that’s that really unless you decided not to have it - the sooner they do it, the better. You wouldn’t want to be waiting months for this

they HAVE to tell you the worst case scenario because if you’re under anaesthetic they can’t wake you up and say “are we ok to do this?”
I had to agree to a stoma, a catheter and to a full hysterectomy before a gynae op. None of that actually happpened
i told them to take as much as needed but as little as possible

I’ve had a friend chat to me tonight and has basically said the same as you @bonesandbooth2025
I feel the nurses tone was quite harsh and blunt. I feel she could have had a little kinder bedside manner.
I know they will do what’s best I just feel like everyone is deciding things for me and I have no say or control over anything. I’ve never been ill before. I suppose noone knows how to deal with this do we.
best we can, but my best is very detrimental to my health and mental health isnt it.
I know I need to get a grip it’s just really hard with all these emotions and so much information in such a short space of time. It’s so overwhelming.

How did you get on today with your scan? I hope it was the news you were hoping for!

@LoudSnoringDoghow are you doing?

I had Stage 2 DCIS in 2007. Lumpectomy, Chemo, Radiotherapy. Lymph nodes had signs so they cleared them. Treatment is much kinder now. Surgeon will do as little as possible. My operation didn't show at all: not even a scar and your diagnosis is earlier and treatment has moved on so quickly: It was changing when I had finished my treatment. Do not panic you are in good hands and everyone who treats you will know and understand your worries. I cried the night before my operation in the shower. You will feel much better all round when you have finished treatment. Keep looking forward and try not to dwell on stuff which probably won't happen.

Forgot to say BIG HUG to you.

They deal with it daily so it’s normal to them in a way
its a bit like when you take your car to the garage and feel lost if you’re not a car person when it needs repairs as it’s all in their hands
but they do this day in day out. My gynae said “I get paid to do this, I’m very good at it and I also want the best results as it doesn’t look good for me if you’re still in pain!”

if you haven’t got it I would recommend the Calm app for sleep stories and meditations and something mind numbing like Tetris for when you start spiralling

So difficult isn’t it. I’m glad you’re all okay now?

I’ll try that app thank you. I downloaded it last week and deleted it straight away believe it or not!

I get what you’re saying about the language they use. She knew I was anxious and that as she was the nurse in with me last week at the diagnosis. But like you say she was doing her job which I understand. It’s just hard hearing it all when you’re trying to stay upbeat for everyone else.