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]

Oh my good lord my heart is going to come out of my chest in a min 🥺

No it’s a clumsy comment that I’ve been using myself to reassure everyone around me! The natural assumption ( from most people) is on hearing the C word we automatically propel ourself to the worst possible outcome ( death). I’m saying that there’s no suggestion at all from your diagnosis ( which sounds almost identical to mine!) that this is the case. Stay off google if you can. I didn’t mean you are going to die from it at some point. I meant park the thought of death at all if you can and focus on the here and now ( which on the whole, is positive with treatment) sorry if I’ve stressed you. That’s not my intention at all

@LoudSnoringDogi know it wasn’t. It’s me reading into every comment. I’ve had to stand outside to catch my breath I thought I was going to stop breathing at one point! I’m trying to stay off Google and other threads on here but it’s hard.

@ohdoriswheresthesalad - yours is stage one and hasn’t spread. Not stage three.

They have caught it really early. Really early.

Shall I think of it like this

I have a small area of abnormal cells, like what a smear test can show. They are slow-growing and hormone-sensitive. My lymph nodes look normal. Surgery is planned to remove the cells, and follow-up treatment will protect me. I am not ill, and my outlook is excellent. I am safe and will live a full, normal life

is that as true as it comes?

I think you're just in shock at the moment. We’re all going to die of something one day. It’s part of life.
99% survival after 5 years is incredibly high. It basically means that you’ll be more or less cured.

Think what chances are of dying of something else… hit by a bus as the classic example ? You need to put it onto perspective.

When I went for my initial ultrasound and needle biopsy, the radiologist told me it was likely cancer from its appearance and density. She put a titanium marker where the lesion was and said if it turns out to be nothing it won’t do any harm.

All they’re doing at the ultrasound is getting an idea of what it could be and yes, yours was perhaps looking typically, like something benign.
They have a lot of experience in what they’re looking at but really the only way to find out is by sending away a biopsy. That’s why they do it. It’s not that they’re incompetent. The human eye just can’t tell.

You'll have a breast care nurse allocated to you.Please give her a call.
I found mine absolutely brilliant. Full of information to answer your questions and reassure you.

The first day after finding out is very shocking though. I’m usually healthy, fit, eat well, exercise etc. It doesn’t seem fair but as you get more time to process this I think you’ ll realise you’re going to be ok xx

Oh, and avoid Google like the plague.
Its mostly all outdated.
Stick to sites like Breast Cancer Now, McMillan. Known uk sites.

You are unlucky to have this diagnosis but so very fortunate it has been found so early, it is curable. Read up on the Macmillan website, eat as healthily as you can and exercise.

Yes exactly.

With mine I ended up with two surgeries which initially was scary but the surgeon said to think of it like a boiled egg. They removed the yolk and wanted to make sure they had all of the white. They are very thorough. When it is at this early stage it’s a small group of cells as you say and they can remove it easily. The radiotherapy is belt and braces as it were. Or as we Irish say to be sure to be sure!

what does my analogy sound like? Is it true?

So effectively it’s like abnormal cells in a smear test isn’t it

@ohdoriswheresthesaladthe way I’ve dealt with it is by reminding myself that on thd day I got my diagnosis, other women would have been getting far worse update than me and I was in a much better position than many. Yes it’s utterly shit ( and all the appointments are a massive inconvenience ) but I could be told I’ve got heart disease, I could have a stroke. Etc. the prognosis for our diagnosis is really very good so please hold onto that.

@LoudSnoringDogno I get that. It could be worse. I tell people that all the time in my job. But when it’s you ifs different isn’t it. I’ve calmed down now. The breast nurses arent answering the phone atm I’ve been trying for over 40 mins. I’m sorry you’re going through the same thing. Not a club you want to join is it!

The breast nurses usually get back to you fairly quickly. Leave a message.
Glad you’re feeling a bit better.

Phone macmillan help line !! they are pretty good and have nurses that answer quickly , they will reassure you.

Trust them. If they are saying it it’s looking positive , let go of your worry ( I know it’s really hard) and believe them. They know what they are doing. They do it every day and successfully treat even the more complicated cases. Best wishes to you.

Same for my mother. She is still here, fit and well a good 20 plus years later. I know it's scary at the moment op.

I’ve had macmillian call about finances and that but I don’t plan on being off work that long so I think we’re all good. I don’t think I want loads of people involved!

I just want to have the op, recover, go back to work and then have the radio and tablets and be done with it all.

I was diagnosed stage 1 via my first screening mammogram. My treatment plan mirrored what you have been told. Operation done as a day patient. You need to have someone with you as very woozy after op. 13 years on I’m still still and thriving and now back in usual screening programme after annual mammograms. Yes I’m a bit lop sided as a result of lumpectomy , but nothing a padded bra can’t disguise . It’s terrifying to hear you have cancer, but it’s a blip in the road. Good luck.

@tougholdbirdythank you , I’m sorry you also had this diagnosis. That’s good news. I’m going from terrified to I’ll be ok x

I had stage 2 DCIS in situ nearly 20 years ago.
Clear nodes, no chemo, still here. Good luck with it all, sounds like it was caught early.

Well, that's what happened to me, and I was fine, i also wanted to keep on working as I didnt feel ill!
The best thing is that you know it hasn't spread.
Tamoxifen was fine too, no side affects.

I’ve told my children. Skirted round the issue but no lies were told. Took it well I think because I kept it short sweet and didn’t mention cancer just abnormal cells.
was that the right thing to do?

I was diagnosed stage 4 (from the offset) 7yrs ago.

Once your treatment plan is in place, things will feel a little clearer.

deep breaths - you’ve got this.