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]

Honestly, some people are going to say dickish and insensitive things - they just are - and you will learn to laugh about them and share these things with others in The Club... 🤗

Is there a Breast Friends organisation in your area? A Maggie's Centre? And check out the Breast Cancer Now site, it's excellent.

You sound like you've been caught at a very early stage, and very much treatable, but of course it's scary and new, and especially at this time of year... But the NHS is great at cancer, and the treatment has come on terrifically in the last few years. Do let yourself feel the feelings and don't try to rush or force things. Keep lightly busy, get plenty of sleep and good food and exercise, don't overdo the booze... The day you get diagnosed is the start of your healing journey!

My op is scheduled for the 22nd. She knew how anxious I was before Thursday so think she knew sooner rather than later was best for me in terms of waiting etc. she was very kind.
everything planned is all next week and the week after. I don’t think nothing needs to be canceled but I’m doubting myself?

‘( I was 35 with 2 kids) It was the ‘you have to stay positive’ that got me. Erm Excuse me …I’ve just been told I’ve got cancer , can I have a little moment ? ( I’m 59 now btw)

And you’re so brave… actually not really …I’ve got no choice… but people mean well and say it out of love.

I definitely can’t stand the battle language.

I don’t mind ‘you’re so strong ‘cos it’s true , you do find the strength to deal with it somehow. but everyone is strong in their own way and it’s alright to be weak too.

yes I think that’s appropriate.

the language is problematic as it puts to much responsibility on the patient. And if the prognosis is bad it makes them feel they’ve not fought/ tried hard enough. Which is really bloody unfair.

it needs to be reframed as you say, they’ve found some dodgy cells, they’re going to take them out. (That’s actually the main cure.) And you might have some belt and braces follow up treatments and medicine.

Chat gpt has said the same as you. It’s the correct term without saying the c word.
You don’t need to be using terminology that makes you feel sad cos it’s your need to tell and you frame it joe you wnat to.
I do feel a bit better tonight talking to you guys thank you xx

I thought the citalopram would help with anxiety? It’s been 2 weeks Monday since I started it?

ah sorry I missed that

I had my op and went on holiday 2 days later (locally). It was quite nice actually. We went to somewhere we’ve been a few times and I got to rest a lot. Lots of people around to keep the kids entertained. It was a nice distraction tbh.

the only thing you may need to check is eye lashes for your mri , which is magnetic - on my leaflet they said something about mascara as it sometimes has metallic particles in it. When I asked they said it was more of an issue with false eyelashes. But just book in afterwards.

that’s a great way to approach it.

Ah thank you I have the perming thing whatever it’s a called I can’t remember the correct word now.
so hopefully I can get booked it for before my op so least o look semi decent for Xmas even if I feel like a sack of shit.
my mother seems to think I’m going to be a ball of shit for weeks after the lumpectomy?

I can’t remember how long it took me to recover; I do know a colleague was back at work about 2-3 weeks after hers, quite a physical job too. I took more time off as I was coming off hrt and starting tamoxifen. I had to have some counselling for that as I felt like I was a “failure” for needing more time - the reality was my situation was different. (That was the battle language impacting negatively again)

I don’t know if this is helpful at all; feel free to ignore! - the book “moving through cancer” was a revelation to me. It’s all about exercising through and/ or after cancer treatments.

it describes getting up and moving quite quickly after the operation, and being as active as you can (obviously just walking at first) which helps recovery.

there’s lifting and exercise routines to follow through different stages of treatment. It can help some of the side effects and improve energy levels.

I found it helpful to have some sort of control over my body. I hadnt done resistance training before and it got me into it. I’m so much physically stronger now than I ever was when younger, and I also think that helps mentally. I also got into a habit of kitchen dancing to fave tunes as one of my weekly exercise slots; that was and still is definitely very uplifting.

I will see if I can get it on my kindle so the book isn’t lying around for eyes to see 👀
that’s really good thank you. I was going to try and do walks etc while I’m off.

defo not a failure my dear for needing more time.
I think I will be the exact same. Where do you go for counselling?

I hope you had some sleep last night, and feel better this morning

I was lucky to get some via MacMillan but I’m not sure if they still do that or if it’s was just for new patients

ask your bc nurses. I think you can also self refer to talking therapies but you may want someone who’s more used to this context or there may be a service that’s a bit quicker

the positivity in that book helped no end though

I had mine through McMillan - 10 sessions.

This was earlier this year.

I hope you're feeling a bit better this morning @ohdoriswheresthesalad

I'm over a year out after a grade 3 (which meant chemo) diagnosis of IDC (so not the same as you). It's honestly a horrible time when you're in limbo like this. And, to be honest, your family and friends are really not helping you! Definitely use the words you posted up thread. If anyone is going to fall apart, they need to take that elsewhere, far away from you! And yes, go out, do all the things you want to do. Plan your 40th, book Disneyland Paris.

I can't remember who was talking about cod liver oil capsules and MRIs, but I had three MRIs before and during treatment, and didn't have that! I did have an MRI with contrast, which takes a bit longer - about 40-45 minutes.

Sending a big handhold, OP.

You’re not allowed to lift heavy things for a bit after a lumpectomy because of the stitches. I went to a wedding 2 weeks after mine and felt normal.

So OP, what do you want to do for your 40th? I went to Rome for mine.

I slept ok thank you. I’ll see if I can look into it I’ll ask the nurses.
@BatshitCrazyWoman I’m only scheduled for 1 mri I hope. She mentioned the dye to me.
Are you ok now? Treated and cured?
@Ikeameatballlunch@Canihelpyounowi know it’s silly but I just think of macmillan
as dying and that’s why I didn’t want them involved?

@MinnieMountain I am 40 in July and the plan was to have a small party at home the weekend of, bbq, meal out etc.
then November go to Disneyland Paris for 3 nights for my birthday. I love Disneyland and world. We were lucky enough to be able to do Paris 2018 and because of a mess up their end, we ended up spending 4 nights in the Disneyland hotel courtesy of them. It was fabulous. Then went to Florida 2022 with us 4, sister brother in law and baby niece.
so all hoping to return 2026 to Paris.

But I feel like nothing can be planned. It’s all limbo. She kept saying “well depending on mri”. Which is why my anxiety is telling me that the mri is a bad thing and it’s going to show my boob is covered in cells and I’ll need the mastectomy and chemo.

my partner said the images on her computer looked like the area was small (he said looked like about a 2 p coin and I already know the lump is around 2-3 cm I believe from previous mammogram and was told 2 weeks ago it hadn’t grown ) and she said a small area of c cells
BUT I’m so used to things keep going tits up I’m just expecting this to end up worse than it is.
does that make sense?
what is the likely hood it’s worse than the mammogram and ultrasound and biopsy result?

MacMillan is about living well with or after cancer - that’s their focus

your op is very soon so you’ll have lots of answers by January- half the anxiety is the unknown, it’s very frustrating

so make flexible plans - I didn’t have a 40th for various reasons but I did have a 42nd

(My diagnosis was when I was 46)

I’d like a 50th but so would all my friends so having a 51st gives something extra to look forward to the year after all the parties! We are all so knackered I think we’d all appreciate the pacing!

So when you say flexible plans you mean even in July I could still not be well? And November? @Ikeameatballlunch

No - but that’s your main worry. So if you do need to postpone you don’t view it as an issue. But actually, it sounds as if planning and attending your 40th is something to aim for that is very grounding. So just go for it.

I was doing tabatas on my water rower by 8 months and I’d only got it just after diagnosis. I went to a huge gig I was really looking forward to and danced all night exactly 6 months after my op.

But surely July this will be a distant memory?

Yes it will!

Your diagnosis is completely catered for - they have an excellent plan for you.

it sounds like your emotional regulation around all of it could do with some support - which counselling really can help with.

id maybe not get that book I suggested simply as I feel you just need to distance yourself from the c word. Which many people do. Just get lots of fresh air, prioritise sleep and do some workouts if you feel up to it. Or sit and eat mince pies in front of the telly 😁. And monitor the sad face jar !

Sally Gunnell is posting some ace little dumbbell routines on Facebook at the moment if you’ve never done any of that.

I’m struggling with aspects of my other health conditions at the moment and get very anxious about it. I’m finding my current counselling/ cbt fantastic. Two sessions in and my mindset has completely shifted. Half of it from me is being able to communicate what I need from others too.