Likely breast cancer after ultrasound - thread 4

[spartanrunnergirl]

Hi all!

Thought I’d start thread 4. I’ll put links to the previous threads below.

Welcome.

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).

Three 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💗

I think that means that your tumour is very hormone driven - oestrogen and progesterone, but one of the sites like breast cancer now will give you a fuller explanation.

I had my wide excision and sentinel lymph node biopsy today after a diagnosis of Stage 1 grade 2 invasive ductal carcinoma. It’s er/pr positive but don’t know about HER yet.
It has gone surprisingly well and I am home already, just feeling very tired but only a little sore. My emergency Caesarian was much worse.
Next appointment with the surgeon in 2 weeks for biopsy results and next steps.
I also feel quite detached from reality!

Glad all went well @MidLifeWoman, just make sure to take it easy for the next few days. I overdid it on day 4 after the lumpectomy and got a train to a dental appt, which has knocked me out for a few days.

And totally relate to feeling detached @Firework73, it so surreal to be given a diagnosis and treatment plan while life carries on as normal. Good news that the op is so soon, and hope you’ve got something lovely to distract you over the weekend.

Hi I am new to this thread. I spotted a lump in my breast a month ago and it has since been removed as a suspected Phyllodes tumour. I am waiting to find out if it is malignant and my hospital have sent off for a second opinion. I am likely going to have a second surgery to make sure the margins are there but the waiting is almost too much to bear. I feel I am on the edge of a cliff and I don’t know how long the drop is going to be. I don’t know when the second opinion will come back. I guess I just wanted a place to say..I’m not ok at the moment

Welcome @Yellowsky21, this is the place to be if you feel like just venting , scared or just to talk . It’s been comfort to me … the wait is the worst bit but hopefully you will find out soon … I went for my pre op today . All good apart from my BP shooting through the roof . Combination of white coat syndrome and trying to take in everything that’s happening… can they stop the op if my bp is high ?

@Yellowsky21 Welcome. It is totally understandable to not be ok. The waiting is just awful. I definitely think it is better once you know and then get a plan. Before then the speculation in your head can drive you mad. I found work helped to take my mind off things to an extent, but of course everyone is different. I hope you don’t have to wait too long for your result.

Hello @Yellowsky21 and welcome. We’re all in the same boat here and it helps to talk.

@Firework73 for the pre op my blood pressure was through the roof, but I suffer from major white coat syndrome as well as being a tad stressed by this whole shit show. I took more readings at home and could reassure them that my BP was ok at home. Yesterday before the op the BP was again sky high and they decided to move me up the list. The anaesthetist was able to control the BP then. It was fine again today at home.

I think I suffer from that too … thanks that’s reassuring to know they can do something

@MidLifeWoman I’m starting to get nervous now . I’m having a lumpectomy and a lymph node removed . Did you go home the same day ? How has the recovery been so far ? My work have been great considering I’m giving them two working days notice !

@Firework73i had sentinel node biopsy and lumpectomy as part of a bilateral reduction and was home by 7pm after 11am admission.

@Firework73 I had to be there for 7.30 am yesterday for a lumpectomy and lymph node removal. My op was at 10 and I was home by 4pm. I am a bit tired today and the wounds are a bit tender, but I am not in pain.
I felt really well looked after. They could tell that I was super nervous and everybody was very reassuring.
Bring a front fastening bra and a (pyjama) top with buttons down the front for afterwards.

Thanks , I bought a front fastening bra today from Marks . I’m not in till 12.30 I’m really stressing about it all internally but trying not to show it to my family … I’m not sure if I’m getting chemo or radiotherapy…. Meant to be on holiday at the end of Aug too

I have been distracting myself with work and an awful lot of shopping (very unlike me!).
I will find out about further treatment in 2 weeks. I have a wedding abroad to go to in June…

@Firework73 Your cancer is hormone positive - that's what the ER8, PR8 means - ER (oestrogen), PR (progesterone).

The grade describes how closely the cancer cells look like normal breast tissue under a microscope and how quickly they are likely to grow and spread. 1 is the slowest, 3 is the fastest.

HER2 is a protein that fuels breast cancer. Your is HER2 negative which means that it isn't something you need to worry about.

If there's anything you're not sure about, talk to your BCN or even your consultant and ask them to explain the terminology to you. That's what they are there for. Ditto Macmillan. If your hospital doesn't have a Macmillan drop in centre, call them. Maggie's too.

---

A few might recognise me from other threads, I had a grade 3 IDC, hormone positive. A sky high oncotype result so had to have six months of chemo, radiation but declined hormone treatment. Initially opted for a single mastectomy (without reconstruction) but after my oncotype score came in and discovering I have mutations on BCRA 1 + 2, I had a second mastectomy almost a year to the day after my first.

In July, it will be three years since my diagnosis, and last month saw my second anniversary of finishing chemo. Am not on OAFU, and am still under clinical oncology, but now my check-ups are every six months. Hopefully after the next, I'll finally be move to OAFU.

It's a long road, but you will all get to the end of it! One day, all of this will seem like some surreal dream and life will start moving again. I know for me, my hair growing to a length where I could tie it back was a huge thing. Now, it's long enough to get into a top knot. It's just a shame my eyebrows never really grew back.

Oh, two more things -
Those who are doing hormone treatment/endocrine therapy, if you're not getting on with the medication, it's often worth asking for a different brand - things like fillers, capsule coating etc etc differ from brand to brand, and often just changing brands makes a huge difference.

Vagifem! While HRT isn't allowed for those with hormone positive breast cancer, you can still use topical oestrogen which really helps if you're doing endocrine treatment and/or chemo has pushed you into an early menopause. Also, I opted to take a light anti-depressant in lieu of HRT and it really helped with hot flushes.

Anyway! And most importantly wishing everyone on this thread all the best and much love ❤️

How are you, @Firework73 ?
Thinking of you, good luck for tomorrow. Xx

Thanks @MidLifeWoman, I’m feeling anxious as I am worried my bp is going to be high as I suffer from white coat syndrome and they’ll cancel …. Also does this sound weird … I’m stressing at losing control whilst under anasthetic for a few hours then waking up not knowing what’s happened for the last few hours

Are you me?!?
Don’t worry about the blood pressure, they can deal with that.
I was worried about the loss of control, too, and about freaking out or talking nonsense. In the end everything was really calm.
All the best x

lol! Nice to hear a fellow control freak thank u … I’ll post in a few days see u in the other side xxx

Thanks @doublec fot such a helpful post.

My post surgery appt has just been brought forward from 3 weeks after 8 May to tomorrow afternoon, be good to know next steps but the anxiety goes into overdrive doesn’t it?

@lovewine1975 how are you? I think of you from time to time and wonder how you’re getting on, seeing as our diagnosis and timelines were so similar.
I’m finally all done now! Surgery, Chemo (4xEC, 12x Paclitaxel) and 10x radiotherapy.
It doesn’t feel real and I think my brain is taking awhile to catch up and process it all.

Chemotherapy 4 done yesterday, two more to go followed by surgery. have an appointment with the surgeon third week of June re single masectomy and auxiliary lymph node clearance with surgery end July early august. Still trying to get my head around becoming a uniboober as l am sure l do not want surgical reconstruction at the same time.
hope everyone else is doing okay for a given quantity of okay.

Hi all , well I made it back… surgery went well and they removed the lump and as many axcillary nodes as possible. I feel q ok surprisingly . Have a chest tube in till next Tuesday . I did end up staying the night though but all good . Follow up on the 2nd . What should expect then ? Treatment plan ? I hope everyone is doing ok xx