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💗

That was my fear … on my first visit to the breast clinic the urgency to get the MRI and CT booked was really made clear which made me think that they had seen it spread . It got even worse when I got to the hospital 4 days later and there were a q of people waiting in front of me however I got rushed through ! That was my really low moment. I do think if they feel it’s spread you will find out sooner than later but fingers crossed like me it hasn’t . Mine has gotten into the damm lymph nodes now which btw are still quite swollen after the op . Hoping that’s normal .
I am in the space now where I just want to get it done ! X

It’s so tough isn’t it, I didn’t realise breast cancer was more prevalent in new mums, or that it could develop so fast.

Im glad you’re working your way through the treatment, “get it done” is a really good attitude.

I’ve found the medication really helpful, it definitely made me calmer. No emotional meltdowns in the past few days!

I hope your family are being supportive, mine are wonderful I’m so lucky.

Just got back from my post op appointment. Mixed news … Positive s are that I’m cancer free currently. Not sure if I’d said earlier but when I was going through my initial tests there was something on my left but told it looked benign but to achieve gold standard when I was having my operation for the right they would go in and do a left biopsy. Found out today that he found a few pre cancerous cells so took them out . It does mean I’m back in on the 16th to have a minor procedure ( he compared it to going for a haircut!) to clear tissue and a node to ensure no more can get through . This is what my surgeon wants and apparently has to be all discussed at the mdt meeting. His view is that he’d rather kill it all off now rather than just rely on the treatment as it could be back. … I feel lucky it was caught very early . I will have to have chemo first so setting up a meeting about it all next week . . Apparently I have this rare thing where cancer seems to have formed independently from each other as opposed to metastatic which means it’s spread ( would be me !) but that’s a good thing … bad news is that I won’t be going on my planned holiday at the end of August . It’s to do with potentially falling ill abroad and not having a good immune system so makes sense not to go . I’m actually ok with it , more my family and friends who we were going with are upset … Now to discuss chemo options.
my armpit is a lot better too , I had to have an aspiration but so relieved it’s done .
Hows everyone else doing . My story is very similar to a lot of you so I’m hoping you are reading this and taking hope that there’s another side that come out of once it’s out if you xxx

Hi @Firework73 that's really great news, am so pleased to hear it and it sounds very positive going forward. Are you feeling some relief?Though of course, it really sucks that you have to cancel your holiday. We have a couple booked and am really dreading telling the kids they're not on.

That’s the thing as it stands the family will still go as I want them too . It was for my sisters 50th and there are 11 going ! I really want them to go and funnily enough I am not as disappointed as I thought I’d be as hopefully there will be more holidays to come . I’m worried about the chemo type now though …

@Firework73 Good to see you are ploughing through your cancer treatment. Hope the Chemo is not too arduous
I am still in the waiting room with two confirmed cancer tumours and waiting for results of my MRI and oncotype test to come in to firm up my treatment plan . I have a consultation next week so hopefully will have a clearer plan next week
Typically I have loads coming up including my son's wedding in July and a holiday in September so not sure how it's all going to work but trying not to worry about it until I have to
I have booked to immortalise my breasts in plaster in a couple of weeks so if nothing else. I will have a lasting legacy of them if I end up with a mastectomy which is looking likely (and a dubious inheritance for my children 😂)

Checking in after not being on here for a couple of weeks. Welcome to those newly diagnosed or waiting and sending strength to all those in the middle of treatment.

I'm feeling frustrated today - I was supposed to be starting radiotherapy. However, I had a mammogram a couple of days ago to check an area of calcification that had been detected in my original mammogram. They had tried and failed to biopsy it back in March, and then tried and failed excision biopsy during surgery. On the new mammogram it was confirmed as still present so this means I now need another stereotactic biopsy which is going to delay radiotherapy for at least 3 weeks. Worst case scenario is that it is DCIS which I know isn't the worst thing in the world, but the change in plan is frustrating me.

I know I'm lucky that I didn't have any spread to the lymph nodes and didn't need chemo. However it is playing in my mind that I must have a propensity to develop breast cancer as I had bilateral tumours, plus this possible area of DCIS, and then another suspicious looking area which was picked up by MRI but was too small to biopsy and they decided to just monitor. It feels unresolved to me as I'm not sure if I'm still walking around with cancer.

I’m glad they are being so thorough, but it must be so difficult having to go through an additional procedure.

Im sorry you’re missing your holiday, but I’m with you! I would not want to be in another country falling ill. Once you have finished active treatment I hope you’re able to take a wonderful holiday! X

Morning everyone. I am now 1 week post my first chemo session. I haven’t been too bad apart from tiredness and some bowel issues but mentally have found it challenging just to think of all the chemicals pumping through my body when normally I try to be really healthy.
It seems there is a big American cancer conference on this week and every day are new developments announced and alternatives to chemo. I am very glad for those that follow on this path but can’t help wishing I could have avoided chemo, although my partner who actually is involved in this area of research, tells me that none of this would have been applicable to me due to the size of my tumour and the lymph node cancerous cells.
Anyway, I survived the first lot and at least know what to expect. I was very stressed in the run up last week.
Good luck to all those waiting for news or embarking on the treatment journey. Big virtual hugs to all.

@rhubarblover I had my first chemo a week ago too. Felt terrible over the weekend especially heartburn, then as I got better developed diarrhoea. Most side effects starting to subside but still very tired. Also finding it almost impossible to wear a bra as it dug in when I had the heartburn/indigestion/hot flushes and made the skin tender around my back and sides. If anyone has any suggestions for a comfortable bra top thingy I would really appreciate it. I've small boobs but feel that walking round the house with them flopping about is not helping 😱😂

@Aprilcherry04
sorry to hear about the heartburn. I guess everyone reacts differently. Glad side effects are subsiding now though.
Have you had to inject yourself every day with some drug to stimulate white blood cells? I have had to when no one here to help. A whole new world!

Can’t help with the bra top sorry. I had a mastectomy so still wearing my old manky bra with NHS pad in there while waiting for proper one to be fitted. I was tempted to go braless ( especially in last weekend’s heat) but my adult son is staying and it didn’t seem right.

@rhubarblover I've just to get that injection the day after chemo so once every 3 weeks. The district nurse gave me it. Poor you having to do it yourself! I'm not especially afraid of needles but not sure if I could inject myself. I'm a bit of a scaredy cat😫

@rhubarbloveri am using the Velcro fastening ones from marks and might even convert to them . Would they help? Quick question about chemo , my biggest fear is the hair loss ? Is this a side effect they have said to you guys based on your combination of drugs ?

I had that injection every day after round one. Said I found it very stressful and it was replaced with one long lasting one (peg filgrastim) for subsequent rounds. I expect it’s cheaper to do the daily ones 🤔. Are you taking daily loratadine? That can help with the pain from those injections.

I’m having final chemo next week. I feel ok if I take it easy but I’m shaky and tired and fed up. I have a phone call about radiotherapy the following week, will be so glad to leave chemo behind.

I wear the M&S cropped top sleep bra things. So comfy.

I called the clinic, no updates, apparently they should be in early next week. I feel like I’m going to be sick, this waiting is awful.

I think we're in exactly the same boat. My appointment is on Wednesday. The waiting is hell.

@rhubarblover I've just to get that injection the day after chemo so once every 3 weeks. The district nurse gave me it. Poor you having to do it yourself! I'm not especially afraid of needles but not sure if I could inject myself. I'm a bit of a scaredy cat😫

It’s awful, in my case, I think there is little hope it isn’t cancer, it’s just seeing how early we caught it.

Im so drained it’s unreal, they sent my doctor a letter explaining that I had been told they think it’s malignant.

They said not to google, but what else are you supposed to do. I can’t seem to think of anything else!

I hope you find out soon and that it’s good news 💐

Oh
thank you. It's the worst isn't it. They pretty much diagnosed me there and then too, that must be how they do it (obvs wasn't expecting bad news, just blithely trotted in!) Have been told they've seen it in my lymph nodes too, so I'm managing expectations accordingly. It's fucking hard going from totally fine three days ago to facing this isn't it. Do you have kids? Mine are 3 and 7, and it's very hard to be around them without bursting into tears

Hello @Imtiredthisyear and @Sekhahdjcd
I’m sorry that you are both going through this and still stuck in that awful information vacuum early diagnosis (as am I to an extent).

I had my MRI a week ago now (MDT meeting was today apparently). My anxiety is through the roof right now. My chest feels awful, my back is sore, and one of the lumps now feels suddenly more obvious and tender. I’m convinced they’re going to tell me it looks more widespread/advanced than the original report says.

I feel like I’ve just fallen to pieces physically since the official diagnosis 2 weeks ago, and that my thoughts of getting stronger and ready for a mastectomy have just evaporated ☹️

I would have hoped if they wanted to biopsy again or something they wouldn’t leave it until my appointment with the surgeon almost 2 weeks away!? I tried calling my bcn today but no answer. Almost feel it’s just as well as DH is really spiralling and I couldn’t face potentially telling him today of a curve ball.

They found 3 lymph nodes that look suspicious, so they have done biopsies.

I have two, my youngest is under two but we were talking about having another.

What makes it a bit more complicated a close family member was told she had breast cancer 10 years back, she was told to tell her family, so she did… Two weeks later, they apologised, that had made a mistake. I don’t think that is the case for me, but it complicates my feelings.

We were also planning on putting the house on the market, it’s just caused chaos and really tanked my mental health.

Let’s hope we find out soon, the waiting is awful.

Good afternoon lovely ladies, I feel like a bit of fraud on this thread, I had biopsy a week ago following my 1st ever routine mamogram, really thought it would be fine but they found something and took 3 biopsies. Agree the waiting is difficult. Hope everyone is managing ok today

@Firework73 re hair loss, yes I have been told to expect around the second cycle. They did offer me a cold cap but I declined. Also offered me an NHS wig appointment. Haven’t taken that up either. I assume I will waft around in scarves and different colour headgear. We’ll see. It’s losing eyelashes and eyebrows that will bother me more, I think.

Thanks @rhubarblover, may I ask why you declined the cold cap ? That maybe something I go for if I’m offered …