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💗

@Imtiredthisyear I have my fingers crossed for you . I’m having a bit of a down day today as been doom googling treatments. I really don’t want chemo due to the side effects. Mine is going to be preventative treatment and I know there’s a high chance of it being chemo and it’s making me spiral

@triballeader no real advice other than try to eat well, stay hydrated and just listen to your body. If you need to rest then rest. Pushing through will only make you feel worse in the long run.
You have my sympathies - there is no tired like chemo tired. It’s like having a hangover plus jet lag plus no sleep for 48 hours. Horrible.

Really hope it is as positive as it can be. Best of luck

Thank you, I will be glad to know what I’m dealing with.

I can imagine it’s very scary, I have heard some people find it really manageable, I know others really struggle.

My Auntie in law found it manageable with support, she didn’t have any extreme side effects.

@Imtiredthisyear i am hoping to get some answers this week too. I have my consultation tomorrow and hopefully my results of my MRI and oncotype test will be in which will determine if I can swerve Chemo (keeping everything crossed I can) I think we are so lucky this test exists now as previously it was virtually a given chemo would be given
I agree living in this limbo is quite exhausting
Hope you get to avoid chemo too @Firework73 google can be a killer for increasing anxiety I have stepped away from it now after realising I didn’t like any of my mastectomy options and I am hoping to be guided by the surgeons/doctors now
I know I want reconstruction but I also want the quickest recovery so I am hoping we can get some sort of implant scenario which works although I know there are risks of complications if radiotherapy is needed
Hope everyone on this thread is as well as they can be today and moving closer to that cancer free goal

I’m getting my results on Friday, they asked me to bring someone with me, which I think says it all really.

Feeling calmer about it all now I think, I was just so shocked initially. I just hope it’s been caught early.

Good luck to everyone else waiting on results, it’s such a difficult time.

I had good news today ( in the world of cancer) . Oncotype test result was low (15) , no evidence of further spread on MRI. So I am looking at Mastectomy and then 5 years of Oestrogen suppressants and I am done .
That is assuming they find nothing else in the sentinel lymph node when they take it out of course, but there is no evidence they will
Feeling incredibly lucky today. I hope everyone else out there who is waiting gets the best possible results for their circumstances

@Puravida23thats really great news
@Imtiredthisyear yes stay positive that they have caught it early. I’m glad you feel almost zen about it now 🥰

Good news @Puravida23 ! @Imtiredthisyear I think they always say to bring someone with you. I’m keeping everything crossed for you for Friday. It will be a relief to find out at least.

Thank you, I think, based on the ultrasound report that it might be DCIS, but with an invasive element.

I have lots of calcifications, then one small mass of 16mm. They biopsied both, so I’m guessing that’s the leading theory. Who knows though, I went as soon as I realised there was a problem that’s all you can do.

I have no real risk factors for this, so it’s all been so surreal.

Yes it is a good idea to take someone supportive with you. Even with the BCN writing my plan down for me, me being there with DH l still failed to take anything in.
one thing to be aware of; if they say it is expect a slew of extra scans and tests before seeing either the surgeon or an oncologist. I did not know it is normal practice to do so and immediately assumed the very worst scenario. It was a HER + grade 2, hence pre surgery chemo, the sentinal lymph node and some patches of grade0+ DCIS around said unwanted lodger.

currently about to do round five of six rounds of presurgery chemo’. Ithas not been plain sailing from side effects for me but my oncologist has been incredible and sees me before every round to checkl am coping and if l need anything extra to manage the side effects. Please bear in mind l have a history of adverse drug reactions and allergies that have been amplified by chemo in my case. The huge majority of the hospital staff have met to date have been increadibly supportive with only two who perhaps should not be let loose on breast cancer patients. One I would not want to see loose on any patient who l hope not to meet again or l may have to make a complaint about their attitude. Of the dozens of others from scans to bloods to chemo and BCNs they have been so compassionate and supportive they have helped make this years shit show easier to cope with.

Imtiredthisyear well done on getting checked as soon as you spotted there could be a problem. Hope all goes as well as it can and if it is you have caught it early.

Thank you for the advice, I will have my partner with me. I’m glad on the whole that everyone has been so supportive and kind.
You’re almost there, I bet you can’t wait to finish chemo it sounds like such a tough process!

It’s amazing how treatment has advanced.

Thank you, honestly it does not feel as I expected a “lump” to feel, it feels more like dense fibrous tissue.

If it weren’t for the visual difference, I might not have clocked it.

Chemotherapy unit called this evening, chemotheraphy defered by a week as i need a blood transfusion to boost my Hb level. sigh that has a knock on for all the other appointments I have comming up.

@Imtiredthisyear Good luck tomorrow. I hope it is good news but either way it will be a relief to get answers . I feel like a weight has been lifted and I can finally calm my mind after an extremely stressful few weeks now I know my results and treatment plan . And yes we still have to deal with the treatment but at least we know what road we are on

Yes, to echo @Puravida23 ’s message, good luck for tomorrow @Imtiredthisyear. I will be thinking of you. Whatever they say tomorrow, at least you will know what the treatment plan is and have something concrete to focus on.

Thank you, you’re both so lovey to think of me! Im surprisingly calm, I think my initial strong reaction was shock.

I will be glad to have a plan in place, it’s the unknowns which are so scary.

@Imtiredthisyear I hope all goes well today too and that there is a breast nurse there to explain everything to you, whatever the results x

Hello, so it’s stage 2 triple positive IDC, ct was clean, they are confident that I will be okay, it’s very treatable.

One lymph node is involved, but nothing other than that. I’m relieved it’s not spread further, nervous about recurrence which is probably daft as I haven’t even treated it yet!

They are throwing everything at it, but are confident. Dreading chemo but I know I need it.

Thank you for your support!

Hi I’m so relieved for you . Have they discussed specific treatment for you ? I got a call yesterday to say that my cancer is very highly hormonal so I will definitely be having hormone blockers for some years to come plus radiotherapy. Chemo remains undecided but highly likely . On the one hand they need to decide if the benifets outweigh the risks but then the other is whether I should have it to kill it off . Chemo would happen first then radiotherapy and finally the tablets. I have my oncology appointment on the 21st to discuss options . The BCN mentioned my age the fact that I’m pre menopausal might mean I skip it but then it’s flipping gone to 1 lymph node which is why chemo is better too … I really want to avoid it … I’ve been off work for nearly 4 weeks and the thought of chemo and the side effects is just whirling around in my head …

I do hope everyone else is doing as well as they can be . Thank you for allowing us to share thoughts here . For me I am the strong one at home and everyone is saying how strong and positive I am but inside I’m spinning 😵‍💫

Thank you, I’m pleased and grateful it hasn’t spread further, but sad of course that this is now my reality.

I think I’m having pretty much everything, which is intense, but I know it’s the right thing to do. I’m looking forward to putting this in the past, but I know I have allot of treatment to get through first.

My nurse said that I will be less afraid as time goes on, and as I tick the treatments off.

There are vaccines on the horizon which aim to reduce recurrence. Not available yet, but in clinical trials with amazing results, so I’m focusing on that too.

Iamtiredthisyear,
if you have HER+ in that mix please expect to have chemo before surgery. I gather from others the EC side of the hormone positive can be a bit bloody tough but you can find a lot of info and support on the Breast Cancer now forum from others who are that bit further ahead in their treatment. THe nurses on the Breast Care Now helpline are so caring.

I am booked for a blood transfusion at 8am tomorrow at my regional hospital. I hope it proves to be nothing like the past three emergency PPH protocols I have endured. Plan on letting the nurses know that has happened as DD who works as a burns and plastics nurse has advised as it’s part of my hospital trauma response. She has promised Ìt is not the same and I hope she is right. Therapist has been working on coping strategies to get into theatre not how to cope another blood transfusion.

Very glad your CT came back ok, and you have your diagnosis. I'm triple negative and still awaiting CT scan. It's very difficult not knowing the full picture isn't it. Best of luck with the start of your treatment

It’s crazy that feeling of relief that it’s “only” breast cancer isn’t it, I was in such a state about the CT scan from the moment it was requested. Your diagnosis sounds very similar to mine. I’m recovering from surgery now which has been fine but I’m very aware that this bit is probably going to be the easy bit compared to chemo. I’ve asked they throw all they can at it to limit the risk of recurrence. I hope you’ve got lots of support and are getting lots of TLC tonight, it’s a lot to take in