Please hold my hand. Possible breast cancer.

[LoveWins86]

I went to the doctor 2.5weeks ago with two new lumps in my right breast, one which moves around and feels smooth and is closer to my armpit, and the other, moves still but to my touch wasn't as smooth. She said they were probably fine, and both were smooth and movable, probably fibroadenomas caused by hormones. I'm 43, and still give my 4yr old a comfort feed to sleep (not sure they get any milk tho...)
I questioned her saying I felt the main lump in the breast wasn't as smooth and she reiterated it was, but referred me to the breast clinic.
Breast clinic is running behind (their words) in their appts, leaving me panicking by yesterday, so I went for a private ultrasound.
Well the sonographer wasn't very positive, said that the main lump is suspicious but she couldn't confirm either way.
Also some axillary tissue is different or something?
I'm just spiralling. I have three kids who i don't want to leave. If it is cancer, is the smaller, smooth lump already a cancerous lymph node meaning it has spread? The lump in the breast is about 2cm already and has 'some suspicious features'. I can't find a single picture on the internet that looks like mine, not even the cancerous ones. She mentioned a possibility of it being a lactating adenoma that could have been there a while but which I didn't notice until I deliberately lost 1.5stone. It seems unlikely though, given the second smooth lump?
NHS has finally given me an appt with a consultant for mammogram, ultrasound and biopsies for next Friday and in the meantime I am imagining it spreading, and me not being treatable. It's awful.
I really need a hand hold. And I need to be here for my kids.

Awww @LoveWins86
Thinking of you this morning and sending a big hug.
You’ve got this! Trust the process and the nurses will support you through it all.

My surgery is Monday morning and I’m dreading it as I know it’s the start of whatever is to come next and a necessary procedure to beat this horrid disease.

@biops big hug to you too! It will all be okay. Keep strong x

Hi @LoveWins86 how are you doing?
I'm so nervous about my surgery tomorrow. Trying to not think about it!
Just wanted you to know I was thinking of you. x

Hope you get some sleep @Maisy7

Amazingly I did! Feeling okay atm.Going for my shower with the anti-bac wash soon.

Thank you all for your support since my diagnosis on 10/9 - surgery day is here. It’s been a long 5 1/2 weeks.

xxx

Hope all goes ok with your surgery @Maisy7- I had my lumpectomy on Dec 4th last year. Everything happened so fast. Thinking of you and your family today and wishing a safe recovery

@LoudSnoringDog hi and hope I'm not detailing things here.. You had a lumpectomy last December. I had mine about a fortnight ago. Can you tell me if you were troubled by itching within the boob afterwards please? Am thinking of calling the breast cancer nurses. Have tried antihistamines but no joy, it's still sooo itchy. Hope this is ok to ask here..Many thanks :)

Hi @EmailsaysOOOyes I had itching for a while. Is your skin broken / red? My BC nurse said it was common. Have you been on the Breast Cancer Now forum? I found it really helpful on there for post op chat.

@LoudSnoringDog ok thanks, no I haven't tried that site but I will do soon. No, my skin is unbroken. The itch is from inside the boob, not near the scar. Maybe I will have to grin and bear it

Thinking of you today @Maisy7

Hope all is going well @Maisy7 I'm well on the other side of all the surgery but remember it well.

Been thinking of you today, @Maisy7

And you too, @biops ... how are things now? Any more answers?

I have found chemo extremely tough. Severe nausea on days 1 and 2, then yesterday just weak. Today, I have horrid neck pain and I don't know where that has come from, except I didn't sleep well last night? It's all a bit scary as I don't know what to look out for in terms of danger zones. But I think I'm ok

I might have pushed myself too far yesterday as I didn't even take a rest.
Hope everyone is ok xxx

@LoveWins86 were you given a number for cancer nurses and / or an acute oncology service or 24 hr helpline at your hospital? Have found them both helpful for checking side effects, getting advice, getting further help if needed... It's really hard to know what's what, I agree, as it's all totally new. But they all know way more!

Also, think they should have given you a traffic light system that flags if / when you should call the helpline for advice?

Thank you @biops how are you doing?

Little up-date sitting up with my heart cushion in my own bed.
my DD who has been such great company all day…drove me home at about 6:30 and we picked up a Chinese on way home as a treat!

Admission at 7 am. I was 3rd on surgeons list. So went for surgery at 1:30ish back in recovery at 3 ish. The surgeon and team have all been amazing. The surgeon came to see me afterwards and the anaesthetic team (GA) were unbelievable and even went to see my daughter whilst I was still in recovery. The scars look neat from lumpectomy and the sentinel lymph node biopsy. Very grateful for that. Will see surgeon again on 5th November for results and next steps.

I hope this helps anyone in same position.

btw my stage 1 tumour 18mm, surgeon said hadn’t really grown since first detected on 1st September. That felt reassuring. As I had been worrying that 6 weeks was along time.

Positive vibes and holding a hand to all who need support and for all you who read some of my posts.

Tonight I am grateful and moving forwards.

xx

This is most likely nerves regenerating and from tissue damage.

@LoveWins86

Darling girl don’t know how I missed your post earlier. Chemo is a lot from the start and no doubt everything so new to you every ache and pain will be upsetting.

Please reach out to you BCN, look at BreastCancerNow, maybe find support from them too for info and simeone like me you can share with.

i think it’s really tough and so be really kind to yourself “baby steps’ and remember you will get through this!

Sending a big hug and positive energy xx
ps rest is really important and hard to do. But remember lots of water, keep hydrated and do rest. Xxxx

@LoveWins86 EC was the worst for me. I found by day 7 I could manage again. One day at a time and you very slowly feel 5% better but you will get there. Be kind on yourself and do all that you can to bring yourself joy; whether that’s a film, a nice cold or hot drink, a nice moisturiser. It shall pass.

Would I be able to jump on this thread. I’m sorry you’re all going through this. :(
I went to the breast clinic last Saturday thinking of be brushed off but 1 lump became 2 lumps, both suspicious and so the same day I had biopsies. The radiographer said it was 50:50 but the appointment at the end with the surgeon?? Seemed very kind of gloomy about it all. But was positive about the fact that my lymph nodes were clear. He asked for my bra size though? Why would that be?! I’m reliving the whole day and don’t have an appointment until 6th November! My right breast feels so sore still. I had 3 biopsies in each lump…

@firefoxx so sorry you’re going through this, you sound very similar to my experience in terms of it going from chill, to 50/50 to gloomy. I know it’s really hard right now; but at the moment the stats are in your favour, it sounds like it was a U4 undetermined lump? If so it is not a foregone conclusion it’s cancer, in fact statistically it’s still less likely that it is, even with a U4.

Thank you for replying @biops so quickly. I wish I’d asked more questions now but I was in shock I think.. the radiologist said both lumps were solid and jagged :( I only went in with 1 lump… so I suppose that feels very lucky as I had not noticed the other lump at all… it’s right on the other side too. Apparently where they are does also rule out some of the benign possibilities. I wish I’d asked am how big the lumps were… also will I get called back earlier if it is cancer?!

the radiologist said it was 50:50 but the surgeon at the end seemed more gloomy?!

@firefoxx I want to give you a hug, you are me 6 weeks ago! Yes radiologist and consultant were like that with me. But neither would say definitively cancer (and they can sometimes tell at this stage it’s cancer, so you really do need to remember it can still be benign, they’d have told you if it was most likely cancer, if they can’t tell, take them at their word).

I wasn’t called back earlier, even with an aggressive cancer, they were going to leave me 3 weeks until I called and asked to be brought forward!

The consultant will have written a letter, the only thing mine said that I didn’t know was that it was a U4 and didn’t show on mammogram. That letter was eventually loaded to NHS app, you could potentially call the clinic and ask for a copy sooner? A breast cancer nurse may be able to call you and talk through what was recorded and any questions you now have. But it’s tricky without biopsy results.

Of course you can join this thread @firefoxx x
its horrid isn’t it not knowing. I spiralled lots at first. 9 days for me between biopsy and confirmation with my surgeon. Who did my surgery yesterday. 5 1/2 weeks later.

We are all here for you and biops has given you great support/advice

Best not to Google or make assumptions. I’d phone the dept breast clinic you went to and ask your questions with a breast cancer nurse. I wrote all my questions down first at the beginning after being in such a state of shock. Then called them. It really does help and they will reassure you as best they can. Until they get confirmation from pathologist they can’t confirm to you only you can guess from what they say.

when I was in the ultrasound and biopsy they told me my tumour was suspicious, then when I went back to the Consultant and she said you’ll meet your surgeon at the next appointment once results are back we can confirm the treatment. At that point I still hoped it was benign.

They asked for my bra size too and I wondered why? I now think it might be to do with size of tumour in ratio to breast size?
My lymph nodes were clear too, but they decided to do a sentinel lymph node biopsy at the same time of lumpectomy. This is normal to do investigation that any cancer cells haven’t spread.

Hope you get your appointment soon so you know next steps.

Big hug 🤗

I'm so sorry you're facing this my love. I'm a stage 3 bilateral breast and lymph node cancer survivor. I was diagnosed at 41. It was utterly out of the blue. I wish I could take your worry away. If it is, and I hope its not, you can beat this. You don't know me, but I'm holding your hand.

@Maisy7absolutely sound advice. Stay away from Google. Sending you so much love ❤️