Breast cancer process - can you enlighten me?

[spikemomma]

What happens when you find a lump? Do they take bloods at the biopsy or do they do this at the lumpectomy stage? Is it then they tell you the prognosis and what chemo/radiotherapy to have?

I'm interested as someone i know is currently undergoing the first stages of diagnosis. :o(

normally first step is a biopsy taken via needle iykwim. you hear within hours whether is is considered sinister or not.

good luck to your friend.

Sorry to hear your news. If you don't mind, I'm going to post in Site Stuff asking that the : o way of doing a grin is removed. This is the second time in the last couple of weeks I've seen what was meant to be a :( come out entirely the wrong way.

I'm sure it's not exactly your highest priority now! I remember two-and-a-half years ago when my step-father was first suspected of having cancer my head was all over the place. There was a definite shock zone after the original diagnosis - he had a rare form of cancer called a thymoma - but he dealt with the treatment magnificently and is now back to full health, even though part of the tumour remains.

Wishing your friend all the best. If it does turn out she (or possibly he) has cancer, a friend of mine recommends this book for friends and family.

I was diagnosed last December. It is not always as quick as a few ours to get the result of a biopsy - mine was a week to wait.

Yes the biopsy result informs some of the treatment required as it will indicate for certain whether the lump is in fact a cancer, the aggressiveness of the cancer and possibly the stage ie how far it might have reached.

However the op to remove the lump also tells you more and usuaully a sample of lymph glands is taken as its important to check for spread there. This in my case indicated I needed chemo, radiotherpay and Tamoxifen for 5 years.

The Breast Cancer Care site if helpful if you have more questions. In addition a group of us who are having or have had treatment are on the Tamoxifen thread.

Hope this helps. Your friend will need to take one step at a time. She'll value your support, I'm sure.

Spikemomma I was diagnosed with BC 2 years ago, so will tell you what happened to me.

At the first visit to breast clinic after discovering lump, I had an examination, biopsy, blood tests and mammogram.

two weeks later I had results and two weeks after that a mastectomy. At your mastectomy or lumpectomy or whatever surgery you have, they test to see if cancer has spread to your lymph nodes. In my case it had, so I had bone and CT scans to check it had not spread further, then had the rest of my nodes removed under my arm.

Because lymph nodes were involved I then had chemo for 6 months. then radiotherapy, a year of herceptin (Not everyone has this part - it depends on the type of tumour). I am now one year into five years of tamoxifen treatment (this is an anti cancer drug.)

Its very early days for your friend, if its of any help, I was told at my first appointment by the consultant that he was certain it was cancer, tests just confirmed. I don't know what your friends situation is.

Her prognosis if she is DX, will probably come after her surgery when they can determine the extent of the cancer.

All the very best to her, it's a worrying time, but have a glance at the tamoxifen thread if you want to see all us BC ladies leading normal lives and getting through it

x-posted with one of the tamox gang

Thank you soooo much everyone. I'm feeling really gutted at the moment. Tribpot - thanks for the emoticon comment, i couldn't feel further from a grinning icon if i tried.

I think it has spread to her lymph nodes, so she needs at least one out. I'm praying it hasn't spread further.

Thankyou all very much for sharing - whether you who have had or are currently going through this horrendous process, thank you for taking the time to share your information with me. xx

sorry to hear about your friend spikemomma- it must be very frightening for you too...KurriKurri and sandripples mention the tamoxifen thread which might be helpful and encouraging for you to look at -we are there and can help & reassure ! My experience was having suspicious area shown in a mammogram so went back to have further mammograms,ultrasound and core biopsy,which revealed in a few days that there was cancer.
Within a few weeks i had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy (where several lymph nodes are removed for testing) Fortunately the cancer hadn't spread beyond the breast tumour and I only needed radiotherapy and tamoxifen. Hope this is helpful