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I think the waiting is the hardest part....

14 replies

Worriedd · 20/01/2011 09:36

Forgive me as a first time poster - I am more at home on PistonHeads than mumsnet!

Shortly before Christmas my wife found a lump just above her breast and had a biopsy. The initial results were inconclusive and further tests were done. The hospital rang yesterday to say that she needed to come back in to discuss the results and have made an appointment for tomorrow. Naturally all sorts of things are going through our mind, not least that there is a history of breast cancer in my wife's family but what I was really looking for was help with the conversation tomorrow. Assuming the diagnosis is not good, are there particular things I should be asking? Never been through anything like this before so any suggestions gratefully received. Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
KurriKurri · 20/01/2011 10:54

Worriedd - I'm so sorry your wife is going through this, - you are absolutely right, the waiting is the hardest part, - I speak as a breast cancer patient myself.

If she is Dx with BC, then what you probably need to know is what path her treatment will follow, probably initially surgery, then the results of the surgery will determine what happens next. (Occasionally people have some chemo before surgery to shrink the tumour.)

Not everyone needs chemo - it depends on the size of the tumour etc. some people have surgery then radiotherapy and possibly tablets afterwards, depending on whether its a hormonal cancer or not.

There are several different types of BC, and what type you have will obviously influence the type of treatment you have.

Take a pen and paper with you to the appointment so you can write things down you need to remember. Your wife will be assigned a breast care Nurse who will be an invaluable source of information and support - they really are wonderful and you and your wife can phone her and ask whatever you need to know or are uncertain about.

YOu are often bombarded with leaflets and info. - which can be hard to take in when you are feeling emotional an bewildered. So take your time to look through it all when you get home.

I do hope everything goes well for your wife and I wish the very best, I can say from experience that once the initial shock of diagnosis has passed, you may both feel calmer because you will know what you are dealing with, and your DW will be starting on her treatment and on the road to recovery.

Breast Cancer Care is a good informative organization (just google the site) and they also have helplines you can phone.

There is a thread here on health for people with breast cancer - we are all at different stages of treatment and recovery and have a fair amount of experience between us. Please do pop onto the thread and ask questions - you will get all kinds of help, and everyone is welcome patients or family for support Smile

MaryAnnSingleton · 20/01/2011 11:07

hello Worriedd - am so sorry you and your wife are facing this- absolutely agree that the waiting is so hard. Also agree completely with Kurri Kurri's advice and you would be most welcome to join the tamoxifen thread.

Worriedd · 20/01/2011 11:16

Thank you both very much. I wouldnt have known what the taxmoxifen thread was all about if you hadn't alerted me to it. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

OP posts:
LimeJellyforBrains · 20/01/2011 11:16

Hi Worriedd
I have just been through lumps and diagnosis (before Christmas) and surgery (last week).
Not much to add to Kurri's excellent post.
The fact that you are concerned enough to post on your wife's behalf tells me you are going to be a great support to her Smile: it's hard to take everything in at the meetings, two pairs of ears are better than one.
If surgery is needed, my Breast Cancer Nurse advised me to go for Sentinel Node Biopsy as the 'gold standard' procedure to test for any cancer cells in the lymph nodes under the arms. This affected my choice of where to have surgery as not all places offer it. This would be something to ask about.
Best of luck for tomorrow, hugs to both of you x

kreecherlivesupstairs · 20/01/2011 11:25

I speak not as a BC sufferer but as the friend of one. It isn't a death sentance. Hers was discovered following a routine mammogram when she was 42. No family history and it came out of the blue. I was with her when she was diagnosed and the shock was indescribable. She had a mastectomy and lymph node biopsy which showed it hadn't spread that far. She then had radiotherapy and a reconstruction seven months down the line. As we were in a developing country, I think her treatment was way behind one in a developed country. 11 years on, she is still free and has not made any lifestyle changes apart from not having chemical HRT for menopause problems.
Stay away from google and the very best of luck.

Cakesandale · 20/01/2011 11:34

Worriedd - Nothing to add except, very good luck for tomorrow. You sound like you are a great support.

In the meantime, try not to worry too much: they'd have you in asap for the results good or bad - they know people are anxious.

SparkleRainbow · 20/01/2011 12:04

Worried - Good luck for tomorrow, I completely agree with the advice and support you have already been offered here, they have been a fantastic support to me. It might not be malignant though. I am having surgery on Monday to remove a mass from my breast which they think is probably benign, but want to remove it in case it develops into something else. Fingers crossed for you, it may not be as bad news as you fear.

sandripples · 20/01/2011 18:18

Worried - good luck from me too. I am alos on the other thread and its been wonderful support over the past year for me. I've come through a lot of treatment OK and so will your wife. But yes, its tough at times and especially during the early weeks when you are reeling with shock and things are unclear. Try to take one step at a time and don't assume the worst - I know this is easier said than done but the capacity not to panic will stand you in good stead.

I found that I 'reeled' for 203 weeks then clamed down somewhat, then once I finally got a treatement plan it was easier. This did take a number of weeks though as its only after the op that you really know what you're dealing with.

I know the sentinel node biopsy is gold standard but in my hospital it wasn't available yet my surgeon gets excellent survival rates. Does mean you have an op on the arm-pit which is painful afterwards though, if they don't do the sentinel thing. I did have to have all my lymph nodes removed as the sampling showed there was spread, but the second op (to remove nodes) was much less painful afterwards. (No nerves left I think)

Good luck tomorrow.

sandripples · 20/01/2011 18:18

Sorry - that should have been i reeled for 2-3 weeks not 203.

Cakesandale · 21/01/2011 09:36

Thinking of you both for today worriedd. Hoping for good news.....

philmassive · 21/01/2011 09:48

Just to add my support really, I am a few weeks behind your dw as I'm off to my first appointment on Monday. I can only encourage you towards the other thread, and the wonderful support and understanding you will find on there. Sending good vibes to you both. And, when the horrible panic and fear subsides, don't forget to remind your dw what a cracking hubby you are for even thinking of this!

MaryAnnSingleton · 21/01/2011 10:56

thinking of you both today Worriedd- hope it's all ok and do let us know

KurriKurri · 21/01/2011 12:52

Thinking of you both today Worriedd, and hoping for the best for you.

SparkleRainbow · 21/01/2011 13:50

Sending best thoughts to you worriedd. Hope you are ok.

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