Tamoxigang thread 50 with summer sun, sangria and maybe even some sand

[foofooyeah]

Welcome to thread 50 .... Yes FIFTY.
Lots of us are rising 50 so rather apt!

That's crap wren. It sounds like chemo is the gift that just keeps on giving :-(.

Hope its only the one nail affected

Looking for reassurance and hand holding.

I discovered a lump in right breast a month ago. I was seen by the breast clinic on Thursday. Had an ultrasound which showed a mass of cysts joined together which was causing the lump.

They scanned the left side while there and under the arm the lymph nodes there were all swollen and suspicious (report actually said up to 20 x 8mm, i sneaked a look) So had to have a mammogram and it was decided to biopsy. Had 6 cone biopsy samples taken from under the arm and they are also fast tracking a CT scan. I was seen by one of the breast nurses who was talking about the likely treatment, chemo, surgery etc. We asked about the likely hood of being cancer and she really didn't answer us except to say there had been loads of advances in treatment etc. I get my biopsy results a week tomorrow and they are hoping the CT scan will be done before then.

I've previously had thyroid cancer which was missed by scans etc. and It was only when the mass was removed did they find the cancer and it wasn't small either (About 4cm) The breast nurse said the previous cancer will have nothing to do with this one.

Anyone else had a similar experience ? I've resigned myself to the fact that it is cancer again. I'm only 35 and this is just shit :(

That should say core biopsy's

8miss. It's so horrid waiting for the results and it is indeed very crappy. It is good that you will have a ct scan quickly as then they/you have all the information- which will hopefully be all clear.

I had the meeting with the nurse after my biopsy and then had a week of waiting so understand how you feel. I don't have any experience of the lymph nodes though but am keeping everything crossed for you. Keep posting as there are so many people on here to support.

Hi 8misskitty, I am quite new on here - I really hope your news is better than mine was, but if it's not, this is the place to be for hand holding, advice, ranting and general support. Fingers crossed for all your upcoming tests and keep posting x

Hi 8miss sounds like you have had a confusing and unclear experience at the clinic. Cysts = good but lymph nodes = bad so difficult to get an indication of your likely prognosis. Some of us were told outright after the ultrasound/biopsy and some had to wait for results. They shouldn't need a CT scan to let you know it is breast cancer. Was there a possibility that the lymph node involvement was from another source? Sorry, not very helpful. Please use this thread as your safe place to vent/rage/Ask questions and mostly get some support. I am on my second lot of cancer, first one was Hodgkin's lymphoma 29 years ago, mine are related - radiotherapy likely cause of current disease. Some of us get all the luck!

Hi 8miss, sorry you haven't had much clarification about what's happening. I'm 36 and have just finished treatment for breast cancer - I had scans and biopsies of the breasts and nodes, had cancer in both. They pretty much told me then and there.

Hi 8miss, sorry you haven't had much clarification about what's happening. I'm 36 and have just finished treatment for breast cancer - I had scans and biopsies of the breasts and nodes, had cancer in both. They pretty much told me then and there.

The lump was on the right side and they have said it was just a cyst and perfectly normal.

It was just by chance they found the lymph node thing on the left side. They found nothing in the left breast at all. I had no lump or any swelling or anything.

It was the ultrasound/biopsy person who put in her report that she wanted a CT scan but the breast people had to contact my thyroid professor as I have had radio-iodine ablation 3 years ago and they weren't sure if It would be an issue. I get checked once a year for thyroglobulin in my blood as that would indicate thyroid cells present in my body, they have always been clear, last one being in Feb this year.
My thyroid specialist said he agreed with the ultrasound/biopsy woman about the CT scan.

They said that any cancer would not be connected to the previous Thyroid cancer, it would be completely separate.

There was no talk about what it would be if it wasn't cancer, only what treatment i'd get. They even told me that when i get the results, they would have already sorted a surgery date etc. So to me it doesn't look good. I just hope it's early stage.

Apologies if I shouldnt be here, but someone on life limited suggested this thread.

My fiance was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer 3 weeks ago with liver mets and lymph node involvement. Hes currently at home with a 50cm open wound but doing well.
We have been given a rough expectancy of 6 months to 5 years.

Have an appointment for the 28th with the oncologist to see if there are any treatment options.
We are being positive but struggling with other relatives negative views of the future.

Fiance and I are talking openly about everything as and when he needs to talk and we have gotten even closer than ever over these last few weeks.

We are obviously worried about what the oncologist will say but are trying not to second guess what the outcome will be.

Again sorry if I shouldnt be posting here but thankyou for letting me share.

Ludoole, you are very welcome to post here. But sorry that you find yourself here. It is a great place to get support and understanding.

Momoftwo Thankyou!

Ludoole, I am so sorry you are in this situation, I have no experience of what you are going through but do keep posting for advice, hugs and hand holding for you and your fiancé. This thread has held me together I'm the last few weeks so you are in the right place, welcome

I have a very quick question for anyone who has had lymph node removal: I'm now 10 days post-op and am regaining feeling in my upper inner arm, but the discomfort is pretty constant and partic under my armpit where the stitches are and which is now both hairy and smelly in this hot weather. Can anyone advise about when it might start to improve? I am doing the exercises 5x per day so guess I just need to be patient...?

ludoole welcome. I hope we can offer you some support and advice. Keep posting.
elporto the underarm discomfort did drag on after lymph removal. Well done on doing the exercises, that will really help with mobility but I think 10 days is still early days. Even though I only went through it a couple of months ago, I am struggling to remember how long things took but I am pretty sure that it was nearer the 3 week mark before there was a big improvement. I didn't have stitches and also no armpit hair since radiotherapy in 1985 (silver lining) so less of a problem with that, but the carrying a sharp brick clasped to my side feeling went on for longer. A pain (literally) but hopefully not enough to spoil plans for your exciting holiday.

Hi 8miss what surgery are they suggesting, if your breasts are clear - is it for lymph node removal? Or are they thinking they might find something they missed when they do a CT scan. I had an elective MX on right side after getting the all clear and they subsequently found DCIS present (multiple tumours in other breast) but was missed as such an early stage and with no chance if having spread to lymph nodes.

The surgery would be for some or all lymph node removal. They didn't say what they were looking for in the ct scan. Maybe to see if there is anything in the left breast that they can't see ? Does all this seem a bit quick ? Ct scanning and having a date for surgery all booked in if it is cancer to let me know by the results day ?

Hi 8miss it does seem quick when they haven't had results but if I have learnt one thing on this forum it is that every hospital does things differently and that every person is treated as an individual. Personally, as soon as I knew I had cancer in my body with the possibility of it spreading I wanted rid, so quick activity would have been welcomed. Hopefully, there is someone with a bit more medical knowledge reading today, who might understand what might be going on with your particular case - could be you just have a very pro-active medical team. I am assuming it is NHS, if private, maybe that is the norm. Anyway, easy to say, but try to distract yourself from the worry. Things will be easier once you have a concrete treatment plan and can take back a feeling of control. Keep posting.

Morning everyone :)

Welcome to the new people though sorry you have to join us

8miss I'm sorry you don't have all of the answers yet and are in limbo, as you've had cancer before I'm sure you know but don't google and let your mind run away with yourself. We've all found that once we had the full results and treatment plan it was a little easier to deal with.

Ludoole I'm sorry for your news, you're very welcome here. We have people with secondaries on here who are living full lives and treatments are advancing all of the time. I hope you get some positive news about treatments he can have from the oncologist

Elporto keep doing the exercises and it should improve soon. If you're at all worried go and ask someone though, especially with your big trip coming up

Bigger buns, I'm being treated at edinburgh western general breast unit. ( so nhs).

This Is all so quick compared to the thyroid cancer.

The lack of information about what it might be if not cancer is scaring me and he talk of chemo etc. it 's like they know it's cancer but are just holding of saying until they know how bad it is.
Thanks all.

8miss, I'm in Edinburgh too and my initial diagnosis was at the western. Very quick too - went in with my 8 week old and a "blocked" duct and was provisionally diagnosed that day. Because of DHs work I was treated at the Murrayfield but the Western is great.

Have you both seen sunshine on leith ? Lovely film and great Edinburgh views, watched it again last night ( off topic sorry ! )

Went to see it on stage - a school mum friend played one of the girlfriends. I got tickets for DHs Christmas and we nearly left at the interval! I've heard the film is better - my BIL is an extra in it.

Welcome ludoole. Sorry you find yourself here but keep posting. Hopefully the oncologist will have a good plan.

8miss. It's very difficult waiting and they won't say anything concrete yet until they have all the results. It is all very individual now. Big hugs.

Just had my ultrasound and we played a game of 'hunt the lump' . The sonographer thinks she found the clip but couldn't really see anything else and although I have to wait for next weeks pre assessment for the results I did do a little dance on the way out!

Hi everyone...

Did any of you have symptoms before diagnosis?

It's probably my own brain driving me crazy but stupidly ignoring this huge lump for 4 months, and now them also feeling something under my arm... I'm so tired. My right breast is so painful and inflamed and I just feel like I'm zapped of all energy and keep having dizzy spells.

Did anyone else have this or is it probably all unrelated?

Curious. I did feel worse waiting for diagnosis but then felt much better after. I think our brains do strange things to us and we focus on every little thing. I was convinced it had gone to my bones and lungs so got chest pains and leg pains which stopped after an all clear ct scan. How long before your appointment?