Any Breast Cancer Specialists Around?

[KeepCalm]

If a friend told you an appointment revealed

4cm mass in left breast with masses also found in lymph nodes & neck.

Mammogram & ultrasounds done.

Biopsies of lump in breast taken as well as lymph node. Results not available until next week.

Consultant stating it’s of ‘highest concern’.

Is there anything that can be said that's more positive?

I have a different cancer, but I think it’s true for pretty much everyone that the big at the beginning, when you don’t know what you’re up against, is one of the most stressful times. It’s new, it’s terrifying, and there is so much you don’t know. And there’s nothing at all you can do to hurry up the tests.

Once you know, you can start dealing with it. Which brings its own difficulties and fears, but is different to the stresses of having ominous but not conclusive news.

Which is all a rather wordy way of saying that support is important right now. Be led by your friend - she might want to try to ignore it until her next appointment, she might need to talk it through from every angle, she might want sympathy, she might want macabre humour.

It’s still possible that it’s a benign cyst and that the lymph nodes are up because of an unrelated infection.

But even if there is a cancer, the treatment options have improved immensely in recent years, and must breast cancers can be poisoned, removed and zapped into oblivion.

Don’t google! If you look at the ‘lacies’ thread (chat thread (64) in General Health for MNetters with cancer) there is a list of useful and reliable links which might interest you if you want to read up. There’s also a thread for those supporting loved ones with cancer, which might one to browse.

That's great @iVampire thank you for replying. I hope this finds you well

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