Had biopsies for breast cancer today

[Vinorosso74]

I went to the breast clinic today. I have two lumps in my left breast which look suspicious so they have taken biopsies and the conversations all seemed to focus on cancer afterwards.
My armpit/lymph nodes look ok. I will go back next week for results and to go through next steps. Very scared.

Hi OP. I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Is there a history of breast cancer in your family? I had a biopsy over a decade ago and it was terrifying but turned out to be a cyst. Lumps can be completely benign but of course they have to be cautious. Do you have emotional support? 💐

Sorry to hear that, come and join the cancer thread in general health and we will hold your hand whilst you wait for the results.

I second MrsPnut's invitation to the cancer thread. I was diagnosed with breast cancer 18 months ago.
When I had my first consultation at the breast clinic I fully expected them to wave me off with reassurance that it was nothing. But no, they said we think it's cancer.
At the breast clinic they are very experienced at spotting BC and so the conversations following your biopsy suggest they think it's likely to be cancer and they are preparing you. This is the very worst part of the whole thing believe it or not and the waiting is dreadful. Try to keep busy . If and when you get it confirmed and know more then google away but resist for now.
I am fine now, went through all the treatment and all clear as most people do.

Thank you. No family history of breast cancer. My mum's family are lucky with no history of illnesses, my dad's tend to be cardiovascular problems.
Skap pleased to hear you're ok now. I think it will be a long week ahead, I"m able to take DP with me so hoping the appointment fits around school timings. He is the only real life person who knows. I think I should let my parents know but not sure how to tell them. I will find the cancer thread, thank you for the invite and hand hold.

Op I am in almost the same position. I go in again next Tuesday. I’m terrified and feeling completely lost.
But I second finding the cancer thread everyone has been very welcoming. I’m lurking at the moment as I’m feeling over whelmed but it absolutely helped to read it.
Hand hold for next week

@Delamero, I hope it goes ok for you on Tuesday. I'm feeling pretty much the same and can't quite get my head around it all. You read about 90% of referrals to the breast clinic aren't cancer then bam...

Hi op. I am so glad I found your post. I am in exactly the same position as you.
I had a breast clinic appointment yesterday, two weeks after discovering a lump in my breast.
I will not know the results of the biopsies until my appointment next Wednesday, but was told at the end of yesterday's appointment to prepare for bad news. I was also advised that I should bring someone with me to next week's appointment, so it's not looking good.
This is such a horrible position to be in isn't it? I am stunned and can't seem to think of anything else at the moment. This next week is going to be so hard to get through.

Goodness there are lots of us going through this right now. Sorry you're another @Fuggit
Do they prepare us for the worst regardless? Or are they already pretty certain from the mammograms and ultrasounds? So many things going around my head (and my poor boob is sore).
The doctor told me to write down a list of questions I have bit not quite sure where to start!

OP sorry you are going through this. I had biopsies in January for an architectural distortion. I also have a strong family history of breast cancer..3D mammogram, ultrasounds and spot compression couldn’t determine what it was and when they booked me in for the biopsies they said it was graded 3-indeterminate- so they were not speaking as if it was definitely cancer, however they could not rule it out. In the end it turned out to be fibrous tissue.
I hope that things turn out well for you. During my 3 weeks of waiting I lurked on the cancer thread and found it really helpful to get my head around things and understand more.

Yes my boob is sore still as well! I've been trying to hide it from my 7 year old daughter as I just don't know what to tell her yet. I don't think she's noticed anything out of the ordinary as yet, thank goodness she's been back at school this week.
The doctor and radiologist I saw seemed to be pretty certain what the mammograms and scans were showing although obviously couldn't say for sure without the biopsy results, but they were clear that the lump and one lymph node looked 'very suspicious'. I asked if there was anything else that it could be other than cancer and the doctor told me 'it's possible but unlikely'.
My head is in an absolute spin. I've spent much of the day in bed trying to process things (& catastrophising worst case scenarios). I just want to know what I am dealing with, the waiting is so hard.

Your experience sounds so like mine. It just seems so likely I have cancer too. As soon as the doctor doing the ultrasound said I had two suspicious lumps, that was it, my mind was all over the place. We're going to tell DD, she's 11, what's going on at the weekend.

How are you doing today @Vinorosso74?
I removed my dressings last night which wasn't anywhere near as bad as I had imagined and the soreness has definitely improved so that's something.
We've decided not to say anything to DD until we know for sure what we're dealing with. It's very hard trying to pretend that everything is ok while she's around though. I hope things go as well as they can when you tell your DD at the weekend.
When is your appointment next week? Mine is on Wednesday and it can't come soon enough, the waiting is almost unbearable!

I am not medical but mammograms are graded M1-M5.

M1 is something like a benign cyst.
M5 is cancer. That is diagnosed based on the mammogram alone. You'd still have a biopsy, but there would be no doubt that it was cancer. The biopsy would give further information but it would still be cancer.

M2 M3 and M4 get more likely to be cancer as you go up the numbers, but need further tests like a biopsy to confirm.

My mum had 2 lumps, one each side. M5 on one side, cancer that was for sure cancer, even without the biopsy. M3 on the other side - needed further investigation. Turned out also to be cancer.

My mum has good care and there are a lot of treatments because this cancer affects a large number of people. Best wishes for your appointment.

@Fuggit I'm up and down with emotions. How about you?
I spoke to my mum yesterday and she's told my dad I also told a friend albeit via WhatsApp and might try and speak to her over the weekend.
I took my dressings off this morning. I have quite a few bruises but not over as big an area as expected (not that I have big boobs). I'm still a little sore but it's eased off a lot.
The doctor told me to come back Wednesday and I would get an appointment through; I've not heard anything yet. I'm dreading it but am certain it's cancer from how the doctors were speaking to me.
@ekidmxcl, yes I was reading that and saw those things on the back of the form I filled out but nobody has told me those. From what I read U4 and M4 are suspicious which are is what the doctor doing the ultrasound said.

This really is the worst bit. I'm going to be honest, based on what you've said, it sounds likely to be cancer; prepare yourself for it; but breast cancer is highly treatable and once you get a treatment plan in place you will start to feel so much better. Go over to the cancer thread for more support.

Yes the waiting and worrying is awful. The doctor in the clinic told me it's the easiest cancer to treat.
I did join the cancer thread and someone else on there is awaiting biopsy results too. I couldn't read all the posts where people were talking about the finer details of their treatments and side effects as it started to really scare me. I think once I know what's ahead of me I'll feel differently.

Got my appointment time for Wednesday morning.

Fingers crossed for Wednesday @Vinorosso74 the waiting will be the worse. I work in cancer services and breast cancer is the easiest cancer to treat

Here's hoping for some positives for both of us on Wednesday (& @Delamero on Tuesday).
I'm hoping that I will at least get some relief from knowing what's going on and maybe getting some sort of a plan going forwards.
I'm very much up and down emotionally at the moment. I have (so far) managed to get through a whole day today without crying, but I still can't seem to stop my brain from wandering off to the the worst case scenario all of the time, it's exhausting.
I too have been a bit daunted by the cancer support thread although they do seem to be a lovely supportive bunch. I'm going to see what Wednesday brings then I may head over there if I need to.

@Vinorosso74 I am a few steps behind you. Waiting for my first appointment but my GP says the lump is suspicious. What does yours feel like if you don't mind me asking?

My Mum has a different type of cancer and the kind of treatments they have these days is incredible. I wish you well and send a virtual handhold for Wednesday.

I had M3 U3, both benign. I think M4 is suspicious but only M5 is certain.

@HattyHats I felt a hardened area on my breast around the middle level towards the centre of my chest rather than a defined lump. It was a bit tender at first but that settled down. I thought it was maybe PMS symptoms so waited until period had been and gone before contacting the GP. The doctor at the hospital noticed tethering under the breast as soon as she looked at me and that's where the second lump is.
I can't really describe it better right now as I'm slightly swollen and bruised after the biopsy (they use a local anaesthetic for it).
I hope you get on ok.
Glad it wasn't just me @Fuggit, I'll take it as it comes after Wednesday too.