Looks like I have breast cancer - would appreciate advice and support.

[anorak]

Well guess what, they day I arrived to live in Bermuda found a lump in my breast. Went to the doctor, got rushed to hospital for mammograms and ultrasound. Been told they suspect "extensive DCIS". Went back in for a core biopsy the day before yesterday and have to go for MRI scan this afternoon, should get the results of these next week sometime.

The hospital is lovely, the staff are lovely, DH's job pays private medical insurance so I am very lucky that I will have good treatment. I've been here two weeks and two days, they have certainly been quick and efficient so far and I'm very pleased to have been offered the MRI.

And for anyone who doesn't know what DCIS is (I didn't), it's a non-invasive form of cancer that tends to confine itself to the area of origin.

Anorak, really hope you are ok through this. Look forward to your mass posting on inane topics soonest.
Bless

Thanks so much all of you.

I've created a profile and posted some pics of Bermuda if you're interested. Once you see them you won't feel sorry for me any more

Thinking of you today anorak x

anorak - Ididn't realise things had moved so fast. Thinking of you

xx

xxx hope things went well. xxx

God - you will piss yourself Anorak when you read this - just sitting here having a little sob reading this thread - mascara running down face - all very attractive and so grab tissue out of bag to mop up said mascara and it is the tissue that I stuck my gum in this morning - I have had to cut off part of my fringe and yank out a few eyelashes! What a nutter!

Am thinking of you and will say a little prayer for you and your lot on Sunday - DH is even looking into flights so you never know - we could turn up on your doorstep one morning and surprise you!

Lots of Love to you and yours this Christmas.

We will all be thinking of you.

Twinkie.
XXX

Hello all, I'm back from the hospital. Thank you Twinkie for the beautiful flowers, you're so thoughtful

The op went well. I am healing well. Unfortunately my lymph nodes tested positive and had to all be removed. As for any spread of the cancer, I will have to wait till January 4th to find out the pathology results. My surgeon says I will need chemotherapy for sure but after operating he feels I may not need the radiation therapy - I presume that's a good sign?

DH went to the cancer ladies at the pink unit near the hospital and got me a temporary 36C cushion things to stuff down my front if asked to a cocktail party over Christmas unfortunately I am enclosed in a pressure bandage atm and my right tit is squashed down to a 34A so I'll still be lopsided till that's removed

My surgeon is a tall and very handsome Mills and Boon style character with an intriguing foreign accent, a shy sort of charm and a wonderful bedside manner, I quite enjoyed having him draw dotted lines and scissors on my boob with his big marker pen

LOL at the swoonsome surgeon and his big 'marker pen'!

I hope the news on the 4th is good!

Feeling a bit low today. A bit shell-shocked. I only arrived in Bermuda 7 weeks ago and went to my doctor the following week about the lump I had found.

And now I am lying on my sofa with a boob missing, two drains coming out of my side, a pressure bandage wrapped around my middle and wondering what the fact that my lymph nodes were found to be cancerous means for my future. I always try to focus on the positive but I am feeling a little like I've been run over by a truck today

Oh I bet you do feel shell-shocked, you poor love.

The immediate post-op stage is v uncomfortable even if not actually painful, and the anxiety of not knowing what the prognosis is makes it even worse.

Hope you can concentrate on the idea that you are probably in the best possible place to be treated for this kind of thing; rest, and look after yourself (or make DH wait on you hand and foot), and be ultra-optimistic

XXX

Oh Anorak. You have been so brave. It's perfectly understandable that you are feeling low. You have had one hell of a couple of months.

Have you been given no advice about the lymph nodes discovery? Is there someone who can explain what it might mean? You know that worrying about it won't change what is to be, so try to bring back a bit of that fighting spirit and enjoy Christmas with your family in a beautiful place.

Oh anorak, you poor love.
I have no words, just a big gentle hug xxxx

Anorak you've got every right to feel low right now! How could you not.
{{{{{{}}}}}}

After her lumpectomy my mum's lymph nodes were found to be cancerous and removed as yours were. That was 6 years ago, and she is fine. She had radiotherapy but not chemotherapy, not sure why.

I remember how worried we all were when the surgeon told her about the affected nodes, but it was all absolutely fine.

xxx

Anorak my love you are bound to feel low, it's allowed. x

I think it would be a bit odd if you didn't have moments of anguish, Anorak: you've been so strong so far. I don't know how you've managed it, and I can't offer any medical knowledge, but just to let you know that we're all fighting your corner as much as we can, from wherever we are.

Try to enjoy Christmas without worrying too much, and resolve to start 2008 with your fighting spirit replenished...

Lots of love and a hug,

XXX

i had a scare a while back Anorak, but all turned out ok(fingers crossed), i really wish you all the best i cant imagine what you are going through right now, but youa re so brave and i admire you.hope you can manage to enjoy yourself this Christmas and thank god you are still here regardless of what has happend you are now one step closer to being well again..my sincere best wishes.J

Thanks so much all of you. I am feeling a bit better today. The nurse came and took the pressure bandage off yesterday and so I'm a little more comfortable. Still have the drains in my side though. They mean I have to lie in a certain position in bed and I can't manage a cuddle with DH that would make me feel so much better, that's half my trouble! I am hoping they will come out tomorrow and then at least I will be able to snuggle up

I find I think I feel ok for a while and I go and get my own drink and tidy up the dirty dishes or something really trivial like that and then suddenly I feel shit again Poor DH is rushed off his feet doing last-minute shopping and housework etc and consequently is too busy to sit down with me till late in the evening.

CantSleep I have to wait till the 4th for the pathology reports from the op and the surgeon said he had to wait for them too - he did say though that whatever the results there was nothing more to be done right now, the next part of treatment starts when this wound is healed.

DH has seen the wound now, when the nurse came yesterday to change the dressing, so that is a hurdle overcome. I asked him if he was revolted but he said no, he just felt really sorry for me that I had to lose part of my body. I said I am afraid I will look really ugly to you now when I take my clothes off and he said no, it will just be you. He keeps making extra trips to the shops and then shutting himself up in the bedroom and I know he is buying more and more presents for me and then disappearing to wrap them because he feels helpless and it's the only thing he can think of to do for me.

I wonder how beep and hellobello are, they haven't posted for a few days have they?

anorak, I don't know how I missed this - have just read it all, top to bottom, and I am so shocked. This shouldn't have happened to as nice a person as you - and just as you were starting your new life in Bermuda. I don't know what to say - I hope the news is good in January. Just..take care of yourself, I'm glad you have your dh there to treasure you. Have the happiest Christmas you can and hoping 2008 brings some good news for you.

It must be awful for him, too: not knowing what to do to help and wanting to reassure you that all is well.

Hope you manage to have a lovely day tomorrow.

xx

Aww Anorak, you are an amazing woman !
You are allowed to feel low at times but you sounds very positive to me.
Thinking of you

x

DH came in the room and read this over my shoulder.

He says there are no extra presents he just keeps locking himself in the bedroom cos he needs the bathroom 'I have a weak bladder'

Hi Anorak, hope you can manage to have a lovely day with your family tomorrow, everyone should relax, and take things as they come, not worth fussing, just have a lovely day together.lots of love and best wishes to you and your family.J.x

anorak - I posted originally but had not caught up on how far things have progressed; been a bit busy - wanted to quickly say I'm so glad that you have been seen and 'dealt with' so quickly but very sad that you have had to undergo surgery.

Wishing you all the very best and a very happy Christmas - you sound as though you have fantastic support and a lovely dh