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.

glad you and dd had nice meal and chat
i recommend some girly bonding over girly DVD eg
Bridget Jones
pretty woman
notting hill
best friend wedding
so many others

some choccies, crosps, dips, wee bit wine

anorak, so sorry that you're having to deal with this. It sounds like you have a lovely, supportive dh and your dd will come around, I'm sure.

bloody hell just read this xxxxxxxxxxx much best wishes and prayers comng your way

Oh shit!

(I said that out loud when I read your OP )

All the best to you anorak and sending you lots of positive thoughts.

Oh anorak I'm so so sorry. Glad the healthcare there seems to be prompt, efficient and caring though. I have utmost faith in Tamum and if she says you have a fab capsule containing your lump, then fab capsule it is! Hope it is all OK in the end. xx

bad luck anorak but treated promptly this is not the awful thing that it used to be

Have many friends who are survivors and it has made me feel quite positive about this (if you know what I mean)

Good luck!

Dear anorak sorry haven't read the whole thread but this is my field so just wanted to emphasise what others have probably said that the prognosis is excellent although treatment as for all these things is a bummer.

Re your DD-she is just being a teenager and is probably scared and acting up a bit. Hope all goes well. Will try and check back on your thread later in week. Glad you have good medical care.

Hi anorak. I was diagnosed with bc in August, a week before we were supposed to be leaving the country. Since then, I've had barrages of tests, scans, Xrays, biopsies; left the country, come back; had a mastectomy... and now I'm very ill with something else athough the breast care team say I need no further treatment at this point. I was also diagnosed with DCIS.

Breast Cancer Care is immensley helpful and Cancer Bacup have lots of helpful advice too.

You may well find that everyone suddenly becomes an expert in breast cancer treatment. I was suddenly inundated by self-help books and DIY crstals and all sorts of rubbish. It made me very angry and as though the disease was somehow my fault.

Please keep us posted as to how you get on. Are you being treated for the whole thing in Bermuda?

Thinking of you, like Dior, I know quite a few who've had this terrible disease, all of them have (including one who had it in her early 20's) beaten it into submission.

Anorak so sorry to hear this. Good to see Tamum's reassuring advice amidst all the good wishes for your safe and speedy recovery. Thinking of you and great staff and medical back-up aside, wishing you were not so far away from your friends in the UK

i liek teh capsule idea

what a blow for oyu when you were os excited baotu your move
lots fo good tips here

sorry to hear this hon, hope it can be quickly sorted out for you

Thinking of you anorak. I know that you dont know me, but I saw your post and wanted to say that I hope you get the best possible news. It sounds like the care is excellent there. Glad that you have sorted things out with dd too Look after yourself xxx

Oh anorak.

I refuse to put a sad face because you are going to be just fine.

If noddy's hippy dippy () reiki is helping, please accept some extra healing witchy vibes from me too.

Hi everyone and once again thanks for your messages. I don't yet know what treatment I will be given as we await the results of the tests atm.

Hellobello I read your threads before I posted mine, sounds like you have been through the mill. What illness are you suffering now? Thank you for taking the trouble to post even though you're not feeling good.

Had a lovely day, we walked to the south shore and round a coastal park then went for something to eat and a couple of glasses of wine with DH and DS, it was perfectly comfortable to sit outside among the palm trees, it's really hard to feel sorry for myself

Oh crap - that is a blow!

Wishing you much resolve and forbearance to cope with the weeks ahead. Hoping with all my heart that it all turns out well for you

Sorry to hear this, Anorak. I hope you get some good news once you get the results.

I think that when this sort of thing happens, we look at life in a slightly different light. After my operation, I was so pleased to be alive, and was beginning to look forward to things again.

It's a very stark contrast to how I feel now. I am on a Urology ward although I came in for bowel problems, and I still have a wound from the mastectomy that needs looking at. The bowel surgeon said I was lucky it wasn't cancer, but they still don't know what it is. Perhaps Colitis or Chrohns, or if I'm quite lucky, a bug. I am draining away and have lost a lot of weight. Don't people say that life starts at 40?

Please try not to worry about the bc, anorak - I have found all the people involved with the treatment and everything really kind and helpful. There is also a lot of support out there. I don't know about in Bermuda, but here there are places where you can get free massages and bra fitting and all sorts of things. All the docs have been admiring my new boob!

Anorak, just seen this. I hope the health system continues to be efficient and that you can get any treatment underway asap. Best of luck

Hellobello How awful, you poor thing

Hello Christie love to all! Hi NDP!

Hellobello how miserable for you, I do hope it turns out to be something easy to fix and that you'll soon be feeling better. Keep posting won't you?

Hello dear - sorry not to have spoken for a while - glad to hear the move went off well - very sorry to hear your news - but it's not all bad, is it? Non-invasive sounds good. Confined sounds good too.

Hugs

Sx

Anorak, I'm sure you must be going through a range of emotions at the moment. I am 35 now, when I was 27 I found a lump which turned out to be breast cancer. I had the tumour removed then I had chemotherapy and radiotherapy. I was told it was unlikely that I would be able to have children. I have a 2 year old son now and completely healthy, it's just a distant memory. I know it's probably taking over your life right now, but just remember one day it can be a distant memory. I know what it's like to go through something like this so let me know if there's anyway I can help, good luck, be strong when you can and let others support you when you can't xx

I'm still a bit sore from the operation, but the breast surgeons here have told me the wound is sufficiently healed to be able to take the steroids neccessary for the colitis. The steroid treatment will continue for about 6 weeks, and I still may need hormone treatment for the bc. I don't know which is better - to have hormone caused bc, or not. I feel quite broken about having a hormone-induced menopause and no more babies, then a real menopause.

I think I just feel broken, full stop, at the moment. I have 2 wonderful dds so I shouldn't mind too much about not being pg again. It wasn't much fun, and I'm not much good at giving birth!