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Original poster

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

270 replies

anorak · 17/11/2007 14:41

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.

OP posts:
Original poster
anorak · 21/11/2007 16:24

Hi QC, and thanks tinkywinks for your very positive words. hellobello you sound exhausted, after all you have been through it's not surprising you feel broken. I hope your family is looking after you.

I am off to the hospital later to have another MRI scan for the other side. Still waiting for results of the tests I've had so far.

OP posts:
MissLapinToYou · 21/11/2007 18:11

anorak, my mum had her DCIS op on Monday, it all went really well and she feels good - a bit tired but otherwise fine. I just wanted to tell you that as an example of a positive outcome!

Hope your MRI goes well today x

lalaa · 21/11/2007 18:54

hello hellobello. sorry to hear that you are finding it hard at the moment.
re the chemically induced menopause, I think it is one thing to decide not have any more children and quite another to have that decision taken from you due to a medical reason. My bc is hormone driven so I've been on the hormone treatment for about 18 months now. I too am grateful that I had my dd before I was diagnosed and I'm not sure that we would have had another child anyway, but in the end the decision was taken away from me. I've spoken to someone else who has three children and had no desire to have any more, but still feels cheated somehow. It's all part of the disease unfortunately.

On the bright side, if it is hormone driven, then hormone treatment is one way of battling it.

CantSleepWontSleep · 22/11/2007 14:24

Hey Anorak - how did the second MRI go? Do you know when you'll get the results from either?

Original poster
anorak · 22/11/2007 23:45

Hi all, the second MRI didn't take as long as the first, they were doing the right boob just as a precaution, the tumour is in the left one. So they didn't do such an extensive range of scans.

I haven't heard any results as yet, maybe tomorrow or early next week.

Best wishes to your mum lapin.

OP posts:
Gingerbear · 22/11/2007 23:52

Oh anorak, I just can't believe this!
I didn't know what DCIS was, so I read one of those links. I am sending you all the love and luck in the world for a positive outcome.

ggglimpopo · 22/11/2007 23:54

Thinking of you Anorak. Keep strong and positive.

Doodledootoo · 23/11/2007 00:01

Message withdrawn

Original poster
anorak · 23/11/2007 00:20

Yes she's accepted it at face value and doesn't seem too worried. I suppose we are just doing the same things as usual, I don't feel ill or anything, and we don't have a treatment plan or full diagnosis yet so everyone's calm and normal. She apologised for the other day.

The MRI scan is fine, actually, if it weren't for the noise you'd have a little snooze, I think, being told to lie there all cosy and not move. No one comes and asks you to get them a drink or do their maths homework for them

OP posts:
slim22 · 23/11/2007 00:36

thinking of you and sending you lots of good vibes.

slim22 · 23/11/2007 00:38

hellobello {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

hellobellosback · 23/11/2007 08:52

Morning all! I thought I'd left a post yesterday, but it looks as though it didnt work. Good to hear you're bearing up well, anorak. I had a bone scan which doesn't sound nearly as hard work as an MRI and not nearly as long.

They let me out of hospital on Wednesday. I've lost nearly a stone and don't like being so thin. It's not a good look being this thin and weak and in my 40s!

It is lovely being home and surrounded by my family. I have been given industrial strength steroids for the colitis and I'm taking at least 14 pills a day.

It was very exciting buying a new bra yesterday! A bra that fits! Well sort of... My new boob is much bigger than the original but it may settle down.

I'll find out soon about whether or not I will need hormone treatment. How do you get on with it lalaa? In some ways I would love to have another baby, and I am not sure how I will feel about that choice being forcefully removed, regardless of the realities.

Doodledootoo · 23/11/2007 09:00

Message withdrawn

Original poster
anorak · 24/11/2007 00:42

Hah! they give you headphones to muffle the sound but they are not too effective, god knows what it sounds like without them. And there was a music list you could choose from to listen to, don't really think you could have heard it above the din, but didn't fancy any of the choices - all too soothing and lovely for me. gospel, classical, spiritual, soul, the hardest thing on it was Bob Marley, no rock but I suppose that's not surprising when they are trying to keep you calm and relaxed so you don't move

Ah well, my GP called tonight, she says it isn't just DCIS there is another type of carcinoma as well, she knows this from the pathology report, (from the core biopsy). She hasn't yet received the results of the MRI scans and will call me early next week "to arrange my appointment with the surgeon".

OP posts:
KermitTheFrau · 24/11/2007 01:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OverRated · 24/11/2007 01:42

Thinking of you Anorak x

Buda · 24/11/2007 06:48

Thinking of you here too Anorak.

Hope they can take it all away.

Not sure if Amazon deliver to you in Bermuda but this was recommended to someone I know after a cancer diagnosis. I have it and lent it to a friend who had a lump removed and was feeling vulnerable. She found that following some of the recommendations made her feel a little more in control.

ssd · 24/11/2007 08:07

sending you support anorak and anyone and everyone else suffering from this

ssd x x x

saggarmakersbottomknocker · 24/11/2007 09:55

Anorak - I've just read your news on MB's thread. So sorry that you're going through this

filthymindedvixen · 24/11/2007 10:02

anorak my MIL is currently undergoing chemo for the second time. She is doing really well.

I am so sorry this is happening to you. Feel free to CAT me if you need any offboard support or rant/moan/panic.

Courage, strength and peace to you m'dear x

Original poster
anorak · 24/11/2007 15:49

Thank you for your messages. That book looks good, sensible advice whether or not it makes any difference to the cancer, is bound to help a person feel better anyway, I will try and get it.

Yes smbk I've been wondering that too, but hey, you know what a drama queen I am, I'll go to any lengths to get attention, me

I honestly don't feel all that stressed about it, there's not much I can do really, except try and keep healthy and I normally do that anyway. The problems I had with DD1 in the past were much more stressful, because I was constantly racking my brain trying to think of a way of sorting the situation, whereas with this I see it going one of three ways. Either I will have an operation and then recover, or I will have an operation and be ill for a while and recover, or I will have an operation and be ill for a while and then die. No racking of brains needed. I keep thinking of all the poor sods I see on crime TV who are murdered when they are in their teens and twenties, people whose lives are over almost before they've begun and I really can't feel sorry for myself. I'm 46 years old and I've done a lot of really fun and interesting things in my life, of course there is plenty more I want to do, and fully intend to if I can, but I've done all right and I've had 10 years with my wonderful husband. Sorry I'm rambling.

OP posts:
Twiglett · 24/11/2007 15:50

oh anorak .. what an arse!

you can do this

thinking of you

ruty · 24/11/2007 15:55

thinking of you anorak. you will beat this.

WideWebWitch · 24/11/2007 15:59

Anorak, I've only just seen this, I'm so sorry to hear it and I am full of admiration for your philosophical approach.

hellobellosback · 24/11/2007 16:06

You have articulated my feelings too anorak! It feels as though it JUST IS. My new boob is begining to feel a bit better. There are so many people in our situation, and I've really found so far that it has focused my thoughts, and made me realise that you just have to get on with it and do the things you want to do, find ways to make things work, and try and see the positive.

I was very lucky to work with a really good therapist for the year before we left our house. I am so grateful for that. Onwards!