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.

Hello everyone, had my pre-op appointment today. DH has a streaming cold, I just hope I don't catch it or I will have to have my op cancelled till the new year. I am making the sign of the cross every time he comes near me.

Just told DS (7) that they are going to cut my boob off and he pissed himself laughing

Since I am not having a reconstruction op until the rest of my treatments have finished, can anyone advise me how long it will be before I can wear some kind of prosthesis in my bra?

Oh bless - how sensitive of him .
Surely there aren't colds in Bermuda - how, errrrm, English .

still thinking of you here in OJ towers i wish you good luck for the 18th.

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OMG anorak I'm so sorry you poor thing

it's me cd btw

Glad you have been diagnosed quickly and are being treated soon. How awful for you though

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Anorak - ongoing hugs to you.

yes, 93% of women survive.

My SIL had an aggressive grade 3 breast cancer, chemo, radio and now she is on the new drugs (I think if your cancer is hormone susceptible and you can take these drugs it increases you overall chances by 10% or something), and she is as fit as fit can be 6 years later. She hasn't even bothered with reconstruction as she feels fine as she is, and my brother agrees. None of us ever notice that she wears a prosthesis....the only important thing is that she recovered from cancer. But everyone will make their own choice about what they want.

I know that any chink in the statistics is like staring into an abyss, and that it's easy to bandy good news stories. i don't mean to underrate what you are facing - but just to say 'keep your bravers on' and that good news can and does follow diagnosis.

Hold tight - better a hole and whole, than whole and sick!

XXXX

thank you doodle, have copied that to read later - have to wrap the pressies now while the kids are out of the house!

OJ, how lovely of you to be thinking of me with your troubles - well I'm thinking of you right back!

silentbite, great Christmas name!!

blu, reassuring and the voice of reason as ever, thanks so much. I was thinking to myself only today that all the women I have know who have had a mastectomy have recovered from the cancer, and I've heard so so many other stories of success. And I can't think of any stories of the cancer coming back, although there must be - unless people are too tactful to tell me those! anyway, it all feels very very positive.

hi anorak, Ihad a masectomy and full removal of the lymph glands 10 days ago, it,they gave me a softie to wear on about day 2 I think. As far as I can remember(which isn't very far!) the breast care nurse said I could be fitted in about a month.The operation went well,I too had decided to leave any reconstruction til later, I am really suprised by how little pain it has caused. Ihad the staples out yesterday and it is even more confortable now.Hope yours goes as well as mine has.

Aren't kids great?

Glad to hear you are doing ok, beep. Lots of hopeful stories on here. Thinking of you, Anorak. The place you had dinner looks lovely.

Have just found this through the other thread.
Thinking of you Anorak - you can get through this - you sound amazingly strong

x x x

good luck for tuesday Anorak xx

Good luck, anorak

And nice to see you back again, beep, and sounding so positive too

For both of you, have a look at Eloise - lots of information and choices of nice things, VAT-free when you have had breast surgery.

Thinking of you, Anorak.
x

beep! I've been wondering how you've been, will check out your own thread in a mo.

Thanks for the link Wendy, that looks useful.

I hope it all goes well anorak. I met one of the women in the reconstruction article. She was fantastic. There are a lot of things to be positive about.

I have just been given the all-clear, and I don't need any more treatment, for now at least. I don't really know if it has sunk in yet, and I'm not sure where I fit in any more. I've still got a new boob and a slightly stiff shoulder!

I'm glad everything has gone well for you beep!

I can't easily get online for now, but will try and keep up somehow!

That's great news hellobello!

Well the hour is drawing near...I am first on the surgeon's list for tomorrow and have to be at the hospital at 6.15am so I won't be around on here for a few days after tonight.

After that I'll be resting and plaguing you all to death with posts on every thread

we'll all be thinking of you, anorak

x

Best of luck Anorak. xx

Anorak - good luck. My mum had a single mastectomy nearly 10 years ago and all has been well since.

Make sure you rest well.

Hey Anorak

Sending you positive thoughts and good wishes for you and yours.

XXs

all the best anorak, thinking of you x

I will be thinking of you.
Best of luck Anorak xx