Breast cancer - drowning in wo

[SpiderHeart]

I've had a mammogram two weeks ago. It came back with a cluster of microcalcifications showing up in one particular part of the breast. The Consultant has told me it needs biopsying and could go either way. How do I stop myself completely being eaten alive by anxiety.

When are they doing the biopsy.
Take one day at a time and stay away from Google.

I was diagnosed in December 2020.
It took 1 week for the results to come back.
The waiting for the results was the worst part.
But when I knew what I was facing I was able to cope.

You can do this.

I had exactly the same 2 years ago. Also was on the ceiling with anxiety. Just wanted to reassure you. They took three biopsies from me, all very painless and simple. I now have three titanium markers in my right breast, titanium tits 😂😂. Calcifications are really common and they take the biopsies to confirm there's nothing dodgy. It's really scary but honestly I went thru exactly the same. I was put back onto 3 yearly mammograms. Be thankful they are checking you thoroughly. Chin up 😀

I had a lump appear in a breast. I refused to waste energy worrying about it till I had results, because I'd be cross if it was nothing to worry about and I'd expended all that worry energy.
It was a blocked duct they think

Have you seen a consultant already or was in a routine mammogram? Just puzzled that you've spoken to a consultant yet they didn't do the biopsy there and then.
Are you going to a breast clinic? If so this is how it works.
The breast clinic is a one stop shop. They have doctors, radiologists and specialist breast care nurses. You will probably have a mammogram first and then see the doctor who will have the results in front of her. The doctor will examine you and then arrange an ultrasound. They may do a biopsy at that point as well.
Then you go back in to see the doctor.
Their expertise is such that they often know at this point whether it’s cancer and they will tell you if they think it’s likely, they won’t send you home without a clue.
This can easily take 3 or 4 hours but at the end you have a good idea what’s wrong.

Calcifications are common but the biopsy will tell for certain. Not everyone with BC has calcifications and not all calcifications are BC.

How to cope until you get the results - which realistically will be two weeks after the biopsy.
Be very busy. I redecorated two rooms.
Do Not Google.

The kind of biopsy they want to do (mammogram guided one with big needle) they don't think would work for me, (not sure why exactly), so it needs to be a surgical biopsy which is delaying things by a week or two. I wasn't that worried because everything was being done so slowly but the consultant commenting it could go either way has really freaked me out.

Do you have a date for the biopsy?

Remember there is every chance this could all be ok. Breast surgeons are very honest IMO about giving accurate predictions. Mine told me she was pretty sure it was cancer based on the mammogram and ultrasound but obv did a biopsy to confirm.

The waiting is by far the hardest part.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in August after routine screening. It’s a shit thing to go through in the early stages before definitive diagnosis but waiting is all you can do. It will seem like the weeks are like months and the months are like years.
Keep yourself busy preparing for the worst ( a diagnosis of breast cancer) so by the time you have the results you are either fully prepared for treatment or you can celebrate.
Don’t keep it to yourself, tell a few people who are close to you and will drop everything to support you. You will find it difficult processing it on your own.
I told my sisters and a close friend and also the person I work for so time off wasn’t an issue. Once diagnosed we told friends and family.
A lot of breast cancers are very treatable but full diagnosis takes time and is drip fed to you as each stage is carried out. Not helped by staff shortages at the moment.
One thing to bear in mind is that it take 2-9 years for a lump to grow large enough for you to feel. You are therefore likely to be at an early stage, you may even be at the precancer stage. All questions are answered if asked but some have no answer. You will get through this.
If you are on Facebook there is a lovely private support group - UK Breast Cancer Support group - for sufferers and survivors. They welcome anyone on the journey even if you get the all clear after biopsy.

My biopsy is scheduled for the 24th Jan. So only a week to wait. The could go either way comment is going round and round my head.

Thank you for sharing your experiences everyone. You are showing me how to be brave.

I was treated for breast cancer last year. The waiting is definitely the hardest. Bear in mind 3 out of 4 investigations turn out to be benign. If you are unlucky enough to be diagnosed with cancer please be reassured that you will be treated with the utmost care. I cannot praise the NHS enough for the care and attention I received. I wish you luck.

Another echo that the uncertainty is the worst. Even in covid times the care is excellent.
Breast care nurse said stay away from Google but recommended breast cancer now or Macmillan for info.
Good luck

I had similar a couple of months ago.

First mammogram and they found a small calcification cluster. They did the ultrasound and biopsy at assessment clinic then a 2 week wait. Hard couple of weeks but I tried to keep it out of my mind.

It was all clear in the end and just need to go back in 3 years.

Think positively until they tell you otherwise xxx

The cancer support group on here are absolutely fantastic (not sure what number they are up to but it’s under General Health). I had treatment for a particularly rare and aggressive form of BC a few years back and they were my lifeline.

Fibroadenoma is the most common benign breast tumour that present as calcification. It is very hard to differentiate on a mammogram and given that sometimes a fibroadenoma can hide a carcinoma, a biopsy is needed.
The radiographer however can often determine if malignant as the lesion will have increased blood flow and also when the needle goes into the tumour, the radiographer can feel the resistance and hardness of the mass when pushing the needle in.
At least, that was what the radiographer explained to me when performing a biopsy in my breast. " it doesn't feel like cancer" were her words.
@SpiderHeart fingers crossed for you

I'm fselling very scared about it all. Hurts to look at my children in case I'm not there to see them grow up. I know that's stupid.

Not stupid. The waiting is really the hardest bit.🌺🌺

Statistics say that only about 20-25 percent of the breast biopsies are cancer but I heard many people on this forum saying radiographers know what they are looking at before biopsy. A little confused. What other diagnosis people received after a biopsy if not cancer ? All the best to everybody here. It is such a difficult time.

My radiaographer didn't give me any reassurance. She just said she is seeing something she is unsure about and she needs to check.

Received my appointment letter today and it states slight abnormality on right breast. Left breast is clear. Still waiting for biopsy results.

I hope you get good news with your biopsy results @Cratos.

Hi- I hope it's ok to comment on here.
A week ago a went to the doctors with really bad breast and nipple pain on one side. She referred me to the breast clinic under the 2w rule- to rule out cancer. I always thought breast pain alone wasn't a symptom of cancer - I'm trying not to worry but it's easier said than done.
Does anyone here know anything about this any advice would be appreciated xx

It seems like GPs usually refer you just in case if you go with breast symptoms. From what I learnt so far breast pain relates to hormones are common for women. They seem to come and go and they can be around all the breast area. A more local pain that doesn't go away should be checked since it could be due to other reasons. I had a large cystic lump that need to be drained and it caused me some local ache for example. The wait is very hard. All the best and hope you will hear some good news on the day.

I had a two week referral to NHS breast clinic 6 years ago. My problem was with one breast. Do they always do mammogram for both breasts? I cannot remember this. Since now my problem is with the other breast. I remember that radiologist only check the problem breast and not both at the time but I cannot remember the mammogram. Thanks

Thank you

I guess I was wondering if anyone else just had the same symptoms as me and ended up with BC

Sharp pain in left breast and nipple
Collar and shoulder pain
No lumps

Xx

@SpiderHeart i wish i had seen your thread just been through this same thing earlier in the month.
in my case they attempted the mammogram biopsy but the location near the chest wall made it impossible with the machinery they are using.
i had the surgical on the 7th with results in 10 days.

Hey! Can you let me know how it all went ? Did they find the micro calcification on the ultrasound ?