Waiting for breast biopsy results - hand hold

[feettothestars]

I had a breast lump checked yesterday that was fine but whilst there they found another lump that I hadn't felt (and I'm fastidious at checking often) on the ultrasound. He said it looked low risk but that sometimes they surprised him and took three biopsies and added a titanium marker. I get my results next Friday. He thinks fibroadenoma (I've had two of these already so far) but couldn't confirm that. It all felt very serious, which I know it needs to be.

I still don't think I can find where it is but can't rummage as it's all so sore.

I am a massive worrier at the best of times and the next six days are going to be very long. I veer from thinking it will probably be ok to shit, it might not be.

Anyone else waiting?

Still here offering a hand hold @Four4me. I had asked the secretary if someone could let me know and was originally offered next Thursday as an appointment to get my results in person. She had to get the Ok from the cons that my results could be shared and had let me know last Tuesday that he'd said yes, but that he would still want to see me. I'm not sure if this helps - it was with Bupa. I know the waiting is an absolute beast. But I think it's hard to guess the process, our minds take us all over the place. My last fibroadenoma I had to wait and was told in person.

@feettothestars that's really reassuring to hear. Yes, my mind is taking me everywhere!

Oops sorry had mixed up your name! Hang on in there and I'm keeping things tightly crossed for you.

Justalittlebit10 I hope that you are holding up alright?
I'm a bit restless and am not able to sit and chill without the gremlins setting in!

So have been keeping busy, we have a very clean house, I am on top of the washing and ironing (endless with 4 sporty kids) and am all organised for the week ahead!!!
I am equally looking forward to getting Tuesday out of the way and dreading it!

I supported my younger sister (39) through breast cancer in 2018 (which is why I have a yearly mammogram), she had a total mastectomy, 6 rounds of chemo, with herceptin with the last three and then 3 weekly for a year and radiotherapy, then key hole ovary removal.

It was brutal, but she is doing really really well, she is back to normal life, she got married in between the lockdowns in 2020 to an old Uni flame who she re-met the week before she found the lump. She is my inspiration.

Sending 💪🏻 and 🤗 snd 🤞🏻 and 🤜🏻

@feettothestars thank you lots.

@four4me. My mind is constantly thinking about what I might be told. I lost my best friend to bowel cancer 4 years ago, she was only 39, so it's difficult to think everything will be OK now. But I am trying. Because it might be!
I'm so sorry to hear about your sister. What an awful time it must have been for you all, but I am so glad she is OK now.
I spent yesterday cleaning, washing, ironing, food shopping, went for a blustery walk with a friend.
Today I went into London with DH and DD, we're just on train home now. Its been lovely, but I've not been able to enjoy it fully with this looming over my head.
What time is your appointment?

Justalittlebit10 4.30pm 😩
I'm at the hospital twice on Tuesday, my eldest has an appointment at 9.45am.
What time is your appointment.
So sorry about your friend. Very very sad x

Mine is 2.30. Oh wow, twice in one day!

My friend was really let down, she had been severely anaemic for ages but the GP had just given iron rather than finding out why. She had lost weight and her hair was falling out. She presented to A&E numerous times severely unwell, and was even admitted for a few days with severe pain and vomiting but they just said it was gallstones. It went on months and months before she had a proper diagnosis and then it was too late.
I feel so grateful to the NHS that I first asked my GP just before Christmas if I could be referred for an early mammogram due to family history (secondary degree relatives but including a man), and he took me seriously and within an hour of the mammogram showing something up I'd had ultrasound and biopsy.
Just got to get through to Tuesday now!

I really don't think it's good news here. I left a garbled message on the breast care nurses answerphone on Friday and she emailed me back this morning asking if would I like to go and see her at 4 pm today.
I replied that I couldn't stop worrying so yes please.
She said she would see me at 4. No 'don't worry' or 'nothing to worry about' so now I just can't see how the news can be positive.

Justalittlebit10 thinking of you

Thank you.
Unfortunately mine is invasive duct carcinoma, caught very early thankfully.
I will discuss a plan with the surgeons tomorrow.
I really hope you get better news

Aw not the news you wanted to hear. I hope the nurse could answer your questions and that you get a plan tomorrow.
I'm sure that you are being well supported at home, but I'm sending a hug and

@Justalittlebit10 i had that. Caught early so grade 2. Had lumpectomy which was ok. Node clearance left more pain and longer lasting effects. Unfortunately my margins didn't clear (the margins are very small and surgeons get told off if they clear too much healthy tissue) so had three further ops (one a month). Radiotherapy was fine but the fatigue is immense. I worked through the first week but then had to stop. First op took me three weeks before back at work. I can recommend Boots waterproof large dressings for the nork. I fashioned a nork pelmet with a plastic food bag and tape for showers.
Ops were day cases. Was pottering around the next day. Drink loads of water, take arnica a few days before ops and take tumeric - really reduces swelling.
One good thing is the radioactive dye stuff - it turns your pee into the most gorgeous turquise green shade

Good luck. I am five years clear now.

I know it’s hard - I’ve had breast cancer twice in the last two years - but it can sometimes help to think that if it is something, they can act and get it treated. Better that than for it to go untreated.

Hi Kathie, and thank you for your reply. I'm so glad you are all clear.
She said that mine is grade 3 but that just means it's a more aggressive form but it's still very early stages and very small (5 mm), it can't be felt by hand.
My lymph nodes look fine on ultrasound, but do they usually biopsy those anyway?
Waiting to find out if HER+ and also if genetic. If so then they may advise a mastectomy.

Thank you Daisy, I agree. Neither me, the breast nurse consultant or GP can manually feel it, so it's been caught while it's really small (0.5 cm). They said it could have been at least a year until I felt anything.

And I'm sorry you have had to go through it twice in two years

Sorry you did not get good news. I had breast cancer treatment last year. My lymph nodes were clear on the ultrasound but they still took the sentinel nodes to check. Radiotherapy was squeezed into 5 days instead of the usual 15 and I didn’t suffer too badly with fatigue. I was given a small heart shaped cushion at the hospital to put under my arm after the operation, it prevents the wound under the arm rubbing against the breast. I had that cushion in place almost constantly for a couple of weeks! It was a real comfort. I had my first year mammogram last week and am waiting for the results. Good luck tomorrow, I found it easier once I had a treatment plan I could focus on.

Justalittlebit10 hope you are doing ok?
I had my appointment today and it is ductal carcinoma in situ.
Also, on reviewing the mammogram images they have found another area and this needs biopsies taking too.
So I await a call from the breast nurse x

Hi @Four4me
I'm sorry yours wasn't the best news either, but at least ductal carcinoma in situ isn't too bad, and I hope the new biopsies don't show anything. Sorry you have to wait again though
I saw the surgeon today, it's triple negative, so I'm having surgery a week on Monday and then chemo. Not great news but I'm trying to stay positive.

@steppingcarefully
I was really hoping to 'just' need surgery and radio but as its triple negative I am going to need chemo too.
I told the children tonight so I've spent the rest of the evening being over jolly so they don't worry!
Thank you for the tip about the cushion, and I hope your results come back OK.

@Four4me I hope you are ok x

Justalittlebit10 I doing ok really, thank you.

I felt pretty crap yesterday, as I didn't sleep well on Tuesday night thinking about it all, plus work etc etc and then dc4 was up feeling poorly with stomach ache.
So I was a bit teary all day.

All the lovely messages from family and friends were quite overwhelming. I think everyone is so shocked due to my sister really only just coming out the other side of treatment, then shielding etc.
I decided at 4pm to switch the phone off and do some exercise.
A sweaty, sweary workout really helped, I took a Nytol and went to be early.

I feel so much more human today. Good job as I had an important meeting this afternoon regarding my dc1 who has SEN and his transition into adult care services and new education setting. Good to think about something else.

Yesterday I heard from hospital with an appointment for the new lump to be biopsied tomorrow afternoon.
And the breast care nurse phoned to introduce herself.
The GP phoned and signed me off work, I am a physio, so patient facing and quite physical and I'm right handed. I'm going into work next week to 'clear my desk' so to speak, tie up loose ends and sort stuff.
A few friends have booked in to do so nice things before the surgery, one is taking me to a spa afternoon, so that is quite uplifting.

I hope that you are doing as well as can be expected. It is a rollercoaster of emotions. I hope that you have got lots of support around you.
I'm never far from MN if you need an offload. Big hugs xx

@four4me I'm glad you're doing OK. I'm so teary also, I haven't slept for the last three nights and I have called GP today to see if I can have something to help.
I went for a filling today and cried on the dentist. She was so lovely to me it made me worse!
I also had a meeting about my SEN daughter today. She is online schooled as she has school phobia and anxiety, goodness knows what this is all going to do to her.
Do you have a date for surgery? Lovely you are planning a spa day beforehand. I am struggling to want to go and see my friends but the messages they are sending are just so lovely. And I had flowers from my husband's boss, which made me cry as well.
I'm just not coping well.
I hope your biopsy goes OK and all is well with it. Big hugs back to you xx

Justalittlebit10
Aw it is so hard. Has your GP got back to you with some help?
The lack of sleep really has an impact on coping. I'm a poor sleeper normally, but one terrible night breaks me even without being in this situation.
The stress of keeping the life of a child with additional needs stable and supported is again hard enough normally.
I hope that if you can get some sleep and emotional support you may feel calmer. Everyone that has walked this path have said to me that once the plan/dates were made they got less panicked.
I haven't got a date yet, the breast nurse is going to try to get me back into the Tuesday clinic next week, but she thought it may be a bit tight from a Friday afternoon biopsy. So we'll see it may be the Tuesday after clinic.
(((((Hugs))))))

@Four4me thank you for your reply. Really helps to talk to people.
My GP is giving me a call today.
I have surgery a week on Monday.
Good luck for today x