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Original poster

CHECK YOUR BREASTS!!!

739 replies

FiveSoloRings · 20/12/2009 13:37

I got news this morning that one of my friends died yesterday. She was in her very early 30's, two young children and everything to live for. Despite a mastectomy a couple of years ago, the cancer spread and she is gone. I can't tell you how dreadful I feel.

It is so important that we check our breasts regularly. It takes a few minutes and could save your life.
One of my best friends had a message just like this one, but it was face to face and by her boyfriends exgf who also had just had a mastectomy because of breast cancer. This message from such an unlikely messenger almost certainly saved my best friends life.

Pass the message on please ladies. Make sure your friends and family are nudged into remembering to check.

OP posts:
solo · 05/05/2010 23:12

Bump.

MaryAnnSingletonAgreesWithNick · 06/05/2010 19:13

Amapoleon -how was it ? hope you are ok xx

Beaaware · 06/05/2010 22:16

Has anyone tried Digital Ifrared Thermal Imaging (DITI) as opposed to mammograms? I have read that this method has no radiation and can detect very early symptons of BC.

solo · 09/05/2010 01:15

Bumping...

Amapoleon · 09/05/2010 22:43

Hello. I'm back and all went well, well eventually, hahaha. I went in on the Wednesday night to guarantee my bed for Thursday. My Op was cancelled on Thursday, so was given day release and back in that evening to keep my bed.

I had the op on Friday afternoon and it went well, felt a bit yucky from anaesthetic and burst in to tears in the recovery room, lord knows where that came from, surgeon decided I was an anxious type [hmmm]. Anyway, was sent home on Saturday morning.

My wound looks small and neat, I was given any advice about looking after it, everybody had disappeared, so I'm just using common sense. There is no dressing on it, which I assume is ok.

Should be about 2 weeks, until I get my results, so I am keeping everything crossed.

silentcatastrophe · 10/05/2010 12:58

I did't like the morphine! I hope you are ok. do you have a lot of swelling?

I haven't heard of DITI instead of mammograms. I'm having another MRI scan later this year. I hate it. It's like going to see a fortune teller when you don't want to.

MaryAnnSingleton · 10/05/2010 16:38

Hope you are healing up nicely Amapoleon - take care.

Amapoleon · 11/05/2010 00:23

Thanks all, not too much swelling, although my boob has turned black overnight which was a bit of a shock. It isn't at all painful. The only thing that is hurting is my arm, they had trouble finding a vein and only put a temporary thing in and put it in properly when I was anaesthetised . My arm is really swollen.

MaryAnnSingleton · 11/05/2010 11:03

poor arm The wound on my breast wasn';t sore either but the one under my arm for lymph nodes was very swollen and sore and rubbed...
Take care and rest !

ifancyashandy · 11/05/2010 19:00

I don't know if I am posting in the right place as can't bring myself to read all 17 pages. Am in a bit of a state... found a lump this morning. Thought there might have been something there a while ago but it was so... undefinable.... but this morning, I was putting body lotion on and it was impossible to ignor it.

I called my GP surgery, who were fantastic. They got me in to see a GP this evening who performed an exam. He said there is definately a lump there and he is sending me to the hospital for further investigation. He's told me it will be within 2 weeks.

Thing is, there is a family history (mother 3 x lumps and great aunt - mums aunt - died of breast cancer). I've been looking on the net and apparently, you are more likely to get a 2 week appointment if you're considered 'urgent'. Oh god... oh god... and I live alone with DD, so there's no-one for me to off load to this evening. I would normally call my mum, but she is hospital recovering from spinal surgery.

I need my hand held....sorry for long post and doom and gloom. I know 90% of lumps are benign but ... oh christ....

MaryAnnSingleton · 11/05/2010 19:41

ifancyashandy - huge hugs from me -it is very scary for you but try not to panic - all referrals are within 2 weeks- it doesn't mean that your doctor thinks it's something bad but that he or she wants you to see the team at your local brea st unit to make sure it is ok and you are right, most lumps and bumps are harmless,probably cysts or blocked milk ducts. Don't google anything - the breast cancer care forum is good for advising on how to cope with the anxiety of waiting for your appointment, though some people find it a bit daunting. If you'd rather stay here then I'm happy to listen to your worries and can let you know what to expect at the appointment. xxx

ifancyashandy · 11/05/2010 20:08

Thank you MaryAnn, you've made me a bit weepy (in a good way).

I know I shouldn't have kept googling till I freaked the bejeesus out of myself 'researching' till I was scared but it's all happened so fast. There I was this morning, just putting on my body lotion as per... Also, I was in hospital about an unrelated matter a couple of weeks ago, for an op that went wrong and thus required a further op, so I'm a bit 'medi-net' crazy at the mo.

I did have a word with myself and went on the Breast Cancer Care site and it does look good (if that's the right word). It seems as if they do three tests at the next appointment?

What I cant find though is feelings - I am competely freaked out that I've got to get through the next couple of weeks as though there is nothing wrong. And I feel completely and utterly squeamish about my breast. And I have always loved them. They ain't perfect, but their mine IYKWIM?

Intellectually, I know I am jumping the gun feeling this way, but emotionally.... I need talking down.

Sorry to dump this on you - please feel free to point me towards a helpline / website if it's all too much.

shantishanti · 11/05/2010 20:18

Hello ifancyashandy. I'm in the same boat right now - waiting for my appointment on monday. Have to rush as I need to go and put DD to bed, but just wanted to come in and say hi.
Horrible isn't it.
I had a different kind of cancer last year, so feeling very 'why me?' about it.

ifancyashandy · 11/05/2010 20:33

Oh poor poor you. We can hold each others hands over the next couple of weeks if you like?

Don't want to burden mum with it as a) she's in her 70's and recovering in hospital from a major op and b) she'll feel guilty as she had breast cancer.

And friends will tell me not to worry till I know what it is! (Stupid me - didn't realise that's what I was supposed to do! Bless them....!)

Here if you need me too

MaryAnnSingleton · 11/05/2010 21:30

shantishanti - so sorry you are going through this too -I'm here for you both if that's ok.
When you go to the breast unit you'll probably have a mammogram,an ultrasound and if necessary a biopsy so that they can tell what's what. The results vary probably from hospital to hospital, but it's about a week (I know it seems like endless waiting and that is really horrible but you will get through it- if you wanted more support,encouragement and to talk to people going through exactly the same thing as you,then do check the bcc forum -there are various sections you can dip into without scaring yourselves silly by reading about people's treatments. They are lovely on there I promise.
The biopsy doesn't hurt (I am very wussy and feeble with needly things) and you should find the breast care nurses are really wonderful.

Amapoleon · 11/05/2010 21:36

Ifancy and Shanti, this thread has proved invaluable to me. Everyone is very kind and caring and don't seem to mind that I moan a lot

ifancyashandy · 11/05/2010 21:50

I do feel slightly more reassured. Kind of. I definitely feel welcomed thank you. But (and I feel completely and totally stupid about this) I am really scared of touching / looking at my breast.

I'm about to go and have a bath and I'm worried about how I'm going to feel about seeing myself naked. I'm a proper grown up - proper job / manage large teams of people / responsible for big budgets - all of those things, yet I feel about 8 years old at the thought of this. Stupid, I know.

MaryAnnSingleton · 11/05/2010 22:08

I can understand that - breasts are very emotive things and it's a very complicated relationship we have with them, if that makes sense.I must say I didn't look at mine much before my surgery -I hadn't asked where the incision would be either. You are in shock so don't be hard on yourself

ifancyashandy · 11/05/2010 22:21

Do you know, it hadn't really occurred to me that I might be in shock. Because of my family history, I feel like I was always expecting this to happen. I feel surreal; the same and totally different at the same time. I mean in a way, nothing is different to yesterday. I just know more know IYSWIM.

But gosh, I'm so sorry - I've been banging on about 'me me me' when you've actually had surgery. I've not even had any real diagnosis yet. Apologies for being crass. AAnd thank you for your kind words and support.

MaryAnnSingleton · 11/05/2010 22:59

no,don't worry -I'm ok -it was this time last year and I'm doing just fine. I just wanted to be able to support you and you needn't worry about going on as much as you like - it's a scary thing to get your head around,and I do remember that.

ifancyashandy · 11/05/2010 23:13

Well, thank you again - I felt quite terrified and bonkers alone when I got home and coming on here and hearing your supportive words has made me feel calmer. Thank you xx Am absolutely shattered though. Hope I can sleep! (god bless nytol!)

MaryAnnSingleton · 12/05/2010 07:28

hope you have had some sleep and hope that you have a good day too

shantishanti · 12/05/2010 10:55

And thank you from me too - it is very nice to be welcomed and offered so much support. MN was incredibly helpful to me when I went through very tough times last year.

At the moment I'm being quite calm about it, but have the odd feeling of dread that passes over me. Thing is, I've been through the 'oh, its so rare in people my age, I'll be fine' thing last year, and unfortunately I was one of the exceptions with that. So its hard to tell myself the same thing this year and believe it. I sort of feel its inevitable that it will be cancer. I'm not as panicked by that thought as I was last time, I suppose because I have had that experience, had cancer, been treated, and here I am. But oh god, the thought of going through it all again...

I too am having funny feelings about my breast. I'm bfing my DD (11 mo), and it feels so weird to think that the thing that gives her so much that is wonderful could be the source of such awfulness for me.

MaryAnnSingleton · 12/05/2010 14:34

shantishanti - it must be horrid for you having already been through something like this. I'll be thinking of you on Monday.

sandripples · 12/05/2010 18:12

Just wanted to say hello to ShantiShanti, Ifancyashandy and Amapoleon (think I've waved to you before Amap. I'm glad your op went OK)

I was diagnosed with BC last December, have had 3 ops (lumpectomy, infection clear-out and lymph node clearance) and am not on chemotherapy. I recall all too well the shock of it all and the reeling thoughts that swirl through your head, during the initial weeks and while waiting for results. But take heart- even if you do have cancer, you will get through. Treatment has advanced so much and I think all of us who have been trhough this are very well supported by the teams of medics, the BC nurses, and the support on here and on the Tamoxifen thread which MAS manages brilliantly and several of us rely on.

One friend with BC experience told me that the ability not to panic would be a great asset - I found this surprisingly helpful because you can at least to some extent -= learn not to panci and take one step at a time. Once the intial shock has worn off a bit.