I discovered a lump in my left breast in January 2010 and went to my GP immediately and was referred to my local hospital within a week. I had a mamogram and an ultra sound scan, both of which were clear. These tests were followed by a biopsy which was performed by a young doctor, who unfortunately “hit” a vein in my breast resulting in a haematomo (my breast was black and purple for the next 4 weeks). I had to return to the clinic the following week. On my return I was advised that because of the bleeding my biopsy had been contaminated and would have to be repeated in 6 weeks once the haematoma had healed. I returned to the breast clinic in late March 2010 where, for the 1st time I was seen by the Consultant. He advised me that he did not think it necessary to repeat the biopsy as they had managed to have some tissue samples examined and these were also clear. After he had left the room, his registrar (not the one who did the biopsy)seemed to understand that I was concerned about this outcome and said that if it offered me any reassurance, he could see me again in three months to check if anything had changed. I felt reassured by this and was given an appointment to return to the clinic in June 2010.
At my appointment in June 2010, there was no sign of the registrat who had offered me the appointment and I was seen by the Consultant who said that he had already told me that a further biopsy was unnecessary and that he was not prepared to operate on my breast to remove the lump when I had had two out of three negative tests and that the tissue samples they had got at biopsy had been clear. I was advised to understand that what I was feeling was “normal” for my breasts and to be vigilent to change.
In November 2010, after a period of time when I have had niggling doubts and periods of conviction that something was wrong, I returned to my GP who suggested that she refer me to hospital again. I explained that the Consultant had made me feel that I was wasting his time at my last visit in June (even tho the medical team had instigated the appointment), but my GP insisted that she re-refer me.
She had referred me to a different Consultant! I again had a mammogram, ultrasound scan and biopsy and returned for the results in a week. I was told that there appeared to be abnormal cells which did not even appear to be pre-cancerous, but to be on the safe side the Consultant had decided that it would be better to have a lumpectomy. I went into hospital for surgery on 6th Dec, but it snowed all day and the Consultant didn’t make it into hospital that day, nor the next day and I was discharged without any treatment. Finally on 13th December I had the surgery to remove the lump and returned for the results last Thursday 23rd Dec. I was told that unfortunately there was cancer there and I have to go in for further surgery on 30th December. The outcome of this surgery will determine whether I need only radiotherapy or if it has spread to my lymph notes, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
I am absolutely terrified of what impact the long delay between me finding the lump and the diagnosis of cancer being made will have on my prognosis. As you will understand, I feel that everything has been against me from the outset!!
I don’t know what questions to ask about types, grades or stages.
Any advice would be appreciated before I have to go into hospital again for further surgery this week.
Hi Polly Kay and welcome to the BCC forums
In addition to the support and information you will receive from your fellow users I am posting links to a couple of BCC publications you may find helpful to read, one is a resource pack aimed at anyone newly diagnosed and the other is called ‘Your operation and recovery’, you can read/order copies here:
Our helpliners will be here to talk things over with you from Wednesday this week too if you feel this would help and here are the Xmas and New Year opening times:
breastcancercare.org.uk/about-us/our-services/someone-to-talk-to/helpline/
Take care
Lucy
Hi my story is similar to your. I found a mass in 2008 in my left breast. I did the right thing went to my GP got refered to the hospital had mamogram. core biopsy in Dec 2008. when got results was told not bc but sclerosis and was asked to come back in a yhears time/. so Dec 2009 have another mamogram and am told thre was no change and it was not bc. I was asked what i wanted to do I asked to have the lump out. so on the 18th Jan went in for surgery even then they were umming and ahhing about taking the lump out. i was told from initial looking at the lump it was ok. it was only qwhen i was called back a week later I was told that i had breast cancer. so for me from initially finding the lump to diagnosis was 13 months. after staging i was told that I was Stage 2. i did have 3/11 lymph nodes involved and was told that i had Invasive ductal carcinoma and high grade Ductal carcinoma in situ. there was no spread to my bones or any soft tissue. My plan was 6 chemo then i had a WLE with lymph nodes removed, unfortunately the margins were not the best and therfore required a mastectomy and had a reconstruction. i then had 25 sessions of radiotherapy and am now on hormone therapy. i did worry because of the length of time between initail diagnosis and finding the lump but what i think you need to do wait for your staging tests to find out what your plan is. Also somme types of breast cancer cannot be picked up by mamograms or biopsies and this is the DCIS and any lobular cancer. If you need to pm me then please so and i will try to be of some help.
Louisexxx
Hi Polly Kay,
I’m so sorry for all you’ve been through! Glad that you
finally have a diagnosis and can work your way through
treatment. Breast cancer seems to be very individual
to each woman, and each of us “found” our cancer (or
had it discovered) in different ways and it is always
upsetting!
I’ve read many times about a precursor to the actual
diagnosis and yes, we feel “if only…”
I found *something* in my breast 9 months before
my diagnosis but it didn’t feel anything like a lump
or bump! So I just made a mental note of it, and the
next time I checked it was a 12mm cancerous lump.
Hope that things will be smooth sailing for you and that
you are happier with your new consultant than you were
with your old. (None are perfect, as none of us is either : - )
love,
Anna x
Thank you to Anna, Lucy and Louise. I’m going into hospital on 30th Dec for a Sentinel Node Biopsy. Haven’t a clue what that means, but hopefully will be more informed once doc speaks to me.
Can anyone help with the questions I should be asking, because I really want to know what is happening to my body!! Also my family is really upset and asking me questions that I can’t answer.
It’s good to be able to post these thoughts - am glad I found this website!
i PollyKay
There are some really informative leaflets you can read on the BCC website, one of the facilitators on the site has already posted a link to them earlier in the thread. You might want to take your time to look through them, and point your family to them as well, depending on their ages of course.
Sentinel Node Biopsy is where they identify the nodes in your armpit which are the first place that cancer would get to IF it had spread. So they identify the first nodes, take a couple out and then check them under a microscope to see if it has spread, and that helps them to decide what is the best treatment plan for you. (Just to reassure you, from what I’ve read just about everyone has SNB to check, so don’t automatically assume it HAS spread just because you’re having SNB.)
You should also be able to phone the BCC helpline (phone number on the home page, I think), or if you’ve seen your consultant you have probably been assigned a Breast Care Nurse who is there for you to call. Give her a ring to have a chat about what’s happening to you, as she will know all about your specific case. I asked my BCN if it would be ok for my 21-yr-old daughter to call her if she had any specific questions regarding my case and the nurse said that was fine, so if you’re not sure what questions to ask but your family are more able to get their head round it, you could perhaps get them to speak to the nurse for you.
Good luck and hugs.
CM
Hiya
I have a similar story, however my delay in diagnosis went on for 2 years . During this time I had 2 mammograms, 2 ultrasounds and 2 needle biopsys. I was told it was a fatty lump. I wasn’t until the lump was removed that BC was diagnosed. Invasive lobular Grade 3. 3 /15 lymph involved. I finished my treatment in June 2009 and just take Taxoxifen now… so far so good!!
Thanx a lot folks. I’ll read the info and have started a list of questions that I want to ask when I go in for op on Thursday.
Hi Polly Kay,
Good wishes for your op on Thursday!
Do let us know how it goes…one of the
operating room team came to me *right*
after surgery (while I was still in Recovery)
to tell me the results of the SNB–fastest
results ever.
Fingers crossed that you get good results
and that everything goes smoothly.
love,
Anna x
Just here to wish you well. They have never found my primary cancer so it was a good job i had lymph node involved. Im known as a CUP cancer and most likely breast cancer, so i had probably had the cancer for a considerable time, on top of that im HER 2 pos and hormone negative. Im early stage breast cancer even after the length of time i have probably had cancer and the aggressive nature of the cancer. The lymph nodes have vanished after the second treatment and they are optomistic for a complete cure.I hope this will give you some peace of mind that the time may not be to bad.Good luck.
hi girls,
i was 32yrs in 2005 when i first went to breast clinic with a lump in my left breast near to my arm pit. they did an ultrasound scan and assured me it was thickening of the tissue , i went back 4 times over 4yrs and even paid to go private for a second opinion they all said it wasnt anything to worry about and to come back when i’m 40yrs for regular screening.
i’m now 37yrs and my nipple started to sink in at one side i went back AGAIN and its now 22mm tumor grade 2 ductal cancer extremley hormone sensitive and 8 out of 18 nodes positive.
the question is when did it become cancer? i wish i’d had the lump out back then. i feel i wasnt taken seriously. if you feel fobed off and not happy go back. 4 people in my family had bc but the clinic said because my mum hadnt had it i wasnt as at risk!!! not so!!! feeling better for a moan .rach x
Thanks for your comments and good wishes folks.
Rach - I totally agree with you and hope that anyone who is in this position reads this and heeds your advice. I kept being told by my new medical team that I did the right thing by going back - obviously since they have now diagnosed BC!!! I am so thankful that my GP referred me to a different consultant.
Hi, I am terrified, back on 23 dec, went to gp with painful lump the same week (I had noticed it the week before), had mammo, FNB and core biposy, the mammo and FNB showed the lump as cancer, BUT the sample for the core biopsy wasnt good enough (but they are certain its is cancer), I have been booked for lumpectomy on 12 Jan BUT they want me to have another core biopsy next week, I am terrifed that this might spread the cancer- is there a risk of that?? The docs tell me not to worry, but I would like to know. the lump is 1.6cm x 1.3cm, i am so scared. i am told it is only during the op, and the biopsy they take and the gamma test of the nodes, that they will know about the staging and grading. i am 50, good health (really - i am a runner)but slight build, i am scared of prognosis and ending up deformed, aslo all the side effects of radio, please, any advice out there?
Kitty Kate - sorry I can’t help with your fears as am just newly diagnosed myself. Perhaps if you post on a different thread, some of the ladies who have more experience of how things work would be able to help.
Update on my scenario - had my SNB on 30th Dec. Was OK went into hosp at 8 am and got home at 8 pm. Unfortunately because of hols, won’t get results until 13th Jan!!
Good Luck on 12th Kitty Kate! Let us know how you get on.
Pauline x
I had my results of SNB today. Lymph Nodes were clear. Have invasive ductal tumour 28mm, hormone receptive and HER2 neg. Will only need radiotherapy and hormone therapy. I feel so relieved and would not have believed a month ago that I would feel LUCKY that I have ONLY to get radiotherapy!
I know that there are others being diagnosed every day and have posted this in the hope that it might help to know that it might not be as bad as you think. I was very scared and feared the worst.
I also know that there are others who don’t get the optimistic outcome that I got today and hope that we all find the strength to fight this awful disease.
Pauline
Very pleased for you, Pauline. That “nodes clear” message is SUCH a huge relief, isn’t it!
Do you have a better picture of what your treatment regime is now, or do you have to wait for an appointment with an onc?
So glad to hear your good news, Pauline.
Thanks for sharing it with us.
Anna x
Hi CM - I have an appointment to see Onc on Monday. How did you get on? I was checking threads, but must have missed your post. Knew you were having your op at beginning of week.
Pauline
Delighted to report a “nodes clear” verdict following OSNA. I did post a full report somewhere but I have no idea where I posted it. Feeling remarkably chipper after surgery, and the worst I’ve had was constipation from the codeine. How lucky am I!
And I love sports bras, I feel like my boobs are encased in concrete and aren’t moving ANYWHERE, which is just what I need at the moment.
Had appointment with Onc today. To have rads for three weeks (15 treatments) and start on Tamoxifen immediately for two and a half years followed by Aromasin for two and a half years. Any one else had the two split over 5 years? Onc explained what each drug does, but am not really sure why I’m getting both??