Hello,
Diagnose ILC earlier this month and having another ultrasound and biopsy tomorrow after having a beast MRI and another ‘dot’ being discovered as well as the original 2cm.
Im struggling to remain positive and have only a few glimpses of positivity each day!
Since diagnosis (or maybe just before), I have felt nauseous, not that interested in food, a tight knotted stomach and a feelings of indigestion.
My mind is in overdrive!
Please can you offer any advice?
Thankyou so much!
Its very recent for you so your anxiety is totally understandable. I was diagnosed in October 2025 and a rollercoaster of biopsies, CT scans, PET scan and endoscopy later I was told I had secondary breast cancer in my spine and also in the lining of my stomach, hence my nausea, lack of appetite and considerable weight loss. Once I was referred to the oncologist and she drew up a treatment plan things felt much more calm and I started on Letrozol on 7 November. Since then I have had very good results and the last CT scan showed my stomach was clear and carcinoma in left breast is shrinking fast, also the lesions on my spine. All nausea is gone, no fluid in the stomach any more. Since starting the Letrozol I am eating normally and have put on 3 kilos which I badly needed. Feeling much better all round. Tomorrow I start on infusions of Zometa to strengthen my bones. I feel so much more positive since my diagnosis and feel I’m on the right track. My oncologist told me I will be on the medication for 5 years initially, scans will be every 3 months as will the infusions. She is very pleased with the progress so far. You will feel so much better once you are a bit further along and start your treatment. We are all different of course, but I was told I won’t have any surgery, chemo or radiation the way things are going. The ‘dot’ you mentioned might even turn out to be nothing - they told me at one point there was another tumour in my right breast as well but in the result of the PET scan it stated ‘no malignancy in right breast’ which was a big relief! Good luck and stay calm, you will fall into a kind of rhythm after you have all the results and treatment plan and you start your treatment. They really have many options for us and new treatments are being developed every day so we are living in a time of medical breakthroughs that prolong life and improve quality of life. Who knows what new discoveries will be made even in the next few years to cure all kinds of disease.
Thanks for your response!
So did you have nausea and lack of appetite before diagnosis which prompted more tests? Its all such a blur for me and I dont remember not being nauseous!
Can I ask about your type of BC and the size initially? Thanks
you are definitely a glass half full woman. Hats off to you and enjoy a Glass of Guiness if that is your tipple.
Seagulls
Yes, the nausea was the trigger to go to my GP, I also asked for a mammogram because I hadn’t had one for a few years and a little voice in my head somehow told me there might be a connection. They took biopsies from the stomach lining as well as breasts and lymph nodes on the left as well as a bone biopsy from my pelvis. Sounds awful but actually it was all quite OK, the stomach ones were a bit uncomfortable but that was it. Secondaries were found in the bone biopsy and in the stomach. I had fluid in my stomach which was partly why I didn’t want to eat. Now the oncologist has told me she can see nothing registering for the stomach in the CT scan with contrast, and everything else is shrinking! She had a big smile on her face and told me the scan looks great. So what first seemed terrifying and like a totally dark prognosis suddenly became manageable once I understood everything, and bear in mind its only been a few weeks! Really fast and positive. But I remember how awful it was in the beginning, when I didn’t know the details, so I want to say hang in there. You’ll be fine!
I’m in the Netherlands so I’d need to translate what they have told me but its basically ILC and its HER2 negative. All of my appointments are in Dutch but I must say they do their best to explain as clearly as possible. The Dutch hospital where I am being treated is wonderful, I feel very lucky in that respect.
Hahaha! I always try to see the glass as half full! I am also a ruptured brain aneurysm survivor (when I was 26) so I can handle this after having had brain surgery, it was useful experience if I can put it like that. What I did learn then was to ask a lot of questions and write down everything they say.
I like Guinness but I’m not indulging due to my medication. A very occasional glass of wine is all I allow myself!
Hats off to you for your positive reaction and sorry I can’t spell Guinness
Seagulls
You’re forgiven for the spelling!!!
I’m naturally optimistic but life has thrown me several curve balls in the past so I always tried to pull myself up by my bootstrings and carry on, though not downplaying anything we are going through because my heart is with all you lovely ladies going through this with me. Its a bummer. But the treatments are now so much improved and advanced and a close friend of mine is a nurse and works for a pharmaceutical company specialising in cancer medication, she always says last month’s top medicine has now been replaced by an even better one! She also said to me “if someone tells they or someone they know was diagnosed with the same as you last month and is now on XYZ treatment” you can even dismiss it because this month its no longer relevant, that’s how fast these treatments are developing.
Hi kswar
Thanks for posting.
Getting a diagnosis is hard and it’s not unusual to have days when you feel overwhelmed and as if your mind is in overdrive.
We often hear from people who, like you, experience a range of emotions with a diagnosis of breast cancer. It’s not clear what support you have at this difficult time but it’s important to let your treatment team or GP about how you are feeling. They will know what support is available locally and may suggest a referral for talking therapy, such as counselling.
If you have not done so already, do mention the nauseous feeling, loss of appetite, knotted stomach and indigestion you have been experiencing. It may help to reassure you that these symptoms you describe can often be associated with the stress and anxiety of waiting for and getting a diagnosis, but your treatment team can decide if any other investigations are necessary.
Stress and anxiety are very common at this time and there are lots of ways to help manage this . Here are some other hints and tips for you to try to see which works best for you while you wait for more information about your diagnosis and treatment.
Talking to someone who has had a similar experience can often be helpful. Our Someone Like Me service can match you with a trained volunteer who’s had a similar experience to you. You can be in touch with your volunteer by phone or email and they can share their personal experiences to help answer your questions, offer support and listen to how you are feeling.
You can ring the Someone Like Me team on 0800 138 6551 or email them at someone.likeme@breastcancernow.org, so they can match you to your volunteer.
If you would like to do so you can connect with others who are recently diagnosed on this part of the online forum.
You are also welcome to call our helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions. The helpline team have time to listen, talk things through and signpost you to additional support and information if necessary. Your call will be confidential, and the number is free from UK landlines and all mobile networks.
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Best wishes,
Eve
Breast Care Nurse
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