Anxiously waiting!

Have I got breast cancer? Appointments and waiting for test results
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Hi, I’m hoping I’m in the right section.

I’m 42, and found a lump 2 weeks ago. It’s quite high up, not really in the main breast, but just above it, if that makes sense?

GP saw me straight away, said it didn’t feel suspicious but put me on the 2ww referral, she measured it as 2.5x3cm.

This morning I got a call from the clinic saying they had a cancellation and could I go this afternoon. Obviously I just wanted to get this done, so said yes, but it meant no time to arrange someone to pick up my boys from school, so my husband could come with me. So I ended up going on my own.

I had the nurse check, she said it was smooth edges and said it moved. I felt hopeful. I then had the mammogram, and then the ultrasound. At the ultrasound they were concerned and took two biopsies and put a titanium chip in. The ultrasound didn’t pick up any issues with my lymph nodes.

I’m quite bruised and sore from the biopsy, she nicked a blood vessel so I bled a lot.

Then I was back in for another mammogram and spoke to the nurse afterwards. She told me it was cancer. She talked about MDT meetings, and coming back in to discuss my biopsy results and treatment plan once they know more.

I’m an anxious person anyway but now my anxiety is through the roof. It’s a 2-3 week wait for the face to face. Just not sure what to do with myself until then.

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Hi, I’m sure you are shocked and still trying to understand and process what’s happening. I know it’s easy to say, but breathe, try and stay calm. I’m afraid you need to wait until the biopsy results as they need to tell you the type of cancer and also confirm for certain. Many of us have been and are still going through this, it’s not easy. I found surrounding myself with some good friends, going for a walk or lunch helps. Try and keep some normality… I had my biopsies and went on holiday for 3 weeks, they gave me some of the results over the phone before I flew off. Then I had my face to face meeting last week, I’m afraid it’s a journey. Wishing you positive news and a big hug x

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Thank you for your kind words.

I’ve been on a rollercoaster with my health over the years, lots of ops for endometriosis, long covid, trapped nerve in my neck after falling down concrete steps, and now this.

At the moment I’ve only told my husband, my manager and a close work friend/colleague. I have come to realise, during this two week wait, that while I have brief chats with some mum friends at pick up time, I don’t actually see many people or spend quality time with friends, to be able to talk to them about what’s happening.

Going to try keep things as normal as possible during this time, but I feel physically sick with worry and haven’t eaten at all yesterday. The waves of anxiety are really intense. I’ve been on medication before for anxiety and depression, just wishing I could snap out of it and put my logical head on!

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Be kind to yourself, I know it’s easy for me to say … I just googled everything and pushed people away, so I’m not the best person to give advice! Once I had it confirmed, I did want to tell everyone, that’s just my style, but you might want to keep it private. The best thing is that breast cancer is so supported and the NHS professionals want to help you. Have a nice day x

Ps when you have some news let me know. I’ve got my MRI tomorrow so I’m a bit further ahead than you.

And just to add, you may find some of the other mums at the school gate have been through similar. I was so surprised how many this affects. Stay positive x

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Hi @_jm I’m very sorry that you find yourself here but you will get a lot of support as you go through the process. Ask questions, seek advice or just download your feelings, whatever helps you through the next few months.

I was also told at biopsy that it was cancer but that the biopsy would tell them what kind. It seems to be the thing now as scanning technology is so good. I’m still not sure if it’s a good thing to be told this at such an early stage, however, some certainty helps some people I guess and it is in no-one’s interest to give a woman false hope.

It is universally acknowledged that the stage you’re in is the absolute worst. Knowing that you have cancer but not knowing the type, stage or grade means that the mind catastrophises and goes to the worst case scenario. It takes a superhuman effort to not do this so don’t beat yourself up about your reaction. If you are the sort of person who has to find out more, then please stick to the specialist websites, MacMillan, Cancer Research UK and, of course, Breast Cancer Now. You must understand however that, without any idea of your histology, you may read, and be frightened by, things which absolutely do not apply to you.

This horrendous wait of a few weeks will end and you will have a treatment plan put in place to get this thing gone. Once you have that, you have back a sense of control. In the meantime, I would suggest that you have a chat with your GP who knows your history and who can give you something to help with your anxiety. It sounds as if you’ve already been through so much at such a young age, this diagnosis hardly seems fair, however, the successful treatment of breast cancer is at an all time high and a huge percentage of us get through treatment and go on to lead cancer-free lives. The odds in your favour of being one of those are extremely high.

If you need to have an actual chat with someone who understands, I can recommend calling the BC Now nurses on 0808 800 6000 between 9.00-16.00 (M-F) 9.00-13.00 (Sat). They don’t rush you and you don’t have to have a question - just let them know how this is affecting you. I guarantee you’ll feel better. I would also research to see if you have a Maggie’s Centre anywhere near you, as they are the most welcoming and supportive places with a whole load of offerings to help you through the journey. You can find out more about Maggie’s here Our centres | Maggie's

This is a bewildering thing that has hit you out of the blue but there is a lot of support everywhere to help you through it. Keep posting here, we’ve got you, we been there and we understand.

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Best wishes for your mri tomorrow. Hope it all goes well. Please to let me know how you get on xx

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Thank you for your kind and supportive words. Also for the links, that’s really helpful.

Yes I’m avoiding Google and just sticking to professional websites, and forum like this.

I think I am the kind of person that needs to know everything and be the most informed I can be, but I’ve told myself today to hold off looking at different types grades until I know for sure what I have, as it’s definitely made my anxiety worse.

I went back to work today but my manager has ordered me to stay off work for a while. I was thinking the distraction would help, I’m also thinking I’ll need the time off work when I actually need it.

Anyway I’m waffling now. I’ve been awake since 4:30am and haven’t eaten at all, absolutely no appetite at all! So I’ll see how I go tonight and ring my GP tomorrow.

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I know it’s so bloomin’ hard to not let it consume us. You have to remember this is a short but highly stressful phase where we are terrified about what is inside me…It’s been bringing on headaches I was sending myself crosseyed the amount of stuff and forums I’ve been looking at.

In terms of many saying they were told at recall something looked suspicious of being cancer I had the opposite experience, where the US Dr said everything looked ok her end, and looked normal. Results unfortunately are DCIS and a second biopsy due next week.

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Oh I’m so sorry to hear that, must have been a shock. It’s all just too awful isn’t it. I hope your second biopsy goes well, they’re not very nice are they! X

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I also had the results appointment delayed a couple of times which freaked me out, but I think that’s what can happen with appointments.
I’m sorry we’re all going through this. And thank goodness for sites like this. Try and rest whilst you can, snack when you want to and remember they can do amazing things now with treatments.
And yes I feel a biopsy is like having your boob trapped in a door for 20 minutes! The surgeon said he could tell there was a bruise in my breast from it.
I hope you’re enjoying a bit of the sunshine, simple pleasures seem so important now xx

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Oh I know, the doctor nicked a vessel on mine it bled a lot so the nurse had to apply lots of pressure to stop the bleeding for ages. They were fascinated watching the bruise grow under the skin with the US scan.

Not going to complain about the weather for sure! X

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I found my lump in a similar position over a year ago. Its surprising how high up they can be - 12’o’ clock from the nipple and very high up. They can still do the incision for lumpectomy a few inches lower, so it doesn’t show even with low cut tops. I had to be satisfied with zero margin at the top as there was no further breast tissue to take. It happens.

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Hi, thanks for your message. Yes that’s where mine is, 12 o’clock from nipple but high, like inline with my armpit.

Hope everything went well with your operation and treatments afterwards x

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Not so bad in my case, I was randomly scratching an itch and caught it early. Got given extra radiotherapy as margin zero upwards and also up to skin ( there’s not much room to skin up there). I would think that a lump feels bigger in situ than it actually is, so try not to worry about size till youve had your appointment.

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