And all the test results aren’t even in yet. Hi everyone, I found this site while I was waiting for a diagnosis but unfortunately it was down when I received it. On Friday, April 13th an ultrasound found a tumour that a mammogram missed due to dense breast tissue. Then a biopsy confirmed that it was cancerous and IDC. That doctor’s appointment is one that I will never forget because even though I tried to prepare myself for the worst, it still hit me hard.
Then an appointment with a surgeon. He checked my ‘good’ breast and the affected breast, plus felt my lymph nodes. He said there were no lumps in my good breast and the lymph nodes were not swollen. Then he hit me with a new mass that seems to be around the tumour. From my measurements it must be huge (like an egg) because almost the whole top of my breast is hard and I can feel somewhat of an outline. He said that he will talk to the radiologist about it. Now I have to worry about the original tumour, plus this mass. Might I add that both are very painful and the big one was not picked up by mammo or ultrasound.
My one only hope was that the lymph nodes were not swollen so it may not have spread, but Dr. Google tells me that it’s possible for it to spread and not have swollen nodes.
So I’m waiting for another appointment to discuss chest X-Rays to see if it’s spread to the lungs, plus a blood test. I admire everyone who has been through this already because this waiting is going to cause me to have a heart attack! And from the size of the mass I’m almost expecting them to put me in a high stage. He said it’s probably been growing inside of me for years since I’ve had the pain for many years (always had breast checks).
So as I sit here, I think of all the things that could be symptoms of it spreading. All on my left side - the pain in the hip, large lump on my left inner thigh that just disappeared soon after it appeared, knee and elbow pains. I hope it’s just my brain working overtime, lol.
Now that I’ve written a book, I’ll quit now. If you don’t mind I’ll stick around here because I know of no one in real life going through this right now.
(Hope I put this in the right place).
Oh Tai
I am so sorry that no one has got back to you at this difficult time. I don’t think I can help you much :-(.
I am sure someone will be along soon but the new forum has been causing some problems and that might be why you haven’t heard from anyone yet. If I were you I would phone the BCC helpline ASAP - they are lovely people who can be really helpful
Mx
Ps
You have posted in the secondary breast cancer section. Fingers crossed that you are in the wrong place 
Hi Hunny,
I also hope that you have no spread and are in teh wrong place as it were!
I can’t believe that you had such horrid news on Friday 13th of all days…But, you did and you are now here. You are in the right place for some friendship, support, advice and quite often threads which just make us smile.
You will be inundated with advice from friends, complete strangers , websites and literature. Just try to be rational and think carefully about what is said to you…don’t be tempted to believe that if you drink a pint of some dreaful herbal concotion every morning whilst standing on one leg wearing nothing but a smile will cure you-it won’t! try to get some sleep ( difficult I know…) and surround yourself with positive friends who are there for you, and not the harbingers of bad news…
When you see an Oncologist or surgeon take a friend/partner and a note book…ask lots of questions… ie Is this treatment the most appropriate type of treatment for me? Are there any others which we can look at?..What do you expect to happen with this course of treatment? Ask loads of questions after all. it’s your body…
lastly and most importantly, take care of yourself… if walking with your dog and the IPod listening to Abba is your thing, then put your waterproofs on and get walking. If you like pamper days at spa’s get booked in! Do what make YOU happy, relaxed or indulgant…it really will help you…
message me if you wish, and I wish you all the luck in the word…hugs…xxx
Hello Tai, I’m so sorry to hear that you’re having to go through this. It’s the not knowing that’s so difficult. I’m in a very similar place myself at the moment and would echo Horsie’s advice. I do remember having lots of aches and pains whilst waiting for my diagnosis and they weren’t anything at all to worry about - I think the stress and worry that I was feeling was causing physical symptoms which were nothing serious. I’m quite a newbie to this forum and have already found the support and advice that I’ve received has helped me get through some very tough times, so you’re in the right place!
xx
Hey Tai
Waiting is the pits and once you actually know what you are dealing with and have a treatment plan, you will start to feel more in control; the first few weeks are the worst.
Hopefully things haven’t spread and then as Tilly says, you’ll be in the wrong place! Lots of good advice from Horsie and definitely don’t Google anything to do with SBC - it will scare you and most of it is out of date. BC is such an individual thing.
When the recent news came out to say that there were around 10 different types of BC, I don’t think any of us who had it were surprised. You just have to look around the community - people have different treatment response, side effects etc So you have your very own version of BC. No-one can tell you how long you’ve got so go out and live.
Big hugs
Laurie x
I know its easy to say don’t worry, so I won’t. Obviously you are going to be worried until you have your results etc. I would just like to say though that don’t be too concered that the mass feels large per se. I had a huge mass (well it felt huge to me) but part of it was fibroid tissue which had grown around the cancerous lump. It was a large lump (4.5cm) but I had chemo first which shrunk it to dead cells only, so that when it came to the lumpectomy it was only a keyhole procedure. Also the tests such as chest x-rays are completely standard. I had a bone scan and ultrasound of my stomach area too. As I had no swollen lymph nodes I only needed to have a sentinal node biopsy. From what I was told stage and grade are from the actual cells and how they behave and whether it has spread, not necessarily the size of the lump. All I will say and I am sure others will agree that the waiting is the worst, once you have your results, you will be more informed to make decisions.
Hello Tai, I am sorry that you have all this worry at the moment. But you are in the right place to get some help and support. There are lots of lovely ladies on here and between us we have gained lots of infotmation from the experiences we have had. No two people are the same and there are numerous variations of the disease.
My tumour was large and at the time I was on a “large tumour” study. It was 5.5cm and I had chemotherapy to reduce the tumour before I had a mastectomy with reconstruction. I was in my late 30s at the time.
There is so much to take in and so many questions running around loose in your head. I suggest you write down all the questions and worries that you have so that when you go back to the hospital you wil hopefully get some answers. I found it best to go with someone as it is difficut to take it all in. After the doctor or nurse have told you everything you can look at your notes to see if there is anything that they have not covered that is worrying you.
Meanwhie keep writing to us on here to tell us how you are doing and any worries you have. Sometimes it is easier to talk to people on here because we do not want to worry our nearest and dearest and on here you can let rip and get it all out! Try if you can to take one day at a time. We are here to support you and help you get through this. You are not alone. Love Val
Hello Tai and welcome to the Breast Cancer Care discussion forums, you’ve come to the right place for some good, honest support from the many informed users of this site, and I am pleased to see that you are already getting that support.
For some extra support, the helpline team here are only a free phone call away, nothing is too trivial to ask, so don’t be afraid to ask. Lines are open 9-5 Mon - Fri and 10 -2 Saturdays, 0808 800 6000.
Take care,
Jo, Facilitator