I found a lump under my arm and so went to my local doctor who examined me. I was then immediately referred to the clinic where they performed 5 mammograms and 2 ultrasounds. As I waited for the results, I could here the doctor saying to her colleagues somewhat agitatedly - ‘Why wasn’t she scanned more regularly?’. I have many fibrous, cyst like sites in my breasts and the area was difficult to scan but the results showed a different, solid irregular lump, 3cm in size. The doctor described it as ‘very worrying’ and ‘suspicious’, and has referred me for a core biopsy. I will have this on Monday and will then have to wait 2 weeks for the results. This is such a long time and I just wondered whether, from the previous results, the doctor already can tell I have have a malignant tumor and is just doing the biopsy to grade the cancer’s severity? Or are the first two test inconclusive and I may still have a benign tumour, despite the doctor’s comments? Surely they’ve seen enough lumps to be able to tell… Sorry for all the conjecture, but I’m just so worried - I have two beautiful young boys of 5 and 8 and I just don’t know how we’ll all cope… HELP! I just want to know so I can start making plans…
Hi, firstly i hate to say it but you cant make any plans until you know one way or the other, when your diagnosed the doctors take over and its best just to let them, after all they deal with it all the time, they cant really tell from the ultrasound until they get the biopsy results back, but they can get a rough idea from the shape apparently, just remember that you will cope, i would say most women surprise themselves just how well they manage!!!
Good Luck Anna
Dear Heartdrive
I am sorry to read about your recent experience, please call our helpliners for some one to one support, it’s hard waiting for results and the way you are feeling is a normal reaction. The number to call is 0808 800 6000 and the line opens at 9am until 5pm Mon-Fri and 9am-2pm on Saturday.
Best wishes
Lucy
Hi Heartdrive and sorry to hear you are having such a difficult time. The first investigation is almost always a mammo and an ultrasound, followed very often by a small needle biopsy, where they just drain a tiny amount of fluid. If this comes back as possible CA they then follow this with a core biopsy. They can often see by the outline whether a tumour is benign or not, but a biopsy will confirm or otherwise. But do remember, if you have cysty breats, a lump could well be an area of calcification or something similar which is not necessarily cancer. I too had numerous ops and investigations for various lumpy areas a long time before I was dx with CA, (infact 7 ops over 15 years) as the doctors were not sure from the mammos and were unable to do a needle biopsy as the area was too hidden inside the breast tissue. But if it does turn out to be CA, you will find all the support and help you need on this site, on the BCC helpline and obviously from your hospital breast care nurse. I know the waiting is dreadful, we have all been there and it is the most stressful thing to have to go through. Try and keep busy and get on with your normal things and do come on here and chat some more if it helps. Very best of luck with the biopsy on Monday.
Birgit
Thank you for your comments and sentiments - i really appreciate them - I will let you know what the results are… Hx
Hi - a core biopsy is crucial in my personal experience, i was told it was probably not but they gave me one to prove to me it wasn’t as i was worried sick and the results came back it was so I can only conclude that a core biopsy is vital and that they may well not know at this stage. The 2 week wait is a nightmare and i know what you mean about plans I was diagnosed in December just gone whan my son was 7 months and my daughter 3 - 4 months on i still haven’y made plans i’m just going with it and don’t ask me how and why but if (and thats a big ‘if’) you are unfortunate to have any form of breast cancer don’t try and deal with the whole scenario at once, break it down into bits and deal with it step by step. I sincerely hope you are one of the luchky ones though and try and get some sleep!! I thought i was the only loon up at this hour but i’ve just had chemo and the steroids are keeping me awake!!
x
sorry to hear about the long waits… my tumour was only confirmed by core biopsy but i only had to wait 2 days - nothing showed on mammo or ultrasound at all. i think lolabelle’s advice is good - deal with each step at a time. Best of luck with the results - i think everyone on here with cancer wants you not to have it.
jennifer
dear heartdrive
The waiting is the worst, I found the breast care nurses were absolutely wonderful and supportive. Nobody will know until they have surgically removed some of the tissue at a core biopsy which is easy.A radiolgist should never be able to say that you have cancer because they are looking at black and white images. They may have a "gut feeling"but you need the histology. My results were available in a week. perhaps I was lucky in this post code lottery NHS and I had my lumpectomy within 10 days of my core cut biopsy which confirmed the suspicions. However just because you have lumps etc does not mean you have cancer, sorry but you have to wait for the biopsy results, keep calm and grab all the support you need and is offerred because the worst time is now, once you havethe diagnosis the rest of your life will be easier because you know what you are dealing with… well that is what I found. I really do hope this helps
thinking of you
jan