does anyone know what a “black star” is? I had the results through, I have to have the lump removed as a precaution, it is not cancerous, but could develop into cancer, so to be on the save side I have to have it removed and then they test to be sure it is not cancer, then the next waiting begins!
like everyone says, it is the waiting and not knowing which is hard, but I do not think I am like everyone else on this site, there for the grace of god go I!
yes its a large radial scar that can be seen on a scan. Most radial scars cannot be seen on the scan and are only found (like mine) when a different type of cancer is taken out.
They are not cancer but a sign that something dodgy went on in your breast once upon a time, that your imune system spotted and cured and so they could be holding some dormant cancer cells. Also because you cannot scan behind them the scar could be hiding some active cancer cells.
They are very rare. And from memory (dont quote me) any cancer involved with them is non agressive and hormone posative. Which means it is easily treatable.
So do ring the help line to get all the accurate info, but I think normally they do a WLE(the op to have it out) presumably have a quick check of your nodes, and then you have the wait for your results to see what else is in there. If they do find cancer hopefully it will be small and they will have caught it early and it will be easy to treat.
If its just the scar, depending on how big it is they might decide to give you some treatment as a preventative measure.
Yes the waiting is horrid, no matter how much they tell you it is probably benign you are bound to wonder about what happens if it is not. So use this website to ask questions or just chat when you are pulling your hair out because no one around you understands how you are feeling–we have all been there and we know what its like.
One tip, if you can afford it–go out and treat yourself to a well fitted sports bra with soft straps and divided cups. Tell them it is to wear in bed post surgery so that it has lots of back room for swelling and comfort in bed. You dont want it tight enough to jog in.
I wore mine 24/7 for two weeks and realy felt it when i had to wash it. If i had to have surgery again i would go to the incredible expense of getting two.
look after yourself after surgery, if you dont feel like doing much listen to your body. And good luck with the results–keep in touch with us all.
dear old and lumpy. Thank you very much for the long informative answer, I wasnt worried at all because my Husband is doing enough for both of us. He keeps saying that we will not be able to cope without me and (really) I have been incredibly calm about it all, especially as the consultant seemed to think that it was nothing more than this and that it was a preventative to have it out incase it lead to something more - he said there was always a chance that they can sometimes lead to cancerous cells. If nothing is found he said that there was no need for any other treatment, so when the surgery is done I will have to wait and see, I am trying to keep calm for my Husband and give him positive vibes, poor soul he is worried sick about me.
So I shall not be able to do any lifting when I have the surgery, I am trying to have a good old sort out at the moment (just in case) I am the world worst hoarder and do not want my children to have to go through all my rubbish, collected over the past forty years, since moving from one country to another, collecting and throwing away rubbish as I went, it seems I have more now than when I started, to think that when i left home over forty years ago I had hardly anything, now I have a lot of useless junk, of no use to anyone but me (or so I thought when I couldnt bear to throw things away).
I have had so many mammograms in the past for lumps that were nothing but tissue, now when I couldnt feel anything but pain in and out of both boobs, the doctor felt a tiny lump and it has to go, if it were not for the odd pain I received it may have been left undetected, how lucky is that?
The bra I have to get is it like a platex bra with the crossovers at the front, I have never had to buy a sports bra, I hate bras with wires anyway, do they not have any fasteners these bras, sorry to be such a pain, I dont know what I am looking for, being an old granny I am not very modern. My children think everything is fine, I think I will leave them like that I do not want to worry everyone, as it is hubby is beside himself. They say they will not be doing the operation until after August because it is not urgent, and they may ring me the night before if they get a “slot”.
I would be lying if I said I wasnt worried, but I do feel incredibly calm, I cannot quite believe myself.
Thank you very much for your help, time and understanding, are you over your treatmen? you sound really nice, I really do appreciate you taking the time to reply to my question.
dear old and lumpy, You will now regret answering me. I have just looked on Marks and Spencer site and they have some “high impact non wired sports bras” is this the sort of thing I need? they are £18 it doesnt seem over expensive, am I looking at the right thing I wonder?
thank you again
as to bras yes i bet the marks and spencer one is fine, as long as it has cups and no wires. Get one with back fasteners that is good on the smallest fastening so that you can let it out if you swell
I lashed out and went to Bravissimo, the do D (or sometimes C) cups and over. It was £28 there, but the girls are so experianced and can get you well fitted. And they realy helped me find the right fit for wearing in bed after surgery. They talked about sweating and made sure i had a fabric that was good for that
I have just been back. I need to carry on drumming through the radiation treatment and want something to keep me rock solid during that so that the skin is not. rubbed at all by me jumping up and down and waving my arms in air.
the clever girls found me one that sits well below by boobs so that if it gets sore there it will ot hurt and we decided to pick a cup with a bit of room below incase i need to wear dressings.
Feeling calm and sorting the house out?? Quite normal. Not that you need to do it “just in case” even if that tiny lump turns out to be some sort of cancer you are going to be arround for years yet. It can probably be treated and you will be declared cancer free in 5 years.
But having something that takes your mind off it is great. I found that i was in this calm sort of bubble, but i could not concentrate on anything, I watched all the backruns of location location location one after the other, and i normally never watch tv during the day. it takes us all in different ways.
As to your husband, do you think he is the sort to benefit from ringing the helpline?? they are there for everyone affected by cancer (or non malignant stuff too) He might find it usefull to just talk his fears through with them.(mind would have hated that, he internalises everything.
another tip. Print off the exercises on here that you are supposed to do after surgery and see how well you can do them. then you have something to aim for after the op. No use trying to get your arm behind you back with a scar if you could not do it before. Also it means you know them and can do them easily when you are groggy on day 1. and it is my crackpot theory that if you excercise all those muscles and get blood going to them and get them strong then you will recover better.
Anyway keep coming back on and asking question and keep calm and busy.
hello “new friend”
I cannot believe that someone who is going through treatment can be so helpful!!
I will have to send for a bra as I live abroad at the moment and not able to get to shops, I may get one from M & S and try a sports shop here as well.
My Husband would not cope with ringing any helpline because he is a quiet person who hides things and will not believe anything anyone says anyway, its sad really, he thinks that I can cope whereas I think he would cope as well, but he doesnt want to think of coping.
Thank you for the advice I will try and do the exercises and maybe will be competant for when the time arrives. I will see if your shop has an online site, thanks for everything.
I will keep coming and checking things, good luck with everything, you are a great help, I bet you have helped loads of people.