I had biopsies yesterday, and now the inevitable 7-10 day wait now…but I honesty can’t imagine this NOT being cancer, especially given my family history of it at a young age (younger than I am now).
I have what I can only describe as a dense/thickened area, my nipple pulls in slightly but noticeably when I raise my arm and they also found architectural distortion on the ultrasound. Mammograms were clear but my breasts are very dense, apparently, and “something could be hiding”, or it might be something that just doesn’t show up on a mammogram. The doctors really didn’t know for definite either way, but made some concerning comments nonetheless.
My fear given everything is that it is a lobular cancer that has gone undetected on my previous mammograms (as I know they often don’t show up on mammograms) and might have been growing for years and now be quite advanced.
My mum died within months of an advanced cancer being detected decades ago, so this is obviously affecting my thought processes… I know logically I am a different person but past experience does affect people…
Trying to avoid google but I have just enough knowledge from friends and family’s breast cancer stories to be able to worry myself, and I can’t just switch my brain off!
Honestly, I would be relieved right now to find out that it is an early stage ductal cancer and not an advanced lobular one that has been hiding… I feel like I have done so many things “right” (checking regularly, going for annual mammograms due to family history) and something might have been missed for potentially a long time on my mammograms.
I dont know what I am looking for by posting…but it does help a bit just getting it out!
We hope you find this forum a supportive place and please know if you ever want to chat things through, our breast care nurses are here. You can reach them on 0808 800 6000.
Thank you! At times I feel totally fine and ok, and at others everything just feels terrifying. I’m not good at waiting under the best of circumstances and now I have no choice… I do appreciate the support, and will share the outcome to hopefully be of interest to others…
This is the worst time IMO. Where you have a strong suspicion something is off but must wait for confirmation. If you need medicinal support to get through this don’t hesitate to ask. Hopefully it’s nothing but if not you have an army of women ready to support you through it.
Thank you! Yes, it is very much the waiting and wondering, vs knowing what I am dealing with…
The family history definitely doesn’t help but I just hope it is nothing like the situation my mum experienced.
I think I have been dealing with the initial shock/stress today (or course I was hoping that the scans would show nothing of concern) and will hopefully be able to relax a bit over the coming days…I know I have a while to wait yet to know what I’m dealing with.
As everyone says, the waiting is terrible, but once you get your results & treatment plan it is easier to deal with & treatment has come such a long way. I wish you all the best.
Hi boobfluff, yes, it is a long scary wait for these results. I had ultrasound and biopsy after mammogram recall. Given results 8 days later. Try to focus on nice things to do over the next week and keep fingers crossed there is nothing too much to worry about. As a result of my mammogram, my cancer was caught early and was treated with lumpectomy and radiotherapy. Now on tamoxifen and yearly check ups. I understand your fear with family history, but remember treatments are more advanced and effective these days. Let us know how you get on x
Thank you for the kind words and reassurance! I keep trying to remind myself that things are very different now compared to when my mum was diagnosed in the '90s… feeling a bit valmer today but very up and down!
Totally normal. Just try to distract right now. When I came on this site before my biopsy came back scared out of my gourd, Shi reminded me that it is not cancer until the doctors tell you otherwise. So this is not cancer yet. They can’t know until the results are in and there have been many instances where something looked suspicious but have turned out to be totally benign.
Hey lovely, I personally found the wait, the unknown to be the worst part. Your feelings, fears and anxiety are completely valid. I will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Keep strong and be kind to yourself <3
Hi, so sorry to hear you are going through this anxious time. I’ve had a mastectomy due to widespread DCIS one side, then 12 years later a small invasive lump higher up, no spread, the anxiety is very hard.
I just wanted to say that a few decades ago when your mum sadly passed away, there wasn’t the knowledge or targeted treatments there are now. So many more people are surviving. Please try to keep optimistic. Sending love and strength.
Thanks all so much for the words of support and reassurance. I do feel a bit calmer now I’m over the initial shock, mainly just uneasy and impatient. Fingers crossed I will hear next week…
Hi
I’ve had a DIEP and mastectomy in August from a lump I discover myself. I was terrified and I was so anxious waiting for my results, joining this group is one of the best things I did as the support is there constantly and no question is the wrong quest to ask if you need it answering.
My anxiety is triggered by the unknown so I spoke to people on this group and our well being centre in Colchester hospital who are amazing and walk you through every step. If you have one locally use its resources even now it will help.
There are so many more treatments nowadays so try and keep positive although I truly understand that is really hard a certain times. I’m going through my adjuvant treatment at the moment and people on here have been amazing. Just remember it’s ok to be scared and it’s ok to be anxious it’s a hard & frightening time but try and take one step at a time as my thoughts would take me in all directions. Even taking this step is a massive one. Wishing you the best
Dee
Thank you. It certainly is the unknown that is very difficult. I have my results appointment tomorrow afternoon, so will see what they say, and will update then…
Results are in…Grade 2 invasive lobular carcinoma, hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative, they provisionally think only 10mm and no spread, but really can’t be certain until the MRI because my tissue is so dense and it isnt showing up on the scans.
I really do appreciate everyone’s support and advice… I feel calmer knowing what I have, but having yet nore waiting to even be able to confirm the size is very frustrating, although obviously just how it works, I get that.
Again, thank you so much to all for the support while I was waiting!
Oh, so sorry. All I can say is BC treatment has changed a lot over the years. So what ever it is, the way it can be tackled is not what could be done a decade ago. I hope you are fine, but as you say: if not hopefully early and ‘easily’ treatable.
Sending good thoughts!!!
