confusion
confusion i was diagnosed on tuesday last week but im confused my doc says my cancer is 16mm and not very big but i know nothing else they shoved a booklet at me told me they would get in touch and thats it shouldent i be getting more information i dont know what grade i am i know i have to get a lumpectomy and lymph nodes taken out they now want a bone scan and a whole body scan because now they say because of my other medical problems they may not be able to do the surgery im scared they will just leave it and it will spread i have tried getting a hold of my nurse but she is never in help me someone
Dear tremayne Welcome to the forums. I am sorry to read that you are feeling scared and confused at the moment, please feel free to contact our free phone helpline on 0808 800 6000 if you would like to talk to someone in confidence about how you are feeling at the moment.
The helpline is open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday 9am-2pm and the helpliners can offer you information, support and a ‘listening ear’ to help you to cope during this difficult period.
Kind regards
Forum Host
Breast Cancer Care
Hi Tremayne,
So sorry to hear you’re having such a tough time coping at the moment. I was diagnosed four weeks ago and at the time they couldn’t tell me that much about my cancer either apart from an approximate size- I’m waiting for the results now I’ve just had my lump and sentinel nodes done (they didn’t take all mine out, not yet anyway). It does sound like they are being really careful if they are doing more checks due to your other medical problems. If my own breast nurse is not in I have been told to leave a message saying it is urgent and another nurse from the team will get in touch with me, so you could try that- they also gave me details of support groups in my area so you could ask if there are any in your area. But sometimes its just the waiting to find out and everyone finds that hard- I’m sure they will tell you as soon as they know but don’t be scared to keep asking them- you have a right to know.
Take care and hang on in there
Jane
this is a very scary time for you and it seems unfair that you were dismissed without proper explainations.l would try phoning about 9.30 tomorrow-gives them time to get in-then ask for someone to see you and explain it all,if theres no answer ask to speak to the consultants secretary and ask her tocontact them as she will probably have mobile numbers.make a nuisance of yourself-that gets results!!
take care-come and let us know whats happening.the help line is fab too for advice and a friendly voice.
Also scans of the body are routine in lots of areas so dont get too worried they are a safe guard for you.
thinking of you
sharonx
confusion thanx sharon and taffy i feel a lot better now i got a hold of my nurse finally she has arranged a talk for me with one of the nurses on may 9th so at least i will know more dont feel so scared and confused now i know there is someone out there xx tremayne
glad you are feeling bit better take care and dont forget you are not alone in this and we are here anytime.
love sharonx
scary week god what a time i have had this week finally seen my breast care nurses one after the other,
i was admitted to our local hospital on wednesday in pain turned out i had a gallstone the next day both my nurses came and visited me on the ward and it turns out the surgeon who is going to do my cancer surgery is the same doc for my gallbladder
so they spoke to me at length then friday morning i was taken for my ct scan whooo scary but i only have my bone scan to get done phoned me mum up to let her know
and know what she said " your brother is borderline diabetic im sure he is gonna die" i have been diabetic for 30 yrs and when i pointed it out to her she said but hes my baby he is 55 26 stone and 6ft 6 in and she wonders why i laughed and hung up the phone never mind at least i got all of you to talk to take care all xx tremaynexx
confusion I know this doesn’t help you at all - but reading your post, and some others, it just makes me appreciate my medical team so much more.
In New Zealand we have a free breast screening programme for women aged 45+ and lucky for me I joined up to the programme 2 years ago. I had a routine 2-yearly follow-up mammogram about 6 weeks ago, 2 weeks later was called to say something had shown up and more tests were required. 2 days later I’d had another mammogram, an ultrasound scan and 3 core biopsies taken. The next day I was given my results, based on those tests, a 2.5cm invasive ductal tumour - grade II. Which, being completely symptom-free I would have known nothing about if I hadn’t had the routine mammogram. All this is done on the equivalent of your NHS public health system.
I had my 1st surgery 2 weeks later - a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy - and am scheduled for a 2nd surgery on Wednesday. 2 nodes were removed from under my arm and one of those contains a 4mm tumour, I also have cancer cells too close to one margin of the chunk removed from my breast so more has to come out. It also turns out that I have invasive lobular cancer, not ductal, and its grade I, not grade II. I put the 2nd surgery off a week so I could attend my son’s formal graduation from university - my only child and I wasn’t going to miss that for anything!
I have been kept so well informed by my surgeon and his nurse and next week, 5 weeks since diagnosis, I’m having my 2nd surgery.
I am very lucky to have health insurance (am about to get my monies worth from all those premiums paid over the last few years) and so can afford to have my surgery privately which probably helps.
I do hope you are given answers soon. This is definitely a time of hurry up and wait - and the waiting is just ghastly isn’t it. Good luck with everything!