My name is Lynne and I was diagnosed with breast cancer in august 2008. I hada grade one invasive carcenoma oestrogen and progestoron positive ductal cancer.
I had a lumpectomy and then radio therapy in the same year and thought it was all over, however in march this year I was called back after my mammogram for a biopsy on some calcifications they had found, which were fine but as you can imagine was a very stressful time for me.
I have now been referred back once more as I have some problems in the same breast, burning sensation and swelling in the armpit area near the scar tissue. I have to have an ultra sound and maybe another mammogram just to make sure that everything is okay. no lump has been found, which is a great relief.
I was wondering if you could advise me on how to cope with this and if you know of anyone who has experienced these type of problems.
Hi Lynne I haven’t had exactly the same experience as you but something similiar so I have an idea of how you are feeling. I was diagnosed in Aug 09 with a grade 2 mixed ductal/lobular oestrogen positive cancer and underwent sentinel node biopsy WLE and radiotherapy which finished in November 09. More or less back to myself and it was time for my first mammogram after which I was called back as they wanted to ultrasound the “good” breast. You can imagine how I felt, anyway that turned out to be fine it was an enlarged milk duct causing a blip on the mammogram. Check up with surgeon in September where it was decided I need a full body bone scan to check my bone health as I am on Arimidex and had experience problems with my hips and knees. To cut a long story short, hips and knees fine BUT spot discovered on my spine hence a MRI scan (one hour in the wretched thing!)now waiting for the result.
It just seems to go on and on.
Its all the stress of not knowing the final outcome and your mind goes into overdrive. One day I am absolutely certain its back and the next I think all is fine. How to handle it is a difficult question. Although I do try to tell myself that all the worry isn’t going to make any difference to the outcome. In some respects I suppose its good that we are monitored so closely.
Hello Chris and I hope you’ve seen the PM I sent recently when I got back from my busy summer.
I’ve just seen this message and wanted to send a brief message to say I’m so sorry you’ve got this new worry. I do hope you get the results soon. Do you know how long you have to wait?
The waiting is really horrible and - as you say it just seems to go on and on. I’m keeping fingers and everything else crossed for you. Take very good care.
(Sorry to hijack your thread Lynne and of course I send you my best wishes too).
Anthi x
i feel like that too sometimes but i also worry that im wasting peoples time with my worries…
i had a grade 1 invasive BC in 2006 and needed wle rads and tamox… a few months later i needed a bone scan due to rib pain, it was neg… then a i had to have a abdo ultra sound and endometrial biopsy for erratic bleeding on tamox followed by a D and C.
little while after that had infected arm and then a broken hand so was being seen by the lymphoedema nurse then at beginning of 09 got pain in my affected breast so more breast exams and ultrasounds (only on the affected side) annual mammo showed cancer in the other boob in may 09… this time grade 3 triple negative so needed chemo and therefore had to have pre-chemo bone scan and heart scan… but after last chemo nov 09 i noticed another lump… off i go for most scans and mammos and biopsy.
it was thought to be malignant but thankfully was benign.
had blood test done for genetics and found out i carry a gene mutation that was in january and then about march this year had another lump on 1st side… it was normal tissue (but still feels lumpy)… also had some pain from rads so had another bone scan, xrays and mri all OK.
then as i have a gene mutation i get an annual breast mri that was in june it showed a lesion on 2nd side and had to go back for follow up ultra sounds and mammos… just showed as a cyst so nothing to worry over.
now i have a new lump where i think the cyst was but doesnt feel squashy so back to hosp tomorrow to get that reviewed.
even having my smear test this year i felt anxious and i never normally worry about them… but had a hyterectomy because of the gene so no more smears ever again and the gynae path all came back clear.
im not actually worried if its bad news its just the waiting for appointments that i hate… and the thought somebody has to check it out and say yeah its ok or not… wish it was something i could just find out for myself.
anyway good luck with your appointments ladies ill be keeping my fingers crossed for good news for us all.
well it wasnt anything sinister… was an inspissated cyst which is a cyst with debris and oil in it apparently… also had my annual mammos and they and the USS are all fine so dont have anything to worry about for 6 months.
I have been reading all your comments for a while now and just wanted to say you are a great inspiration and help to everybody on this site. Glad it was not anything sinister and hope you enjoyed your wee drinkie, you sound just like me.
I had a WLE in February 16mm grade 3 which 8mm was IDC,had clear margins. The doctor then decided I should have 6 sample lymph nodes removed to check their was no spread, thankfully there was none. I then had 6 FEC and 24 Rads which finished in September.
We took our selves off on a mediterranaen cruise for 2 weeks which was excellent. I am now back at work on a phased return 3 days a week. I am tired but doing well. Everybody at work has been excellent with me checking that I am okay, but people seem to think the journey is over when you and I know it is always on your mind.
Hope you keep well and hope to hear from you soon.
Hi Lulu,
Delighted for you that this cyst was not anything sinister…
Great news for you on all fronts.
I hope your celebrations will continue for a very long time…
Hear hear Lu you are an inspiration as you always seem to manage to stay calm. I agree it’s very stressful getting repeat visits. I also had a callback after first annual mammo, this time on ‘good’ side. After several weeks of waiting it was confirmed ok. It is horrible though and it makes you feel like you can never truly leave this horrible disease behind you.
alex
xxx
thanks ladies was definitly relief all round i think my family and friends worry more than i do and its hard for them going through each of these investigations along with me.
in the past i have with-held the information but then it came as a bigger shock when i had cancer so now i tell them but that seems to be my good luck charm as every time iv told my mum im getting investigated its been nothing sinister… its horrible putting her through all the worry over nothing but she says herself she would rather know than get a complete shock like i have given her in the past.
Lulu, so glad you have had good news, it is such a worry. When I was waiting for my liver scan I got around the news by telling my family I was “one test away from getting the all clear”. I worked very well. but then, there was no-one who really understood my relief when it was just a cyst !
Lynne, I do hope your news will be good too, do let us know.
All the best to you all, waiting for results is definitely the worst part of all this.
Maria X