Hello, I am newly diagnosed and I can finally write some words after 2 days after finding out my benign looking lump on mammogram and ultrasound was in fact a grade 3 cancer on biopsy. My lymph then had an ultrasound which seems clear. I could feel the lump it’s close to the surface by my nipple hence my asking for a mammogram. It is believed to be 1.3cm, positive to oestrogen and progesterone and Her negative. I don’t know what stage yet but my underarm is constantly aching since the biopsies. The grade 3 bit of my cancer is especially frightening to me as a 51 year old newbie. I have been told the treatment at the moment will be removal of the lump, biopsies of the lymph, radiotherapy and hormone treatment for 5/10 years. Because I have a clotting condition I cannot have the usual hormone treatment but another. I am concerned that I won’t be given the option of chemotherapy due to the clotting condition when I know people who have had chemotherapy and blood thinners at the same time. Also concerned about the operation being a larger lady, I have visions of not waking up (crazy I realise but my mind isn’t absorbing anything but terrifying thoughts at the moment) and of course the increased chances of clotting after the operation. I have always believed in natural therapies, so hopefully there will be things I can use to help me with this fight. Thank you for reading and all the best to anyone else in this what it feels to me as an incredibly lonely place.
Hello Patchworkgirl,
Welcome to the forum. Sorry you have to join us but you’ll find lots of support here from a great group of people.
Try not to read anything into the underarm aches which are likely to be caused by the biopsies.
Obviously you have some other health challenges but it’s probably worth remembering that a significant number of people do. As so many women are diagnosed around your age (I was 51 on diagnosis too) it’s a time of life when we start to develop other health issues. I certainly met people who had plenty of other conditions alongside their cancer when I went through my treatment and I’ve seen several here too.
There are so many of us who get this dreaded disease but the upside of that is that the considerable research that goes into the treatments means there are lots of options and your health team will tailor your treatment to your particular circumstances. I have nothing but praise for how the NHS looked after me and continue to do so.
I will be coming up to my two year diagnosis anniversary soon and I generally feel really well and am enjoying life even more than I did before. I know it seems really frightening where you are now but you will get through this.
Stick around and let us know how you get on. We do have some laughs here as well as the good advice and friendship.
Ruth xx
Hi patchworkgirl and welcome.
These early days are so bewildering, but you will find lots of support on here. What I have learnt is the treatments for BC are complex and are tailor made for us. If you are having your treatment under the NHS your case will be discussed at a weekly multi-disciplinary team -made up if an oncologist, radioligist, surgeon etc. I found this very comforting that the team work together like this, and your plan will be looked at especially.
also I just wanted to say I really understand what you mean about having an operation. I too was petrified, and feared like you, I ended up having two operations and if wasn’t anything like as bad as I imagined. During this journey you will find our minds go into over drive, every word, letter gets analysed. I was diagnosed in October 2016 and finished active treatment in March. I am back to normal and discharged from the hospital. Xx
Hi Patchworkgirl,
First of all welcome to this supportive forum, you are not alone here.
We’ve all been where you are now & the early days of diagnosis are the pits as the shock & initial uncertainty is so hard to handle.
The mind does go into overdrive & race ahead, so it can help to take each stage at a time & concentrate on the next stage.
Although it doesn’t feel like it, thank goodness it has been diagnosed as now it can be dealt with. Treatment is excellent now & has some of the best outcomes out there. There are loads of us through treatment & getting on with our lives.
Your team will devise a treatment plan especially for you, so that the worries you have will be addressed. It’s nothing that they haven’t seen before.
I think most of us look at lifestyle issues & it certainly gives the incentive to do something about it. Ironically, I’m over a year on from diagnosis & feel fitter than before.
Do come & chat whenever you need to & do look at the relevant threads when going through treatment.
ann x
Hi again Patchworkgirl,
Just to add that, like Patriciamay, I too was terrified about surgery as I’d never had an op before. It was so much less traumatic than I imagined. The medical staff really look after you. The anaesthetists I had at both my ops were lovely (although they all looked ridiculously young). They anaesthetist I had for my first op distracted me by starting up a conversation about cuts to the health service. I remember starting to have a rant with him about it and the next minute I was waking up in recovery. He did a great job at putting me at my ease.
Ruth
xx