hi Tussie
How were your results?
Hi Judiman
Welcome to the club that no one wants to be a member of but is full of lovely strong ladies! I’ve had amazing support here and received lots of virtual hugs. I had a lumpectomy and sentinel node removal on 10 Feb and today got my results. Looks like I’ll need chemo, rads etc and genetic testing, which may lead to double mastectomy. I went through all sorts of feelings when I was first diagnosed, disbelief, denial, anger, sadness (lots of meltdowns at inappropriate times (shopping in Sainsburys!) and honestly thought i was losing the plot
Normally I’m quite a positive person, I run my own business, but I became a completely different person. All the feelings you have we’ve all had so we all know exactly how you’re feeling. You will get through it as you’re stronger than you think. Sending you virtual hugs xx
hi lovely ladies x ah sharon that is definitely pants :-( I have my first hospital appt on Monday and I’m getting really scared now. Im starting to think that what they told me last week may not be the full story. They seemed pretty sure when talking to me that that they couldnt see anything in my lymph nodes but they didnt test them or anything. They also said they couldnt see anything in my right breast but what if it just didnt show up. They also said id be on tamoxifen for 5 years so does that mean im hr +? they never mentioned that but it doesnt sound like its a good thing. I dont really know what it means. I thought I had a good idea of what was going to happen but maybe I just heard the ‘positive’ stuff. It doesnt help that I had my tests and biopsies at a screenong clinic but my surgery is elsewhere so will they want to do all the tests again? I was really hoping that monday theyd be able to say what they were going to do and when and i could get on with it but now Im just dreading more bad news. Hope everyone is coping xx
It’s funny how one day you can feel so down and the next much more positive. I had 8biopsues done from the left breast yesterday. Felling totally battered and bruised. But in the upside I now have a date for my op. On 11th March I am booked for mastectomy, sentinel node biopsy and reconstruction (with an implant as apparently I haven’t got enough fat for anything else!!). Just need to wait to see now whether it will be one boob or both that go. Results on Friday. Will be getting a free book job for my birthday! Karen-Tamoxifen will be given if you are ER and PR+, like me, if you were HER2 positive you would need herceptin. Sure they would tell you. I still don’t know about chemotherapy but surgeon says is likely. Will know for sure after op. Much calmer now I know the date for the op, although still occasional wobbles.
That should read boob job, autocorrect has messed up a few times there, but you will get the gist!
I’m glad you know know what is happening. I think the unknown is the worst part. My operation delayed from Thursday next week to Friday, only 1 day so I am fine with that but just want the op over and done with. Wish I was having a mastectomy but they have said a lumpectomy with l nodes out. Xx
You are right Alison, all the uncertainty and waiting is the worst. Although I still need to wait to see if double mastectomy or single I have now got my head around it and I will cope whatever. Will be nervous about results after op though as grade can change. Still, we will face whatever comes won’t we? None of us are alone x
Morning lovely ladies. Well where’s the other box of tissues, i need it! After being quite calm and positive yesterday when I got my results, this morning I made the mistake of watching some video of a family wedding that I couldn’t go to yesterday, because I had to go to the hospital. I missed seeing all my family, including my sister and nephews, who live a long way from me and we don’t get the chance for us all to be together very often. Feels like the BC has already started to take things away from me, irrational I know. It’s only been a month since I was first diagnosed, had lumpectomy etc and now have results, which were not quite as good as I hoped. Whilst such prompt and amazing treatment on the NHS is a blessing, It hasn’t given me much time to process it all. And I’m trying to keep my business going at the same time. Now more waiting to see onc and talk about genetic screening, due to family history. . Just a wobble day I think, need large cup of tea and hug from husband! ! I cannot imagine trying to go through this without support so I send big hugs to anyone who is and to everyone else of course. Xx
Oh Fuffs, I feel for you. We have all had and will have days like that. BC does change life doesn’t it? Sometimes it feels like you can’t plan anything because you don’t know what will be happening. My thoughts are with you x
Hi Val
It’s a b**** isn’t it! We sold our house in 2011 to fund my business, at the age of nearly 60! Mad or what?! I gave up my job and now I think 'why did I do that and at least I could have been receiving sick pay and recovering at my own pace at home. Not been a good year for us as my husband had a heart attack and had to have surgery and now this - we know how to do in style here!
Got my results yesterday and may need chemo and more surgery but at least no lymph node involvement. Waiting to see oncologist and counsellor re genetic testing due to family history. At least I don’t have face to face contact with my customers like you. Must be sooo hard putting on a brave front when you feel like s good weep! I’m feeling a bit more in to the business than I did when I just had the op. My husband is doing a great job keeping it going but needs my input for the trickier stuff. We test water systems care homes etc and if results are not good you need to know about how to advise them. Over 3000 people visited our website last month and the shame is that the business is really growing at a time when I can’t put my energies in to it. That’s life! As you say, all you can do is carry on and take each step at a time. I’m reading lots too and using Dr Google (not such a good thing sometimes). I have a huge wadge of booklets from the hospital which have now replaced my usual bedtime reading. So much more enjoyable (not) reading about the effects of chemotherapy and what to expect after a mastectomy than Catherine Cookson novels, lol. Keep in touch. Francine xx
I’m slightly further behind than all of you at the moment, diagnosed last Wednesday and tests for spread on Thursday so now I’m just waiting to be told. Newey I am the same size as you so I’m expecting a mastectomy and was also thinking about the whole pert and saggy situation.
For me this hasn’t yet affected my life, I’m having to arrange my appointments to suit me as I have a one year old and my husband is military so not always here. We are miles from family so if he isn’t here then I can’t go to appointments but I’m OK with this (the hospital not so much with my constant rearranging) but life goes on.
Your all such strong ladies, stay positive x
Hi new to forum. Never joint one before. Diagnosed Friday the 13th of Feb! Stage 2 and spread to lymph nodes. Mastectomy and axillary clearance surgery on the 3rd of March. Need chemo, radio and her herceptin afterwards. CT scan Monday and worried about no not knowing results until after surgery but surgeon said made no difference as even if spread further would operate. Glad to be joining a forum where others understand.
Hi Val. No choice I’m afraid. I was told they are very thorough in their tests and they decide what I am having … I think by having a mastectomy it won’t come back so I am worried mine will … Op next week Friday lump and sll L nodes … Just want it over with as soon as possible xxxx
I do trust them and feel safe with them. When you read everyone’s messages and we are all so different in our treatments I just wonder ehy sometimes. Anyone else have their op this week ? X
I’ve been really calm about it since being diagnosed (think I over worried and sent myself mad whilst waiting for results) but yesterday didn’t stop crying ! Op this Friday … Keep on thinking I won’t make it through … Not the op but the whole treatment etc … Is this normal ? Alison x
Hi Alison
Morning! Sleeping problems?! We all know that one! I’m now well acquainted with the workings of my overactive brain at 3am and 4am and 5am come to that! How you’re feeling now, most of us have gone through so take heart,you’re not alone. A BC Is a big shock and I found the initial rather numb, surreal feeling kept me quite calm initially. However, once it sunk in, i was s mess! Kept having ‘meltdowns’ and could cry for England! Husband was scared of saying anything in case it set me off, poor chap! But take strength from us in this unwelcome club but one that is full of lovely people. It will mot be as bad as you think, the fear of it is often worse than the reality and you will get through it. The waiting is the worse thing I think nut once you are ‘on the road’ you just deal with it somehow. You are stronger than you think, believe me. Keep posting. It helps so much talking to others who have gone through the same thing. Sending you virtual hugs. Xx
Thank you Fuffs123, I am trying to be positive but when I get upset I feel I am letting everyone down including myself thinking I won’t get through it if I am not positive - hope that makes sense. Yes I do get to sleep but am always awake now by 5am which is when I read all the posts on this great forum. Feel like I can say what I need to without upsetting the other half … Thank you for your message and knowing others feel like this really helps me x
I feel the same. I am worried about all the aches and pains, my four year old, how I just cannot get through it. Everytime I wait for results I imagine the worst. Then I think that everyone says it’s all about being positive and when I realise I am not being I think I have blown it.
In reality I am sure that not how it works but you are definitely not alone x
Hi Mollina … Knowing that there are others with the same worries helps … I too worry about my bad back might be related.
Hopefully we are all here to support each other x
Yep, sometimes, I think if I hear ‘stay positive’ one more time I’m going to scream! Of course, I know that it’s important to do that but personally I do wonder if us ladies just shouldn’t allow ourselves to feel like c*** when we do! After all, we’re going thro a horrible thing and some of us have young children to deal with as well (not me fortunately but I’m due for genetic testing, so still worry about my 30 yr old daughter) Shall we start the ‘i don’t feel positive and I’m proud club’ ?!!!?