Hello, diagnosed last thursday after a recall following first mamogram. It’s come as something of a shock. Operation is scheduled for fri 21st - so out for christmas and I am meeting my surgeon next monday. My mind is a bit numb at the moment - what questions should I be asking?
Linda
p.s. it’s wonderful to find such a supportive group
Hi Linda
Welcome you to the Forums where I am sure you will receive lots of helpful advice and support from our users. Breast Cancer Care have published a Resources Pack which can be ordered on line, it is filled with information to help you better understand your diagnosis, test results and the various treatments available:
breastcancercare.org.uk//content.php?page_id=7514
You may also find our helpline useful to call, it is a free and confidential service and is run by specially trained nurses, who can help you through this difficult time, listen to your concerns and offer information, advice and support. They are on 0808 800 6000 and open Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm, Saturday, 9am - 2pm
I do hope you find this information of some help.
Best wishes
Lucy
Hi Linda
Welcome to the forum - while I guess none of us really wants to be here it is a great place for help, support and advice.
Do you know yet exactly what the diagnosis was - ie grade and staging? If not you need to ask questions around this. Also you don’t say what op you are going for - again it may be that you don’t know yet whether it is to be a lumpectomy or a mastectomy - if given a choice then you need to ask questions around the various benefits/drawbacks of each type of op - and ask why they are recommending a particular option if they do.
Sorry I couldn’t be more help - please let us know how you get on
Margaret x
Hi Linda
Sorry about your diagnosis but things do get easier as your treatment progresses. Will you be able to take someone with you when you meet the surgeon, I found it really helpful to have someone with me. Nerves had kicked in by then and he asked all the right questions. Good luck on the 21st and let us know how you get on. i decided when I was diagnosed to try and see the positive in things if I could and at least an op on the 21st should get you out of peeling the sprouts!!
Take care
Hilary
Hi Margaret
I think the answer is that I don’t know. The needle biopsy, which was processed immediately, confirmed malignant cells on Thursday. I got a follow up call on monday to give me the surgery data but there wasn’t enough material in the ultrasound biopsy to tell the grade but they have confirmed its an invasive cancer and the nurse did say that the possiblity of a mastectomy was discussed in the meeting. I have two cancerous patches next to each other one about 3cm and the other about 1cm.
At the moment I’m assuming a mastectomy and sentinel lymph node surgery and worrying about silly things like do you go into hospital the night before or can I go to my son’s school christmas play?
In cheerful spirit
Linda
x
Hi Linda
Glad you are in cheerful spirit - that’s the way to be!
When I was diagnosed, I met with surgeon immediately after the mammogram/ultrasound/biopsy, and was told that it was cancerous and they were reasonaby confident that it has spread to my lymph nodes. Aa a result they gave me the option of a lumptectomy or a mastectomy -with the surgeon telling me that her preferred choice was a mastectomy, though the final decision was mine.
The questions I asked related to the benefits etc of one over the other - and why she preferred one option over the other. This was mainly due to the size of the lump (which they had estimated to be around 3.2 cm at that stage), and the almost certain lymph node involvement.
I went with the surgeon - on the assumption that she knew what she was talking about! - had right mastectomy and full node clearance on 13th Nov. Lump wasn’t as big as they thought but it had spread to 5 of 11 lymph nodes, so I’m glad I made the decision I did.
With regard to when you go on, I think each hospital tends to vary. My op was at 7.30 at night, and I had to be there for 3.30 in the afternoon. I have seen others who are first on the op list who just have to be there an hour or so before -this is one of the things you can ask - if you specifically want to be at the play - tel tham and ask them to schedule you later in the day.
Margaret x
Hiya Linda
Trying to give you a glimmer of hope here.
The day i went into the hosp to have lump removed consultant and Bc nurse were talking to me telling me that they expect a grade 3 tumour and that if this was the case i would have to come back into hosp for a mastectomy, i was gutted couldnt stop the tears.
2 weeks later before my appt i was walking roung the shops looking for bandanas, as cheomo was expected also.
The outcome was fantastic, i had a grade1 tumour which required Rads and Tam for 5 years, What a releif!!!
Hoping you have just as good an outcome, sending my very best wishes.
Allison x
Update - exactly four weeks on from initial diagnosis I have just been for my post-mastectomy op consultation with my surgeon - still feeling numb about the whole thing, however got told that lump was grade 2 cancer, smidge the size of a full stop was found in node 1 but nodes 2,3 and 4 were clear. As its hormone receptive I’ve been put on tamoxifen for the next five years… I think that means it’s good news… Best bits about today is that my seroma was drained - blessed relief, it’s my birthday and I woke up to find it was snowing this morning.
Thank you all for your most welcome support
Linda
x
Hi Linda, Thought I would respond as we seem to have the same type and grade of cancer. I had a mastectomy on December 5th and am doing ok. Mine was one tumour, grade 2 and one node involvement out of four. Do you need axillary clearance now, as my surgeon thinks that’s the best option for me? I think it depends where you live. I have been told I will need tamoxifen too but I need chemo first, due to my age (40). Anyway it sounds like you are doing really well and staying positive.
Good luck
Liz x