Hello everyone,
I was diagnosed with early breast cancer on 6th Feb, Im terrified :( I always check my breasts as they say you should every month, there were no lumps, no sign of anything. I went for my 3 yearly mammogram and was surprised when I got a letter saying that they wanted me to return for another. As you can imagine... I was very scared :( I had another mammogram taken and was told that I had calcium spots in two places, one had 8 calcium spots and the other 3 spots, 11 biopsies were taken straight the way. I then had to wait another week for the results and I was told that I have cancer in one area and pre-cancer in another and because there were two areas of concern I was advised to have a mastectomy :(( I was told that because the cancer was early and small that they were offering immediate breast reconstruction and that they didnt think I would need radiotherapy. I was given a dvd to look at the three options of reconstruction and was very frightened.
I went to see another surgeon who was different to the one who recommended mastectomy. This surgeon said he thought he could save my breast using radiology-assisted wide local excision, which removes a rim of healthy breast tissue around the cancer. They are using guide wires that mark
the cancer before surgery, I believe it`s done on the mammogram machine. After surgery and if all goes well I would have radiotherapy every day for 5 weeks. My breast would be smaller but I could have a reduction of the other breast at a later date. Anyone else here had radiology-assisted wide local excision?
This has been a total shock for me because I felt no lumps, it was only found because of my 3 yearly mammogram. Although it has been 5 weeks since I was diagnosed…I have only just come to terms with it,
I have had days of complete shock to anger to despair, I dare say that I will have more of those days while walking along this road.
I have had sleepless nights and I just cant settle since I was diagnosed. Im now counting the days down to surgery day on 25th March.
Dear raine77
It’s understandable that you have only just come to terms with your diagnosis and something I think many of the other forum users will identify with, you may find our helpline useful to call during this time, they can give you further information and talk to you about our other support services and also offer support and a ‘listening ear’. The number to call is 0808 800 6000 Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm, Saturday, 9am - 2pm. I hope you find this helpful.
Best wishes
Katie
I had a partial mastectomy for a 1.5 cm tumour and DCIS around it but not guided by radiology as it didn’t show up on a mammogram - I had a lump. I had radiotherapy for 15 sessions and was prescribed tamoxifen for 5 years. My breast has a distinct dent in the side of it, and the nipple has moved towards my underarm in the direction of where they took the lump out. Depending on your breast size the dents tend to be more or less noticeable. I was small breasted - 36A and thin so I think my dent is bigger than if I’d had bigger breasts. However, to some extent it is hidden as it’s on the underarm side.
I’ve never really come to terms with breast cancer, one minute you feel the healthiest you’ve ever been, the next you are undergoing what was to my mind mutilating surgery. others see it differently e.g. as a harmful part of you being cut out, or life saving.
Personally I think cancer stinks and so do the treatments
Mole
Hi Raine
I think I have already posted you but it got lost. Sorry you have joined us but welcome all the same. I agree with Mole cancer stinks from whatever angle you look at it. I had op back in Jan. WLE then re-excision in Feb and now wait for rads. no dates yet! I was given option of WLE and rads or Mastectomy and since had the choice of either went for former, but sometimes wonder whether it was the right choice, only time will tell. I still have sleepless nights it seems to go with the territory. I am 48 so was not part of 3 yearly screening, felt lucky to have found the lump when it was small(1.9cms invasive lobular). Still does your head in.
Take care Raine, Alicex
Hi Raine
sorry you have had to join us, but you will find you get a lot of support from this site. My surgery is different to your’s but we will be having it on the same day so i will be thinking of you. Unlike you I dont check my breasts enough[they have always been ‘lumpy’], found this lump as I layed my arm over the sofa !! It’s been up & down as I am sure it is with us all, I have hours when it just doesnt enter my head then it floods back into focus and I realise what I have. I have had nothing but encouragement & advise from this site, so pop in when yo can. I have also realised there is no such thing as a stupid question, someone out there knows the answer.
Take care & keep your spirits up, good luck on th 25th
Lynn
XXXX
Hi Raine,
I had WLE with guide wires in November 07. I had two wires inserted on the morning of the op, under mammography, which was uncomfortable but not agony. Once they were in and taped in place it was fine. I then had the surgery in the afternoon, and stayed in hospital just two nights. I finshed radiotherapy in mid |Feb and am now back to work, though shorter days at the moment.
All the feelings you describe are very normal, most people have them (and the sleepless nights), but you will cope, its all manageable.
Good luck and lots of hugs, ask anything you need to on here - or just tell us how you are feeling.
Jojoxxx
Hello everyone,
Its just two full days now till surgery day, Im really frightened 
Over the last few days I have been saying to myself that this time next week it will be all over, but then there is the 10 day wait for the results of surgery. One minute I dont feel too bad and the next Im crying. I think that I was wrong in saying I have only just come to terms with diagnosis. When I was diagnosed the only way I could get my head round it was putting it all in a box and pretending it wasnt happening to me, the weekend I allowed it out of the box to look me in the eye was terrifying, I think because I had looked it in the eye I thought I had come to terms with the fact I have breast cancer...I dont think I will ever come to terms with it :((
Lyn,
I will be thinking about you on the 25th, I hope all goes well.
Jojo,
I was really worried about the guide wires going in, you have eased my fear saying it was uncomfortable but not agony.
Mole,
I agree with you that cancer does stink and that I`ll never come to terms with it.
Alice,
The surgeon will be taking the maximum healthy breast tissue out during WLE so there will be no re-excision for me. I hope we have both made the right choice.
Lots of hugs to everyone,
Raine77 xxx
Hi Raine
No I think you are right about never coming to terms with bc!
Hope you are having a reasonable w/e, although this weather is the pits!!!
All the best for your op. on Tuesday?
Spoil yourself, even better I hope everyone is spoiling you.
love Alicex
Hi Alice,
Im having a quiet weekend and just trying to compose myself ready for surgery day on Tuesday 25th. Its a scary time for me. I keep thinking I will wake up from a terrible nightmare soon…but I know its not going to happen :( It was all white out this morning but its all gone now, the sun has been out this afternoon.
Love Raine77x
hi raine77
hope all goes well got miine on the 1st april will be thinking of you
love
liz
Hi Raine
Yes it is a nightmare and very unreal, I took to drinking wine in the evenings before my op. back in Jan. Found it helped, I do not normally drink!! Well weddings and the like. It seems that most of us find sleep goes out of the window. I did loads of cleaning, work and home, organising things, tried to order my life before op. it was a good distraction. It is not an easy time and yes scary, hope you have a few good friends to support you. Take care and hope you get some sleep tonight.
love Alicex
Hi Raine,
Just wanted to wish you well for Tues, i had my mastectomy 2 weeks ago and remember feeling exactly as you do before my op, the support from everyone here helped me through it and hope we can help you a little too.
Love
Val
xx
Hi Liz,
Thank you for thinking about me tomorrow, I hope all goes well for you on April 1st too.
Raine77 xx
Hi Alice,
I took to having a little tipple after diagnosis to try help me sleep, it did help a little, like you I didnt drink... I have stopped now though. I dont think I`ll sleep a wink tonight This time on Wednesday…it will all be over.
Love Raine77 xx
Hi Val,
Thank you for wishing me well for tomorrow. I`m a nervous wreck today I agree with you that there are some fantastic caring women here.
Love Raine 77 xx
hello Raine77
Just want to wish you good luck for tomorrow. I was diagnosed a year ago, and since then have endured two bouts of surgery (the second a mastectomy) and chemo and next I will be having radiotherapy, then hormone treatment and fingers crossed it works.
It is a long hard road, and I remember feeling absolutely desperate when I was diagnosed. Believe me, you will move on from this and though it will be hard, you will get through it. This board is a fantastic source of love and support, and I recommend you come on here when you are feeling low as (unlike the professionals dealing with you) everyone here knows what you are going through.
Love and hugs, and try to be strong tomorrow.
Just a quick post to say good luck for tomorrow. I had my surgery on 25th Jan (WLE) and recovered very quickly. I’ve just looked on the positive side of things and decided that I am going to just get finished with these rads and then it will all be over …except the 5 yrs of hormone treatments but I can live with that.
Hi Raine,
Good luck for tomorrow, I’ll be thinking of you!
Lots of hugs
Jojoxxx
Hi flyright,
Thank you for wishing me well for tomorrow. I know that I will move on from this, at the moment it seems like a terrifying ordeal that I must face to even get to the moving on stage. Im scared and feeling low at the moment. Oh my :( I know I wont sleep a wink tonight
Thank you for the hugs, I will visualise them tomorrow.
Raine 77 xx
Hi lilacblushes,
Thank you for wishing me well tomorrow. I hope I recover as quickly as you.
Thank you for the hugs,
Rain 77 xxx
Hi Jojo,
Thank you for the good luck.
Lots of hugs back
Rain 77 xxx
hi
is anyone doing the treatment the other way round? i’ve been told because my cancer is quite aggressive but ;luckily not spread, that i am having 6 chemos first then surgery - they’re hoping that the lump will shrink or at best disappear. Was diagnosed 12th march had first chemo on 20th! struggling to get back in the ‘driving’ seat! everyone’s differenct i know but would be nice to know if there is someone else out there in shell shock too…
jayne44
hi raine77
good luck and best wishes for tomorrow
god bless
maria
ps i will be thinking of u and sending u millions of positive thoughts
hi jayne
i had chemo before my op 4ec and 4gemcitibine. this was because of the size of the tumour 10.5cm and the cancer being aggressive and quick growing. after chemo tumour had shrunk to 2.5cm and had op and recon. do u know the size of your tumour. hope your treatment goes well.
maria