I was just diagnosed with breast cancer. I’m told it’s invasive ductal, treatable with chemo before op as I have a large lump. Don’t currently know grading or anything. In huge panic as I had node biopsy today ( get results next week ) and have come home to letters re nm bone scan ? Is this the normal ? Can’t sleep , eat , panic all the time , any advice x
Hello Val ,welcome to the forum.Not the Christmas present you wanted ! It’s a very horrible, shocking time when you are first diagnosed but it does get better - the initial uncertainty and anxiety is awful but once you know exactly what is going on and what your treatment plan is you do feel a lot better - no matter what the outcome of scans etc .There is lots of support and advice here from people who understand how it feels .If you are starting chemo in Jan - join the Jan monthly thread - you will get loads of advice and support .We are all here for you - you are not alone .Best wishes Jill x
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Hello Val, so sorry you have had to join the forum, especially at this time of year when the waiting is likely to take a bit longer because of the holidays etc. This really is the worst time when you are waiting for results and want to know the whole picture. At this stage we all feel/felt helpless and distressed and I’m sure lots of other people here will come along and back me up on that.
Initially there is a lot of waiting around for the full story but once your team know the full picture and share it with you things will get easier. The vast majority of people who have BC will have sucessful treatment and go on with their lives. This period you are living through now really is the pits but you will get through it.
This time three years ago I was half way through chemo, facing Christmas with no hair and worrying I would feel too sick to enjoy it. I actually enjoyed that Christmas and I enjoy life now more than ever.
Do you have a date for chemo to start? Really don’t fret about it too much. For the vast majority of people it’s a lot less traumatic than you would imagine.
You will get lots of good advice and friendly banter here so stick around.
Ruth xxxx
Happy Christmas Ruth ,hope you are doing ok ?
Hello Val. It’s entirely understandable that being diagnosed with breast cancer is causing you to feel panicky, frightened and unable to eat or sleep. Four days after diagnosis, I blacked out, cracked my teeth and ended up with two black eyes! Not a pretty sight but it certainly took my mind off cancer! So you are in the hands of professionals who are well versed in working through all aspects of the process and getting data at every stage to inform the next step in the process. I too had a bone scan to potentially inform future medication choices. So sending you a virtual hug, and encourage you to look after yourself. It may feel that time moves slowly as you wait for your next appointment/set of results but as other people are saying, you are not alone, there is love, support and experience to draw upon if you choose to do so. xx
Thankyou eveyone , it’s so lovely to be able to speak to other ladies . I feel like I’m sitting here with this “thing “ and nothings being done to get rid of it , which I know isn’t true . You think it’s spreading with every ilittle tinge you get in your body ! From what I’ve read it seems this can be the worst bit , tests , scans , more tests , and trying to get your head around having it as well , I’ve got to stay positive and except I will have down moments , Merry Christmas all you lovely , strong , positive ladies ( and men ) and thankyou for all your lovely words ??
Yes Val, that is exactly how in feels in those grotty early days of diagnosis, we’ve all been there, but it does pass.
As ever it’s the not knowing & the ‘what ifs’ that’s so hard to deal with in the early days.
It’s quite normal to feel all over the place & it’s ok to feel the way you do.
Although it doesn’t feel like it, getting diagnosed means, thankfully, it can now be treated.
Loads of support here whenever you need it.
ann x
Interesting times - you sound very much like I was last month. We also chose to wait until I had a treatment plan before telling our children. Looking back we were right to do that as we wouldn’t have been able to answer any of their questions. The MRI contrast injection is really easy, I bizarrely found it quite interesting. It didn’t hurt at all, I was quite comfortable and it just felt slightly cool as it was pushed in half way through the scan. Be good to hear how you get on xx
Val- thank you for posting. I also had a large lump, seemingly much bigger than many who have posted here, which still frightens me. My boob is now off & I’m waiting for my chemo date. I also had a CT scan for bones, liver, lungs etc which by far has been my most anxious time so far. To reassure you, the scan itself was fine & very quick. The contrast dye they used was a warm one that sometimes makes you think you’ve wet yourself (I didn’t feel that myself but thought it was worth mentioning in case they don’t tell you!) The wait for results also was very quick but totally agonising. I’d love to hear how you get on, hopefully all good.
Keep in touch x
My results took 2 weeks - pretty much each step has taken 2 weeks! So frustrating xx
Hi…just been diagnoised yesterday grade 1cancer…tteatment plan next week. Is an mri part of all plans. It was not mentioned at diagnosis meeting
I never had an MRI, either first time or this time so not everyone has one.
I had a bone scan and a CT scan this time to check for spread but 1st time round I never had then either. I think it depends on the size and grade?
Hi Susan,
As Sally says, not everyone has an MRI. It’s usually done for certain situations, such as if the intial biopsy shows ‘lobular’ bc. If it is ‘ductal’ it’s not usually done as this type of bc can be seen on mammogram more clearly. Lobular bc is more diffuse, so needs another imaging technique.
If you’re not sure, do check with your team.
It is a shock getting a diagnosis, so it takes time to get your head around, but we all do.
ann x
Hi Susan ,I didn’t have an MRI either - like Ann says certain types of cancer are harder to see on mammogram so MRI is needed .Higher grades of cancer and those where spread to lynphnodes is suspected may have MRI as a precaution but 95% of Breast cancers have not spread beyond breasts or lynphnodes so it really is a precaution .
Strange, my recent cancer was lobular and I still didn’t have an MRI.
Started chemo today , all ok so far , but come back to a letter from breast clinic ( different hosp from chemo ) to go in 2 weeks , doesn’t say why , is this normal , all my results are back hence started chemo , is this usual ? Do they just check your doing ok ? Every letter I get I go in panic mode ?
I had to see the oncologist in the breast clinic several times during chemo. They just want to check you’re ok and managing any side effects.
Thankyou sally , I suppose I won’t know until I get there ,x
Hello to you all, sorry you are here but glad to have you all the same!
It is the most difficult time when you have just been diagnosed, so many unanswered questions, new terminology to get your head round and those dreaded waiting times for results. I was diagnosed with Grade 2 ductal in April 2018. I had to have an MRI before treatment plan was sorted, they explained it was to give a clearer picture of what was going on. Gave a definite answer to location, size etc. Once they had this and the results of the biospy (which sorted out whether it was ER+ (oestrogen) or HER+) I was then given my treatment plan. Before I could start chemo I had to have a bone scan, a CT scan and a heart scan… all are straight forward and pretty standard as far as I have read… they just want to get a clear picture before they start. Unfortunately a 2 week wait for any results seems to be pretty standard… and boy do those 2 weeks seem a long while… but like others have said before… once the treatment plan starts you do feel more in control and glad something is happening.
Hang in there, call your BCN and ask questions if you are worried, thats why they are there and obviously come on here and chat, someone always around to answer.
Take care ladies
Kip
xx
I started chemo Wednesday and already feel mentally better that everything is moving forward . I’ve also met some amazing ladies in various waiting rooms at different stages in treatments , who have given me advise , and made me laugh ?