i went for a regular mammogram 2 weeks ago and got a letter last Friday to say I needed to be called back, I was shocked as it never occurred that I would have anything and I cried when I saw the letter. Today I went to the breast clinic and had more mammograms, when I walked into the Drs office, I knew as the picture was on the screen showing a round dark lump. I said I have got cancer haven’t I and the Dr said Yes. OMG I am floored by this.
sorry to bore you all, but to top everything off I have recently been put on immunosuppressing injections for arthritis and am suffering with terrible arthritis pain, my Mum has recently had 2 strikes which has brought on dementia and between me and my sister we are caring for her, I have two school aged children and I work full-time. I don’t know how much more I can take. I really feel like my luck has gone missing.
Anyway sorry for rambling I just need to get this out as I don’t know who to talk to, I hope I don’t sound selfish.
After having the mammogram and discussion with the Dr today I then had some biopsies taken, but because the lump is deep at the back of my left breast the Dr wasn’t happy with the samples taken. So I had to go and have some X-ray guided biopsies taken. Everyone at the hospital was absolutely lovely and so kind.
I have been told that I will receive a call next Wednesday afternoon to advise me if the biopsy results, but the thing is, I don’t know what the biopsies have been taken for, I had asked the Dr if the lump could be anything else other than cancer and I was told no it was cancer. If anyone reads this and can explain what the biopsy results would be for I would be really really grateful.
I am so shocked I want to sleep but I am too stressed and worried to go to sleep. Thank you so much and sending everyone on here lots of love and hugs xx
So sorry to hear your news, you are in the right place to let it all out: we have all been told the same news at some point. Receiving the diagnosis is a huge thing to process. I too was only diagnosed after a mammogram but had to wait for the biopsy results to have the diagnosis confirmed.
They need to take the biopsies in order to work out what sort cancer you have and that will determine your treatment plan. (Eg mine was an oestrogen positive tumour, the size and position meant I went straight to surgery where it was removed, at the same time I had a lymph node biopsy and thankfully there was no spread, this was followed up with a course of radiotherapy and I am now on hormone therapy to suppress oestrogen and prevent a recurrence)
Only your medical team will be able to give you your full diagnosis and treatment plan, and as tempting as it might be to ask Google for answers I would advise against this.
Nobody ever wants to enter “cancer world” it’s an undeniably scary door to walk through, however it is full of incredibly kind, supportive and very lovely people, and don’t ever feel like you are being selfish or moaning.
Hi DeeBee, so sorry you’re having to go through this, but you’ve come to the right place, this forum is wonderful and has helped me loads.
im no expert but I’m pretty sure the reason for biopsys is to establish what type and grade the tumour is. For example mine was HER2 positive and estrogen positive. It was also invasive and grade 3 which meant it was aggressive. It gives the oncologists the information they need in order to best treat it and get rid of it. So it will determine if you need chemo / radiotherapy/ hormone therapy etc.
You will learn a whole new language over the next few weeks!
I’m sure someone else will be able to explain it better then me…
I know how scared and stressed you must be feeling as I can remember feeling that way to when first diagnosed just over two years ago now. I hope you manage to get some sleep.
I’m so sorry you’ve had this shock but please remember times have changed and the recovery rates for breast cancer are so much better. You will find there’s a whole new language in Cancerworld and it sounds scary - but in the end, it’s only to determine what kind of surgery you need and what kinds of treatment. So please don’t Google as soon as someone says ‘lobular’ or ‘ductal’, ‘invasive’, ‘aggressive’ - they take a different meaning altogether in oncology. In fact, we’d probably all say do NOT google anything - it can be very alarming, as I can testify!
As the others have said, the biopsies are there to determine what kind of breast cancer it is and then you get a precise treatment plan tailored to your unique condition. There may be further tests but don’t worry about the delay - better to get all the relevant data and the right treatment. Trust your team. Also, think very carefully - would you cope better knowing just the basics, like me, or do you need to have all the data and statistics (bearing in mind statistics aren’t that useful but can be scary at first) so you feel in control of your treatment? We’re all different. Also be prepared for a change in diagnosis - I had four diagnoses in as many weeks and basically numbed out after that. It’s very common.
You have a few weeks now where things can fester in your head and you stay on high alert, which isn’t good for you, or you invest some time in strengthening your emotional wellbeing so you handle what lies ahead more comfortably. Mindfulness, meditation, yoga, tai chi, running, baking, medication…whatever appeals to you. But I’d advise you to practise it seriously so it’s there for you when you need it. I got by on a diet of meditation videos free on YouTube (I liked Progressive Hypnosis best - no hypnosis but a guarantee of a a decent sleep and help with anxiety).
I wish you all the best for your treatment. It’s all manageable - look at how many people are here! Take good care of yourself,
I too had an elective mammogram in August (I’m76 and have always been careful to look after myself) and got a call back. Again, as you said, ‘probably nothing’, but then it’s ‘a few spots of calcification-very common, nothing to worry about, but we’ll do a biopsy to make sure’ Go back and I’m told ‘Your cancer’ -I was speechless with shock to say the least. It then was it’s a DCIS- contained in the milk duct. So I need to have it removed. Then next visit, we need to do a SNLB-sentinel node lymph biopsy to make sure it hasn’t spread-it was 2mm-now i’m waiting to be told what next-I feel railroaded!
I have taken HRT in one form or another since my mid-forties, when I flooded walking up from the beach one day whilst on holiday in Spain!! I now have to have my progesterone coil removed and stop using the oestrogen gel. Taking HRT has given me my life-no one believes I’m 76, i’m active, busy-a bit overweight but then since Covid many of us are! My bones are also strong! So what happens when I stop all the hormones??? |I can’t bear the thought!
If no one else listens to you getting things off your brain-I will but something tells me everyone on here is your new BFF. Like you, I just had a mammogram 6 weeks ago but it was normal. Well right around thanksgiving I felt some discomfort in my left breast. Felt like a bruise but I called my regular primary doctor anyway just to be safe and boy am I glad I did. That lead to a specialist who performed a ultrasound, then a biopsy, 3 days later back in the office to be told I had the “C-monster. She was steady talking and I was just sitting there telling myself-wow, can’t believe I’m hearing this. Out of everything she said, all I can remember other than having it-is I need to scheduled a MRI after oncologist visit. Dec20 I go for that. I just started a new role and trying to train mostly virtually due to Covid, I am all over the place. You sound like a tough lady, taking care of your mom and 2 school aged children plus getting injections for arthritis. If nothing else, you’re staying busy enough to where you don’t have time to worry a lot about yourself-which is a good thing. Melting down is no good but if we all need to, by all means get that big cry out of the way, then let’s go kick some butt sort of say. That’s my plan, I believe we’re all gonna be just fine