Hi everyone.
This is the first time ever i have used one of these forums…
I have been to the breast clinic today, they have found a ‘suspicious lump’ which they have taken a biopsy off… They have told me this is only to get the ‘stage’ of the cancer. The lump is very large - size of a lemon… i keep on thinking i have missed the first signs of a lump and have allowed it to spread. i have not been very breast aware in the last few monhts
I am soooooo scared… i have two little boys aged 5 and 4 yrs old, and i keep on thinking they will be motherless soon. I am separated from my husband.
I am sure loads of you have been this situation, pls tell me what coping methods can be used and that it gets easier! i am having panic attacks, and seems to be shaking all the time.
Pls help!
Hi
Welcome to the forum, you will find lots of help here. It’s very frightening at the begeinning because it is such a shock, and there is so much information to absorb, and it will take before these feelings start to calm down. There are many others on this forum who have had large tumours removed and are doing fine, I am sure some will be along soon to tell their stories.
There are also lots of us who never checked thier breasts, or failed to spot obvious signs - it is understandable as we have very busy lives and getting breast cancer is hardly something on our minds. Try not to blame yourself but take things one step at a time.
Best wishes and keep posting
Sarah
Hi orse06
So sorry you had to join us but this is a great place for support and advice. Its very hard at the beginning as there’s so much info to take in, but it does get easier, I promise. Once you have a treatment plan, you know what to expect and can get the ball rolling. I’m just out the other side and If I can do it, anyone can!
Please keep us posted and if you have any questions, please ask. Nothings too daft or trivial for this site.
Hugs
Julia xx
Hi orse06
So sorry you had to join us but this is a great place for support and advice. Its very hard at the beginning as there’s so much info to take in, but it does get easier, I promise. Once you have a treatment plan, you know what to expect and can get the ball rolling. I’m just out the other side and If I can do it, anyone can!
Please keep us posted and if you have any questions, please ask. Nothings too daft or trivial for this site.
Hugs
Julia xx
Welcome,
You will find a lot of help and support on the forum, so make full use of it, there is always someone coming along with some helpful advice.
Life gets very busy, so don’t beat yourself up for not being breast aware! the main thing is you have been to the clinic today, so whatever needs to be sorted out can now start.
You obviously have your hands full with two little ones, try not to think of them as being motherless, it is just the shock that you are going through.
We all have been through that panic mode where we want to scream and shout, and if that helps do it, just don’t wake the kids!
Have you been told when to go back for your results? hopefully it wont be too long a wait for you. But in the meantime, easier said than done, but just try and take one step at a time! you will hear that a lot on this site! and it is true, just hard to accept, when you are waiting for results.
Take Care
Hugs
Sandra xxx
Hi,
I’m glad you’ve found this forum as I’m sure you will find help and support here. Perhaps my story will help to ease your worries a little.
I am 43 and have two boys aged 5 and 3.
I was diagnosed in Nov last year with a lump that was too large to measured by ultrasound. I had an MRI scan which measured it at 15cm, so extremely large. It was Grade 3 so the fastest growing type. Like you I was not very breast aware so maybe I missed the early signs but even so it grew rapidly from the time I first noticed it. I also had at least 4 enlarged lymph nodes and biopsy showed that the cancer had spread to the nodes. Naturally I was terrified that there may have been spread to other parts of my body and like you I feared that my boys would lose their mother - my fear for them was (and still is) far greater than any fear I have for myself.
I had CT, bone and MRI scans all of which came back showing no further spread which was a great relief. At this point my surgeon stopped saying that my cancer was treatable and began saying that it was ‘potentially curable’ which was a very good thing to hear.
Due to the size of the lump it wasn’t possible to operate immediately so my first treatment was chemotherapy. The lump began to shrink noticably after just one treatment. After 4 cycles (12 weeks of treatment) it had reduced to just 4cm. This was a fantastic response and my oncologist was delighted. I then changed to a different type of chemo but that was not a success and after 5 weeks the lump had begun to grow slightly.
I stopped chemo and had an immediate mastectomy and full node clearance. The surgery went well and I recovered quickly. The tumour was removed with good margins and all the lymph nodes were now tumour free.
Next step was radiotherapy which I completed 9 days ago. Since I stopped chemo early I’m relatively unusual in that I am going to have some more chemo now that I’ve finished radiotherapy. I will be having another 3 cycles of the first type (FEC) that worked so well for me. This is really just an insurance policy so that everything possible has been done.
There is every reason to believe that I am currently cancer free and that when I finish chemo that will be the end of treatment for me.
I am feeling well and positive and hope that my boys will have me around to embarrass them for many many years to come!
It is so terrifying when you receive your diagnosis but it does get easier once you know the full picture and have a treatment plan.
Hang in there, take one step at a time and come back here for help whenever you need to.
Linda
xx
Hi Linda
Just wanted to say, such a positive story! you have had a really rough time, but sound so positive,
Those boys will have many years of their mum being an embarrassment!
Lots of Hugs
Sandra xxx
Hi orse06
Welcome to the Breast Cancer Care discussion forums. I hope you will find them a good source of support and information.
You may also find the BCC resources pack useful, it has been designed for those newly diagnosed and contains information to help you better understand your diagnosis, test results and the various treatments available.
If you would like a copy just follow this link below:-
breastcancercare.org.uk/healthcare-professionals/publications/quick-order-list/*/changeTemplate/PublicationDisplay/publicationId/82/
It may also help for you talk things through with one of our trained members of staff on the helpline. The number is 0808 800 6000 and the lines are open Monday to Friday 9 to 5pm and Saturday 9 to 2pm.
I hope this is helpful.
Kind regards
Sam (BCC Facilitator