Following a Mammogram and ultrasound i have been diagnosed with IDC Grade hormone positive, HER2 - 2 at 34 years old. It was a shock as I’m sure you can all imagine and I’m struggling to stop myself from spiralling into “what if’s” whilst looking after my 2 and 5 year old daughters.
I do have a good support system, my Mum husband and mother in law but have decided not to tell anybody else just yet until I get a treatment plan at least. Does the anxiety ease up at all once you have a plan in place? What did you do to help ease the worry and anxiety in the early days? I can’t seem to stop thinking doom and gloom/worst case scenarios.
Just here looking for some support and possible ways to hold it together for now as best as I can. Ive had an appointment through for Axilla ultrasound for tomorrow to check lymph nodes and Monday for MRI. Feelinf very anxious any positive stories or words of wisdom/support would be greatly appreciated. I spoke with the BCN today whose referred me for some counselling and complimentary therapies which should hopefully help x
It’s such a shock getting a diagnosis and we immediately jump to worst case scenarios. It’s good that you have been referred for counselling, I had a couple of sessions with MacMillan when I was diagnosed and it really helped. Other things that helped during the horrible waiting part was writing in a journal and getting all my worries out on paper. Exercise was super helpful too and I am convinced a large part of why I recovered so well. Yes, the anxiety does ease when you have a treatment plan. There is something reassuring and feeling more in control when you know what is happening and when.
In terms of positive stories, I am one! When I was diagnosed with the same type/grade as you last year I thought it was the end of my world. The reality for me has been very different to what I feared. When you know more I am sure others will be happy to share their experiences and offer support. x
Thank you for your message! Thats good to hear the counselling sessions helped abit too. Im definitely going to start getting my thoughts down on paper. Before diagnosis last Thursday I was going to the gym 4 mornings a week, ive really struggled since but I’m going to get myself back at the gym on Friday when my daughters are in school/nursery. I have been going for walks though which does seem to help! Great to know the anxiety gets easier once a plan is in place. I’ve never experienced anxiety, its truly horrible although each day does seem to be getting slightly easier.
So glad to hear you’ve come through the other side. Thank you so much for messaging x
@katie91 - I’m so sorry you’ve had this diagnosis , it’s normal to feel shell shocked and frightened you wouldn’t be human if you didn’t x
As mums we worry about our children and with two little ones your mind must be spinning …but it’s really good you have support in place .
The initial diagnosis process can feel angst ridden as your healthcare providers quite often need further tests so they can have the “whole picture” but I can tell you that once you have a treatment plan in place , anxiety levels do calm down as you can start to plan and understand what has to be done .
I was diagnosed with Her2 pos Hormone neg IDC last summer and started my treatment in September with a single mastectomy , then chemo and also Herceptin which is a targeted therapy . I remember feeling terrified when I was diagnosed … my youngest was 14 and I was terrified I wouldn’t see her leave school. The Intrusive thoughts do come thick and fast when you are diagnosed !
We are so lucky to have so many advances in breast cancer treatment these days … One of my good friends who supported me through my treatment with lots of advice , was diagnosed with hormone positive BC in her thirties and has been cancer free for 12 years … and she had three young children at the time . She had the most amazing , busy and creative life .
Remember we don’t hear about the thousands of people who recover from breast cancer … we only hear the bad stories x
You can ask your breast nurses to refer you for counselling (I did and it really helped) and also contact the Breast Nurses here
Hi, sorry to hear about your digagnosis…i was diagnosed at 31 when my daughter was 2.5 years old then again at 34. Its really hard but children are really resilliant. If you have a good support system. I can say the worry never goes away but having a young child i found helped alot and kept me positive. If you have a good group of friends helps, when it was my second time round and my daughter was at school friends would take my daughter for days out when my husband was at work and i wasnt feeling well enough in half terms. I had 6 lots of chemo 3 weeks apart and just told myself by the time its done its less time than maternity leave and that didnt feel like long. Hope all your treatment goes well and my best advice is to just stay postitive, i know that can seem hard xx
Just thought id write a quick update now I’m 9 days post diagnosis and I’m feeling so much more positive!
Had my ultrasound and radiologist said lymph nodes look normal and I’m just taking each day as it comes. I’ve got my MRI on Monday.
Hopefully anybody newly diagnosed will see this and take some hope from it, 9 days ago I didnt even know how I was gojng to function but its getting easier day by day. Sending positive thoughts and lots of love to everybody this journey.
Thank you for everybody that responded, your words and stories made the first awful days really bareable!!
I’ll try and keep this post updated in the hope it helps other people x
I wanted to reach out because I was also diagnosed last week with grade 2 IDC, hormone receptive, HER2 negative. I have just been for an MRI scan and I am currently waiting for the results.
I am also 34 years old and I have two little boys- 2.5 year old and 1 year old.
I felt the lump back in July but left it as I didn’t want to deal with the possibility of what it might be but I couldn’t get it out of mind. So I went to GP and was put on the two week list. Ultrasound and mammogram showed it was concerning and it was honestly the worst day of my life. I was so shocked and thought how can this be happening to me. Loads of awful spiralling thoughts whilst I was waiting for the biopsy results and they continue but the kids keep me preoccupied and I try to stay as positive as possible. I keep reflecting on how good my friends and family are to me and it keeps me feeling as positive as I can.
I just wanted you to know that You aren’t alone in this.
I hope that having the MRI results and a plan of what happens next will help.
Thank you so much for your message, although I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy and wish none of us had to go through it, it’s nice to know I’m not alone!
We sound like we have very similar stories/lives! My daughters are 5 and 2, so the 2 year old is keeping me busy whilst her big sister is at school!
When are you expecting to have your MRI results? Xx
Thank you for your reply too! when I read your message I felt a little relieved (albeit I wouldn’t wish this on anyone either) to know you are the same age with young kids going through the same thing.
So I have just had a call to go in to discuss the MRI results at hospital on Friday.
have you had your MRI done yet?
did they discuss the likely options for you or waiting for the MRI results first?
They told me it was likely I’d have a lumpectomy with hormone blockers for 5 years afterwards. But that’s not definite until they understand the MRI result I suppose. So I’ll know more on Friday.
Hey Hollie! Thats great that you’ll get the results tomorrow, let us know how you get on!
I had my MRI on Monday and I’ve got an appointment for Monday to discuss the results with the consultant, BCN said it might not of made it to the MDT meeting yet which was today but the consultant will still be able to go through them with me.
Yes exactly the same as you, as far as they could tell from what they had before the MRI, lumpectomy, radiotherapy and 5 years on tablets! Scary how similar our stories are! How are you feeling today? Xx
I had my appointment to discuss MRI results on Friday and they have given me a surgery date of 11th dec for a lumpectomy. They will also take some lymph nodes to test them but they couldn’t see anything concerning on the MRI. They will test everything they remove before deciding on treatment plan after surgery. It’s Likely radiotherapy and tamoxifen for 5 years.
So it’s a relief in a way but it does feel like there’s always some amount of uncertainty with this cancer… i suppose that is just something I’ll have to deal with.
how are you feeling about your appointment? I hope it goes as well as it can for you.
Have you read much about tamoxifen? As we are a bit younger it is something I need to research more as there are some side effects and fertility issues surrounding taking that.
Hey Hollie, I’m so glad you’ve got your date I bet it feels like such a weight lifted doesn’t it?
Not as straight forward for me unfortunately! The MRI results weren’t back on Monday so he didn’t have any updates for me, but I got a call yesterday for a further ultrasound and mammogram following the MRI just to check a couple more areas which I went to today, grateful they got me in fast!
They couldn’t see anything at all on the ultrasound but the mammogram just picked up a small area that they said didn’t look suspicious but “dense” on the opposite boob! So now have an appointment booked on Monday for a mammogram biopsy for the left boob and an MRI guided biopsy for the right boob to just double check exactly what the MRI picked up on. Hoping nothing too bad and once we get these results I’ll have an appointment date!
I’m feeling very calm at the minute and just getting on and ticking off appointments (although it feels like I tick one appointment off and get an extra two appointments ).
How are you feeling now you have your date?
I’ve not done too much research on the tablets but the breast nurse did talk to us about potentially freezing eggs etc dependent on treatment path but we’re quite happy with the 2 children we’ve got!
I hope that you get your surgery date very soon do let me know once you have got that and I hope we keep in touch.
Yes I feel relieved to have the surgery date which has been bought forward by 1 week so that’s good. It’s now 4th December.
I’m feeling a little anxious still about the results after the surgery. They test the tumors (I have 2 tumors in the same boob as they can see on the MRI) and the lymph nodes.
It all feels like a very long wait even though the NHS have been great and moved things as quickly as possible.
I know what you mean with the two kids! I feel that some days 2 is enough and other days I’m still unsure. I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. And again it’s just taking one step at a time and not thinking too far ahead which keeps me slightly sane!
Hey Hollie, that’s brilliant news your surgery got moved forward! Hopefully you will have the results before Christmas?
I know what you mean it feels like a lifetime doesn’t it but I was diagnosed 3 weeks ago last Thursday and have since had ultrasound, MRI, mammogram and another ultrasound and then have the MRI and mammogram biopsies booked for next week so really withing 4 weeks to have had all of those tests on the NHS is pretty fast really isn’t it! Just hoping the following week I’ll have all of my biopsy results and treatment plan in place! I’ll definitely keep you posted, like we said although I wish nobody else was going through this it’s nice to not feel so alone!
I’m the same too trying to not think too far in advance and just taking it one appointment at a time!!
Which hospital are you having treatment at (if you don’t mind me asking) x
Yes so far so good with the timings for both of us it seems. So my surgery date is just over 6 weeks from initial diagnoses. I think that’s very reasonable even though it does feel like forever.
I live in West Sussex, and the hospital I’m under is St Richards in Chichester.
Where are you having your surgery and treatment? (If you don’t mind me asking too.!)
Also, can’t help spiralling a bit at times and feeling like every little ache or pain in my body means the cancer has spread (it’s hard to keep control of that thought) I am thinking of paying for a full body MRI just to check everything now. I’m going to call my GP on Monday to ask about referring me for that as you can’t just pay for one without a referral.
Hey Hollie!! Sorry I’ve not been on here for a while so catching up on messages. We’ve had all the sick bugs you can imagine going round our house for the last couple of weeks!!
I’m Manchester and I’m under Tameside hospital who have been great!!
Did you ever ring and ask the GP as Ive been thinking about a full body check too!!
I finally got all my results back frm the mammogram and mri biopsy and both additional “areas of concern” were ver thankfully benign so just the one lump to be removed with a lumpectomy. I’ve got an appointment with my consultant on Wednesday to discuss full results and treatment plan and in hoping my surgery won’t be too far behind yours! How are you feeing about your surgery next week!?
What happens beforehand? Have you been in for pre-op or anything?
It’s good to hear from you and I’m pleased for you that its just the one lump and the others are ok…
Oh yes I totally understand! My boys had the sickness bug in early November and it went through my whole family within a week everyone was sick! This time of year is tough with all the illnesses especially with kids at nursery/school.
So my surgery was actually bought forward by a week due to a cancellation, so I had the lumpectomy surgery this Thursday 4th dec. I’m now at my parents house recovering whilst my partner and his family have the kids. I feel ok, a bit tired and sore but pretty good considering everything.
The next step for me will be getting the results of the lumps and lymph nodes they have removed in 2-3 weeks and at that point they will then decide what treatment is best going forward and check they’ve got a good margin. So hopefully the results are all as simple as they possibly can be. I’m expecting radiotherapy and hormone blockers for future.
I spoke to the GP about the full body MRI and they were quite against it. They didn’t think it was necessary. Also, if they are worried about the spread of the breast cancer they’d do further checks anyway.
In terms of the pre op stuff.. I went in for a pre op assessment the week before the op and then the day before the op they injected a radioactive tracer into my breast so they could find the main sentinel lymph node to remove. I also had a wire put into my breast the day of my op which indicated to the surgeon where the cancer was. (That was a bit weird because I was awake for that part but necessary I suppose!)
Do let me know how your appointment goes on Wednesday and when you get a surgery date.
Hi Hollie! Awww thank you I’m just feeling so much more relieved now that I know exactly what I’m dealing with and can’t wait to get this op done!
That’s amazing that it got moved forward, hoping I can get in for it ASAP!
I hope it’s all straight forward for you from hear on out! Let us know how you get on with your results. Do you already have an appointment booked in to get the results?
Ohh the wire things sounds strange but I’ll take whatever is neccesar to get this thing out!! How are you finding the recovery?
I’ll keep you posted on Wednesday! Were all much better now thank you it kind of just took us all down one by one this horrible sick bug x
The recovery has been fine, but I definitely needed some time away from my boys (which I have hated but they are so little that I just can’t have them jumping on me at the moment!) I have one incision under my armpit where they took the main lymph nodes and another on my breast where they took the cancerous tumours. I definitely have one boob slightly smaller than the other now! But hopefully that can be resolved later down the road!
Fingers crossed for you on Wednesday and I hope they give you a surgery date asap. Let me know.
Hey Hollie! That’s what I’m abit worried about my girls (definitely the younger one whose 2 and feral!) jumping all over me! I may have to go and stay at my Mums for a couple of nights!
I’ve been at my appointment this afternoon and basically begged for the surgery before Christmas and he gave me a surgery date for 16th December! So happy after what feels like forever to have a date!!
How are you feeling now? Hope you’re healing well x
any positive stories or words of wisdom/support would be greatly appreciated. I spoke with the BCN today whose referred me for some counselling and complimentary therapies which should hopefully help x
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do let me know once you have got that and I hope we keep in touch.