My name is Sarah & I am 40 yrs of age & a mother of 4 ranging from age 10 to 20yrs.
Yesterday I received my results from the hospital & have been diagnosed with Breast Cancer although I actually am not sure what type, i remember the word invasive being used & have an appointment with the Breast Care Nurse on Tuesday morning with my op booked for Xmas Eve
My question is,reading through the different posts I actually have no idea what i am dealing with other than a lump that needs to be removed & was hoping someone could advise me what sort of questions that i should be asking ?
Basically i discovered a lump in my right breast 4 weeks ago & was fastracked through to the Breast care Clinic 2 weeks later where I received a mammo,I was then recalled on Tuesday (just gone) for an ultrasound where i was informed that the lump was harmless tissue hardening but they had unfortunately found something far more concerning in my left breast, I was obviously quite shocked at this as had felt nothing & still cant feel anything in my left breast. A biopsy was performed & the results rushed through for my consultant to have at my appointment yesterday which is when I was informed that it is indeed cancerous.
I have been advised that the lump is very small & would probably of taken a year or more for me to discover so am very lucky that it has been picked up as it would be obviously a much bigger problem a year from now untreated.
I am due to have a wire inserted on the morning of the op by ultrasound followed by lumpectomy & then examination of lymph nodes with dye, is this the only way that they would know if it is in my lymph nodes or would there be indication to them already, in other words is it standard procedure or are they doing it because they think it is in them ?
Apologies for trying to put so much into one message but am shocked & confused, I have recently moved to a new area between Bournemouth & Southampton & do not really know anyone so also wondered if there is anyone on here in that area, I will be receiving treatment at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.
Sorry to hear the diagnosis, but it does look like the harmless lump has meant the problem has been found much earlier.
My wife was diagnosed in June, and she opted for chemo first. We are just at the end of that and are now looking at surgery. She is booked in for the 23rd!
They take a saple of lymph nodes anyway - that is routine. The reason we were told is that they can biopsy thm all they want, but it is difficult to be sure they have got the right bit of the lymph node.
As you are relatively yound for breast cancer, be prepared to have everything thrown att it - you may have chemo suggested, and radiotherapy too.
I am sorry to hear about your dx, Sarah. My invasive breast cancer couldnât be felt either and was picked up in a different operation and so I know what a shock it is for you. They test your nodes (mine was during the lumpectomy) as invasive cancer means it can spread BUT it doesnât mean that they think it has. Lots of peopleâs havenât including mine. You should have/get a breastcare nurse and she will be able to give you details of support groups if there is nobody else who knows here. On this site, they do a resource pack which has lots of helpful info in a handy folder which gives you questions that you might want to ask at each stage of your treatment. Because of the snow, you need to phone the helpline to order at the moment (0808 800 6000) and they will post one to you and itâs free.This site is brilliant as you will find lots of help and advice. Take care Wendy
PS The younger womenâs forum is for women aged women aged 20-45 and you may find that people here at a similiar life stage /circumstances to you although oldies like me are happy to help too!
Hi Sarah, so very sorry to hear your news, but glad youâve found your way to this forum - I know youâll get a lot of support here.
It is not surprising that you didnât take in all the info that you were given - hearing a diagnosis can be so shocking that itâs a wonder we remember to breathe through it. You should have been given the number to contact your breast care nurse - and donât be afraid to do that. However, chances are that they arenât available over the weekend, and that is where this site is so invaluable.
It sounds like they want to do a sentinel node biopsy, which is absolutely standard. The breast feeds certain lymph nodes under your arm, so this is the area in which cancer is most likely to move first. By injecting the dye, the surgeon can see which nodes are fed first⊠and remove those, saving the need for taking all the nodes (axillary node clearance). These âsentinelâ nodes can then be biopsied to see if there is any spread. It doesnât mean there will be - and it doesnât mean itâs the end of the world if there is, either - so donât worry about something that may never happen.
Iâm being treated in Salisbury, so not a million miles away from you, and thereâs a few others of us around this part of the South too - youâre not alone xxx
Hi Sarah
Just come home from Hospital after having the same treatment as the one you will be having ie Wires, Lumpectomy (WLE) and SNB. Honestly it is not so bad as you may imagine and the staff and patients on the Breasts wards are all really helpful and caring. Try not too worry too much, I know that is easier said than done but this site will help to put things in perspective as it is all doable! I live in Leeds but my sister lives in Waltham Chase and she knows people who are going through the same. Let me know if that is anywhere near you. Love Alison
Much as you are in shock I am sure at least this has been found & as they say - it would not have been found so early otherwise - & trust me early is GOOD!. I am surprised you didnât see the BCN after the DX meeting but she will no doubt talk through exactly what has been found so far. Until they have done the surgery they cannot tell you exactly because until the full biopsy is done on the tissue removed they can only go by the scans & samples taken. The op itself is very straightforward & recovery shouldnât be too bad. This period of time os often the hardest as you are waiting BUT be thankful it is being dealt with & try if possible to distract yourself as much as possible until you have it.
Massive hugs & sorry you are joining this group BUT this forum is fabulous & has helped keep me sane through all of this!!!
Thank you all for replying it is so reassuring to know we are all in this together & not alone, so glad I found this site.
I have met with the BC nurse as she was in the room with the doctor when I received my diagnosis but was quite late in the day so I think that may be why she has made an appointment for me to go back & see her on Tuesday morning when i am sure I will learn more, just so hard to process all the information that they gave me yesterday as there were 5 different people in the room all talking about different stages of treatment but as i said am sure Tuesday will be slightly more relaxed, I hope thatâs the right word but am sure you get my meaning Sarah.x
Hi Sarah,
My dx was very similar to yours. I found a lump that was ânormalâ when investigated, but they found a cancerous lump behind it (that I couldnât feel) , I had a wire guided WLE, with the blue dye injection for the lymph node sample, this is so they know which nodes are directly linked to the breast - be prepared for blue skin, wee etc for a fee days after!
My lump was caught early, I had no nodes affected, so havenât needed chemo, only radiotherapy and tamoxifen for 5 yrs.
I know how you must be feeling it is a massive shock, I am 36 with 2 children, but you are dealing with it, come on here anytime for support, there is usually someone who can share their experience and try to put your mind at rest,
Thinking of you at this tough time. X
In addition to the valuable support you have here please do feel free to call our helpline on 0808 800 6000, the line is open weekdays 9-5 and Sat 9-2 and here you can talk through any concerns you have with one of our team.
The link to the new resource pack which Wendy mentioned too is here:
Hi sarah sorry you have to join us its good that your treatment is ready to begin take each day as it cums your treatment will be the best have you got a BC nurse you can phone her anytime for any problems and issues that may occur you feel free to ask away on here it help me loads everyone of us is different with different diagnoses we are all init together dont worry 2 much about opperations you will be fine
Hi Sarah, so sorry to hear your news, but you have found a forum that will provide you with lots of information and support. The initial dx takes your breath away, and itâs difficult to know what to think and what questions to ask. Give yourself and your family time to absorb the news and there are lots of fantastic women (and men) on this forum that will be able to provide you with all the information and advice you need. Thinking of you, take care, Donna x
Hi Sarah, I am so sorry you have had to join forums, you will get great support here, as I have. The BCC nurses will give you support and links to information you can download and print off. It should answer most of your questions.
I too was picked up by chance as too young to be routinely screened. It seemed strange at the time being told I was âluckyâ but have come to realise over the last 6 months that I am indeed very lucky to have been in the right place at the right time and picked up when I was.
You will meet some wonderful people during your treatment, you will know what questions to ask as you go along, take time to process the information, take a friend to listen as sometimes you donât hear their answers. Most importantly take good care of yourself, accept support, talk to anyone who will listen.
Keep us posted, we are all thinking of you
take care
Lorraine xxx
Sarah.x