Hello,
I was first referred to the breast clinic in October 2023 after feeling a small lump in my right breast. After an ultrasound, this was diagnosed as normal active breast tissue.
Within about four months, this lump had grown significantly, but I put off doing anything about it, as I assumed it was the same normal tissue. However, I mentioned it to my GP two weeks ago (nearly a year after it had grown) and was referred to the breast clinic again.
I went to the breast clinic on Tuesday. The doctor felt my breast and said it didn’t feel suspicious and may be a cyst, but they would do an ultrasound to check. I then had to have a mammogram, a second ultrasound and then a biopsy. After reviewing the scans, the doctor who, two hours previously, had said it didn’t feel suspicious, said it looked like a breast cancer. I burst into tears.
I now have an appointment for the biopsy results this coming Friday and I’m terrified. How can it be written off as normal breast tissue, then have a doctor feel it a year later and say it doesn’t feel suspicious, but then be told it’s probably cancer?
My mental health was already low before knowing the diagnosis and now I’m worried I’m not going to survive this and that I’ve wasted my life.
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Hi Joy
Sorry you are going through this , it’s tough when your given news like that without grading or proper biopsy results , all sorts of things go through your mind wait and see what results come back with might not be as bad you think the treatments / surgeries are so much improved
I know the waiting is the worst
Good luck for Friday xx
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Hi @anon50128939
So sorry that you’re in this situation . It is hard to get your head around it when the investigations give you a false sense of security . Most breast cancers are relatively slow growing and for the vast majority of us the fear we have between being told there’s something wrong and getting results and a plan is the worst of it . I think we have all had some of those thoughts that you are having now . Remember that they aren’t real and try to keep busy and do something that will get you out of your head a bit if you can.
On Monday maybe you could ring the helpline and speak to the Nurses on 0808 800 6000 from 9am and talk it over with them . In the meantime it’s good there’s almost always someone here if you want to reach out again. With love xx
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Dear joy of books you have a great name and I too love books so we have a lot in common. There are some good books on breast cancer one by Dr Liz Riordan and another woman who met on line and are both doctors I think.
Breast cancer varies a lot so each person has their own treatment plan. I have had it twice and I am now 69 so it doesn’t automatically give you a death sentence! Feels like it at times but I do love a good book and I don’t just read about tits all the time.
Love from Seagulls a wise old bird although not an owl
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Hey @anon50128939 just reading your thread and thought Id drop a note to sed you some warm fuzzies. I hope you’ve got your results back and if its good news you wont need to be here but if you have any worries then this is a great forum full of supportive and knowledgeable people.
Best wishes, Kath x
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Hello, can I ask you what the outcome was? I’m in a similar situation. Went for my biopsy results yesterday and was prepared for the worst as the findings they found on the mammogram was a M4. The lump was 2.5 cm and there was also an area of 4cm of microcalifications undetermined. I was told they they were very concerned and that outcome was likely breast cancer. Fast forward to yesterday the results have come back inconclusive so have had more biopsies done. They now think it could be screclosing lesions but also in the same breath I’m not out of the woods either. I don’t how to feel. I’ve been so strong and level headed and now I feel like an emotional mess cause I don’t what I’m meant to feel now. I now feel I have more questions than I ever did. My mum also has stage 4 Breast cancer and I just don’t want history repeating itself. My mum first got it when she was 49 (I’m 40) and then came back 25 yrs later and spread to her bones. Xxx
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Unfortunately mine was diagnosed as high grade DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ). I’m due a mastectomy in about a month’s time and they have told me they expect to also find invasive cancer hidden amongst it because I have a very palpable lump, which is uncommon for DCIS. I was told yesterday that the MRI I had a few weeks ago has also shown an area of concern in my other breast, so I now need further tests on that.
I know it’s a horribly scary time. A few months on, I also still have lots of unknowns about my diagnosis and treatment, which I think is almost worst than knowing exactly what you’re dealing with.
I’m so sorry to hear about your Mum too. I really do hope your results are not as bad as you anticipate, but even if they confirm cancer, know that you can get through day by day and once there’s a concrete plan in place, it does alleviate some of the stress of the unknown. There are lots of people on this friendly forum who will listen and chat. Do let us know how you get on. You’re not alone.
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I’m so very sorry to hear about your Mum and that must be adding to your stress and then some . The truth is that many of us find the waiting for results to be the worst part the process because of the lack of control - you’re literally waiting for strangers to tell you what to do next. And we’ve all been an emotional mess at one time or another - it doesn’t mean that you aren’t strong and I think it’s almost impossible to be level headed all the time I der the circumstances. Write all your questions down so that you can make sure they are all answered at your next appointment. It might help you to talk it through with the Nurses on the helpline here which is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturday on 0808 800 6000 . With love xx
Your mum has had some bad luck. My first primary was in 2003 when I was 47, I was told it was sclerosing adenosis but when I got results on 5 Dec that was a long time after I found it in June and had cytology tests which did not pick up any cancer. So I think it’s best to have bigger core biopsy samples under anaesthetic which seem standard now. I had to have a second operation a week before Christmas and on Christmas Eve I was back in Barts where I stayed until the new year after getting a surgical wound operation.
19 years later I got another breast cancer in the same breast. I suppose if I had had a mastectomy the first time I would have avoided further surgery. I would say reconstructions are a lot better now than they were in 2003.
I have not got secondary breast cancer despite two bouts of breast cancer. I have er+ cancer oncotype score 14 which is supposed to be low which means it is less likely to spread. I don’t think there’s much point in worrying as most women who have breast cancer do not die of it.
The most common cause of death for both men and women is heart disease and the current life expectancy for women is 87 I think but check this out…
Seagulls
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Please can I ask what your outcome was?
I’m in a similar position & due to have a VAB Tuesday. The longer I’m in limbo the more I spiral.
I lost my mum in 2023 to BC Mets so have a lot of concern already
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Hi There,
I’m still being investigated unfortunately. I went for a VAE on Friday to remove most of the microcalcifications as they are still indeterminate. I found out on 18th June the results from these. It’s been a long process. Went to the docs on 24th March with lump, fast tracked to the breast clinic 5th April. This is where they found a 25mm ill defined lump with 40mm area of microcalifications had core needled biopsies taken. Went for the results on 30th April everything came back inconclusive aswell has finding a complex screlosing lesion. The took another biopsy of the lump only and this came back as normal tissue thankfully. However the microcalifications and csl have come back indeterminate so I went for a VAE on Friday 31st May. They went through all the different outcomes and the possibilities of DCIS too. Have you had any biopsies taken prior to the scheduled VAB on Tuesday? X
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Hi
Yes I had biopsy 1 (core) done at breast clinic - this is what came back as benign despite ultrasound & mammogram being suspicious which is why they now want to do a VAB.
I also had a mammogram guided biopsy on some calcifications last week but no results yet.
Really dreading having another biopsy & no news.
The waiting is so hard & just feel like life is on hold.
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The going back and forth is the most frustrating I have found. The way I am looking it at it now if it does come back DCIS then out of all the worst outcomes this is the better as it’s the earliest stage possible and is still in situ. The fact that both mine and yourselves so far have showed no cancer immediately this is a good thing I would have thought. Just hold on in there, you’ll get to the bottom of it eventually. My consultant is still saying possible surgery so for now am I just going with it and not thinking about it too much xxx
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Thanks.
Yes trying to busy myself until I have a definitive answer (easier said than done but trying!)
I hope you get news soon & it’s something positive 
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Hello,
Just checking in to see how you are? Did you have your VAB? Have you been give a date for those results yet? X
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Powering through thanks.
Yes I had VAB 3/6 - really unpleasant but hopefully that’s me done with biopsies!
No date for results but it’s on MDT schedule for 12/6 so expect a call after that 
How are you?
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@cbo @lgriggs Would it please be possible for you to start your own forum post or message privately? I wanted this post to be about me getting support when I was first being diagnosed and it’s instead become a discussion between the two of you about your own situations, so all the relevant responses have been lost amongst these comments. Thank you.
@anon50128939 apologies first time I have used this site and thought I was replying to the posts.
Although I did want to point out to say that you wanted for this to be all about you and getting support and that it’s now all about me and the other User I thought was very unkind and very unsupportive. This forum is to support each other. Just because I haven’t had my diagnosis yet it’s doesn’t mean that I am less important than you or anyone else. We are all equal people going through some shitty times, some people worst than others and we are all here to listen and support each other. I’ve battled the last 3 yrs with my mum having stage 4 breast cancer knowing that we don’t have many more years left with her and I am now going through the tests myself so to hear comments like that makes me feel like what im going through is so insignificant that I no longer feel comfortable posting on here anymore.
I truly hope everything works out for you. But please be mindful in future with your comments.
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I was trying to be supportive by saying that if you set up a relevant discussion about your own situations, comments wouldn’t get lost. Forum posts are generally set up about specific things, so if you were to set up your own post, you would get greater interaction than tagging it on to the end of a thread that was originally about my diagnosis. It also means that anyone that looks for a forum post about a doctor thinking they have breast cancer finds a thread full of relevant comments that are helpful to them.
You are important and I wasn’t saying you weren’t. I was merely trying to make it so that you get greater interaction about your circumstances and a thread titled “doctor thinks I have breast cancer” remains focused on that topic.
@anon50128939
I think you’ll find most threads evolve as people offering or looking for support comment on them. @lgriggs replied to your message as she was in a similar position to you, and then another person empathised with her…
You can always hop back on with updates or requests for further advice on a thread - that’s the idea - it’s not just an exclusive two-way conversation with the person who started it! This forum is for everyone to be kind and supportive after all! All that said, I do hope you are progressing with your treatment and are feeling a bit better. Do keep us updated! xx
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