Hi there ladies, i have recently finished 6FEC and 20 rads to my left breast and node area, now i am due to visit the Breast specialist on wednesday about my right breast, i had a lumpy right breast at the time on bc dx to my left breast , but all seemed fine with my left breat, i have noticed over the last few months it seems to be slightyly more lumpy. I tried to convince myself that it had been checked a few months ago,so it should be fine, but i mentioned it to my onc when i had my last visit ,and he said to go to my g,p and get a quick 2 week referal.I have an appointment on wednesday,i was just getting used to trying to move on from bc and now i feel like i am back at the beginning again, its such a waiting game. I feel really down, i have done a lot of crying, sorry for the moan.Sandrae x
Oh Sandrae love, you’re not moaning at all, honest! It’s just after all the treatment you’ve been through, you wanted peace of mind that comes with enjoying being able to move on from treatment.
Crying is good mostly, cos it lets it all out of your system - it’s just scary when you’re crying isnt it, n you feel so alone. The waiting game is horrible, but remember you’re not alone on this site - there are some lovely ladies who are so supportive on here, so I hope you get many more replies as well as mine!
I really hope you get the reassurance that you need on Wednesday, n will be thinking about you. I’ve had two scares over the years, as I’m prone to lipomas which are fatty lumps - they’re harmless. There are so many causes of breast lumpiness which are harmless and benign, so I just wanted to tell you about my lipomas to give you another perspective of what your lumpiness could be.
With much love! xxxxx
sadrae im really disappointed with your onc… he should have referred you back to the breast surgeon…
iv had contralateral BCs but when i found a lump in affected breast at the end of chemo i was sent for mammos, USS and biopsy within a few days by my onc and then a few months later when i was finishing rads i found a lump in the other side(original side) and this time my medical onc referred me to the breast surgeon.
luckily both turned out to be nothing but the biopsied one was thought to be a new tumour so was a worrying time.
so sorry you have to go through this… can your BCN not maybe make an appt for you… i have another lump now and its my BCN that is organising my appt and not my GP.
i really feel for you hunny xxxx
Hello Sandrae and Lulu!
You were fortunate to be referred back through your onc Lulu, but I’m wondering if it’s about a difference in how different areas of the country run things. Since dcis 9yrs ago, I’ve had a couple of “scares” and each time I’ve found a lump, I’ve phoned the clinic, as you can refer yourself back at any time. However, they’ve advised me to go through my GP as for some reason you get seen quicker that way with a new lump.
Good luck with getting your appt through soon Sandrae, n we’re thinking about you! xxxx
BCN phoned back today and im getting seen on wed too so i will be wishing you good luck Sandrae and thinking of you as well.
Lxx
Oh Lulu, good luck to you as well as to Sandrae for Wednesday. I’ll be thinking about you both!
Luv xxxx
sandrae any news?
i had scan and mammo today and lump was just a cyst.
fingers crossed for good new for you too
Lxxxx
i think you will always carry some anxiety no matter what happens but we have to carry on regardless.Just see this as the doctors being thorough and i wish you all the very best.
Thank you to you lovely ladies, your support has been much appreciated, really! I finally saw the breast specialist and had ultrasound and breasts checked by doc as well, she says all looks fine , she understood why i was worried as my breats are always lumpy.So onw less thing to worry about. Glad to here you got a good result lulu, you have had enough to deal with, hope all is going well with your recovery from hysterectomy.can you have hrt, i was on it for about 13 years, from the age of 29 after my hysterectomy, i have one ovary they left as i was so young, but it never did work. the hot flushes were the worse SE for me. I get the results of my testing for the brca2 on the 23rd of this month, i am haveing a dexa scan the day before, i have had back and hip pain for a couple of years, my mum had osteoparosis, and as i went through the menpause at 29 there is a risk of that as well.If me results are not what i want to here lulu, i hope you dont mine if i message you, your experience will be a great deal of help to me. thank you all once again for your support, i am really greatful. Take care Sandrae x x x
Sandrae im soooooo pleased to hear you also had good news from your scan that will be such a relief for you.
good luck with your dexa scan and your gene test and do feel free to message me here or by PM.
i have been offered HRT but not really wanting to take it unless things are unbearable which they arent yet just annoying.
Lxxx
Hi Lulu, thank you so much for all your support, thank you also to all the other ladies, i will let you know how my app for gene results go on Tuesday. I am dreading the results, mainly for my childrens sakes, my eldest daughter is going to be tested the same day as my results, as she has two children, hopefully she wont need to be tested, bless her. can you ladies tell me what happens if you are found to be a carrier and want a mx and recon? i like to have a bit of info before had, rather than a possible shocker o the day of results, of gene test that is. Thank you all again, Take care Sandrae x
sandrae if you are found to be a gene carrier or even if your not found to be one but have a significant family history which would normally include families eligible for testing such as yourself then you can usually be offered risk reducing surgery.
your genetics team can organise an appointment usually with a psychologist to make sure you understand the implications of such major surgery a nurse may or may not also be present who can explain the procedure and answer your question… you can also be referred to speak to a plastic surgeon/breast surgeon to discuss the actual surgical techniques and so they can assess what types of surgery will be open to you… some people prefer to do this bit first before speaking to the nurse and counsellor… tehy should show you some pictures of patients who have had surgery and sometimes they can even put you intouch with a ‘buddy’ who had been through it and can share their experience.
the type of surgery they can offer depends on what treatments you have already had and also takes into account things like weight, if your a smoker, previous surgery and other medical problems, so its good to have an open mind… the surgery is often not just a one off op but a series of operations… eg nipple formation and nipple tattooing are usually done further down the line… and adjustable implants get expander over a series of visits and often incorporates an exchange operation to swap the expander for a permanent one.
macmillan have a booklet called risk reducing breast surgery and hopefully your team would give this to you as it has really good pictures and is very informative.
Lx
Thank you L, i have a better idea of things now, thanks for your input,i did pick up a copy of the booklet a few weeks ago, i had a look through it but just a rough look, i feel a bit better prepared for tuesday now, although i know as i have had bc i am at a higher risk of getting it again,i feel i would go ahead with risk reducing surgery if i was a gene carrier only, if i dont carry the mutation that my mum carried i would not have any more surgery.i really never realised just how confusing cancer can be I will let u know how tuesday goes.Take care Sandrae x