Hello, I apologise for the length of this post in advance, I just really feel I need to get some things off my chest to people who understand! I’m 50 years old and In 2011 was diagnosed with a fibroadenoma, following a core biopsy. They didn’t remove it and over the years I’ve got used to it being there and at one point could barely feel it. I suffer from health anxiety so I’ve tried to stop checking my breasts so much as it stresses me out a lot and I keep asking my hubby for reassurance I checked them at the beginning of December and all was ok I then checked again at the beginning of March and the Fibroadenoma had grown. Since then It seemed to grow more and my hubby felt it and was quite alarmed by how it had grown so i had a phone appointment with the GP who referred me to the breast clinic but wasn’t concerned.
I was examined at the clinic and the consultant said it was really moveable and would be tricky to biopsy I had a mammogram and US and both showed it was still a fibroadenoma. She did a core biopsy just to make sure and took 3 samples I went to get my results yesterday on my own as thought they would be ok. The consultant’s words will haunt me forever when he said he had bad news and to bring my husband in. Basically all 3 samples show IDC grade 2 (although he said we can’t be sure the whole lump is that grade until they take it out), ER+ and PR+ and HR-. He said it is about an inch big so I guess 2.5cn, although it feels bigger than that to me! He seemed quite puzzled as he said there was no sign of it being a fibroadenoma (I don’t think they had my records to compare as they were at a different hospital/health authority).
He examined me and seemed really surprised by how movable the lump was (it was a different consultant to the first one). He felt my lymph nodes and did a US scan under my arms and said they felt and looked fine.
So I will now be having an MRI breast scan to check if it’s anywhere else if not I will be having a lumpectomy on 10th September and lymph node biopsy, radiotherapy and Tamoxifen for 5 years. The nurse said that they would be unlikely to do chemo but they may consider it as I’m still quite young (nice being called young at 50!) if they find anything on the MRI I may have to have a mastectomy.
I was so shocked as nothing indicated it would be that and I’m just so confused that the fibroadenoma appears to have turned cancerous The consultant said 1 in 1,000 can do that so just very unlucky I guess! I stupidly went to the pub last night, drank loads of wine and can’t remember going to bed I woke up at 4am with all my make up on, a massive hangover and the horrible realisation that this is real and actually did happen I just feel so scared they are going to find something else/it’s spread I am an absolute mess today and just do not know what to do with myself . I know the hangover isn’t helping so really hope I feel a little better tomorrow. I’ve hardly eaten either which is so unlike me. Telling everyone was horrible as well, especially my 24 year old daughter who has Aspergers I’m her world and her worst fear has always been something happening to me
Thanks for letting me vent I feel better just for doing that! I just don’t know how I’m going to get through this right now but I guess I will have to find a way!
everyone is different and everyone does it their own way there are no right or wrongs, you do it your way there will be others pop on to offer tips and guidance too the good thing is you found it and did get it checked and they are going to take care of you. Your team have seen it all before and know what to do, you talk to them and ask questions if you want, not everyone wants to know much info, but a notebook with you will help, so you can write questions down and their answers if that’s what will work for you. be kind to yourself, it’s time to put you first for a bit now 
