My BCN phoned me today as asked her to let me know the results as my appt is not until June 6th. It all seems to be bad news - they haven’t got clear margins and the SNB came back as positive for cancer so it has started to spread.
I am her2 negative and oestrogen positive 8/8. Will need further surgery to remove further tissue (possibly a mastectomy) and an axillary node clearance.
She says I will probably be offered to start chemotherapy before surgery to allow me time to consider my options.
Part of me is relieved to know what lies ahead but another part of me is reeling at the thought of the node clearance and a possible mastectomy. I am considering a double mastectomy to reduce the chances of it coming back.
It’s such a horrific nightmare and it’s strange as I feel well otherwise but been told that’s a good sign. I want to live, I want to see my kids grow up, meet my grandchildren and grow old. I am so very scared now about the future xx
Sorry to read that your results aren’t what you were hoping for, I am sure your fellow forum users will be along soon to give you some much needed support. Please don’t hesitate to call our helpline if you need to talk to someone in confidence, our staff are here to support you through this. Calls to the helpline are free, 0808 800 6000 lines open weekdays 9-5 and Saturdays 10-2.
Sorry to hear of your results - you will be feeling understandably shocked at the moment but please remember that it is still treatable. Your journey may take a bit longer than what you hoped but i am sure you will still cope.
So sorry to hear that your news was not good, and such a shock to you…as it would be, of course. I too, had some shocks along the way on this roller-coaster ride! Similar to yourself, I had unclear margins - twice - ie two lumpectomies both came back with unclear margins, resulting in a mastectomy…so, the process took much longer than I anticipated- and, with hindsight regret nothaving taken the mastectomy option (which I was offered) after the first lumpectomy came back with unclear margins…but I was just so in denial - really believing that it was only “a little bit of cancer” which could be removed…and, also, being very reluctant to lose my breast. Now that I have had the mastectomy I am coming to terms with it. It healed much more easily and quickly than the previous lumpectomies did (which amazed me as I thought it was a much “bigger” operation). The future remains a little scary - of course…however, the more women with breast cancer I have met, and the more I read on this site - plus,of course, the wonderful care, support and honesty received throughout the care from cancer specialists (ie nurses, surgeons, etc the more I realise that this dreadful disease is very treatable. It is nightmarish at times, and we may visit some pretty dark places on the journey - but it is a journey to recovery - and you are not travelling alone…Thinking of you and sending love
Thanks everyone for your positive wishes on holiday at the moment but been difficult at times to carry on.
I really don’t know what to do. My first response was to go for the mastectomy so I get the surgery over and done with. But like Dec23 I am reluctant about losing my breast. Don’t want to give up my breast without a fight so thinking give the WLE another chance to get all the cancer out.
Mastectomy seems such a big op, more discomfort and the thought of waking up with one side of my chest flat is hard for me to bear.
Have said I want an immediate implant reconstruction but was told may not get reconstruction straightaway as may need radiotherapy.
However realise all this extra surgery is going to add more time to an already nightmarish journey. So a lot of thinking and weighing up my options is ahead.
Dec 23 - sorry to hear of your surgery nightmare and glad to hear you are on the road to recovery. Are you going for a reconstruction?
I still can’t get my head round the fact I have breast cancer. The first thought that pops into my head every time I wake up is that ‘I can’t believe I have cancer’. Don’t think that shock will never fade away. Most days I am in a dark place thinking what a horrid year I am having and the thought of more surgery, chemo, losing my hair, looking and feeling like crap fills me with dread xx
Thanks jo1 and jillybee559 for your experiences. Sounds like you have a big decision to make too jo1. Definitely tearful, feeling rubbish, lank hair and dark panda eyes fits my description now! Not been able to wash my hair as much due only been able to have shallow baths and no showers these past 3 weeks.
Jillybee559 - how did you find the mastectomy and what’s a DIEP?
Still agonising over whether to have another WLE or a mastectomy. Would want to keep my breast but not if it’s going to be horribly disfigured. But the thought of having one boob for months whilst waiting for reconstruction - i just don’t know how I will feel about that. It’s like part of your sexuality eroded and I am already suffering a lack of body confidence. Being bald and scarred from this horrible experience is bound to effect all of us going through this.
I know in the grand scheme of things, the fact is I am fighting cancer so not going to look a million dollars. Just bit by bit I feel this cancer is taking away the healthy pre cancer person I was. Cancer dominates my every waking thought now - I hate this new nightmarish life so much now xx
My BCN mentioned mindfulness and did a demonstration of it with me. It’s about being the moment and acknowledging any thoughts you may have but letting them past you by. I have practised it and it does make me feel calmer.
Think we can’t believe we have cancer because we feel so normal like there is nothing wrong. It’s a good sign though. It’s seems to be an invisible disease that produces next to no symptoms in the early stages.
I can have short periods of not thinking about it and then it hits me like a tonne of bricks. It’s such a horrible emotional roller coaster! Xx
on holiday at the moment but been difficult at times to carry on.
xx