had a bi op

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I have started this topic for new user madgal1979
Kind Regards
Sam
Moderator
Breast Cancer Care

i have just come back from a very long appointment at the hospital. i found a lump two weeks ago, doc sent of for appointment at he breast clinic. I’ve had a bi op don after a ultra sound, and they also done mammogram as well. they are worried, so i have to go and have some lump removed and then go back for the results about two days or maybe week later. i am so worried even though they said to try n stay positive. I’m only 28 and my main worry is my children, they will not understand what’s going on if it is the big c with the treatment, ones only 19 months old and my biggest fear is not being able to look after them properly if i have to have the full treatment like chemo, n radiotherapy. my next concern is my hair, its really thick n curly and long took me years to get like this and scared of being bald. does chemo also make everybody sick (mean actually throw up) co i have a big phobia of being sick i no its sounds petty being worried about hair n that, my kids are my main priority. just needed to get this off my chest cos I’m going out my mind with worry

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It is a horrible place that you are in at the moment - we all remember it well… So many things going through your mind at the same time, but the only way to get through this is one step at a time :slight_smile: I KNOW it sounds trite, but in a few months time, you will be giving the same advice!
So far, you have had biopsy, mammo and ultrasound, yes? Have you had the results of the biopsy yet? You might (hopefully) be worrying about nothing, but if you do need further treatment, believe me, you WILL cope!
When do you go back, and what happens next? Keep posting, you will get some wonderful support here.

(And by the way, I was NEVER sick on chemo…the drugs these days are wonderful - and my hair is thicker and curlier than ever before)!!!

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Hi

Just wanted to say Hi. I know exactly how you are feeling as have been there and have children too. I didn’t have to have an op in the end, as unfortunately for me I was dx with bc on 16 July, but then told 10 days later that my cancer had already gone to my liver, so it was straight onto chemo. And let me tell you, chemo is not anywhere near as bad as I thought. I was petrified about it, but it is doable (rather do something else, but hey ho). I have had NO sickness at all. Not sure what chemo you will be on, I am FEC x 3 and then Taxotere x 3 and then Herceptin I think. I am given a steroid antisickness by intraveneous before chemo starts and then some steroid anti sick tabs to take home and some other anti sick tabs. I take them religiously as prescribed and have had 2 chemo sessions with no sickness. I was also given mouth wash Oraldene, 4x a day and this time some Senna (constipation), as was a little bit constipated first session but not this. I am 39 yrs old (so a fair bit older), but I have two children, a daughter who will be 4 in December and a 9 month old little boy.

I have to say, apart from being tired, esp. at the end of the day (but this is normal with the muppets) I have not really suffered anything else. My hair, unfortunately started to fall out a week before my second chemo and had it shaved on Friday night. Very emotional time, but have been out at the weekend and today with friends with my wig on and it is ok. Taking some getting use to, but we are getting there.

You will be on an emotional rollercoaster for a long time, I still am. But once things start to move with your op and treatment you will find you are more positive and can cope better. I became a bit of a hermit for 3 weeks after dx, but once chemo started I was stronger and more positive as I knew then that we were fighting back. And although hate to say it, now my hair has fallen out, helps me to know that the chemo is definitely doing something.

You will find so much support, love and friendship on here, so you must come back as much as you need to and we will all help you through this. You will have some good days and bad days, but you will get through this.

Let us know how you are and how your op goes etc. Come on as often as you like to scream, cry, rant, rave, whatever emotion you want.

Take care and keep in touch
Love
Dawn
x

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thank you for your comments, my friends coming to my next bi op and has told me to stay possitive, reminding me that it mite not be dreaded c, but it is hard, im very snappy and snipy at moment, but my friends are telling me to carry on with new job and college course no matter wot as it will give me something to focus on. il keep you updated and if it isnt the dreaded c im sorry if ive wasted your time, i just needed sum where to go and off load. i wish youall luck with your treatment and il keep you posted on things. thanks for taking the time to reply as well

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HI madgal, as the others have said you have come to the right place for suport, advice etc. We’re all here for eachother, and in my expl everyones been fantastic.

I’m 26 and have a 3 yr old, and a 12 yr old stepson (who knows and understands, which can sometimes be harder). I find out tomorrow if I have bc, as I get my results of my 2nd core biopsy, mines a long and boring story love, wont go into too much now!

I have the same anxieties you are experiencing, I’m more worried about leaving my son behind, to hell with my hair, its crap anyway!! lol Dont get me wrong I will be upset if I lose it, but there are more important things for me to worry about, like getting better for the sake of my son (that doesn’t sound right, sorry, I dont mean it like you shouldn’t worry about your hair!, just read it back and it sounds awful, please dont take it like that!) . I, like you maybe worrying about nothing. This is my 2nd lump (and just found a third in the other breast) first was benign, so heres hoping these are too.

Like the others say, you will have good days and bad, and whatever you are feeling at whatever stage, there is always someone here that understands and will more than gladly lend a shoulder or 12 to cry on!

I have never had chemo, as never had dx breast cancer, so cant help you there, but it seems the others have had quite positive experiences with it, well as positive as can be expected I suppose! as far as the sickness goes.

I really do hope you are worrying for nothing and that everything is ok, please keep us posted (only if you want to) with how you are doing.

Best of luck

Heidi x

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Hi madgal 1979,

I really just want to echo what everyone here has said. We’ll all support you as much as we can, hon.

Take care.

Love and hugs,
beano xxx

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Hello Heidi and Mollybobs (I LOVE your name!),

Hope you are both having a good day. Thought I’d just whoosh a couple of buckets of the good stuff your way, ladies!

I’ll only be here till Friday morning because I’m off to Canada with my Mum. We lost my Dad last year and I have loads of cousins out there from his side of the family. Some of them I’ve never even met. The cousin I HAVE met, who we’ll be staying with has put together an itinerary for us and it looks as though we’ll be coming back exhausted!

Love and hugs,
beano x

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Hi madgal1979,

We all understand how you are feeling at the moment, with no diagnosis - just remember that some 80% of lumps are benign (non malignant), You are very young to get bc, and it could just be dense fibrous tissue.

As for the hair loss, in the unlikely event you may need chemo, I had 6 x FEC and was offered the cold cap. Looks like a motor cycle helmet and is attached to a freezer unit at the side of the chair. It means the chemo treatment lasts longer, as you have to have it on a half hour beforehand, and an hour afterwards, but I did not lose my hair. Okay it thinned quite a bit on top (and I have fine hair), but not so much as anyone noticed except me, and I never needed to wear my wig, (foc by voucher from the hospital up to £125). So don’t despair yet about losing your hair, as not all of us did. The chemo nurses were brilliant - wrapped me in a duvet whilst I had the treatment and not only brought me endless cups of tea (the cold cap makes you very cold but you soon get used to it), but as my treatment was always over lunchtime, they ordered a picnic type lunch on a tray, which was also foc.

If you do need chemo, you must take the anti-sickness meds, even if you aren’t vomiting. I was very nauseous but never threw up. I found that any drinks with ginger in helped quell the nausea tremendously - ginger beer, ginger ale, or on the odd occasion Stone’s ginger wine topped up with lots of ice and ginger ale.

We are really jumping the gun here, as you may not have bc - a cyst or a fibroadenoma, both of which are not cancer. Just wanted you to have some information in the unlikely event it is bc.

The ladies on here are wonderful - they taught me more about my own bc than any of my doctors. You just have to ask a question, and someone with experience will respond. Even if you rant, we are still here for you with our love and caring support.

Hope all goes well with the biopsy.

Liz.