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Hi, I’m Bongobirdy( real name is Alison ) glad I found you.

My background is 58yr old who went for a regular scheduled mammogram in a cabin in a local supermarket car park (normal) which less than 2 weeks later came back as something they wanted to check so, go a nearby breast screening clinic (knee’s knocking on the day ) to see my last mammogram and my new one. Something clearly visible to my untrained eye and now a big lump in my throat and tears and snot- I’m not looking for sympathy, just being honest and open- everyone was so kind and gentle with me so, another mammogram, 3 biopsies a big sticking plaster and 3 hrs later I’m back in the world and waiting for results. Recalled to the same place and told, yep it’s cancer, it would never have shown up as a lump where it is in my boob so, thank god for the NHS and regular screening.
Met my Surgeon and Breast Nurse, had my lumpectomy and Sentinel Nodes Biopsied, they got it all and it hasn’t spread so after some Radiotherapy I’ll be back to “normal”. I’m 2 wks past my op and have some discomfort in my armpit as had fluid which seems to have mainly dispersed with no intervention, I’m taking paracetamol and ibuprofen before bed to ease it. No issues at all with my boob.

The reason for this post is to say HI! but also to try to reassure other people who’s knees are knocking to please trust in your teams of professionals and in yourself, it’s normal to be worried or just plain old bricking it but it can work out ok. 

I wish you strength and a good outcome.

I’m glad you’re here in case I do have any questions or just need an ear. Thank you and sorry for the long Hello xx

P.S seems to have posted 2x, sorry xx

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Hello @Bongobirdy  

Welcome to the club no-one wants to join! 
I can very much relate to your story, although I was 50 and it was my first mammogram (yes in a car park too!) I got recalled and assumed (wrongly it turns out!) “it won’t be anything” I used to be recalled on my smear tests all the time 

Another mammogram ultrasound biopsy and results “You’ve got breast cancer” WTF!! 
Surgeon and breast cancer nurse very kind and reassuring “it’s small, you’ll need surgery, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, and you’ll be on your way” all very very straightforward……

The surgery was around two weeks after that (bit of trauma involved in my admission due to a positive COVID test having had it five weeks before) but all good and home that night (albeit very late!) 

Around six weeks after my surgery, my mind caught up with what was happening to my body and emotionally I fell off a cliff, it was only at that point I joined these forums and joined a breast cancer support group through my local Maggie’s my thought process upto that point being “it’s only small, I only needed a small surgery, radiotherapy isn’t like chemotherapy, not thrilled at the prospect of the hormone therapy but I’m sure I can manage (after all I’d dealt with worse in my life, I lost my dad in traumatic circumstances when I was 13) why should I need support and help” 

I’m sure there are many many ladies who go through their treatments without asking for help, but there is lots of fabulous support available for everybody affected by breast cancer (patients and families and carers) both here and in real life through MacMillan Maggie’s and other organisations no matter what your diagnosis and treatment plan. 
It sounds like you are doing really well, please be kind to yourself, I hope your surgery recovery continues to go well and your radiotherapy treatment is OK, and you feel like “you” again soon.

You can’t hurry the process though, I’m writing 14 months after my radiotherapy finished and am possibly now living my best life (unbelievably I’m fitter and slimmer than I was before and after returning to work in January now looking at a long overdue promotion) but it hasn’t been plain sailing and there’s been a fair few tears and frustrations along the way, the biggest lesson I’ve learned is its Ok to ask for help and to be kinder to myself 

Sending you lots of love and healing hugs, I hope you get to put your feet up over the festive period!

AM xxx