I have been hovering the site now for a couple of weeks after finding a lump in my right breast. I went straight to the GP and was referred to my local breast clinic within a week, had a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy.
Received the results this Tuesday - Devastated to say the least, but I know you have all walked this road before me.
Im still a newbie in terms of all the technical info, all I can say at this point is its a grade 2, its ER8 (i think she said positive ??). I go in for surgery next week for a WLE and node biopsy. The consultant said he wants me to have Chemo & radiotherapy and tamoxifen for 5 years. He also mentioned using herceptin but I cant remember what he said about it.
The forum has been very enlightening to read, sometimes funny, sometimes sad but always useful and is helping to kind of prepare me for my journey and has answered questions I already had stacking up.
Im scared, nervous, speechless, despondent, lost, afraid, pissed off, angry, confused, but positive…the list goes on. Ive had some awful thoughts in the last week, im so brain tired its unreal. I think the worse bit was telling my youngest son, he is 12, I ended up bawling and he was comforting me.
Anyway, I just wanted to say hello to you all, no doubt I will share my experiences with you and very possibly ask questions so I hope you will bear with me. I am 41 by the way, married with 3 children. (42 this month - great birthday pressie eh!)
Hi Libralady, sorry you have joined us on here, but it’s been a great source of help and a place were we all understand because we have started the same journey and are here for eachother.
Everybody is lovely on here so don’t be afraid to ask questions,
All those feelings you listed are pretty normal, once treatment gets going it will get better,it’s not going to be easy , I think it’s like being on a roller coaster at times, but we get there, your team will work out the best treatment plan for you.
Your not alone.
Jean.
Hello Libralady and i’m sorry you have joined us on here! I was diagnosed 24th Aug, had my surgery 12 Sept had WLE with therapeutic mammoplasty and SNB. The surgery wasn’t as bad as i thought it would be and was home the same day a little sore and stiff for a week or so but really not as bad as i expexted. I have 5 weeks of radiotherapy to have am awaiting planning apt but have started tamoxifen. Went for my results last week after surgery and had some good news in that good clear margins and no lymph nodes involved. The waiting is the worst but there is loads of help and advise on here, everyone is very supportive. I wish you well.
Hi Girls
I’d like to say welcome the website but hey no one really wants to be here but it is a great place to get info and support. I was diagnosed on 11th July and have had full mastectomy,full lymph node and reconstruction. Just on my 3rd Chemo. so go ahead and ask all the questions you want. I am 45 next Saturday and have twin girls aged 14. It is a big roller coaster but we will all get there in the end - some ups some downs. Just take it one day at a time.
All the best and keep in touch
Ginge xx
Hi , I was diagnosed 5 weeks ago , I 36 with 2 children aged 7 and 12.
I have had my lumpectomy and node testing last Fri …it wasn’t as bad as I thought, I am a bit sore but feel ok , I get my results of the pathology report
next week.The waiting is the worst but you do get there…I hope you have family to support you but the ladies on here have been great .xxx
Hi there, was diagnosed yesterday so head still in spin cycle mode. Have already found it such a comfort to know I’m not alone in all the weird things I’m feeling. Glad ur feeling positive, I Have 3 children and dread telling them x
Hi Libralady & Herbidacious, sorry u both have to join us but welcome. As you’ve already found out, this site is fantastic. I’d have been lost without it. I’ve had WLE & SNB then a further op for re-excision of margins & full axillary clearance. Now started chemo . At first it seems surreal, like its happening to someone else, can’t possibly be happening to u. We all got these thoughts & went through all the emotions described but u will cope with it. It does get easier with a treatment plan, just take one step at a time, look to the op first, then when that’s done, look to the next stage otherwise it can feel overwhelming. Keep posting on here, ask all the questions u like & we’ll all try to help, also the helpline are very good, take care x
Welcome librarylady i know this Forum is the lady place you want to be…but it really becomes addictive and it helps us so much. A place to voice fears find virtual friends, exchange thoughts good ,bad, funny, trivial ,
serious, and practical. the Helpline is also worth contacting, they are so experienced at helping distressed devastated and even angry ladies. They can send you information booklets iif you can’t down load them by computer.i think there is a new pack out at the moment- must get myself one!
Hoping all goes well
Cacklesxx
Well another day closer to my surgery another morning waking up going into the bathroom and having a little cry where no one can see it - another day of asking why me?? but then…why anybody??
I said to myself this morning, rather me than one of my children, that is what i think of to help, its got me rather than one of my children, just that thought will help me through.
Herbidacious - sweetheart, heres a hug from me to you (((HUG))). In fact, heres some hugs for everybody ((((((((HUGS))))))))
Welcome to the Breast Cancer Care forums. As well as the help and advice you are receiving from the many informed users of this site
you may find BCC resource pack helpful. It has been specifically designed for those newly diagnosed and is filled with information to help you better understand your diagnosis, test results and the various treatments available. If you would like to order this just follow the link below:-
If you feel you need to talk to someone in confidence then please give the helpline a call, the staff here are all either breast care nurses or people who have personal experience of breast care issues. The number to call is 0808 800 6000 the lines open Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm and Saturdays 9am - 2pm.
How are you today Libralady
What is your timetable for surgery next week we will send positive vibes from the dark dark wood. (have you read that thread?)
Surgery really is not ad bad as most ladies think it will be. I had a bilateral mastectomy and only had diclafenic and panadol the next day and out the following day with 4 drains.
Chemo so far has been ok. Now on Taxanes and reporting good progress.
Oozing best wishes
Cackles
Just to say hello and welcome, I know no one wants to be here really but here we are none the less. This site is fantastic for anyone in our situation, any time - as you can see, there is someone to talk to. I have my snb thing on wed and Mx on thurs and then have to wait for results. Just to say crying is normal as is anything else that you feel will get you through this journey.
Hi Libralady
I was also diagnosed with BC last week, and experiencing all the same feelings as you have expressed. I have been in a daze ever since, I can’t believe it’s really happening, my whole comfortable world feels unsafe and under attack. I am devastated, but know it’s important to be strong and not stress, so trying to be calm and take each week as it comes and go through whatever challenge I am faced with. I feel like I’m trapped in some kind of vortex, I can hear people talking to me but can’t fully comprehend what they are saying, I keep forgetting things, my brain has malfunctioned :o(
On a positive note, we are all in the same boat, this is a good forum with lots of helpful advice, and there are many people who are far worse off in the world.
Yesterday was a bad day for me - I have held myself up for the whole of the last 10 days since the biopsy and through receiving my results with just the occasional tear which I wiped away quickly - but yesterday I broke - I had an awful day which resulted in my locking myself away in my bedroom for hours sobbing, thinking the worst, every positive I thought of I then linked it to a negative. One of my good friends came to visit yesterday and I wouldnt go down to see her - couldnt face it. I feel terrible about that.
I am in the belief that my nodes are affected and that they are going to tell me they have found it has spread elsewhere and they got my initial Grade 2 results wrong. My step father died of cancer 6 years ago so you know my head is already going down that road. Every little ache I feel at the moment Im convincing myself its another tumour growing, my head is banging and im really tired…for no reason! Im so peed off its unreal. I guess you can all relate.
Cackles - My surgery is this Wednesday. I havent read the dark dark wood - let me go see if I can find it.
Hope everyone has a good Sunday though. My hubby says lets go out but im not in the mood. I want to bury my head in my quilt and just stay there until its all over - but when you have a family you just cant because it affects them too. And yes, its the waiting, waiting to see a doctor, waiting for tests, waiting for results, waiting for surgery, back waiting for results. Wait Wait WAITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!
I just read this and do you know what? this is exactly how I felt when I first was dx. You are allowed a meltdown, in the last few weeks I have had quite a few, the most recent being yesterday.
If you have a bad day there’s always tomorrow.
This is a brilliant site for keeping you sane, everybody knows how you feel and more importantly understands.
Keep posting and this will help, also I have found if you just take one day at a time it really helps, just baby steps. My surgery is this thurs and I’ll admit that I’m terrified but more so of the cancer.
Try to find the willpower to get out of the house it will lift your mood and give you something else to think about.
I agree the waiting is the pits but it’s nearly over now and once the surgery is done you will be able to move forward.
There will be a treatment plan I am told and then things can only improve.
Just popping in to say I had my WLE & SNLB on Wednesday this week. Still a bit sore but nothing to complain about. So im back in the waiting room again now awaiting results of the biopsy.
Either way regardless of the results the consultant said at my initial dx he suggests i have chemo, Rads post op and then onto Tamoxifen for 5 years even if my Lymph node biopsy shows no evidence of cancerous cells…why would he do that??? Is that a normal standard process?
He originally stated from the initial biopsy before diagnosis it was a grade 2 but im very scared he will “upgrade” me.
Admittedly I do feel better now I know the primary tumour is “out” - just praying he hasnt left any of his cousins behind!!
I had my WLE and ANC 2 weeks ago today, I already know that I had cancerous cells in nodes but my attitude as been that since my op they cut out all the cancer and I am now cancer free and all future treatment is to prevent me getting it back, whatever is necessary to prevent it coming back I will take.
I should be getting my results on Weds and I am realistic enough to know that my synopsis may change then but until then that is what I think.
OMG, its just like you are all reading my mind, I was given the news on Tuesday that the lump which I didnt even know I had(!) is cancerous, and I dont at this stage know all the technical terms, just that its happening to me and its not fair.
I attended a routine screening, cos they have reduced the age, so its been a big shock that they have found something, this happens to others not me…its been really hard telling the family, my daughter is away a uni and I really feel for her and my son who is 17 and recently diagnosed with Diabeties has enough on his plate without this.
I still think its an out of body experience and thinking I will wake up tomorrow and find its all a bad dream. One day at a time seems like a good plan, thanks for the words, I think I am going to need you all.
Hi libralady
just to say,even if you are ‘upgraded’ to grade 3, and/or if you have positive nodes, please don’t think that means there is no hope and you will die from bc. There are lots of node +ve women on this forum who are doing absolutely fine. I was diagnosed at 45, with positive nodes and grade 3, and am now 53. Following treatment I have had no further problems.
Most people say good bye to the forums when treatment is finished, so the posters tend to be those with problems. Don’t let this upset you, just remember there are very many successfully treated ladies out there just getting on with their lives
all the best
Sarah
