Hi everyone, forgive me if I should have posted this somewhere else, new here and never used a forum before!
I had a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy done last Thursday, a 40mm tumour has been found that has been described as having ‘some jagged edges’ and ‘looks suspicious’ Obviously nobody has confirmed it’s cancer yet, I know that can’t happen till I get biopsy results (Thursday 12th) but non of the nurses said anything remotely like ‘let’s wait and see’ or ‘it could be benign/a cyst etc’ They have said it’s suspicious enough to have to come out regardless of biopsy results and when I asked ‘are we saying this is most likely cancer and the biopsy will tell us what grade’ she replied ‘that’s a fair assumption.’
I had a letter from the hospital on Friday, just a ‘we saw you in the breast care clinic today’ kind of letter but there was a diagnostic report at the top that gave me scores of P5, U4, tomo4 and M4. I’ve googled and Chatgpt’d this to death and I feel like I’ve been told it’s breast cancer without them actually saying the words.
Any advice? Anyone had this too?
Sending everyone lots of love wherever you are in this hideous journey. Kate xx
Hi Katej
I’ve not posted before just been a silent reader! But…
I’m at the same stage as you, had Mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy and next appointment on 12th, doctor told me it was BC at my first appointment though…suppose everyone is different
I’m scared, teary and today went through a very angry stage but it helped me clear the garden always find a positive
My letter has no letters and numbers like yours I’ve just double checked!
This forum is so helpful I’ve found just to read all the different stories…
I wouldn’t google anything!
Hope Thursday goes well for you and you get some clarity x
Hi @mrsp27
Thank you so much for replying, crazy that it looks like we’re on the same route.
The emotional rollercoaster is so tough isn’t it; I’ve been in total disbelief, so angry, scared, super positive and today just empty. I just need to know.
I’m so sorry your doctor has already confirmed it’s cancer. Do you know what kind, or I guess that will come with your biopsy results in the 12th too?
Google is not my friend right now, trying hard to stay off it. Keep me posted (if you feel you want to of course)
Hi Katej, i was told at my appointment that they strongly suspected it was breast cancer. This was january last year. It is an extemely emotional and difficult time in the beginning. The waiting and not knowing has to be one of the hardest parts. On the 12th they will confirm if and what bc it is. They usually give you an idea of the grade too. However this can change once surgery has been carried out. I was told grade 2 from the biopsy, however after my first surgery it was confirmed as grade 3. I found once i knew what i was dealing with, i seemed to cope a little better with it all. Good luck for the 12th both of you, i hope you get the best possible outcomes xx
Hey thank you so much for replying. It’s scary stuff. I keep swinging between ‘it’s can’t be bc’ and ‘what else can it be’
How are getting on with your treatment? Sending lots of positive vibes your way xx
Hi
I’m a year down the line. They do tend to have a good idea from appearances on scans, especially on ultrasound, I found. If they strongly suspect its cancer, they don’t tend to sugar coat it and let you know when they biopsy it that its highly likely. I suppose openness is probably the better policy, it gives people time to get their head around things rather than being in the dark and getting a shock at the biopsy results meating. Mine was U4 and M4, was surprised it wasn’t a 5 given that they seemed pretty certain. Pretty much on the money. I’d say prepare for it being the news nobody wants to hear and make sure you have someone with you to get the results. Meantime, try not to google too much, there isn’t any meaningful answer, or guess as to outcome, until more is known. The waiting is the worst bit, distraction by any means possible may help you through this time. This forum is great for support from everyone who has been there and understands how it feels.
Thanks for your reply, can I ask which bc you were diagnosed with a year ago? I hope you’re doing ok.
You’re right there about not sugar coating anything, I feel like they’ve told me what is is without saying the words. My husband is clinging on to ‘maybe it’s not’ but that’s just making me feel like maybe he heard something I didn’t, or interpreted their words and actions differently. Driving myself insane overthinking.
Its taken a bit of adjusting to the preventative treatment, but i am so grateful that there is that option. In some countries that might not be an option. Im now in medically induced menopause as my bc was oestrogen & progesterone positive. I was 45 when diagnosed. So been thrown into menopause has been hard, but im working through it. Its very much like when you get the diagnosis, take one day at a time dont think too far a head because it will drive you insane. Xx
So sorry you find yourselves here. You are at that most difficult stage of suspecting but not knowing for sure exactly what you are dealing with. It’s very scary stuff, and I suppose the only answer is to try and distract yourselves - exercise, movies, friends music etc etc, whatever works for you. Only a biopsy diagnosis is definitive.
Should you both have positive results, you have definitely found the right place to get lots of support and accurate information. This organisation has loads of good information - the nurses helpline, the booklets that can be posted (or you may find them in a BCN stand at your hospital), the “someone like me” service, and when you get to the end of treatment the “moving forward” courses. There will be a long ‘journey’ ahead and I found it was like entering a parallel world all focused on beating cancer.
But really I’m posting to assure you both that should you be diagnosed, this horrible disease is eminently treatable. I’ve actually been there twice, with two completely different types in each breast, one 4.5cm lobular with 3 nodes and one 2.5 cm ductal her+. That was 17 and 6 years ago. I found the second one much easier because I knew I could survive it. My reassurance when I was first diagnosed was three of my mother’s elderly friends coming to tell me how they had breast cancer 18, 20 and 32 years previously. I found that quite reassuring at the time, so I’m passing on the favour . I’m really fit and well now and have just taken up running!!
So good luck to both of you and keep us posted as you get updates.
Hi @Eily
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply and for sharing your positive story. You had it twice? Wow. You’re an absolute warrior.
I was going to give the helpline a call today but I bet they get thousands of calls from people anxiously waiting and what can they say? Not a lot I guess.
Best of luck with the rest of your preventative treatment, and thanks again for the glimmer of hope
News wasnt too bad in my case. Although I’d worked out by their reaction that it was definitely cancer, they also said it was only 1cm, so I was able to hang onto that. In the end it was 1.6cm with a further 1cm of DCIS. I’m sorry your abnormality appears bigger, but at the moment it could be a mix of cancer and DCIS/LCIS. Grade can be as important and lymph nodes involved or not, plus what receptors on the cells make it grow. You wont know that until results and possibly further tests. I was grade 1 in the end, not an easy spot on scan perhaps, so I found it between scans myself. Her 2 positive and ER5 - you get to learn all the jargon.
Hey sorry I missed your reply, still working out how to use this forum!
When you say you’d already worked it out do you mean from what they said (or didn’t say) at your initial appointment? That’s what I’m currently tying myself in knots over. “It’s suspicious” “we’re concerned” “it will have to come out anyway” all leading me to believe they already ‘know’ Results appointment tomorrow morning so we’ll see.
How are you feeling about it all now? Do you have a treatment plan in place?
Kate xx
That was all a year ago, out the other side now. I’m getting back to normal, the future is never quite the same though. There’s always a ‘double take’ thought you do when a new ache and pain crops up - probably just another thing to add to the joys of ageing and perimenopause, but could it be signs of recurrance? The experience hovers in the back of the mind.
Hey @katej same to you!
My appointment isn’t until 230 so throwing myself into work to keep my mind off it in the morning! Im so scared
Sending you lots of positive thoughts, hugs and love!
Lots of love
always find a positive 
. I’m really fit and well now and have just taken up running!!
