hi all im 24 yrs old and new to this so bare with me… i found a lump in my breast last year and was too scared to go to my gp and my anty was diagnosed with breast cancer in her 30s and my daughter was born with liver cancer (both who are now in remission) but lately i have come to realise that this lump has gotten bigger and is slightly tender, i went to see my gp who has referred me to the breast clinic. i am feelin very aprehensive about going i have been through it twice supportin my anty and my daughter and it was born physically and mentally drainin, how am i goin to cope if ive got it? can anyone help? x
Hello bamblilina
Welcome to the forums, this must be a very worrying time for you but you have come to the right place for support from our experienced users who I’m sure will be along to support you soon.
In the meantime maybe you would like to talk things through with a member of our helpline staff who are there to offer emotional support as well as practical information. The free phone number is 0808 800 600 and the lines are open Monday to Friday 9.00 to 5.00 and Saturday 9.00 to 2.00.
Best wishes
June, moderator
Hi Bambalina
You really are in a very scary place right now, but you know you have done the right thing in getting yourself checked out. It may turn out to be worrying about nothing and we will all breath a sigh of relief with you. If it does turn out to be nasty you will cope, and we will all be here to support you as much as we can.
Look after yourself and stay in touch
Andie
hi andieT,
thanks for those reassuring words i really am in a scary place and its so hard tryin to keep it covered for the people i care about weve been through so much already as well as supportin my anty and daughter i have also lost 3 members of my family to cancer in the last 4 moths so scared im only 24 x
Hi Bambalina,
Chances are it will be benign - 85% of breast lumps are - and we will all be keeping fingers crossed that this is the outcome.
What a shock to have to nurse your poorly little baby - and your aunt being ill at the same time. I am glad they are in remission now.
IF is it something nasty then you will find strength inside you to cope. Do you have close family and friends? This forum is also a godsend and runs great forums and has a fantastic helpline. Counselling is also a possibility. Most breast cancers are very treatable and unfortunately there are lots of people on the forum who have had a great deal of cancer in their families - some genetic - some just bl**dy bad luck!!
I’m 33 and lost my mum and grandmother to breast cancer and my aunt (who brought me up after my mother passed away) was diagnosed last year. My sister has also had kidney cancer. I always thought I wouldn’t be able to cope with any more bad news as I thought I’d used up all of my strength! The worst time was where you are now - the panic of not knowing and feeling overwhelmed as to what would happen if it did turn out to be cancer. I was a complete mess. I am now feeling much stronger and more in control now that I am having treatment (I am halfway through chemo - and it’s nowhere near as bad as I thought it was going to be). Obviously it’s early days for me, but I’m determined to stay strong and do my very best to beat this.
When is your appointment at the clinic? Hopefully within the next 2 weeks (that is the normal referral period). Let us know how it goes. But in the meantime please don’t panic, and don’t google! That’s the worst!!
Let us know if you have any questions at all, but I hope it goes well and that it is just a misheivous little benign lump that’s come along to give you a short term scare!!
x
hi sandietoes,
thankyou so much for your kind words they mean alot as i right this i am sat with the tears streamin down my face i just cant seem to stop them from comin, i am fine during the day when im kept really busy by my little girl but as soon as i am on my own bang it hits me again i do have a really good support network but also feel like im burdening them with this when its my problem therefore tend to keep things to myself.
i am awaiting an appointment comin for the breast clinic but my gp did say it would be in the next 2 weeks.
i am trying to prepare myself for hearing those words & not for the 1st time as i hear them with my daughter i semm to think if i prepare myself for the worse anything else is a bonus does that sound silly?
hope your treatment continues to go well & im sure u will beat this
much love xx
Hi Bambilina, u’ve had a really tough time, no wonder ur scared. But u’ve made the first move by going to ur drs. I’m a bit like u in the way that i always think the worst then anything else is a bonus. The waiting is definately the worst time, ur mind goes into overdrive but hopefully ur appt will be through sooner rather than later. It’s really good that u have a great support network, try not to keep everything bottled up, i sure they will want to help u.
The helpline is really good or u can post on here & they’ll always be someone to help u.
Pls let us know how u get on, sending (((hugs))) ur way, love Heather x
Tears are natural and allowed! But if you feel comfortable I would at least confide in one person. Or call the helpline here. They also have a buddy system (can’t remember what it’s called) where they hook you up with someone who was in a similar situation, but is much further down the treatment line. I haven’t used this support - but have heard great things about it and have met some of the volunteers. You will feel better. Chances are it will be benign - but of course you are worried. If it is cancer, then most are treatable and once you have a plan of action regarding treatment, everything suddenly seems so much better as you have control back again. It’s the waiting and worrying that is the worst.
I hope the appointment comes round quickly and that you don’t have to join us here! But do come back and let us know how it all goes.
x
good mornin,
thankyou both for your kind words i had a phone call from the brerast clinic this morning arranging to go this wednesday i didnt realsie it would be so soon, i dont no weather i feel releived that appointment has become available so soon or scared because of this to say i had mixed emotions would be an uderstatement x
You’ve taken the first step of going to the docs as you were worried and now it’s time to find out what it is. They may or might not be able to tell you on the day, but if it’s something innocent they will be able to tell you on the day and then you’ll be feeling SO much better about everything. Keeping fingers and toes crossed that that is the case for you. Try and keep busy until then and let us know how it goes. xx
Hi no it’s gd they are seeing u soon put y mind at ease one way or the other my appt was 2 wks so ages to wait ive chemo that day so let us know how u get on gd luck
Hi Bambalina so sorry you are in the waiting room, but you will cope I know how scarey this is for you my SIL was diagnosed 2 years ago when I had my 1st scare & needed to be checked out myself. She has been to hell & back and still quite poorly due to other health problems, if anything it made me more determind this time round when I was diag in April this year.
Hopefully you’ll have a clearer idea what is going on once you have your appointment 9 in every 10 lumps are benign & hopefully yours will be too, but if its not you will cope once surgery is over & you have your follow up appointment & know whats your dealing with/ treatment plan in place you then start to feel more in control. But for now as hard as it is just take each day as it comes try not to think ahead to what ‘might be’ & the ‘what ifs’ PLEASE dont google it just makes you paraniod
Hopefully you will be fine
keeping everything crossed for you
Mekala x
good evening everyone,
thankyou all so much for your kind words its nice to no theres people out there i can talk to anmd have been in the situation im in now.
i have learnt not to googlre things fromm when my daughter was diagnosed i scared myself half to death back then and wont be doin that again in a hurry i can assure you.
im so good at helpin others with the problems but when it comes to my own i completely fall apart.
Im trying to remain positive putting all my thoughts and energy into my daughter i will deal with wednesday when it comes my dad will be taking me to my appointment also.
thanks again for listen
bambilina xxx
Good evening everyone how are we all?
Well I had my appointment at the breast clinic today the doctor examined and I also has an ultrasound, the lady that did the ultrasound was ever so nice I have to go back on monday for a further ultrasound and possibly a biopsy too but no more was said.
I’m feelin pretty rubbish at the moment not knowing wots going on has anyone been in this situation & could anyone shed any light on this for me?
Much appreciated
Bambilina xx
sounds odd needing two ultrasounds so close toghether. was the one you had today an ultrasound or a mammogramm?
usually you have a momogram first, and then if there is an area on there that shows cause for cncern then you for go for an ultasound for more detail of that little area,
its good that they are saying–possibly biopsy, so they have not so far found anything that definatley needs a biopsy.
oh dear more waiting, I tell you this intitial round of waiting for appointmens and results is the worse. Keep checking in to let us know how you are coping
The waiting and not knowing is the worst but it sounds hopeful, they are obviously not sure. When I found the lump my GP referred me to the Breast clinic at the hospital for what I thought was another mammogram (I’d already had two in previous months). They did an ultrasound and a biopsy straight away. I knew then it wasn’t good news. The consultant asked to see me before I left and said although they didn’t have all the results I should prepare myself for the bad news that it was cancer.
Bit of a blow when I had nobody with me, as i thought I was only going for a mammogram!!
You’ll be fine … take someone with you on your appointments … everything becomes blurry and don’t be afraid to ask questions. But you know all this from your previous family dealings no doubt.
Good luck - you’ll be fine. Keep us all posted - we’re routin for you xxx
They wanted to do a biopsy yesterday but the doctor wasn’t in clinic so they arranged another appointment for monday for me to go back scared is not the word I’d used as to how I’m feelin right now although I have my parents support I feel so alone xx
Hi
Although you’re not alone with support it is something that actually only you can deal with. I likened it to running a Marathon - everyone is cheering you on but you’re the one having to run it.
I’m so sorry that the biospy wasnt done, it’s bad enough without having to be messed about. The Waiting (as you know too well) is torture, but it will pass.
You’ve done the right thing though - you’ve seen that something is wrong and are now on track to getting it sorted. Whatever the outcome (and remember, it might NOT be the very worst news)there is a treatment, once you know what is going to happen you’ll feel more in control and able to face it.
x
I agree with angie … sounds like they are not sure nothing ‘obvious’ on the scan so probably have another consultant do your next one so they have 2 diff opinions, the waiting & not knowing is the worse. Your not alone you have us here.
thinking of you & keeping everything crossed for you
do keep us posted
Mekala x
Grrr…it’s very annoying as I don’t think they take into account how the waiting affects us all. And we need our strength to deal with the news and the treatment if it turns out to be cancer. One of my friends became seriously ill with the worry of waiting. And the only problems (touch wood) I’ve had so far with my chemo was my first round and I think that was because I was a shadow of my former self by the time I’d started after a month of not being able to eat and just crying all the time.
These one-stop clinics (where you go and have tests and find out all on one day) DEFINITELY seem the way forward.
Can you demand that you get the results ASAP after Monday so that you don’t have a long wait before the results come in? Worth a try!!
Sorry we can’t say anything to help apart from that we understand as we’ve all been there. But hoping and praying that your results come back clear.
x