Thanks for your responses to my other post. I’m grateful. I’m in the United States and haven’t find local support, so extra grateful.
How do y’all wait for test results? I feel like I’m on an insane rollercoaster of emotions, and with two young babies (5 months and 2 years), I’m terrified of being sick or dying. The only thing that matters to me is seeing them grow. I know that a worst case scenarios is a HUGE leap from a radiologist telling me that they think I have a papilloma and cyst, but have to confirm it’s not cancer,. With appointments a month apart - my brain is just going wild. My mother was diagnosed with a fairly aggressive cancer earlier this year and had a double mastectomy. And my husband is having a hard time b/c his dad died from cancer when he was just three years older than we are now. Because this was an unsymptomatic find during a first, routine screening, chances are that if it is something - its very treatable, but I know there are cases of women who were unsymptomatic at 40 and were terminal (I know its rare, but we don’t know until we know…ya know?).
Anyway - I really appreciate the chance to post here so I can just get these thoughts out. I’ve talked to my therapist, but my husband is too scared to hear how scared I am, and I haven’t talked about it with anyone else. And, I’ve never been so scared in my life.
We are all here for you, this is such a difficult time for you, waiting for results can drive you crazy and cause lots of anxiety taking one day at a time at the moment (all extremely easy for me to say) have a notebook to hand, writing down whatever comes to mind I find this helps when speaking with the breast cancer team as we forget the importance things to put our minds at ease.
Radiotherapy have a excellent knowledge of what’s happening to us and our bodies to hold on to what they have told you so far
I do wish you well, with an excellent outcome, please let us know how you’re getting on. Have lots of fun with your two gorgeous babies.
Hi @flowermama everyone in this forum - in fact, everyone who has been in your situation - will say that the initial wait to find out if it is cancer is the hardest part. The fact is that the majority of investigations prove to not be cancer but you’ve had so much cancer in the family that it is obvious that your mind will fill the void of facts with worst case scenario based on your experience. That’s natural. If you have access to therapy and/or anxiety medication, you should use them to get you over this hump.
But what if it is breast cancer? Well, the histology once known will lead to a pretty well understood treatment plan and, if this is necessary, then you’ll feel much more in control and positive about the outcome. Breast cancer has been researched, and continues to be researched, because it is one of the most common cancers in the world. This means, in 2024, the survival rate for breast cancer is astonishingly high. The majority of women who are unfortunate enough to be diagnosed, are treated with curative intent and go on to live normal, cancer-free lives. You probably pass by women who have been through this and out the other side every day, on the streets and in the supermarket. The key is to be diagnosed as early as possible which is where you are. My advice would be to stay off Google at this point in time, use any form of therapy and medication that you have access to, keep posting on here as we completely get what you’re going through but try to tell yourself that it isn’t breast cancer until your medical team tells you it is which hopefully will not happen!
Thank you so muchI honestly felt so much better after just typing my thoughts- think I just needed to “say” them in some way. I am absolutely staying off google and with two littles, will be managing anxiety with a lot of deep breathingC meditation, and distraction.
In moments of calm, I am pretty rational, but my excellent imagination out does herself. This really is the most terrifying health situation I have ever experienced and the fact that so many women have gone through it, and more than I can truly fathom, is incredible. The sun will continue to rise and we will do what we have to do to survive and thrive.
Completely understand. It is particularly tough when you’re very concerned about the impact on your husband and children. I’m hopeful for you that it won’t be anywhere near as bad as you’re imagining.
I wonder if it might help for you to post in the category for ‘Younger Women’ which you can find under the main category ‘Connect to People Like Me’? Whilst cancer is generally thought of as an old person’s disease, for younger women who get it (NOT THAT THAT INCLUDES YOU AT THE MOMENT!) there are issues to address which may not occur for us older women such as child care and time management at work etc. This is a forum on which you can ask or express anything, within the normal courtesy rules, and be taken seriously so feel free to post of there too.
that’s such a great idea, thank you. my biopsy isn’t for another week and a half and then however long it takes for results. it’s wild how long this is taking and i have crazy good health insurance here in the states.
