I was told not to worry it won’t grow not true and not my imagination. Still got three weeks until operation. Went in to have lymph node biopsy. That went well and all three other dye and scans were easy. I cant stand waiting now. Found lump early march. they found second one , Masectomy but why so long. Please does anyone feel like me. I thought i was ok. sorry.
Hi Deb43 and welcome to the Breast Cancer Care forums.
I am sure you will get lots of help and advice from the many informed users of this site. You may find BCC’s resource pack helpful, it has been designed for those newly diagnosed. If you would like a copy just follow the link below:
breastcancercare.org.uk//content.php?page_id=7514
If you feel you need to talk to someone in confidence about how you are feeling, 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 and are able to offer you advice and help or just a ‘listening ear’ The number to call is 0808 800 6000 the lines open Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm and Saturdays 9am - 2pm.
I hope this is of some help to you.
Best wishes
Lucy
I know the waiting is horrendous. Not sure what to say other than perhaps pass on a comment from my BCN at the Beatson where I had my rads. We were discussing the good and bad sides of going private and I said that I had gone private for dx and surgery cos my GP had indicated that there was an back-log of referrals in my area and the average wait was about 4 weeks - the BCN nurse said that in the big scheme of things a 4 week delay would not have made any real difference, other than the psychological side of things. I used to think that every day made a huge difference - after all we are always being told if you get a lump go to the doctor IMMEDIATELY so it’s no wonder that we think waiting a week for this or 2 weeks for that is stacking the odds against us.
I also know of a lady (daughter of a friend of my mothers) who was just under 7 months pregnant when she discovered her lump - she had to wait 6 weeks til it was safe to induce her then she was given a month to breast feed her baby before starting chemo - her lump at the time was about the size of a tangerine. She had chemo to shrink it and about a month ago she had WLE to remove the tumour which was greatly reduced in size.
I hope these bits of information go some way to settling your mind - but I know that regardless of what anyone says your mind will still be all over the place.
Hello Deb43
Guess you’re 43… I’m 44, living in Bristol have 3 kids youngest aged3. Back in November I noticed that my left breast didn’t feel ‘normal’ - there was a thickening in it along the inner side, behind the nipple. I hadn’t ‘meant’ to feel it - it was before my period and I always check the week after my period. So I ignored it. That period didn’t come - I was pregnant after 2 years of trying. Then it was Christmas, work was busy, I did a couple of 24 hour waking on calls and in feb I miscarried. When I came to do my post period check in March, (13th - memorable for me) I thought ‘oh -still there’ – so went to GP. Now, 10 weeks later, I have had (to summarize) Ultrasound x4, FNAx2, core biopsy x2 MRI, mastectomy& LD flap recon (12 days ago) - There was a widespread area or high grade DCIS and a 1.1cm grade3 invasive tumour, no lymph node involvment. I was pondering this with my surgeon and asked if the 5 months between first feeling it and acting on it would have made a difference. He said - ‘not in the final outcome. Except that 5 months ago the grade3 may have been grade2 and you may not have then had to have chemo. But that said, chemo will get the blighter so probably things are better this way’ – a very positive approach which suits me well!!
So remember - there are treatments for all eventualities, and a wait of a few months will make little difference at this stage.
Hope that helps!!
big love Td x
Hi
I found my lump in Oct 07 and I had all the tests, i.e. FNA Core Boipsy etc and they all came back as benign " nothing for us to worry about " and then they said well we are going to take it out to be on the safe side. Surgeon took lump out Dec 07 and said to hubby 90% sure its benign so when I walk in for results on Jan4th and told sorry its cancer grade 3 I am blown away. Of course I asked how the hell could this happen and apparently it does, however its not common.
I also asked about the grading and was told…that tumours don’t go from a grade 2 to a grade 3 they start out exactly how they are found.Thats why some people with grade 2 can have lost of lymph nodes involved and a huge tumour and grade 3 can have no lymph nodes and small tumour. They don’t jump grade. They can assume its a certain grade until the lump is removed and then they can finally grade it appropriately. This is what I was told.
I then had to wait till Feb for a mastectomy ( my choice of surgery) rather than them go in to get clear margins and had axillary clearance aswell. I had 2 lymph nodes involved and I still wonder about that. Perhaps if I had pushed them more I could have had that lump out sooner and maybe no lymph nodes would have been affected. Still can’t change the past and certainly wont beat myself up about pushing them. I trusted them, afterall they are the expects. Now I have to rebuild that trust.
My BCN also said that the outcome would still have been the same, so pls try not to worry at least they are doing the right thing. I was told that the operating lists are sometimes cancelled and that surgeons would rather be able to organise and have that ability to “control” their own operating lists but so much is down to the head honchos in these hospitals.
It will soon be here I know its horrible all this waiting but I am sure what they say is true in as far as outcome…good luck and best wishes
P xxx
Thank you so much for talking to me. This just seems so evil why god why. Love to you x x x
Hey Deb, you sound so sad. It’s so horrible, isn’t it. We’ll all get through this together, one way or another, and it’s great that we are here for each other. Thinking of you and a big hug. Keep posting, it helps so much. Sorry you have a long wait, hope you get good support. Lots of us are “OK” most of the time, and then get days when we definitely are not OK, seems as though everything is stacked against us, then it’s good to cry, or wail or whatever helps - just letting it all out, or writing it all down. We’ll be here for you. Sarah xx
i am crying now thank you so much sarah. i have tried so so hard not to .
Hi I can re-iiterate all that has been said already - the waiting is what gets you down the most. I was dx mid march and have had WLE followed by another shaving & SNB followed by Mast last week. My hospital & doc have been fantastic, b ut you still have to wait for results each time and unfotunately May has had 2 bank hols which hasn’t helped. I felt much more in control when i chose mast over another try at shaving a clear margin (tumor was grade 3 & 5.5cm with lots of DCIS in breast tissue) Today am off for further results and check up (def need fluid draining today v tight) So will see when planning for chemo starts. While I am really positive today there have been wobbles along the way - I just try to remind my self its ok to cry - theres no good to come from holding back every time. I always feel better when i’ve let off steam. I even had to remind my OH that crying is good - hes finds that hard to cope with. Just told him to accept it and offer a cuddle & keep plenty of tissues to hand!! seems to have worked. Best of luck with the Mast operation - have you got a date yet? This forum is the best for letting things out def.
take care
Leesha
Deb43
Awwww I wish I could just give you a big hug…as Sarah said let it go and have a good cry. I still cry, had a big boo myself this morning, you have to get it out.
so heres that hug…((((((((((((((((((((((HUG))))))))))))))
and a tissue
Love P xxxx
Hello Deb - I hope the cry has done you good and that you’re feeling better! I’m sore today - have to go for seroma draining in an hour… it’s neverending, and I’m only at the beginning! It sometimes feels like being at secondary school, reading these posts - there are all the sixth formers who have ‘been there, done that’ who are helping to guide us first years around… I suppose I’m a second year now though as I’ve done my diagnosis, plan & surgery…
I had a day of crying just after I had my diagnosis - because I was reading everything here and feeling so sad for everyone. Mostly i feel fine now (although if you read my threads you will see i have really crap days too!)
so cyber friend, stay strong. We are there with you!!!
Love up Td xx
Hi Td Thank you so much for being there for me. I feel guilty feeling so bad when so many are going through this nightmare journey. Crying did make me feel relief for want of a better discription. I am sorry but what is seroma draining. Wish you well. debbie x
Debbie - one week over and 2 to go - you’re doing well! Use this time to get your drawers in order (so other folk can find things) and find some good reading material!
Td x
hello Td sorry it has taken me so long but just want to hide away most days now. I dont really need to worry about sorting things. I normally do that for others. dad had heart attack just after christmas, mum has parkinsons. Not really funny but husband went ice skating with kids 29th december. He was on ice for no more than 5 minutes, fell, ended up breaking main weight bearing bone. They put plate into his foot buy still can’t walk .He has been told they need to operate to remove plate. God it is true it never rains just pours. I have read your other sites and want to say I wish you very well and cant believe how great you are. Thank you and I am sending you lots of love Debbie x
Hello Debbie!!
Now, i hope your OH can drive with his broken bits - or that you have other people to ferry you around… and I also hope that you have begun to set up your own support networks, because us carers are really bad at looking after ourselves… and you are really going to be ‘out of the loop’ for a while at least…
Thinking of you!!
Big love Td xx
I was diagnosed 30th jan 2 lumps left breast cancer 1 lump ok right breast with core biopsy . masc on left lump removed from right15th feb went back for results grade 3 4 of 12 lymph nodes affected cancer in right as well they wanted me to start chemo asp started 13th march had 4 FEC starting tomm 4 taxotere then masct (own choice in stead of going in for margin been hard to make up mind) right sample lympnodes,then 4 or 5 weeks of rads then herceptin. it is hard you cant plan any thing but have to take one thing at time. my lump felt bigger after core biopsy but was just told it was bruising inside after they had been in and not to worry.
some days i just cry all day but have good days to.
tissue company have doubled there sales since i was dx. ha ha…
big hugs
Jackie
ladies sorry i havent replied been abit low . I read day and night but just havent been able to talk. l am going in Friday 13th op on saturday 14th June. Take care I am sending you loads of love Big X Deb
take care Deb. Will be thingking of you on saturday.
Here have a hug mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Bridie
MEGA love n hugs to you and your family
We will be thinking of you on Saturday xxxxxxxx
lotsa love
Suzy Alan Lukas
Spencer Boots Tuktuk
Bridie, Suzy and Friends Thank you all so much. You girls have helped me so so very much. I went shopping today didn’t really have a clue what to buy. I have know idea what size bra or what size anything, so confused. I brought one size bigger. OH has not sat still tonight ,which it very strange normally gets home eats sleeps. I am feeling very very nervious. I have waited like so many of us so long and now its here terrified. Guess there is no pleasing some people. I will be thinking of you all as I do day and night. LOVE AND LUCK TO YOU ALL. Big X Deb