I had my appointment at the breast clinic yesterday mammogram scan consultation and then biopsy all the staff were lovely and numerous times asked if i wanted a nurse to come and talk to me and every time i said no i was so scared and simply lost for words, now im home and on the 2ww all sorts are going through my mind
When i had my biopsy i said to the dr i was hoping not to have to have a biopsy i was hoping it was just a cyst and he replied no my dear its definately not a cyst tapping my arm sympathectically (my mind is now saying was he so nice cos he knows) and between tests i was put in quiet/family rooms and asked do you want a nurse which i declined (but now my minds like do they know) i just couldnt ask directly
Do they know? Can i ring and ask? I feel so silly for not speaking to a nurse but physically couldnt
Thank you for your reply glad im not the only one yes i just have this twisted sickly knotted feeling in my tummy and keep beating myself up for not asking questions
Hi red, I’m so sorry you find yourself in this position. Know that we have all been exactly where you are, you are not alone and not everything is cancer.
It sounds as though you were given a lot more information than they usually give, often they dont like to say either way because until biopsy results come back there really isnt anyway they can know for sure. It is no wonder you are so concerned. Try not to think the absolute worst yet though. It is a really scary thing just having a screening let alone a biopsy but until you know otherwise you can sit and imagine every horrible scenario but that doesnt make them facts.
Can I ask were you there for just a routine check up or because of symptoms?
It’s horrible waiting. Did your breast cancer nurse give you a number. I’ve phoned a few times when I’ve had questions that I had forgotten to ask or which occurred to me afterwards. You might prefer not to ask over the phone though and that’s okay too. If you can take someone with you to the next appointment, and I was also advised to take a notebook. Certainly last time I scribbled everything the nurse said over the phone down but didn’t take any of it in properly until the following day.
Edited to add that whether they know or not varies according to what they’ve seen. At my appointment the consultant radiographer was explaining what she could see on the ultrasound and pointed out the main tumour saying that that was graded as a 5 and was clearly cancer from its appearance although the type and other details couldn’t be confirmed until the biopsy results were in. The other 2 suspicious areas she’d found she told me she would grade as a 3 which meant that they needed to be biopsied but could be either cancer or benign. In the event the biopsy results suggest they are benign but they can’t rule out malignancy until they’ve tested them again after surgery. (The radiographer is still suspicious because of the type of cancer I have.)
My nurse told me that that was what she was there for, and she wanted me to phone whenever I needed to speak to someone, even if it was just for emotional support, so I would if I were you.
@red77 I’ll reply to you here so others can join in and help. We all have such different stories but some might be similar
I think a lump and some unusual dimpling certainly sounds like something suspicious but honestly if I’ve learnt anything the last couple of months is that nothing is what it seems.
When they biopsied my lump it was my 2nd visit to the breast clinic. The first time was 4 months before and they did an ultrasound but couldn’t find what I could feel. So even though the radiologist didnt tell me she suspected cancer, I knew.
I’m very much a person that likes to take action so I made changes. Instantly. I changed my diet, cut out as much sugar as I could. I upped my fruit and vegetable intake. I kept really well hydrated. Started moving a bit more and I distracted myself with lots of different things. I learned Yatzee and for some reason started watching Star Trek
None of this really made much difference to my diagnosis only that it made me feel better and more in control. I realised that I needed to let the doctors figure it out and that my only job was to stay fit and healthy until I got told what I needed to do next.
Unfortunately you wont get any answers yet and you are going to be sat at the worst stage of any diagnosis which is just waiting.
Try to do what ever makes you feel better
Thank you that all sounds like really good advice (apart from the star trek) my diet could definately do with improvement, i should 100% drink more and im sure my dog would appreciate and extra walk a day (to clear my head and make me move more) xx
I know! Of all the programs! I think because it was so different to anything else id watched that it helped me not think about things.
I was also nearly 1 year into not drinking alcohol which was a bit frustrating. I was only doing a year but I’ve carried that on.
It just seemed sensible to me because everything I read said less alcohol, less sugar. Just for better health in general.
Sounds like you have the perfect companion
And yes shes my soul dog, my snuggle buddy and my bestie we saved each other she needed a loving calm home after being overbreed used and abused and i needed saving from the grief of losing my dad she is now my shadow and a diva spoilt rotten and its well deserved, shes currently sulking though as i didnt walk her today after biopsy yesterday and her being a 37kg house hippo that pulls i thought i should maybe leave out the walk and i will make up for it tomorrow
@red77 oh, I get you. I am a cryer…it does not help when needing to ask questions. Fearless and fine in front of consultant and then the post debrief with the Breast Cancer Nurse and they start with concern and kindness and then I cry. I bet my file says “she’s a cryer”! I am a usual articulate, and intelligent woman until that point. You must call your nurse with any worries - write them down pre call, or even agree a post appointment call for the next day before you leave so you can speak from home where you are feeling a safe and as comforted as possible. Also, Welcome! There’s lots of lovely people in here who get where you are and your anxiety. Sending kind and calming thoughts to you this weekend.
Awwww thank you for your reply although i dont wish for anyone to be in that situation its also very comforting to know im not alone
Im currently having a lazy day today and pushing all them thoughts aside (or at least trying too, its so hard isnt it) but i have lots chocolate and going to find a good binge series on netflix and might even have a cheeky wine later
Have a good weekend and thank you again for your reply xx
Your feeling’s are normal, and it is alot to take in on the day of tests. But you can ring the nurses up any time and they will get back to you - although you often have to leave a message. I know its difficult not to worry, but throughout my journey of mammograms I aimed to keep a positive mind that i would be fine, and i was, many of my earlier lumps were just cycsts. In those days we didn’t have this forum, but i did have my sister who’d had been through breast cancer. And she explained much of what your nurses can. There are also many booklets available through the unit, or via Macmillans. But for now try not to focus on the results, just carry on with your favourite activities.
Thank you for your reply yes its so hard not to worry alsorts going on in my head
1 min im telling myself “lets not worry till we need too” and the next in floods of tears
But iv told myself for today we are going to have a good day
Im going to go shopping with my mum and my daughter, mum has dementia and im her main carer so that in itself is a huge distraction from spiralling into dark thoughts thank you once again for your kind words and reassuring me im not alone in this xx
After my first consultation at the breast care unit, I was asked numerous times if I wanted to speak to a nurse.
I asked the question “why do you want me to speak to a nurse when I’ve just had my consultation”
I was told some patients can’t always take the information in that was discussed in a consultation, so the nurse is there to reiterate what was said & there to answer any questions you have.
my diet could definately do with improvement, i should 100% drink more and im sure my dog would appreciate and extra walk a day (to clear my head and make me move more) xx
