Hello all. I’ve spent the last week hunting for my results on the pathology report system at work to find that they haven’t been inputted at all. Rang BC nurse yesterday who told me over the phone that I do indeed have DCIS. Today I’m seeing the consultant and haveing another ultrasound of my armpit and tomorrow (Maybe, but knowing the system it could be next week!) an MRI scan of both breasts then another consultant appt to ‘tell me the best course of action’. Must say I’m finding it amazing what one can get used to! I say good morning and goodnight to my left breast lovingly each day now as I know that our time together is limited…
I’ll keep this thread up but suppose I should go on to hte treatment discussions now!!! Chin up girls.Think of all that practice you had as small girls waiting for Christmas - and that always came didn’t it!
Td xxxxx
Hi TD
I see from your post you may have DCIS - that’s what I have and have had a WLE and starting radiotherapy. Its sounds as though you are getting a more thorough examination than I did, though. I only got a mammogram and ultrasound of the breast with a lump in it. I didnt get an MRI scan or an ultrasound of the armpit. they didnt take out nodes because they said with DCIS there wouldnt be any. Sounds as though your hospital is doing a very thorough job. will have to ask my oncologist about further tests for the good breast to put my mind at rest.
Good luck with everything
Cathy
xx
Where does the time go?? saw Consultant 3 days ago. She was hard work and talked in medical terms without being very clear, so was glad to have BC nurse to consolodate!
I have high grade DCIS. I did have an ultrasound of the armpit as there was a node with microcalcifications in it; i also had a biopsy of the same node and there ae no cancer cells in it, so that’s good. My DCIS is both oestrogen and progesterone negative so there will be no drug therapy. As far as they can tell there is no invasive cancer. That is why they are doing the MRI - to check that and the other breast and to get a more complete idea of where it actually is, as it is spread over a 4cm area and I ‘only have a C cup’ (consultants words - I thought C to be quite adequate!) then she may not be able to do a WLE… MRI next Fri and next consultant on thurs 24th. takes a long time doesn’t it!! Then I will get a surgery discusion and also a date. Possibly!!
Feeling ok. As I said, amazing what you can get used to…
Big love! Td x
Hi TD
I see why you need an MRI. my lump was encapuslated in a cyst with no other bits about so I guess they just hope there is nothing else there. I have no idea if mine is oestrogen and progesterone negative. I guess it must be because they have said no to tamoxifen.
Good luck with the scans and tests. Gets kind of routine after a while!!
Cathy
x
Yep, routiene it is!
I’m feeling a bit pissed off today as I was expecting to get my MRI appt in the post for Fri and it hasn’t come which means that I can’t sort out my patients at work. I work in the NHS and therefore I know the system better than most. My job however is so bloody busy that I don’t have TIME to phone the right people to kep things running smoothly. Maybe I need to have a few days off to concentrate on ME!! However, I only work 3 days a week as it is and with a patient caseload of 70 pregnant women they would suffer like I am if I were there any less than I am. On the other hand, they’ll survive without me when I have time off for my surgery!
i do occasionally think I’'m a little too altruistic. And maybe a little too distrusting of my colleagues to step into the breach…
Hey ho…
Td x
i had to drop everything at work and just concentrate on myself. Being treated for cancer is a full-time job in the initial stages. After surgery and a wound infection healed I went back to work and worked through radiotherapy, didn’t have chemo though. Also I had a job that I could go back to in phased hours so didn’t work a full day for a while. Also the hospital was ten minutes walk from where I was working so it was easy to get there for radiotherapy
I work in the NHS and had a busy patient caseload. I also felt guilty about letting them down etc etc. my boss, who is a very wise and caring professor, saw that I was wearing myself out with the worry of BC and trying to do my job properly. He made me go home and said he didn’t want to see me until I was completely better however long it took. I kind of look at it this way. If I dropped down dead, they would replace me easy enough. No -one is indispensable even though we like to think we are.
I agree Cathy - it’s a phrase I use a lot with my patients! And thanks Mol - it’s good to be reminded that really, I come first…
MRI appt still not through today so I rang BC nurse who tried to chase it, but ‘the man who books these things has just dropped down dead’ …so it looks like he is indispensable!!! BC nurse says she’s going to personally go to dept. tomorrow and sort it. I bet. If I have to wait another week it will be over 2 months from diagnosis to surgery. No wonder I’m thinner… every cloud has a silver lining!!
Love, Td x
Hello all.
Back from consultant appointment today. Eventually had MRI last Fri. Results found another area behind the DCIS so had to have ANOTHER core biopsy today. Much more bruised with this one! Consequently, results still not available until next week, but it doesn’t really matter as I know that I’m having a Mx - it’s just deciding on the best recon to match any adjunctive treatments I may need… so waitingangel continues to wait patiently… BUT if there is no surgery time found for me (and the other 3 women at my unit currently in my position) i may turn into activedevil !!! The papers are only a phone call away!!!
Td xx