I’m quite new to the forum - got the diagnosis on 5th October and it was, as I know you all know, shocking and upsetting. It’s been like a rollercoaster.
I had a biopsy where the radiographer told me she wasn’t worried as it was breaking up as she biopsied it. Rollercoaster up. so I thought it was just detritus and wasn’t worried. A week later at the results meeting they said cancer and i reeled. rollercoaster down. Second biopsy to see how far in the duct. Week later I braced myself but the doctor said it was good news, very small - 6mm and would be straightforward. Rollercoaster up.
Yesterday was the magseed insertion. Definitely rollercoaster down.
The consultant radiographer asked me to tell him what I’d been told and was very surprised when I said I’d been told my dcis was 6mm. He almost laughed. He said there’s no way it’s that small and was seemingly confused by the location of the second biopsy. He said from just looking at the mammogram he could see it was five times as large. In his opinion more like 5cm. He then had a long discussion as they ultrasounded my already sore boob (from 2 previous biopsies) with his colleague about where to put the seed and how to tell the surgeon how wrong he was and totally ignored me. It seemed to take ages and he told his colleague not to put too much anaesthetic in as it gets in the fat (I’m a fat woman) and blocks your view so it was quite painful too
I felt like a lump of meat. He said it might be a much bigger surgery. They did the procedure then sent me for a mammogram. I expected they’d call me back in to explain more but the mammogram operator said goodbye you can go home now.
I have no idea what’s going to happen next. I’m having a knee replacement on the 8th November which will happen first.
Has anyone else had such conflicting and confusing appointments? And feelings? I’m dizzy from it all
What a horrible experience , I really don’t think some medical professionals realise the impact their comments / behaviour have on people when you are already in a vulnerable state . I had one doctor who never actually addressed me directly during the whole appointment just spoke into a dictaphone !!
Maybe you should contact your breast care nurse to discuss exactly what your diagnosis is , I used to get them to write down bullet points during my appointments as it’s impossible to take in all that has been said.
So sorry to hear you’ve had such an awful experience.
At my initial mammogram follow up I was not happy with the way I was treated: I had mammogram which was fine, followed by an ultrasound that was meant to be followed by a biopsy, however the doctor decided to do it there and then which was such a shock at the time: just as you say I felt like a piece of meat.
I asked to speak to someone about the way I was treated and the director of screening phoned me and agreed I’d been treated badly and helped me submit a complaint to PALS, which you might like to consider if you think it would help?
A breast cancer diagnosis is horrendous for anyone receiving one, and by and large every professional I spoke to since that initial appointment was kind and considerate of my feelings as the patient. I hope your future experiences are better.
I hope you can do the research you need to get the answers you need. Google everything, make notes. Read read read, question.
I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer Her negative ER positive last year. It may be in my lymph nodes.
After the 1st Awful biopsy i would not allow any one to do anything more invasive.
They begged to remove my breast nipple and check out lymph nodes.
I said NO what else…they said anastrozole pills ( for post menopause )
I have been on it anastrozole for one year. I am they same not worse not better.
Has not spread has not gotten bigger. I have no outward signs, no discharge no dimples no redness.
Left breast is larger always has been. Lump can be felt, it has always been there, just bigger after covid vaccination.
Eating really healthy juicing, flax seed oil with cottage cheese everyday. Exercising a little. mostly house work. Most of the time NO ALCOHOL! it feeds the cancer.
I told the oncologist I would like to shrink this without surgery.
she said there is nothing else that will do that.
I will stay on anastrozole and take my chances.
Living with breast cancer is not all that bad for now.