Hi everyone, I’m still pre-menopausal though at 47 I’m definitely not young! But a month ago I was diagnosed with a G1 tubular tumour and was told by the gyno, the surgeon and others in the know that the prognosis was really very good. My planned treatment is a lumpectomy next Wednesday followed by six weeks of radiotherapy in a month’s time.
OK, all very positive, and I’ve been feeling that way - almost breezy - but tomorrow I get the results of the protocol MRI I had on Monday - and now just tonight I’m feeling REALLY SCARED!
The worst scenario will of course be that the cancer has in fact spread and that I’ll need a masectomy and then chemotherapy. There is of course an even worse scenario… but right now I’m focusing on the chemo, and feel very daunted by that possibility.
I’m a single mum but I’ve got friends and family around to talk to, and my two best friends came to stay with me last weekend - I’m definitely supported. But I feel daft calling up now to angst about something that almost certainly isn’t the case, ie, that the cancer has spread, especially when I’ve been so positive till now.
Just another 12 hours and I’ll know, but it all seems so, well, scary. My god, what if it’s even more serious? I’ve got a seven-year-old son, I’m scared for him.
I’m just trying desperately to focus on that positive MRI result, in just a few hours - and on sleeping.
If anyone can answer me soon with some hang-on-in-there vibes, I’d be very grateful!
LucyP
Hi Lucy,
I am also 47. I was diagnosed 3 and a half years ago with Grade 1 tubular BC. Tubular really is the best one to have. It has a really good prognosis,but as always no cast iron guarantees. I have recently had some scans after having a sore back ,it was all quite worrying but the scans came back clear.
My cancer was multi-focal, I had 3 small lumps so I was advised to have a mastectomy and recon. I didn’t need chemo but I have met many ladies who have and they all got through and say its “doable” .One friend Lulu34 on here is going through chemo for the second time!.
I hope your results are good,will have my fingers crossed for you.
Love n hugs
Dot
xxx
Hi Dot, thanks so much for your reply. The results today were that the MRI showed up another lump, though it’s a different consistency to the first one (which is quite hard). They don’t know what it is so I have to go back on Monday for another ultrasound and if that shows something dodgy then a biopsy which will be rushed through before my planned operation on Wednesday.
The surgeon also said that if the lump is malignant they will do a masectomy, though a friend has just told me that I should go for just a lumpectomy an radiotherapy if the lumps are very close.
What I just don’t understand is how will an ultrasound show up what an MRI can’t? And why didn’t it show up at my first ultrasound which was five weeks ago?
I’m confused and frustrated - it’s been non-news and I still won’t know either way for another few days - and the worse thing (crazily, I know) is that if they have to delay the operation because of possible changes, I might miss Christmas Day with my little boy. At the moment it’s right up there with losing a breast and having chemo.
Well, guess it’ll be more Zen practice this weekend then…
Thanks again,
LucyP
Lucy delaying surgery till after Christmas won’t normally make a difference to the outcome so if you can’t have it before hand just say you would rather wait till after Christmas.
With regards to accuracy of imaging no scans are 100%… MRI Is good at identifying leisons but not so good at telling you what they are, also most hospitals cannot do MRI guided biopsy… This us usually done by ultra sound. Now the MRI films will allow the radiologist to pinpoint exactly where in the breast the suspicious area is… It may not be anything and may still not show up on ultrasound but because they know where to look it’s easier for them to find something. This is why ultrasound isn’t generally used for screening but for diagnosing. If they cannot find the lesion they may refer you to a unit that does MRI biopsy.
Thanks Lulu - hey, nice hair! Your reply was very useful and helped answer a question I’ve posted elsewhere here - but another one is…
…Has everyone else with a second lump been recommended breast removal over a lumpectomy and lots of radiotherapy? It just seems so drastic - am I being really, really naive?
Finally, both my breasts have been quite sore for over a week now - it feels like normal ovulation soreness, but that only ever lasts for two days at the most. I’m 47 - could it be purely coincidental menopause stuff?
Really finally, for a couple of weeks I’ve been getting needle-like but mild pain around my first lump.
God, this is all so confusing - when it’s not really terrifying.
Thanks to anyone who can reply to any of this,
LucyP
Until a few years everybody with two or more lumps was generally treated with a mastectomy regardless od size or closeness of the tumours, however if you have ni more than two tumours many units will now do two lumpectomies to remove each of the tumours… Some doctors may still prefer to do a mastectomy but if you would rather have lumpectomies you can ask to be referred to somebody who has experience doing this… Also it depends on the size of the tumours… If they are big they would prob prefer to do a mastectomy than leave you with a misshapen boob.
It’s your breast so you have to do what you feel is right for you… I have had patents with huge tumours who refused mastectomy and had treatment to shrink the tumour so they could have lumpectomy instead… Your surgeon will make recomendations but you don’t have agree with them.
I think if both boobs are sore it sounds more cyclical… But probablynbecause you are thinking about your breast more too and they will have been poked and prodded a bit over the last wee while… I think more likely to a coincidence… See how they are in few days and if very tender yiu can take some simple analgesia to see if the helps.
The stabbing pain around the lump is quite a common type of discomfort… I’m not sure what it is but a number of people report this type of pain… It could be because tumour is adhering to the surrounding tissues and it’s getting tugged when you move.
As you have more info it will all become a bit clearer and hopefully less confusing. Good luck with your USS tomorrow.
Hi Lucy, as per the other thread, I was also 47 at dx with tubular bc and a single parent. I had no idea that I had bc, not even a lump but after the biopsy etc my bc side became very sore. I am not sure if it is because I then knew something was wrong with it or because it had been dug around into with biopsies.
In the past I had very sore breasts which turned out to be benign and more cyclical as has been said. I know its hard and that this waiting bit really is the pits but try not to read too much into the soreness and assume that it means something bad xx
Hi lucy, I had a 9mm lump which was cancer, I found it, but also showed on mammogram and ultrasound, because the year previous I had a lump removed they gave me a breast mri, which I’m told shows a lot even lumps that’s not cancerous, on mine they seen something else which the did a biopsy and what I was told by my dr was that if the second biopsy came bk positive then a mastectomy, however and thankfully negative and I had a wle. Good luck, karen xx