I’ve been looking at this site for a few weeks, since my mammogram recall in January. Seems a great place to share information and support, so finally plucked up courage to join!
My mammo (1st one, 50th birthday in November) showed microcalcifications, so had the standard ultrasound (showed a cyst in another area) then core biopsy under mammogam control. Back to see cons 10 days later - is’nt the waiting horrible!
He was very brisk, yes you have DCIS - don’t worry - take it out then radiotherapy - OK? Um, well, yes, fine, bit stunned but sort of expected it.
BC nurse was lovely, had a cup of tea - surgery booked for 5th March. Asked if I would take part in clinical study, which meant having an MRI. Apparently to see whether this gave same level of info as the mammo.
So, had the MRI, - interesting experience! - which has shown 2nd lump in a different area of the breast. Marvelous!
So now have 2nd biopsy booked Thurs 12th March, to be done under the MRI control, as this is the only way this lump has shown up.
Now feel life has gone back on hold, cannot think about anything else and want to really withdraw into a little hole!
Hi LizzyM, I really feel for you…but you have come to the right place. I did the same as you…I trawled this site for weeks before plucking up courage to ‘post’. Even that word was new to me. The ladies on this site are very supportive and are all at different stages, so will offer advice to you along the way. Try some of the other threads too…ones that are specific to your stage or experiences. I had Invasive Ductal Cancer IDC, which they did an excision for on 9th feb. Had results last friday…now have DCIS so having further excision op. tomorrow. The wound had healed beautifully too! eh well …
So LizzyM although you are having to wait again because of your MRI, its a good thing out of a negative. The 2nd lump was spotted so they can give you a more informed treatment.I know what you feel about your life goes back onto hold…thought I’d be on with the next stage, but gone back a bit …to go forward so to speak!!
You sound like you have lots of fight and determination…don’t worry we all want to dig a hole sometimes…so chin up and good luck for Thursday.
Helen x
Hi Helen & Lizzie
Welcome to the BCC discussion forums, you’ve come to the right place for support as the many informed users of this site have a wealth of information between them. I have put for you below links to 3 of BCC’s publications which you may find useful. Just follow the links to download copies, apart from the first one, our Resource Pack, this has to be ordered on line and posted out to you as it’s an A5 ring binder, full of useful information and somewhere for you to keep your own notes. All BCC’s publications are free of charge. Also if you need to speak to someone in confidence then do please phone the helpline, the staff are here to support you. Hope this helps.
Resource pack: breastcancercare.org.uk/server/show/nav.718/changeTemplate/PublicationDisplay/publicationId/86
DCIS: breastcancercare.org.uk/server/show/nav.718/changeTemplate/PublicationDisplay/publicationId/71
Radiotherapy:
breastcancercare.org.uk/server/show/nav.718/changeTemplate/PublicationDisplay/publicationId/71
Kind regards,
Jo, Facilitator
Hi jo…thanks for the information…I looked at the HER2 as well and will read it again to ‘keep’ it in my head! I think that I will try and remember to ask about it with my next set of results…
Helen x
Hello again
Thanks for the info, Jo, and the comments, Helen. It is a strange place to be, isn’t it? I’ve aways been a bit of a control freak, to be honest! Knowing what I am going to do on a day to day basis, and am finding it hard to just take everything a day at a time. Suddenly, my life is being organised by events that I cannot control, I don’t know what next week holds, next month, and so on. It feeels as if things are happening to someone else, and I’m watching - then, wallop! - oh, it’s me!
I read the accounts of core biopsy before I had mine - and it really helped me to know what to expect. Has anyone any advice on what to expect for a biopsy with MRI?
Love to all out there
LM
Helen,
sorry, just took in info properly - that you are in for second op tomorrow. Really hope all goes well for you, it must feel like one step forwards, two back, but at least it’s going forwards, let me know that you are OK
LM x
Hi Lizzie, going into hospital in half an hour…Will chat with you in a few days. You keep feeling positive, take it a step at a time, and you’ll get there. We all will eventually!
Catch ya later
Helen x
Hope it went OK!
Make sure you get loads of TLC!
I’m in for MRI biopsy later today, catch up when you feel up to it,
Love
Lizzy X
Hi Lizzy, sorry you too find yourself on this road but we’re all here for you. The gals here are a lifeline and a mine of information too! Good Luck with your MRI today, I’m just home after a second op so there are lots of us in the same position so don’t be scared to ask.
XX
Thanks Piper, it really does feel as if you have an extended family caring for you on this site! - as you say, there is so much info and support,
Cheers!
hi Lizzy…got home on Thursday afternoon. Felt a bit more tearful this time around, but I knew alot of that was the anesthetic wearing off, as well as the surgery. I tried to get on to the site yesterday, think there has been some problems.
I felt like I’d been in a car crash, I ached all over, but a few days makes all the difference, both physically and mentally!!!
I’m ready to ‘deal’ with things again…so just got to wait for an appointment…again… for a date for the results. I’m sure this time they will be fine!!!
Anyhoo love how are you. I hope your MRI went ok. Hi there Piper, how did your 2nd op go!! did you have all your nodes, or some of them out?
Take care both of you!
Helen x
Hello again Helen,
Glad to hear you are back home, and another step along the road taken! Make sure yoy get loads of TLC, and look after number 1!
Don’t know what it is like with you, but it is lovely and sunny here today - which does help to lift the mood, seems to have been a very long winter, doesn’t it?
My MRI on Thursday was actually great - as the suspicious area seen before had changed, and looked OK, so cons explained it was just normal breast tissue behaving cyclically.
Now back to Plan A - WLE + rads, which feels like a relief! Odd, that when I first got THAT news, it felt scary, but thinking that there was possibly much more had me in a spin (again!) Our imaginations work far too hard in these situations, don’t they - but think it is impossible not to!
Can’t get a date for surgery before April 2nd - Cons just too busy - but everyone reassures that the it doesn’t make any difference to the outcome -just messes the head around a bit more!
Anyway, more importantly today, love and hugs to you post op, keep in touch, take it easy,
Love
LizzyM
Hi there Lizzie, great to hear that the 'other’suspicous area is ok.
I waited 4 weeks before I had my first WLE and it felt like forever…so that by the time the day arrived I was sooooooooo ready for it. It was quite a relief to get that stage done! April is a couple of weeks or so off yet…so keep yourself occupied and busy, do stuff for you and it will help the time go quicker! Are you working? I was…thats why time went quicker…the weekends were the worst…time to think!
It’s funny how the surgeons are real busy…but it makes you think that you aren’t alone!
The sun is cracking the flags here in Yorkshire…so will get out for a short walk and fresh air. Spring has arrived…hurrah!!!
You take care now…keep posting!!
Helen xx
Thought that fantastic spirit had to be a Yorkshire lass! Me too!
I’ve sort of worked off and on, found it hard during gap between biopsy and first results as the anxiety made me liable to burst into tears at any excuse, then not so bad once had the Dx and the first date for op, so worked that bit. Then, with the fuss around MRI lump number 2 - went to GP who insisted on signing me off - felt guilty as felt great physically, but truthfully relieved as didn’t really feel up to the job mentally. Without going into details, it is a job where you have to be on top form, and I really did not feel up to it.
Anyways up - have that walk, steady away - spring is such a lovely season, isn’t it? Summer round the corner (we definately deserve a good one!)
Take care,
LizzyM
Hi Lizzie…sent you a message! Are you from Yorkshire too…great!!
Helenxx
Hi lizzie…I had a very short…but lovely walk. I started to feel tired so sat on a bench and listened to the birds singing!!! This weather makes me feel so much better…psycholgical or what!!!
I live near the pennines and motorway…but with nice countryside in between!!!
catch ya later
Helen xx
Hi there, weather is more disappointing today, but definitely warmer…happy St Patricks day to all irish…or those with a bit of irish in them!!!
Helen x
Lizzie - great news on your results, I’m sure the time will fly until your appointment - just spend lots of time on here, it just eats it up!!
Wish I could’ve joined you on your walk Helen, sounds wonderful, I’m really missing my daily constitutional. Love Yorkshire too, we’ve had many a grand time in the Dales, heaven.
Di xx
hi piper, so glad about your results. You keep your chin up…you’ve been through the mill a bit lately…give yourself some TLC. I plan to do the garden pots 1 by 1…so by the time this stuff has finished I intend to have a great garden to look at, and not the poor, dead stuff thats in it now!!!
Hi Lizzie hope things are still going ok for you!!!
Helen x
Hi All
Piper, you are so right - it is easy to lose time on the site, but there is so much good information. I find it so helpful, just to look a little ahead, to be prepared for the next step! It is also very reassuring to know that the emotional aspect - feeling up and down, distracted, sometimes tearful, is normal!
I feel in some sort of limbo, and am actually looking forwards to the surgery (in a wierd way) as that means I’m at least moving on a step. Can’t believe we are halfway through March, my original (screening) mammo was in December, in one ways time seems to stand still, in another, it’s whizzing!
Nel, hope recovery going well - your bit of Yorkshire is definately hillier than mine, I was on my bike yesterday, wouldn’t fancy that so much on the hills!
Love
LizzyM