I just wanted to introduce myself - had a positive diagnosis of BC on Wednesday, and on Friday they fitted me in for a Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy so they can decide on treatment (chemo first or mastectomy first). I’ve got 2 kids a boy of 12 and a girl of 14. My husband and I have been very open with the children, keeping them informed but obviously it’s hard to keep the appearance of a “normal” life when inside you just feel like curling up and bawling!
I’m not sleeping too badly, and have had many offers of help and support from friends, and even people who I don’t know so well, which I am encouraged by.
In the meantime, more waiting the results of the SLN so we can move on. Any advice or information greatly appreciated.
Welcome to the BCC forums where you will receive lots of support and shared experiences from your fellow users. In addition I am posting a link to the BCC newly diagnosed publication which you may find useful in the coming months:
Sorry you find yourself here, but its a very friendly and helpful place to be. You can ask whatever you want to! Waiting for the results is a really hard part, once you know what you are dealing with you can get on with it.
Lots of good wishes and try not to worry too much! xx
hi keepthefaith… welcome to our gang !! not a very nice gang to join i know … but hey your here now … so your at the sitting in the waiting room stage … horrible place to be … its a terrible time for you all, and its no easy feat keeping up apperances is it ?
once the oncologist has all your results from the biopseys he will be able to set out a possitive plan of action… then i think you will be able to cope much better… its the not knowing for sure stage that causes the most stress… once you know ,it does get a little easier . the results of the biopsey will determine the treatment you recieve. children are quite robust… they can cope with the truth . you can always go upstairs when u feel you need to cry and shout and scream , children will understand that your not feeling yourself … and there are some leaflets available on this site that give you advice on helping them deal with the situation… as for the offers of help… grab them… with both hands … especially if you do need any chemo etc… you will be surprised at the people who will be there for you … as you will be shocked at the people you thought would…that wont… you will find out who your true friends are believe me … take one step at a time … write down any questions you have and take a pen and paper with you when you go for your results…ask your questions and write down the answers… when in the clinic sometimes your mind goes blank and you dont register all your told… if its written down , you can look it up later … hope this helps… fingers crossed for getting good results please come back and let us know how you get on … angie xx
Hi Keepthefaith, welcome from me too.
Lovely people here, and much good advice.
When is your surgery planned for, and what sort of diagnosis have you been given so far - any detail? (Not being nosey - sometimes it helps us to know what to recommend or not)
Me, I have an 18 yr old son. I was diagnosed in Jan/Feb this year so have done the sentinel node biopsy and chemotherapy and surgery (WLE rather than mastectomy because the chemotherapy worked). Still got radiotherapy and herceptin ahead of me, but it’s all been doable. With the modern treatments, 8 out of 10 of us will have a good outcome. Nothing’s guaranteed, but they’re not bad odds these days.
Hope we can support you all through this.
Ann x
a. I have one invasive ductal carcinoma, low grade and a pre-cancerous area too in the left breast
b. Full body scan showed nothing of concern (have yet to get the bone scan)
I am waiting for the sentinel lymph node biopsy results, and as far as I can tell if this is positive I will have chemo first, followed by Mx.The waiting around is seriously doing my head in! This has been dragging on since 6th Sept, at which point they said they thought it was IBC (I presented with suspected mastitis). The initial needle aspiration of one of the lymph nodes was clear, the aspiration of the infected area showed necrosis and the other biopsy was inconclusive. There was a lot of calcification, so they then did more biopsies to get those and then I subsequently got the final diagnosis last Wednesday. I am worried that this is dragging on now, and in the meantime the damn thing is spreading or growing or whatever. I obviously don’t want to have the treatment (who would chose that?!) but of course you just want to get on with it to get rid of it. I;m sure once I know what the plan is I will feel calmer (I certainly hope so!) but as scared for what the future will bring for me and family.
Hi there all. I was diagnosed on Monday with invasive ductal breast cancer, 2 areas in the left breast. Feeling very numb and shocked. Mastectomy due in the next few weeks.
Hi everyone, i was diagnosed 24th Aug after biopsy low grade (1) tubular invasive bc in rt side, had WLE and mammoplasty 12 Sept,( as large bust)for radiotherapy. Have apt tomora morning for results of tissue taken at surgery and lymph node sampling. The waiting is unbearable and today my head is thumping! This site is a godsend and helps a lot!
Heather
Ladies, it’s so good to know that there are other people in the same position - I’m sure it will help us a lot. People keep saying to me that I am strong and will get through it, and that’s what we have to believe, but it is so so hard.
Clare it sounds like you have a similar situation to me - mine too is in the left, and the 2 areas. Have you had the sentinel lymph node biopsy too? Judes - how did the results go? and yes let’s keep in touch and support each other through this horrible time.
it’s grade 3 so not good, and in my lymph nodes. will have full body scan on friday to see if it’s spread further. despite bad news i feel calmer, but who knows how long it will last.
i’m also invasive ductal, and oestrogen sensitive, which i’m told is good.
Hi Judes Sorry to hear about your results - it is all so scary. Good luck with the scan - it’s fine but I felt quite wobbly after, so make sure someone goes with you. My husband said to me last night, when you’re not at the hospital you can kind of carry on like normal but every time there’s a hospital visit the full reality of what’s happening hits you like a battering ram. I have been feeling up and down, OK some days, awful on others.
x
thanks teresa
did you have a PET scan? didn’t realise one needed a bone scan as well. where are you?
i feel like i’m on a illness treadmill at the moment, no real points of normality in between, but hopefully that will pass soon.
x
Can I join you in supporting one another. I was diagnosed 5th August with grade 1, IDC, 9mm, ER+ seems like a lifetime ago. After having WLE & SNB it was found that out of the 2 nodes that were taken out one had tiny cells in it. Now I face another op for partial axillary clearance on 7th October and depending on that probably chemo & rads. It all seems unreal. I just want to get on and start treatment all this waiting around for results is starting to get to me.
Of course you can join in and I am sorry you need another op at this stage.
It is definitely waiting that is the hardest out of all of this, I have accepted now that I have cancer but just need it dealt with.
My op for WLE and full ANC is tomorrow but it has been almost a full month waiting for it and then I know I will have to wait for path results and so it goes on.
But there you go we seem to find a reserve of strength we didn’t know we had, mainly due in the most part to the support on this site I think.
we’re all in the waiting for surgery or treatment stage. where are you based? such a pity that there were cells in your lymph node, but good that they found them.
I just keep wanting to put the clock forward a year. I have got lots of positive events coming up, new baby to the family this month (my third grandchild) and a holiday booked for the middle of November which I have been told by my BCN I should be able to go on, but all I am thinking about is this blasted devastating news. I so want to get going with treatment. I know I am having these ops and getting rid of it but I still feel as though it is lurking somewhere.
By the way I am 53 and based in Dorset, such a lovely part of the world especially on a day like today.
Sorry for the negativity but I feel better for getting it off my chest. I will go and make the most of the sunshine now and sit in the garden.
Jean, good luck tomorrow with your op. I will be thinking of you. Let me know how it goes and then I will be prepared for next Friday.
Hi everyone - just to say I’m thinking of you all. Good luck with your op today, Jean, and Jude for your scan.
I didn’t sleep well last night so I fear today will probably be pretty miserable, but I’m going out for lunch with a lovely friend. I was hoping the consultant would ring me with results today, but now I’ve had an appointment through for next Wednesday to discuss the SLNB results, and a bone scan on Monday I’m sure she’d ring if the results were encouraging, but if they are not I don’t think she will, and will wait until next weds. Waiting, waiting, waiting… Can’t make any plans or ask for any help from the friends until I know what treatment is going to be, and when!!
Can I join in here as well pls. You ladies are at the same stage as me, waiting for the surgery. I am due mx 13th oct and whilst I am not looking forward to it, I just want it over and done with. I agree with keepthefaith, whilst you are living your “normal” day to day life it’s ok then the hospital appts arrive and the reality of what is happening kicks in.
I am having to make the practical arrangements for my hospital stay, book cat into cattery, care for my 15yr old, accommodation for my hubby as my op in in another town to ours etc this is all stretching mt shattered nerves to bits today!!!
I’ve come to the conclusion to take one day at a time. Some days are ok and then some days are like today, I feel pretty low, didn’t sleep well and can’t seem to get going. But then there’s always tomorrow.
I’m sure she’d ring if the results were encouraging, but if they are not I don’t think she will, and will wait until next weds. Waiting, waiting, waiting… Can’t make any plans or ask for any help from the friends until I know what treatment is going to be, and when!!