Hi
I was diagnosed with grade 2 ductal carcinoma on 20th April. I am waiting the results of the lymph node biopsy which is tomorrow and then i think i will know the extent of the surgery I will need. I work for Marie Curie Cancer Care and my life revolves round looking after people at the end of life. So, although “curable” and “treatable” words have all been used, I feel quite scared. I am 44, have 4 girls age between 9 and 21. To add to the stress a normal 2 week wait for surgery is 4 due to the bank holidays, so i am going in for a wide excision and sentinel node biopsy on 17th May, which seems so long away.
the stories on here are so positive and I hoping I can find a lot of strength from past and present sufferers.
I assume not sleeping, feeling utterly anxious, crying are all “normal” feelings at this unusure phase, and maybe once I have a treatment plan I may feel a bit better? thanks for listening
Hi Jenben
Just saw your post and wanted to say ‘hi’. As you have already realised, its a stressfull time and tears etc are just one part of the shock of diagnosis. Made all the worst with these bank holidays too. I had an initial delay between the diagnosis and eventual op so I know how you feel-The waiting is sooo hard.
Have you got family or friends to support you? The helpline staff on here are wonderful, so do consider calling them-number at top of each page.
Come back and join our wee community-its so great for offloading and just getting great helpful info.
Many best wishes
Cathie xx
Hi jenben,
Welcome and so sorry you find yourself here. The period you are in, ‘The Waiting Room’, is hideous, and as you say made worse by all the bank holidays at the moment.
We have all been there and you have every right to feel tearful and anxious. It is actually the worst bit, and yo are right, once treatment starts, although it isn’t a ‘walk in the park’, it is somehow easier to bear because you have a plan and know what’s happening.
Use the helpline here, use the forums, there is always someone in the same situation or who has just been there and has helpful advice. Do not feel bad about being emotional. We, here in your virtual world really understand what you are going through and you will find so much support.
Take care and all the best
Wandyx
Hi jenben
Firstly, welcome to the forums, I am sure you will find it a great source of information and support.
I’m sorry to read of your diagnosis, the first few days and weeks are always difficult when coming to terms with things and getting to grips with your treatment plans, etc.
I’ve given here the link to our Resource Pack for those people newly diagnosed. The pack is essential for anyone with a primary diagnosis of breast cancer. Filled with information to help you better understand your diagnosis, test results and the various treatments available.
breastcancercare.org.uk/heal … tionId/82/
As well as the support you recieve from the other users, you can also give the helpline a ring if you need to talk things through or have more information. They’re on 0808 800 6000. Open 9-5 Monday to Friday and 9-2 Saturday.
I hope this is helps
Best wishes Sam, BCC Facilitator
This is a rough time for you jenben, and your mixture of feelings (compounded by worries for your children) are absolutely normal.
Grade 2 refers to how the cells in your tumour compare to normal cells and does not mean that the cancer has spread. The stage tells you that. Do you know what that is yet? Stage 2 means it has started to spread, but not beyond the general breast area. Have they said that your ductal carcinoma is invasive? (The BCC leaflet on Path reports is good, or ask your breast care nurse to explain.) One of the jobs your lymph nodes do is to catch cells that might escape from the main tumour before they get to other parts of your body and the biopsy will check whether this has happened yet. For what it’s worth, I have just finished chemotherapy for an invasive Grade 2 ductal carcinoma, with exactly 1 lymph node having cancer cells in it. Partly because I had a DCIS 2 years ago, chemotherapy was recommended, raising my prognosis by nearly 10%.
Not all cancers are terminal and even when they have spread more widely and are higher grade, many people survive indefinitely. Your end of life work probably gives you a different picture of breast cancer.
I hope the outcome of your biopsy is good and that you only need minimal treatment, but if you need more, be assured that there is lots of support here and that modern treatment is very good.
Cheryl
Hi everyone, thanks so much for your quick responses. The support is really lovely, and you have been so supportive already.
As yet, I dont know the staging and wont know until after surgery altho the ductal ca is invasive. The “waiting room” is a very good way of putting it, and it feels never ending, but I know it will come to an end.
Tomorrow will find out if it was in the lymph nodes from biopsy. I have what they call “ample breasts” and so they are thinking that chemotherapy will be highly likely as well as chemo. I dont know, all dignity lost now!
But thank you all again x think this site will really help and will ahve a look at the resource section later as well.
Hi Jenben, just wanted to say good luck for tomorrow, and to let you know that I too found the waiting the worst bit. Once things are being sorted out, it’s so much easier. I found it best to try to take each development as it happened and no to look ahead till you know what you’re dealing with. That’s not always easy of course!
Hugs xx
Hi Jenben, just a quickie to echo all of the above and to wish you the very best for tomorrow.
Marguerite
Hi there Jeneben, I so understand where you are coming from at the moment. We have several similarities in that I was diagnosed on 5th April with grade 2/3 invasive ductal carcinoma. I am having the same op as you on the 4th May. I have had to wait 4 weeks for my op, which when I was told it would be that long I nearly went mad with worry. I have been terrified that it would spread in that month that I would have to wait, but I have listened to others and realised that a month is not a long time to wait an I think, although I still have some bad days, the wait is nearly over and hopefully I can then start to rid myself of this disease. I work in the NHS in community care and I think my bit of knowledge has probably made me more of a worrier! I have read all that these lovely ladies have said and all we can do is take it a stage at a time. The very best of luck to you for tomorrow, I will look out for your posts to see how you get on. Elaine x
hi Elaine seems like we are in a similar situation. it’s quite amazing how supportyiive people are and I hope you feel supported as well. roll on 4th for you and you can start moving and get some answers x
Hi Jenben,
As they say - the waiting is the hardest. Don’t worry about the 4 week wait, it won’t make any difference.
I was diagnosed at 44, with three children, the youngest just turning 12. Well she is now 16, and yesterday I had my four year checkup, all OK. I had a grade three cancer with three lymph nodes affected. I am now fine, and you will be too.
Best wishes
hey roadrunner I am very very pleased for you, and hope I will be posting the same.
just to update i went today and the lymph node biopsy result was not back. I was to say the least upset, furious, and felt utterly let down. A few hours later and I am calmer.
Can i ask about this HER2 thing. mine is positive which means herceptin for a year post chemo. but then they are saying I may not need chemo - and will know if i do by the result next week. so is it relevant or not?
feeling a bit confused, as she didnt want to tell me about this, but I saw it written down
thanks all for your support - I rang the helpline as well this morning who were really kind, and are getting me some one to one support.
As far as I am aware, they only give herceptin with chemo, so you can’t have herceptin without also having chemo. But maybe that has changed now?
Herceptin is given as an infusion into the veins, like chemo, on a three weekly cycle. But it doesn’t have the chemo side effects. It’s just a hassle still having to go to the hospital every three weeks for another year. I found I felt very tired and run down after about eight months of it - a cumulative side effect they often don’t tell you about. But that went away after I’d finished the year.
Hi Jenben
So many similarities. I was diagnosed on 8th Dec and didn’t have my WLE until 10th Jan because of Christmas, New year and dreadful weather! Same as you I was expecting results and was disappointed, it is just so horrible to get yourself psyched up for them and then be told they’re not ready. Picture a full-blown two-year-old’s temper tantrum, I went bananas and near enough did lie down on the floor and kick my heels in the air.
I was initially told Grade 2 but got upgraded to Grade 3 once they’d got the lump out, and also HER2+ so that meant chemo. RR has the right idea, it is felt that Herceptin works better in conjunction with chemo, so don’t be surprised if they stick that down on your plan. Thing is though, when I thought it was “just” (did I really say that?) Grade 2 and no nodes, I was going to ask if chemo would improve my chances!
There are lots of things you can do while waiting that might help you get your ducks in a row.
Get your free prescriptions thing from your GP. This means you don’t have to pay fortunes any time you need a prescription, and not just for cancer-related prescriptions.
Find out about Look Good Feel Better.
If you are employed, take a look at the EMPLOY charter, which contains recommendations for how employers deal with people who are undergoing cancer treatment.
Take a look at the Macmillan site for information about Herceptin, there’s also a leaflet on the BCC Publications section of this site.
DON’T google indiscriminately - you’ll scare yourself stupid. Stick to reputable sites.
Take a look at the NICE guidelines to find out what is recommended for early breast cancer. Forewarned is forearmed. It’s good to know what’s SUPPOSED to happen as not all centres do follow the guidelines.
Bear in mind the Macmillan grants that may be available if you have financial problems.
Get yourself a notebook and write down any questions you can think of that you might want to ask. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A SILLY QUESTION.
Use the helpline as much as you need to. It is staffed by very knowledgeable people who really do care.
And wander round the forums to find a place you’re happy with. There are lots of threads about all sorts of things, so post away, ask questions, join in, and use the massive support from the forums. I would have gone completely round the twist without the support of others who are in the same place as me (thank you all, ladies). But beware of forum addiction! 
thanks for the advice. am calmer today and have instructed myself not to go there when I get a wobble. your right google is indiscriminate and I held myself
back. I will try enjoy the extra bank holiday and hope you all do too x