panic stations!!!!

hi everyone, im a newbie on here this is my tale so far. went to dr in nov with small pea sized lump in left breast, went to breast clinic in a week had scan and fna which said fatty tissue they couldnt do a mammogram at that time. i went on hol for a week then went for first mamogram and then got a phone call recalling me apparently they found another suspicious site with calcification. i went in last tues had another mamogram, another scan and was immediately given a core biopsy they also inserted a tag at the site (its 6mm)lymph nodes are fine, i rang on fri and they said results were inconclusive and that they would have to add dye(?) and i wont know til my appointment at 3,15 tomorrow. the wait is agonising ive no idea what this dye is or why they put a tag in.
sue

Dear tippy1

I am sure your fellow forum members will soon offer you support. Our Helpline is also available for support and information. They will open again tomorrow at 9.00am. The number is 0808 800 6000.

Kindest regards

Janet
BCC Facilitator

Hi sue, sorry i cant help you with the tag or dye, but i thought i would come on anyway and wish you luck and bump this up to the top for you. someone may then see it and be able to help you. I had mammos, scans and biopsys so i know how you feel. Waiting for the results is the worst so i bet your having such a cr*p time. I went with a largish lump which was cancer but they too found another area which was suspecious but thankfully turned out to be nothing. Yours too may not be anything but they have to make sure so fingers crossed for you. Let us know how it goes, take care sue x

I have just had dye procedure done on Thursday 12th. Its called a sentinel node procedure which checks to see if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes as the mammogram itself doesn’t always show this. I’m with you at the panic station! I was diagnosed on Monday the 02/11/09 at 10.30am. This was a routine screening as I hit 50 last year…Still coming to terms with stuff and do not understand the technical terms being used on site but no doubt will be an expert (unfortunately) as time goes by. I had a GA on Thursday but came home that night - was a little sore on Friday but feel okish now. Be prepared for blue wee! Take care. x

Dear Kyra and tippy1,

Breast Cancer Care have some publications which may help. We have a resource pack which can be ordered by clicking on the link below:

breastcancercare.org.uk/healthcare-professionals/publications/a-diagnosis-of-breast-cancer/*/changeTemplate/PublicationDisplay/publicationId/82/

There is also a publication “Understanding your Pathology Report” which you can download.

breastcancercare.org.uk/healthcare-professionals/publications/breast-cancer-treatments/*/changeTemplate/PublicationDisplay/publicationId/91/

This will help you understand your results and ask questions of your doctors.

I hope this is helpful.

Very best wishes

Janet
BCC Facilitator

hi kyra, sorry i didnt explain clearly. they are testing the tissue already taken with dye as the core biopsy was inconclusive. they have inserted a tag and ive convinced myself that they are going to go back in. ive tried lashings of wine and diazapam to try and blur out these waiting days
sue

Hi Tippy1 and Kyra
Tippy1
It is routine to have a mammogram, ultrasound and core biopsy all done together so that you can get as much information as soon as possible. The waiting can be the worst part of this dreadful process but unfortunately it can’t be avoided. Remember, the lump is very small. I think this is why they put a tag in to make sure they can find it if they need more tests.
Both of you WILL get through this whatever the outcome. Just hang on in there and vent your feelings on the forum. I was diagnosed with a 20mm Invasive ductal cancer but clear lymph nodes. Had a Wide Local Incision, radiotherapy x15 sessions and am now on hormone therapy.
Like you Kyra mine was found on a routine mammogram so God Bless the NHS for theses things.
Good luck to you and let us know the outcome.
Margaret

Hi Kyra and Tippy
sending love and good wishes for tomorrow
let us know how you go on - we all know the agony of waiting.
monica xx

i have breast cancer in the very early stages booked in for lumpectomy 1st dec.
sue

sending love
talk when you are ready
monica

Hi tippy,
My diagnosis was the same as yours Bc 8mm. I hve just had WLE and SNB 11 days ago and apart from being sore and bruised i feel fine. I feel very lucky that it was found when it was so small. Mine was found by acident. I had a cyst which I wasnt in the least bit worried about. GP sent me for mammogram just to check and low and behold underneath the cyst was the tumour.

I know what a huge shock it is, but the outcome at this stage I’ve been told is very positive.

best wishes and Pm me if you want to know anything

Sue, Big cyber ((((hugs)))) hunny, we are here if you need to ask questions, rant, cry or just have a chat

Lots of luv Pauline xxx

Hi Sue
So sorry you have to join us but as everyone says you will get loads of hugs and support on the forum.
Look after yourself
LOL
Margaret

hello all, thank you for your kinds comments, its not a lumpectomy im having ita a wide local escision and sentinal node biopsy, ive got pre op and mr scan next wed and go in for op on 1st dec. the dr cannot feel the lump and will have to insert a wire guide before the op. they have put me on calcium tabs and arimidex as im post menopause(im 51 now and went thru menopause 8 years ago.)i keep thinking of the reasons i went to doc in first place as it was nothing to do with this i had a bad infection and thought id ruptured something with coughing, dr agrees but said he would send me anyway as i had not had a mamogram before. that turned out to be a faty lump but the xray showed micro calcifications in a completely different area. the if onlys are huge here and im counting my blessings.

hi tippy - lumpectomy is another name for Wide Local Excision - I had the same op and SNB too. Try to take each bit a stage at a time and not to think too far ahead - and just ask on this forum as you’ll get lots of support and words of comfort and encouragement. Wishing you lots of luck xxx

High Sue - glad to see you’ve moved from ‘panic stations’ to counting your blessings! Seriously, nobody with breast cancer can say they are ‘lucky’ but you have every reason to feel positive. Sounds like you are being well looked after too, on hormone therapy already and having your op relatively quickly. I had a marker inserted too - looking on the positive side, this just means the ‘problem’ is so small your surgeon needs a little flag to find it! All the best to you and try not to worry. The op itself should be no big deal - although that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a lot of pampering of course!

Love from Heather

how do they do the snb?where is it injected?

Hi Sue
Finding the Sentinal Node is the fun bit (if anything can be)of this process. When you are asleep in theatre, a blue dye is injected into your breast and this is carried to the Sentinal Node. This is the first lymph gland from the breast and if this doesn’t have any cancer cells in it, then you are considered clear. The idea being that if the cancer cells have not got into this node, then they will not have spread into any others.

The fun bit is afterwards as you will be passing blue wee for a few days and along with the iodine yellow, various colours from the bruising your boob will be blue as well. Seriously though, it isn’t the whole boob, just around the nipple and towards the armpit and it does fade. I had my WLE and SNB 3months ago and have a hint of blue left.

I had a small lump as well but had a radioactive dye injected the day befor surgery to help find the cancer. This was around the nipple and wasn’t anywhere near as bad as it sounds. I’ve had worse flu vaccinations from heavy handed Doctors.
LOL
Margaret

now im confused! my notes say im having sn injection on mon 30th then on 1st op needle localisation and snb. where are they injecting me on mon?is it in your arm or under arm ???
sue

also has or is anyone taking ground flax seed?