So glad I got out of bed this morning. NOT!
Just got back from the GP nurse who said my boob is not looking good. She said it wasn’t drying as the cling film they told me to apply doesn’t allow it. Shes taken a swab to rule out MRSA. Bloody marvelous, and put a different type of dressing on. I have to go back Friday to have it checked and the dressing changed.
Asked her about the results and she said I should wait and if I need treatment I can be told at the time!
I hadn’t seen your last post till now and she said the same the same as you, Nurse Liz. ha ha
Be Paranoid girl, make him earn his money, we would have been great in the waiting room together. Enough to make him take early retirement!
Let me know what he says about your foot. When you say heel bone, do you mean at the back rather than under. If so it may just be a tendon that you’ve damaged. easily done without really noticing.
I was curious about the comments regarding surgeries being linked to the hospitals for results. I’m a medical secretary, and if a GP’s surgery needed a result we would have to take it off the system and fax it across to them, which could be done the same day if GP’s surgery was desperate, but I don’t know of anything being digitally linked from hospital to GPs. But then again I’m from the frozen north, so what do I know !!! Obviously technology hasn’t come this far !! The hospitals in the area can send CTs and results on the hospital system to other hospitals that are connected, but I am not aware of this service extending to GPs. Anyway even if a GP was sent the result the same day it came in, it would, as someone else has already pointed out, need to be a Breast Surgeon that would report on it, I’d much rather a specialist gave me the news either way than my GP.
I know it’s hard waiting for results, I think it’s one of the worst bits, and hopefully you’ll get the good news you need. Tryto take a deep breath, and if that doesn’t work get plastered !!!
I am the same as you, my doctor does not have access to results. The first they knew about all of them, from the core, fna etc to the biopsy after surgery, was via a letter from the consultants secretary. Sounds like Chrissies doctors are more uptodate. I wish mine had been as the wait was 12 post surgery and I was terrified.
I am from just outside London, so its not just the North who are behind.
Chrissie - my son will be 19 this Sunday, he has no option but to pay a realistic amount of board money, there is only me and him and I am not earning a fortune so if the rents is to get paid and we can eat on a daily basis he has to tip up on pay day!
Liz - he had no option but to realise that he had been a little shit … I made it very obvious! All in all he’s a good lad really - just sometimes he pushes the line and it’s always when I am not feeling 100% so he gets it in the neck.
Julie - I assume that our surgery is linked to the hospital system basically cos when I had my bone scan the technician said to phone my surgery and they would be able to get the report off the system. I had to wait for the scan to be read by a specialist and reported on … it wasn’t left up to the GP to interpret it. How far north is the frozen north btw - I used to live up north and just wonder if we were perhaps close.
Chrissie - as you have already been to the breast care clinic I would think that you should be able to speak to the bcn… I know the waiting is horrendous, mine was very limited but the days waiting for results were not the best. Hope the wound starts to heal and dry up soon - take the anti-biotics if they give them tho, the last thing you want is to end up back in hospital on an IV.
Newcastle, I live 10 miles outside on the coast. I’ve just never heard of any results link like that between GP and hospital, because if it was that easy, I wouldn’t have a squillion calls a day from GP surgeries chasing me for results. I know we do it all the time to other hospitals within our group. It would be great if they could bypass the middle man it would make my job easier though. You’ve made me curious though. Going to check out how it could possibly be done. Anyway I’ve got a glass of wine and an invite to a restaurant of my choice by the man in my life, so I shall love you and leave you.
Hi - I know the surgery I used to work for as a secretary is the most modern around here and is linked to the hospital. That’s what the government have been spending their money on - it’s new system !! but it’s not working as it should. So I suppose it depends on the surgery as I don’t think the one I go to is linked. I work for the hospital now so have results to hand.
Julie - Went upto Newcastle last year and really love it round there. I was on chemo at the time and not very well but enjoyed it. Loved Tynemouth beach. It was windy but warm and I had a paddle in the sea !
Chrissie - your wound sounds awful. I hope it dries up. It mustn’t have been dry when they put the dressing on or weeping since and made it wet. Just hope you are okay.
Doc sending me for an x-ray on my foot. It’s the bone underneath. Also doing an x-ray of my rib under left boob as it’s very tender. I will go tomorrow and have that done and will dread a phone call just in case something shows up. Help !! I don’t think it will but you know what it’s like. Giving me a blood test for my thyroid, which is underactive but not doing it yet as he is testing my liver and after the boozy weekend I thought I would give liver a rest before I have blood test !!
I think the system is rolling out across the country where hospitals and GP surgerys are linked by computer.I work for the NHS and in our area (Central Scotland) results are available at GP surgeries as soon as they are typed/verified.Saves waiting on the post and results being filed.
Whether it is a good idea for results to be given over the phone without support/discussion is another discussion!
Morning Girls
Had a call from my GP after evening surgery. The nurse I had seen told him about my concerns about getting the results early. He said that they arrive from the lab soon as they have results. BUT to think very carefully if I want him to give them to me or not. He will only be able to say if it’s benign or not, whereas the consultant will be able to tell me how good or how bad and be able to explain the treatment straight away.
What he did say, was as the core biopsy was benign that if I do have cancer it’s likely to be in the very early stages. Found that comforting! So I told him I would wait! My appointment is on the 31st at 3.40 arrrrggghhhhhh.
Wish it was the morning.
Had a good old weep last night, first for ages! think I also have PMT although I’ve completely lost track of dates this month.
Liz You must be worried sick, but I suppose after having cancer they are far more cautious. Fingers, and eyes crossed for you.
Took my girls to the dentist. Nancy, my youngest, had her last baby tooth pulled and today is her last day at primary school. She also won an award for best sportswoman of the year. So proud of her!
Lilac My son is 19, the only boy out of six and right in the middle. He gets fussed over by all his sisters, no wonder he works in Turkey.
Have to get Nancy to school now.
Speak soon
Chrissie xx
I think I would wait and get the full info off the consultant and you will have any questions answered. Hope the girls keep you busy for the next week.
How is your boob this morning? Must be worrying for you.
I am up early for my appointment with occupational health. I am not too worried about the results of the xray but it is always, always in the back of your mind.
My 2 were at Liverpool last night watching Blondie and the Stranglers. Said they were very good ! Was hoping youngest would stay with her sister but no luck. But she will be in her pit most of the day I suppose.
Oh you mean that north - yes I actually originated from that north (born in Hexham, lived in Prudhoe and have family all over the Newcastle and nurthumberland area) … then the family moved the the other norht - the scottish one… past Inverness. Now I am in Central Scotland so nearer your north than theirs.
Chrissie - I didn’t say before but my core biopsy was clear but my lump cancer… my consultant surgeon knew from the other evidence provided that mine was early stage cancer … he said the cells in grade 1 can look very similar to normal cells. I hope this is not the case for you but mine was 16mm grade 1 ductal. I got away with WLE/nodes then 29 rads and now on tamoxifen. Try not to worry too much - you are still quite likely to get a clear result.
Yes, that North !! Your north is higher than my north, and my north is south of their north, and their north is wherever, you’ve got me all confuzzled now. Hexham’s fab. Often go over for a potter around their shops and find a nice dinky little pub. The other north, or norht as you call it!!, the Scottish one is where I wished I lived !!! Love it!! So lucky you. Whereabouts central scotland ?
I am still making enquiries regarding the whole access to results thing. Haven’t seen anyone today with a modicum of common sense anyway to ask. Did talk to one of our Specialist Nurses this morning, she said it was only the likes of the Pathology system, the bloods etc, and it would only be certain surgeries (basically the bigger ones with the most cash to splash), but even then they would only have access to certain things. However, Inspector Clueless is on the case, so if I find out anything more I shall let you know.
Hi Girls
Lets hope it is good news because I’m turning into a hypercondriac. Best to keep busy and take each day as it comes I suppose. Got my twins to help me clean the house this morning. It’s just gone 11 and now they are moaning that their bored. Only finished school last week, oh well only another six weeks to go. Told them that they can say anything they want to me as long as it doesn’t have the word ‘BORED’ in the sentence.
Amelia is going to Malta with her friends family for two weeks next Tuesday. Oh, they have just told me their going into town now. Yippee!
Taking them out for dinner after Nancy has finished school later. Good old Harvester, cheap and cheerful.
Lilac What was the other evidence and what does WLE/nodes mean?
My boob doesn’t feel any worse than yesterday, dying to have a peep under the dressing but I’d better not, might get told off Friday.
Before and after the op seems a bit vague and I was wracking my now shrunken brain to remember if I missed anything the consultant said. I called my friend who came with me and she said I’ve got everything right. She did say the nurses got annoyed with me because I had my cup of tea, moaned that my sandwich was to dry and I couldn’t swallow it and gave it to her, then said 'Right I’m off now" got of the bed and wandered down the corridor like staggering Stanley with my gown flapping showing my big pair of yellow knickers. She said they told me to get back on the bed as the consultant was coming and I told them to tell him to give me a call. ha ha I can’t really remember any of that!
Blimey Liz, Blondie and the stranglers, that takes me back. I’m seeing REM in August at the rose bowl, think they must all be drawing pensions.
I’ve never been further than Nottingham, which until recently I thought was up north.
Well it’s hot and sunny today so I can either mow the lawn or sleep, think I’ll choose the latter.
Take care all of you, your all brilliant.
Chrissie xxx
When I was dx my GP surgery was not linked to hospital…maybe it is now…I don’t know?..will have to ask GP when I go again.
I have a wonderful GP, but preferred that the bad news came from my consultant with BCN present, as he was able to answer my questions and booked me in for surgery there and then, BCN was wonderful as she was able to talk to OH and me for as long as we wanted…and thankfully had a endless supply of tissues!
Well if you haven’t been further than Nottingham you haven’t lived. Sorry, but it has to be said !!
On the whole results to GP thing, just been talking to a friend of mine who is a Practice Manager of a large fairly up to date practice up here, and she says they only gets the likes of the bloods and the smears sent electronically, but they only get them if they request the hospital to send them, they don’t have access to them themselves. She couldn’t physically go on her system in the GP’s practice and access them. She would have to contact the hospital and the hospital would send through on request, so she could pull them off the system, but only on request. They have no other access to Radiology results such as ultrasounds, bone scans, MRIs etc.
I know the lovely Lilac will be coming back to you on your question anyway, but WLE is wide local excision. Some patients if the cancer hasn’t spread too far through the breast can have a wide local excision, instead of having a mastectomy.
Your escapade on the ward reminded me of some of the girls I was in with, on one of my many in-patient stints. The girl opposite me, was desperate to go home and have a bath at home, instead of in the hospital, god knows why !!!. She went home with her husband in the car in her nightie and her children with her, was gone two hours, had a shower, had a cigarette, sorted herself out, and came back again without anyone noticing. We were loudly humming the great escape theme, and still no one noticed.
Chrissie - the other evidence was the mammo and US … my consultant was 99% sure that the lump was cancer and the core biopsy was done as a protocol thing … even when he phoned me that night to say it was clear he still sure it was cancer and if he was proved wrong then it was a bonus all round.
When it came to surgery again he kind of went against protocol … on a negative biopsy he should have taken lump only and waited for the test results of that before taking nodes (due to the lymphodema risk and the nerve damage to the arm etc) but he said he would prefer to do all in one rather than have me just heal and then have to go back for 2nd surgery … I agreed and am glad it was all done in a oner.
Hi Girls
Had a kip and a bath and feeling in a much better frame of mind.
Thanks for answering my questions. How wide is a wide incision? From where to where and what do they take out? Maybe the reason I wasn’t given a choice about having it removed was the same as you Lilac. If so I’m glad they didn’t tell me. I think?
Shame you can’t draw pics on here. ha ha
As for the biopsy results. My GP did get the core biopsy results and last night he seemed more than sure he will get these.
As for Nottingham, we went there for a wedding and it was bloody freezing. I’ve always lived near the sea and staying inland feels odd. My ex lived in Wiltshire which is beautiful but by the end of the weekend I’d be dying to get back to the coast. I also need sun and heat! One day I shall venture up!
My eldest called and ask if I wanted to go camping for the night on a beach on the isle of wight. That wouldn’t have been too bad except we would get there on her boyfriends rib. I can just see my poor boob bouncing around and my nipple hanging on for grim death. So sadly I had to decline. Shame as that’s just what I need.
Instead I’m taking the girls to the harvester and the balcony is on the sea wall. That will have to do!
Liz- I remember you calling, I was on my way home then but thinking was difficult. ha ha The same friend is coming next week. She says she going to dine out on my yellow knickers for years. Oh, and did I mention it was a mixed ward? Nooooooooooo
my lump was sort of high up on my right boob and on the outer edge so fairly near my armpit … which meant I was lucky and got away with one incision - it is about maybe 4" long and runs from the right of my nipple following a horizontal line to just into my armpit (my boobs are not very big!)
They took out the lump along with some surrounding tissues and 7 lymph nodes (all 7 were clear) - in my case (given that I am awkward) they also had to take out an intermammory node which was close to the tumour as it contained cancer cells … they obviously had suspicions about it whilst they were guddling about in my boob but path lab confirmed it.
Due to the intermammory node misbehaving there was a lengthy discussion by the MDT (a bunch of clever doctors) as to whether I was node positive or node negative - by majority decision (I think they considered a public phone vote) they classed me as node negative so they decided against chemo. I had 29 rads and am on tamoxifen for 5 years … again I am being awkward and not responding as well as I could to the tam … my ovaries remain stubbournly active despite tam and mirena coil … I have to 12th August for my ovaries to de-activate or they will intervene with a monthly injection to shut them down. My period started today so I think I’ve failed on the de-activation challenge… so looks like they will be getting the needles out.
Thanks Lilac you’ve been a great help.
Had a letter from the hospital this afternoon telling me I need to attend the breast unit and meet the breast care team and take any medication I’m on with me. When I went for the core biopsy results I had to attend the out-patients department where there were no BC care nurses and in a different part of the hospital. Doesn’t look to good does it? I’ve resigned myself to bad news and I actually feel quite calm after the storm I was in yesterday.
I didn’t really know about BC having anything to do with hormones. Sorry I sound such a dope!
I’ve had dodgy smears for years and had treatment two years ago, and last year was my 1st clear one, meaning I can now have them at my GPs surgery yearly. Got a reminder about that this morning. Oddly enough I never felt as scared about cervical cancer as I do this. If it’s not one end it’s the other.