I was diagnosed with a grade 2 invasive ductal adenocarcinoma this morning. The doctor at the breast clinic had prepared me that it was likely to be cancer - she obviously has a lot of experience of reading mammograms and ultrasound, but there must have been a little part of me clinging to the hope that it would all be OK when I went for my biopsy results today, as it has still shaken my world when cancer was confirmed.
I am seeing the consultant tomorrow to discuss treatment and am trying to be positive. My “sensible” head tells me there is every chance of a full recovery, but my emotions keep kicking in and I find a wave of dizziness sweeping over me and think “oh s**t”. As a widow I don’t have a partner at home to support me through this, but am lucky that I have good friends and family just a phone call away. And of course, I have now found all of you.
I feel really lucky that it was picked up on my first “over 50” mammogram as there is no lump to feel and it would probably have gone unnoticed for some time. The NHS gets a lot of criticism, but I am grateful for this screening programme - it may just save my life.
Thinking of all of you who are where I am now or who have been there in the past,
Lesley
I am sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis of breast cancer, I am sure you will receive some valuable advice and support from your fellow users.
In addition, here is a link to a Breast Cancer Care publication ‘Resources Pack’ which can be ordered on line, it is filled with information to help you better understand your diagnosis, test results and the various treatments available:
You are also welcome to contact our freephone confidential helpline on 0808 800 6000, the helpline team can offer you further support and a ‘listening ear’ so that you can talk about the things that are worrying you at the moment. The helpline is open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday 9am-2pm.
This evening there is also a Live Chat session for anyone diagnosed with breast cancer which may interest you, just look under the ‘Support for you’ tab at the top of this page or see the post on the front page of the forums for more details.
I am sorry that you have joined the expanding club. Your head is doing the right thing. I was the same as you - first mammo and no lump to feel. Have had op, chemo, rads and now feel fine.
Sorry you have had to join us here, i have just been diagnosed myself 2 days ago and am still reeling but everyone here will be a great support to you as they have been to me i am sure.
Sharing your thoughts and fears really helps, i feel much better since joining this site.
I am so sorry you’ve had to join us but ‘welcome’ to this most awesome site! You will find it a great source of comfort and support over the coming months I am sure. We all know exactly what you are going through, and you can shout, scream or cry to us anytime! We have lots of laughs too mind you, its certainly not all doom and gloom on here!!
It is a very scary time for you right now, a time filled with uncertainty. I am sure however that you will feel much better about things after you see your consultant tomorrow and get your treatment programme. I was diagnosed in March, age 34. I had a right mastectomy and total axillary clearance a week after diagnosis. They weren’t hanging around and I certainly wasn’t complaining!! I started chemo in May and had my last one yesterday. Next for me is rads, Tamoxifen and Herceptin. Phew!!!
I wish you well as you start out on this journey. I hope all goes well with your appt tomorrow, do let us know how you get on,
Aw, honey, I remember being there like it was yesterday (it was a year ago.)
It will be a rollercoaster ride from here on in, but it will slow down and you will be surprised at the strengths you find within yourself.
You have the right attitude. Given your age and the grade of the tumour you have every reason to expect to make a full recovery. Just focus on that.
My one piece of advice to anyone recently diagnosed: If you find yourself on websites reading all the scary stuff that COULD happen (but probably won’t) log off, go straight to ebay and bid on something. The excitement takes your mind off all the negative stuff… I have a nice little collection of Clarice Cliff pottery which I couldn’t really afford but was able to easily justify to my fiance!
I’m like you, no lump I could feel but one was detected on my first over 50’s mammagram - this was 1 month after my 50th birthday so I feel very lucky that i attended. I have had 6 months chemo and i am currently having rads. the treatment is very doable - just listen to what your body is telling you and rest when it needs it - good luck
Thank you all so much for your support, I left my message before I went to bed last night and didn’t sleep that well, but to find all these wonderful caring messages waiting for me this morning has given me a real boost. I’ll follow up after I have seen the consultant this afternoon.
love to you all,
Lesley
Once you have your treatment plan in place you should start to fell less scared and more able to cope with things. I have just finished my chemo a fortnight ago, and it was ghastly at times but you do have your good days as well ! I am feeling fine now and looking forward to starting my rads on the 25th October. Good luck this afternoon, we all know how you must feel but you will find the strength to get through it, the waiting is by far the worst thing.
Just wanted to ditto what the other girls have said - welcome to the site, you’re amongst friends here and like Kelly said, its certainly not doom and gloom all the time on here. As much as everyone is here to give each other support, we do still find the time to have a laugh - which we all need now and then considering what everyone is going through !
I’m 42 and was diagnosed on 4th April, had eight sessions of chemo, had a mastectomy and node clearance last week, and now have rads, herceptin and a reconstruction to follow. The first couple of weeks are the worst, when you’re back and forth to the hospital for this scan and that scan, and all the time trying to take in the fact that you have breast cancer - it was certainly the most scariest and awful time of my life! Once you get your treatment plan, and know exactly what you’re dealing with, you will start to feel better, I promise !
Lesley, I hope your appointment with the Consultant goes well today - please post back and let us know how you got on.
Hope you return happier from your meeting with the Consultant. It is great that you have a good support network at home even though you don’t have a partner to share your worries. As you are aware there are lots of others who are, or have been, in the same situation on this site and who are ready to offer support and advice.
I am 53 and my second routine mammogram found something that I could not feel, have had masectomy and snb fortnight ago, and now have rads to look forward to. This site has been a lifeline for me although I do have a partner and very close family to support me. Hope everything goes well this afternoon, and you soon feel more in control of what is happening to you. I know I did.
Hi everyone,
The consultant was very reassuring and I am to have a sentinal node biopsy and lumpectomy next Thursday, so will have to go in and have the radioactive tracer injected the day before. I do feel calmer now that I know what will happen when, and I can make plans to set things straight at work.
This site is brilliant and I am so grateful for all your messages which have really helped me and made me feel I was enfolded in a great big hug from all of you. I hope I can help to reassure others as you have done with me. Thanks for sharing your stories and I hope that you all continue to make good recovery and are soon back to whatever passes for normal!
love,
Lesley xx
Had exactly the same as you 12 weeks ago, picked up on Mammo. no-one could feel it. They put a tracer in so that the surgeon can easily detect especially when they are small. Now I am where you will be in a few weeks, on my way to the first Rads. I’m sure it won’t be long before you are on here supporting others!
You will be fine Lesley. I had a 2cm grade 2 invasive ductal carinoma but no lymph node involvement. I didn’t need chemo but had rads and Tamoxifen. I was 43 when I found the lump and 44 (6 months later) when I was dx. I was too scared to get it checked for all that time but I am fine now. A lovely lady hugged me at the bc clinic when I came out as I was crying and said " don’t worry, chemo isn’t as bad as you think". If she is reading this, I would like to say a big thank you. But as it happened, they didn’t consider chemo as a treatment option as my lump was very er positive. It’s the intial shock that is the worse. I was in a state for the first 2 weeks until I got the results then it all seemed a bit better once I knew what my treatment was.