I had a clear mammogram last November. When I found a lump under my arm in June I never dreamt that I would be plunged into this nightmare. What I thought was a large cyst appeared quite suddenly in my breast. Following biopsies I have been told the I have a Grade 2 mass of 12 x11 in my breast and have had scans to determine if it has travelled anywhere else. I see the oncologist next wednesday for the results of the scans but have already been told that I will need chemo before any surgery. Next week seems such a long way away.
I will be attending the breast clinic next week because of a hard area the gp and hubby felt which has now since disappered. so I,m hoping that things are going to be fine for me, so cant really relate to the shock you must be feeling right now but im sure others will be along soon who can.
Just wanted to say im thinking of you and send you a big (((((((((((HUG))))))))))))
Andie, don’t despair or be too afraid - my sister had a large lump under her arm which came up seemingly overnight - whilst waiting to see the doctor she then felt a lump in her breast as well, which sounds a similar size to yours. Within a week she had the results that it was Grade 2 invasive, ductal - with, obviously, spread to lymph. She had chemo straight away to shrink the lumps, followed by a mastectomy and then radiotherapy. It was a long haul but this was eight years ago and she is absolutely fine! (I have had a small Grade 1 tumour diagnosed this year). Her tumours were er+ so she was first given tamoxifen for five years and is now on letrozole.
I am really sorry that you have to go through all this, and of course you will be worried as hell - but as you can see it can be done - and the treatments are a lot better now than they were eight years ago. In my experience the waiting for treatment is the hardest part - you just want to get on with it - but it does serve as a bit of useful time to get you head round things - and I tried to find out as much as I could because I like to understand fully, in layman’s terms, about my treatment and options.
There will be many people on here to help and advise you at every stage you’re at so just ask away. The only advice I would give to everyone is that treatment will vary from person to person, cancer to cancer, area to area and so there are a lot of permutations out there and so what happens in treatment and results terms will not necessarily happen to you.
Wishing you the very best for next weeks results- do let us know when you can. Take care, Loooby x
Hi Loobytuesday
Thanks so much for the reassurance. As you say this waiting part is awful. It seems wrong to wish away the next week but Oh I so do.
I will get back when I see the oncologist
Hi Andie,
loads of us on this site have felt just like you do know, first the shock, then the waiting and worrying it is the worst time, (sending you a hug) I just wanted to get on with getting clear whatever it took. I was diagnosed with a grade3 and 16mm invasive ductal in July last year, ( I am 47) I opted for and had chemo straight away to get it in my body quickly, tumour shrunk nearly to nothing it was brill, then I had op wle and full clearance 1/16 affected, I have just finished rads and am taking tamoxifen, i have had clear mammo, and hope to be clear like loooby sister for a long time,
Its taken about a year, some people take less and some more,everyone is so different
Ask quetions, get angry, happy, sad, anything on here and there will always people to answer your questions and your worries,
I read posts on all sections, just diagnosed, then the chemo ones I learnt so much, it was so helpful,
I did not start to post till much later.
Let us know how you getting on
Take care
Dawn x
Thanks Dawn
It is so reassuring to find other people who have been where I am right now.
My consultant did say something about this all taking at least the next year. To be honest a lot of what I was told that day has not registered. I saw the consultant who diagnosed and then the oncologist within half an hour. Good to know things were moving but it is only now that I am thinking why on earth didn’t I ask… When I go on wednesday I hope she is OK with me having written a list of questions. Although the Breast Care nurse has made herself available even she is saying you will have to ask the doctor to some of my questions.
Because I am waiting the results of scans to find out if it has spread my mind is in overdrive imagining all sorts of things - every little blemish or mark is suspect in my head at the moment.
Thanks for the hugs
Andie, your consultant should be very used to people “going deaf” as soon as they hear the word cancer, and she should be fine with you having a written down list of questions, if you can take someone with you to have another pair of ears to listen to the answers, that’s always good too.
The waiting is tough, no advice on how to get through it other than it does end!
Best wishes for your consult with her, take the time you need with her to ask all the questions, and don’t be hurried,
Lyn
Hi Andie
As well as the support you are receiving from your fellow forum users you can also contact the BCC helpline. Here you are able to talk in confidence to a trained member of staff about your worries and concerns. The staff on the helpline will offer you a listening ear as well as advice if required. The number is free phone 0808 800 6000 and the line is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturdays 9am to 2pm.
I hope you find this helpful.
Kind regards
Sam
BCC Facilitator
Hi Andie,
I think it may help you to start looking at starting chemo so promptly as a bonus, as some of us wait months. Although you will be scared (we all are) I promise you that knowing that chemo is wizzing down your veins to zap the little bu…ers will bring you some comfort. Read throught the threads some people have huge shrinkage after a couple of doses. I am so sorry that you have all this worry and a lot is still the shock of coming to terms with it or even believing it. Nightmare material and we all wish we could wake up from this one. Second best is getting fast treatment and feeling you are doing something about it. Start reading about chemo before surgery so you understand more before you go in and you can probably get an idea of what drugs you will have from others on here who had chemo first. A big bonus is being able to measure whether the chemo is working, you don’t get that with surgery first like I had, so I have no idea how it is going.
Sending you a big hug, take someone with you and ask them to write everything down for you.They see people like us every day and will have already planned how they will treat you. Just take one little step at a time and don’t look too far ahead, makes it easier
Lily x
Thanks everyone
You are all so kind.
Husband is coming tomorrrow and is on strict orders to listen intently. I hope I deal with this a bit better when I know exactly what I am facing.
Wishing all the best for tomorrow Andie T
Thinking of you.x
Hi
Just got back from the hospital. All the extra tests show no evidence of the cancer having spread anywhere else. I had to have a standard X ray on my back because of existing arthritis but have been given the go ahead to start chemo tomorrow.
There was no problem at all with the fact that I had gone armed with a list and she took as long as I needed to answer my questions.
How daft am I to be so happy that I am only dealing with bc. The onc says it will be a long hard journey but no reason that we should not come out the other end.
Chemo tomorrow and the fight to beat this thing starts. Reading the other threads I realise that this is not going to be a walk in the park but am sure all your ongoing support will get me there.
Great news!
You are about to take another step towards beating this and as your onc says “come out the other end!”
Best of luck for chemo
hugs
Dot
xx
AndieT,
no spread is fantastic news!! Now you sound really ready to get stuck in with the rest of us and see the wotsits off. Lots of luck with the treatment and hope you sail through it.
Keep believing
Lily x
hi Andie
harldy fun but all doable
in answer to your original question - after shock and fear you’ll move into acceptance and just get on with it with the occaisional “wobble” - that’s how I am anyway
good luck with it all
love FB xx
Hi Andie,
Brill news, no spread, you will get there, glad they answered your questions, if you suddenly think of one and you are not seeing onc or nurse always ask on here cos someone always knows or can find out. Thats what I found brill about this site. This time last year I wondered what was happening to me, I was abit like on automatic pilot, but there is an end.
I agree with Fiz biz, you have to get on with it, getting the chemo first for me was brill so I knew the little b–ggers were being zapped as Lily said.
Deep breath and go for it girl, you will get there
Take care
Dawn X
Hi
Home from first chemo armed with enough tablets to hopefully cope with whatever happens next. They really seem to be prepared to cover as many situations as they can with some tablets that need to be taken and some to only be taken if necessary. In all it was very reassuring.
My frame of mind seems to have changed. Yes I know one session cann’t make a hugh difference but now I know something is being done I seem to have calmed down a bit.
I hope all bc units are as considerate as mine. They have even scheduled the necessary blood tests to coincide with an onc appointment.
Hugs to you all for your support
Andie
XX
Hi Andie,
Glad you feeling ok and abit calmer at the moment, what chemo are you having, is it the sickness tablets they gave you for just in case, I had those too. Where are you being treated sounds very organised…
Hope you have a good night
Take care Dawn X
Hi Dawn
They gave me sickness tablets to take tonight and then again in the morning which according to the leaflet work for 12 hours. They have also given me different sickness tablets to be taken on an ‘in case’ basis, and in case I should be so sick that I cann’t keep tablets down suppositories(Wonderful) I also have tablets for gastric problems to be taken every day, then steroids to take for 3 days and should I need it tablets for constipation. I have had to make a list which I intend to cross off as I take them just in case ‘chemo brain’ sets in.
I have given up on my hair even before the falling out begins. I am no spring chicken and I do not have long flowing lushious locks, more white, very short and thinish. I may even find a wig which I prefer to my own excuse for hair which I stick with when this is eventuall over. Who Knows!
The chemo scheduled is 4 x AC and 4 taxotere. 1 down 7 to go.
Off to bed soon. Maybe now something is happening I may get a better night. Sleep has been a bit elusive since the dx. I also thought the night sweats were linked to the tail end of the menopause but I now understand that they could be connected to the bc. Never heard that one before.
Lots of love
Andie XX