Hi ladies, so glad I found this site, I was feeling very low! I’m 59 and went for my first appointment on Mon after finding a lump, but it’s not the lump I’ve to worry about. There was a thickening of my right breast.
I ended up having a mammogram, ultrasound then a biopsy as radiographer wasn’t happy with what she saw… She took 3 biopsies of my top right breast. Then went back into the consultants room after he’d had a look at my mammogram and ultrasound. He could tell it was most likely cancer.
Fast forward 5 days and the letter confirmed there was activity and looked like a 5cm mass and some firm lymph nodes…
Have to go for a CT Scan in 9 days to check if cancer has spread anywhere else…
I will receive biopsy and scan results together hopefully soon after I’ve had my scan.
Things have moved quite fast, I’m in Scotland in an area where the hospital I am attending is renowned for research and their excellent Breast Cancer care…So I know I’m in safe hands…BUT just receiving that letter yesterday has made it all so real…
So I’m basically waiting to find out what kind of cancer it is I suppose …Oh also I’ve been on HRT for 7 years and got told not to take it anymore!! I’m assuming it could be related… That made me so upset thinking if I hadn’t taken it would this have happened?!
Looks like I have quite a journey ahead, as much as I have lovely support from family and friends I think it might help to speak with like-minded people who are going through this as well.
Thank you ladies for sharing and listening
C
Hi @cazy I’m sorry you find yourself here but whatever the outcome of your results, you will find support here from people who have been where you are now.
It is universally accepted that the wait for biopsy results is the worst time. There’s not much that can be done about it I’m afraid, so try to keep busy and work on positivity. By that I mean, try not to fill the void left by the wait with dark imaginings, instead tell yourself that you will be receiving the best treatment from a preeminent hospital who will have seen it all before and will know what to do to get you through this. I too was told at biopsy that it was cancer but the biopsy would tell them what type and likely grade. I was also told by the team doing the biopsy that I shouldn’t worry as they were going to fix it and at almost three years on they have! It’s great news that you have good support around you but no-one who hasn’t been through it will “get it” so keep posting here with questions, thoughts or rants, we’re here for you. Recovery from breast cancer is at an all time high so IF you do get a positive cancer diagnosis, just trust your medical team and you’ll get through it.
Thank you so much for your reply, it really helps…As you say friends and family can be supportive but it’s hard for them to “understand” how you really feel …So glad I’ve found this group… Here’s to my results and moving forward with treatment 
I remember posting the exact same post last June - I had found a lump, turned out to be cancer (actually eventually turned out to be bilateral with DCIS) and I thought my life had ended.
We have all been there and totally understand the shock and fear and worry - the unknown is always the worst and the time waiting for results is truly awful. But it will get better and it will feel easier once you have a plan in place.
I couldn’t believe I could ever be happy again, I was such a mess. But after double mastectomy (no recon) and now on 10 years of letrozole, I can honestly say my life has never been better.
Please don’t blame yourself for choosing to take HRT - I didn’t take HRT and still got bilateral tumours! You were just unlucky.
The medical team just need to cover all possibilities and if your potential tumour is oestrogen fed then they usually ask you to stop HRT since the tablets you will be given for hormone positive cancer aims to reduce the oestrogen in our bodies.
Please let us know how you get on and the Breast Cancer Now nurses are also able to talk through any concerns or questions you have.
Sending lots of love xx
Thank you so much for your lovely reply…Yes all this waiting isn’t great, but my scan is in a week and I think my biopsy results will be near then as well and from what I’ve heard, this hospital doesn’t hang about once results come back.
…So fingers crossed it won’t be long before I start my “recovery journey”…Breast Cancer is a minefield with so many kinds of cancers and treatments…
C x
I’m glad you found this site. To manage expectations each time a test- scan - operation etc takes place your MDT (multi disciplinary team) will know that bit more. In other words as you go forward don’t be surprised if your tumour is a bit bigger or smaller - or the type you have comes with a slightly different name. Your team clearly have a view on what you “might” have but want to be sure of what you “actually” have. I found this v disconcerting as it felt like the news kept changing (almost everyone goes through this with their diagnosis). So take each test as a positive as they are getting clearer and firmer on what you specifically have to ensure your treatment is as targeted as possible. Treatments today are very individualised and very good. I would take lots of positives at how quickly your team are reacting - that’s the sign of a good proactive team.
My v best.
@strollingby thank you for your lovely reply…Yes I’m thinking I just need to take a day at a time and next step is “exact results” hopefully soon, and where we go from here…So glad I found this site, might be my saviour 
There’s a lot of other things that make your DNA work wrong first that cause cancer, HRT can encourage its continued growth, but other things come into play that are often beyond anyone’s control. I would have maybe felt a bit like you as came very close to having HRT. My vigilant Dr made sure I’d had a mammogram and pelvic USS before prescribing - all of which were negative at the time. By the time I’d had all the checks, my menopause symptoms had resolved, so didntdo it. I’ve noticed now, that they were made worse for a few months after having covid ( its known to mess with hormones). I’ve had it 3 times to my knowledge, and each time after, I’ve had the classic hot flushes and irregular periods, brainfog etc, for a few months, then gone back to normal after.
Fast forward 2 years, and I still discovered a lump before my next scan was due despite not having the hrt. But then, what I cannot control is late menopause- my mother was 58 before she got to a year without a period. I’m 53 now, 54 soon, and only this year have my periods got further apart. That, I cannot control. The cards fall where they do, don’t beat yourself up about it.
I feel for you, because you migght find on top of the stress you have, you have to deal with instant menopause, which is tough to handle. Now you know, its important to stop the hrt asap, as it could promote its growth now its there.
Hi @cazy, you replied to me on my previous post and as I read through your experience, it is so similar to mine. I think this forum group is so helpful and you realise that you are definitely not alone and others are going through what you are going through. Don’t get me wrong, my friends have been amazing and super supportive but they haven’t been through this themselves. They try really hard to be positive and try and say all the right things, but this is just so scary. I never thought I would find myself in this new world and I have found every step just leaves me teary, uncertain and fear of the unknown. Keep strong and try and stay positive as others have said. We will all get through this one way or another. I try and go walking/exercising every day as it gets those endorphins going which is oh so important right now. Keep me posted and look after yourself. The ladies on here are all an amazing support for you xoxoxox
@deers4 hey, I was just figuring out how to reply to messages,I didn’t put @ 
Yes I agree friends and family are supporting, but they don’t really know what to say and I find it’s harder when I’m in my own space ,which I normally love and I’ve been divorced a long time like 16 yrs by choice 
But now when I’m on my own I have too much time to think, and your thoughts can’t help but go to dark places .
I’m back to work on Mon, I took a few days off this week as my biopsy was a bit shit really, and wouldn’t have been able to lift anyway which I do for my job. I just don’t feel I want to tell people yet at my work (my boss knows), as I don’t have my biopsy results and am not sure what’s going to happen!
I think I will take myself a walk when I come home this week after work, I like being outdoors and feel it gives me time to “breath”!
Keep in touch, I’ve got my scan on 29th, so hopefully will get results within couples of biopsy as well…which in itself will be scary 
x
Please do not feel bad about taking HRT. It’s a great resource for people who have menopausal complications and the risk of breast cancer from it is low. Most of the time the rewards from it outweigh the risks. But if your cancer is estrogen positive (and most are) then HRT has to be stopped since it would feed it’s growth. As far as waiting goes this is the worst. But it will get better and quickly when you get your treatment plan. If you have any questions about your biopsy results we’ll be glad to help. Hugs sent your way…
@Kay0987 Thank you for your kind words, yes the waiting is the agony, just want to get started with treatment now… hopefully next few weeks, still need to get CT scan which is 29th…Once that’s done hopefully treatment soon after
Going back to work tomorrow after being off last week… hopefully a distraction.
C
I assume you were on transdermal HRT which doesn’t cause breast cancer and even if it was an oral version it’s a tiny risk.
Yes, you’ll need to come off it until you have your lump removed but you may decide to go back on it afterwards. It will depend on lots of factors whether you choose to or not.
I only managed to stop mine for a week as my symptoms were so bad that I went back on it. Also I weighed up my risk of recurrence which was only 1-2%. Most BC survivors will die of osteoporosis or heart disease instead of BC so I decided I’d rather protect against that, but appreciate we’re all different.
A good source of info is Oestrogen Matters by Avrum Bluming if you wanted to read up as he’s looked at all the studies where BC survivors have taken HRT compared to those who haven’t and there’s no difference.
Best of luck with your treatment x
I took HRT for 12 years before I was diagnosed with BC. I took HRT because it was the right decision at the time. Don’t blame yourself for the past - it’s done. Yes I’m sure many of us could have drunk less and exercised more but we didn’t. There are lots of super fit, HRT free women that still got BC. Concentrate on what you need now, look after yourself. Look forward. XX
@tabbyc your so right, I took HRT just to get through the days …thank you for reminding me x
@josie2 I was on everol conti patches 50mcg…Doesn’t matter now, I’ve come off them and I’m fine. I’m 59 now so probably past the worst of menopause.
I won’t be going back on it.
Just looking ahead now to treatment and getting myself fixed!
@cazy , very similar to me. HRT seven years, patches. A bit of creasing on my breast which was ok by ultrasound. A year later breast had gone slightly smaller, still hard to detect on mammogram. It was lobular cancer which is much harder to detect (MRI performed). I had mastectomy last July and radiotherapy, all ok now, getting on with life again.
There are some research papers from USA that there is a link HRT to lobular BC.
Good luck!
First.
I want to say welcome into a group that you would rather not be in. My 5 cm lump was quite a shock to me.As I had never missed any memograms. I was told after they reviewed my history that they misread my mammograms for 5 years prior. I had a total hysterec to me 6 years ago.So my estrogen production was low. I never took any hormone replacement therapy. I still had an estrogen progesterone based mass. After all was set in and done I have stage 3 cancer which spread into lymph nodes.I had nine removed. I have been on my hormone blocker’s for fourteen months now. One eyeball strapped in about a year and the other.I will continue to take until my ten year mark. I pray with every breath. I just had a mammogram in ultrasound again.Yesterday which shows no new anything. However I have a mash in my right breast.They have been calling.Probably be nine. They are calling it a fibroadenoma. I really want it removed but my surgeon said it is better not to and it won’t change anything about the pain I experience from it. I trust my surgeon with my life.So I am going with his advice. It has not changed in the almost 2 years they have been following it. I.
Always kept my weight good and I.Ate well very nutritious. Don’t.
Blame yourself for being on hormone therapy as it might not really enter into the equation. Do like I try to do as it has been suggested for me to look ahead in not back. This forum has been very very helpful to me. I do believe we are all praying for each other.
Excuse the weird words as I spoke my text into my phone… I think you all get the just of what I was trying to say.
@beyond wow breast cancer is a minefield, there are so many different kinds, my brain is bursting with all this info.
Does make me hopeful that I will get a treatment plan in place that will work for me.
Just the word “cancer” is scary…
I’ll await my CT scan next Tues and hopefully will have a meeting with my consultant not long after and get the ball rolling with my treatment and get this bloody stuff out of my body 