Hi I am new. I am 60 and have just been diagnosed with BC. I found a lump last week and immediately went to see my consultant bc surgeon who had done my mammogram last year. It was a saturday so not able to do a mammo but he didn’t like what he saw and did a needle biopsy the results of which I will get tommorrow. He then told me I had breast cancer and would need a mx and chemo and he started me on Tamoxifen. The lump is quite large and I am so so terrified it is the worst kind of tumour that I can’t function. I just sit at the computer looking up anything on bc (hence the fear) and I cannot stop shaking. I am so frightened I can’t do anything. We only moved 2 weeks ago and I am devastated I may not live to see my new life.
Hello Jayney234
Welcome to the forums. I’m sorry to hear of your diagnosis, the first few weeks are always difficult when having to come to terms with your diagnosis and treatment.
As well as the support you will receive on the forums you might find it helpful to order the BCC resources pack. It has been specifically designed for those newly diagnosed and contains information to help you understand your diagnosis, test results and the various treatments available. If you would like to order a copy just follow the link bellow:-
You may also like to talk things through with one of the helpline staff, they are there to offer emotional support as well as provide information. The free phone number is 0808 800 6000 and lines are open 9-5 Monday to Friday and 10-2 Saturday.
Best wishes
June, moderator
Hi Janey,
Please don’t be tempted to start looking things up just yet. You have no idea what you have (or haven’t) got as yet, and nor does your breast surgeon. Not until the biopsy results are ready. There are dozens of different types of breast cancer, each with its own properties, and each with different treatment methods. I am surprised he has put you on Tamoxifen before he knows whether your lump is hormone receptive!! Once you know exactly what you have, and you have seen an oncologist, you will get a proper treatment plan and I pomise you, you will feel so much better. Survival rates for breast cancer have improved drastically over the last few years, and so have the treatments. Please leave Google alone. Much of it is rubbish, and most of it is out of date.
Good luck with your results tomorrow, xxx
Hi Jayney
I am so sorry to hear of your diagnosis. The first thing we all feel when told we have breast cancer, is fear. Please do not google, to find information, just visit this site and the Macmillan site. Google will lead you to all kinds of horrible, wrong, or out of date websites.
I am 62 and was diagnosed last October, 3cm tumour and grade 3, which is the worst grade. But I have had a mastectomy and now doing chemo, one session left to go as I started it in February. Please try not to worry - a ridiculous idea, as of course you will, but breast cancer is very rarely a death sentence now days as treatments have come along in leaps and bounds since the old days and many women go on after treatment to live long, healthy and happy lives. Once you have more information about your lump and a treatment plan is in place, you will feel less scared and be able to cope very well with it. If the doctor has started you on Tamoxifen, it sounds as though your tumour is hormone sensitive, which means another level of treatment to back up surgery and chemo. You might also have radiotherapy. But you will find that out in time. Please keep coming on here to have a rant, ask questions, whatever you feel the need to do. Wishing you the very best.
Poemsgalore xxx
Thankyou so much for replies. It really helps to hear these things from women who have had experience of the whole thing. I have just seen my gp who was unaware I had actually been told I had cancer - even though my consultant had spoken to him. He felt it was not right to diagnose just by examination and needle biopsy. I am a bit confused but will now go to Exeter hospital for the full range of biopsies and tests and try to remain calm. I keep thinking of the disease spreading and I think that is why I am such a basket case - I just want it out now!