I’m super unfamiliar with using forums so please forgive me if I am in the wrong place. I have as hoping to gain some insight and support from those who came before me. Back story: in 2016, I felt a lump on the inside of my right breast. Had the doctor appointment, mammogram, ultrasound, and ultimately surgery for a benign fibroadenoma. In June 2024, felt a lump on the outside of my right breast. Repeat step 1, I thought. This time I had the core biopsy (it was also recommended the first time but my surgeon opted to just remove the mass and then biopsy it). Had the biopsy done 8/1 and stressfully waited for the results. Heard from the breast center that it is papillary ductal carcinoma in situ. I know in my head I am blessed. It is stage 0 with only surgery as the recommended treatment. It is the best case scenario out of the worst case scenario. However, all I can keep thinking is “I have cancer”. And then when I talk to myself and layout the facts, I feel bad saying I have a cancer diagnosis because I know how fortunate I am that my diagnosis is easily treatable. I’m not even sure what I’m trying to express. All of me what’s to curl up in a ball and cry for hours but I keep lecturing myself about how it’s not that big of a deal and so many others have worse diagnosis. I feel like I am “carrying on” if I cry. Has anyone else felt like this?
Yes there’s a thread on here called very small DCIS and imposter syndrome or something similar .many people have contributed to it including me . At the end of the day you have had your life turned upside down and you no longer trust your body anymore . We all happily believe we are in control of our lives and then suddenly it’s gone and you’re waiting for strangers to tell you what to do next . Most of us have a history with cancer before we get it ourselves and the word strikes fear into our hearts . Its also very confusing because on the one hand the Drs. minimise by making out that it’s nothing really ( and compared to what they deal with day to it is nothing ) they are trying to give you some sort of perspective on it but then they ruin by telling you that you have to have it removed … so it’s not nothing . There’s always that fear and tension there until the surgery is done.
Eventually you may be able to look back on this and and better understand and appreciate what the Drs. have told you but that probably won’t happen until you’ve had your surgery and some time to process . Right now what you are feeling is perfectly natural so please don’t beat yourself up . Xx
Hi @ladybird1976 firstly you in exactly the right place so well done for navigating the forum for the first time. Of course you’re in a state of upset and shock at the moment, as Joanne says, it’s perfectly natural and you have to acknowledge your feelings. You’ll get a treatment plan and you’ll get through it and then the healing, physical and emotional, will begin. We all grow up with a fear of The Big C but, in truth, breast cancer is neither an emergency from a medical viewpoint nor life-threatening in stages 0-3. Remember, your breasts are not vital organs like your liver or your lungs so the only way breast cancer can become incurable is if it spreads to one of these organs or your bones. You have Stage 0 so you are at the furthest point from spread that you can be. So try to wipe away any Big C thoughts you may have. This is not to denigrate your fear but to explain, in time, you’ll be able to come to terms with it. I hope you have a good support network around you for when you have surgery. If you get overwhelmed by the emotions please call the Breast Cancer Now nurses on 0808 800 6000 between 9am - 4pm M-F or 9am - 1pm, you will always feel better having spoken to them. And, of course, you always have us to download to. Big hugs.
@ladybird1976 about 8 years ago my sister in law had what sounds like a very similar breast cancer to you. She had a lumpectomy, took some tablets, not sure what, for 5 years and never thought about it again. I was diagnosed earlier this year and, because of having a lymph node involved have required the whole caboodle of chemo, surgery and radiotherapy. My sister in law now feels guilty that she ‘got away with it’!! It is what it is You will come to terms with it. It is still cancer, whatever stage and however big it is and thats a shock. My first thought was - I can’t possibly have cancer as no-one in my family has had it. Things will feel easier when you know exactly what your treatment will involve xx
You will come to terms with it. It is still cancer, whatever stage and however big it is and thats a shock. My first thought was - I can’t possibly have cancer as no-one in my family has had it. Things will feel easier when you know exactly what your treatment will involve xx