I am just so confused. Everything I am reading is about lumps. I don’t have a lump I have a cluster of what was described to me as invasive cancerous chalk dust. Does that mean my cancer is somewhere else and has just broken off and invaded a breast. How can it be invasive cancer when at my last mammogram 3 years ago there was nothing there.
I am seeing the surgeon/specialist a week Monday but in the meantime I am going out of my mind with worry. Please help ;(
dont panic hun…i have to say i have had a bad day today …thinking and worrying too…hugs…xxx
Join the club, i too have had a bad day, Lisa…Cauli try not to panic it’s the worst thing you can do. I know it’s easier said than done coz i know ive had moments too…xx
Cauli , I am no expert but I think you have areas of calcification in your breast. I was in hospital with a woman with the same diagnosis who had surgery to remove part of her breast and needed no more treatment. It doesn’t mean the cancer started somewhere else, just that it has spread within your breast.
It’s awful when your diagnosis isn’t explained in a way that is easy to understand. The whole process is stressful enough. Whatever happens, you will soon be told the plan for your treatment. That’s when you will know in detail what is wrong and how it is going to be put right. We have all had our days of terror but waiting is the worst part. Anyone here will tell you that the treatment, whatever it may be, is easier than you think. We are all normal women like you who have suddenly found ourselves in a very abnormal situation and we are all a lot stronger than we ever thought we would be.
There will always be someone here to reassure you as you go through the days ahead. Ask for all the information you need at your next hospital appointment. Bring someone with you and write down anything you are told. It will help you to understand your situation.
Sending you a big hug and wishing you all the very best,
Kathleen
Cauli
Take a deep breath and DON’T PANIC! There are over 10 different types of breast cancer.
I am not a doctor and you need to talk to your consultant or BCN to get more information, but what you are describing sounds like micro-calcifications - they show up on a mammo like bright specks. Sometimes these are cancerous and sometimes they’re not (as well as my lump I had some that weren’t cancerous).
If your last mammo was 3 years ago, they may not have been there then - some women on this forum have found lumps months after a clear mammo.
Why not give the helpline a call on Tuesday when they reopen - I’m sure they’ll be able to help you until you have your appointment.
Big hugs
Dx
Thank you everyone for being here especially when you are going through it yourselves. I really appreciate the support but I am just so scared.
I was called back after a routine mammogram. They did another one then showed me these micro calcification things on the screen. I then went into another room for a biopsy and they phoned last Wednesday to say it was invasive cancer and would require surgery followed by chemo and or radiotherapy. I want to stay positive and remain calm but I am so frightened. I just want to turn the clock back a week so I could be walking around enjoying life and not knowing what’s happening inside me.
Ah Cauli, Sorry you had to join us here. It is so scary. Unfortunately though once you know it is there, the only way is forward. It may not feel like it at the time, but getting it diagnosed so that they can treat it before it spreads is good not bad. Much better than if it was still there doing you harm without you knowing.
Sending you hugs. It will feel better once you have a clear treatment plan in place
MG xx
Hi cauli
I am posting a link to the BCC ‘Newly diagnosed’ web page where you will find information and publications which you may find helpful:
breastcancercare.org.uk/diagnosis
The helpline will re open on Tuesday at 9am if you feel it would help to talk things through with one of our team
Take care
Lucy
Thank you for being so patient with me.
Think I need to change my screen name to drama queen. xx
Hi Cauli
I am no expert but I think it’s normal to worry if the cancer is elsewhere but im sure my BCN told me it always starts in the breast and has potential to go elsewhere (except in a very rare case??). Dont know if I’m explaining this well but I mean it’s very unlikely it is elsewhere and invaded your breast as you say. Also, I’m sure invasive just means it has the potential to spread if left to its own devices. But as it has been found hopefully that will not happen. It is a very scary time. It’s fear of the unknown as well. Take a list of questions with you on Tuesday. I’m fairly new to all this too (dx 29th March) for me it has helped to read as much info as possible. We are just at the start of our journey but we will get there. Take care xxx
dont be daft cauli! cant believe you were given your results over the phone. thats awful! hugs, alex xx
I think that was one of my problems. Because I was at work I took my phone into the car park and just couldn’t concentrate. The words invasive cancerous surgery chemo and radiotherapy were all i could hear and then I had to walk back into my office as if everything was ok. x
Cauli
of course you are frantic - it happens to everyone, and like the others say you WILL feel better once you have a treatment plan.
I can’t believe you were given diagnosis by phone, it should be face to face for this sort of news.
Invasive usually means the cancer cells are not confined to ducts in the breast, NOT that it’s invaded other parts of your body.
Look in the newly diagnosed web page, and ask for the breast cancer pack when you go to your appt, and take notes (or take someone with you to write everything down) - it’s really helpful to have the info to read at home cos you don’t take it all in at the appt.
all the very best, and a big hug
grumpy
Cauli,
Please phone your Breast Unit on Tuesday, you can’t go through this torture until your appointment! Like Alex, I am shocked that your hospital could tell you had BC by a phone call!
Take care - you are NOT being a drama queen, we are all here for you.
Axx
Oh Cauli,
You were on live chat weren’t you?
Try not to panic too much. I can remember almost passing out at hearing the word ‘invavsive’. As had already been said, that simply means it has the POTENTIAL to go elsewhere. Does not mean it has and the fact that it was picked up on a mammo is good. Caught early.
One thing I do know is that it is virtually unheard of for a cancer which has has started some where else to end up in the breast.
You have a long journey ahead but well done you for finding this forum.
Yes it was me on live chat - once a drama queen always a drama queen!!
I don’t know why I get so stressed about it. Took the grandchildren to the fair today and was fine. It was only when I got back that all the doubts and fears crept back In again.
I’m gonna try and calm down or else I will drive myself nuts over the next 9 days.
Clinging into the word POTENTIAL for now. Sounds much better than my scenario xx
Cauli,
Happy Easter!
You gave me a good chuckle with the name change - DramaQueen! Why didn’t I think of THAT?
I can’t believe they gave you the results over the phone either. We should do a book ‘What not do’ for doctors, some of them would benefit greatly from it.
Hope you have read the newly diagnosed page by now? If and when you panic until you manage to talk to your doctors, visit here. We are an understanding bunch who went through the same thing you are!