Hi, I was diagnosed two weeks ago today, I have 13mm IDC, hormone positive (not sure which hormone?). Looks good on ultrasound regarding lymph nodes but obviously this doesn’t mean it isn’t there. MRI later today. I’m really struggling with symptoms that I was worried about long before I found a lump, because they all have the possible connection with lung cancer - which suddenly seems a real possibility with the current diagnosis. Basically, when I take deep breaths I have pain behind my breast bone area. Of course since my cancer diagnosis I can’t think about anything other than lung cancer as well. My GP has referred me for a chest X-ray in the first instance. I’m 45 and otherwise fit and healthy, but constantly feel the discomfort when I breathe so just can’t get my mind off it. 
I tried returning to work this week but just fell apart when I walked through the door. Can’t believe this is life now.
Hi Floss
Its such a worrying time, waiting for results and absolutely normal to be feeling as you do. Getting answers and a treatment plan, somehow makes things a little less scary, so hopefully you won’t have much longer to wait.
To offer some words of hope, I had a similar diagnosis 8 months ago and had thoughts like how will I cope? Why me? Has it spread? Will I get through it? All normal reactions to a very difficult situation. My mind at some point switched to “it’s got to be dealt with, it’s not going away by itself”. It’s been a long 8 months, I’ve finished active treatment and things are looking better and brighter. I still have wobbly moments and probably will for years to come, but not as extreme as those early days.
As for google, there a lot of mixed opinions on this. Personally I wanted to know as much as I could, it prepared me for appointments ie. Putting together questions to ask. On the negative side, it can draw you down some dark avenues and finding information exactly to match your circumstances can be difficult or misinterpreted. If you use Google, use well known sites and always speak to your team before making decisions based on your findings.
Best wishes x
dear Floss from your description I would think you have found the cancer early. A lump that is near enough 1cm in diameter is a bit smaller than average, and hormone positive tumours tend to be more treatable. hormone positive usually means the tumour will grow in reponse to the sex hormone oestrogen. some also grow in response to progesterone. Breast cancer now has some good leaflets with illustrations of sizes of lumps, information on kinds of breast cancer, and different drugs used to reduce the level of oestrogen to stop the cancer growing.
the most basic treatment for breast cancer is surgery. There are more options than before for getting a better cosmetic result from surgery, but any surgery is frightening and I would prepare yourself for it by talking to other women who have gone through the experience. I have had a few breast cancer ops over the years as I have had breast cancer twice - both in the same breast, but different kinds of breast cancer with a gap of 19 years between them! just my luck but things have improved since my first diagnosis. Cheers Seagulls now an old bird of 69 3/4
So sorry for your diagnosis and the other symptoms you are experiencing - it’s a horrible anxious time and for many of us the worst part of the journey . At the stage you are at my advice would be to leave Google alone . At the moment your life is outside of your control and we are all looking for knowledge that will help us get some of that control back but the truth is that until those test results come back and you know what you’re dealing with Google can’t help you and will make you more anxious and take you to places you may not ever go in real life . The waiting is awful but unavoidable . Once you know what you’re dealing with with them yes Google but use reputable sites.
I also wasn’t able to go to work as I had told a couple of people there that I was going for second screening and even though they’re lovely I couldn’t face them asking me about it. The things that helped me were walking ,Yoga cold water swimming mindfulness. Chats with a select group of friends who knew what was going on and I have to say the shopping channels ( it’s a good job I got better as my bank balance was suffering as much as the rest of me). Don’t feel guilty about not being at work use the time to try to get your head around it and if you start to feel the urge to Google or your mind goes off at a tangent then get up and do something .
Quite a lot of us have found that after diagnosis we develop pain in other areas of our bodies - for me I seemed to have pain and constant twinges in both armpits and breasts even though my nodes were clear and my cancer was only on the right . I’m saying this because as you already have some other symptoms if they become worse try not to panic - it’s simply that we become hypersensitised and any little twinge that we would usually not even notice registers . All the twinges on my left side miraculously cleared up immediately after my surgery.
If you have been allocated a BCN or have access to your biopsy results then you may be able to get clarification as to which kind of hormone positive cancer it is - that’s a good starting point if you’re looking to find things out.
It might help to talk things through with the Breast Care Nurses on the helpline 0808 800 6000 between 9am and 4pm weekdays and 9am to 1pm Saturdays.
Take care and sending lots of love xx
Once you know you have cancer you start to wonder about symtoms you’ve had. In my case it was a dull aching pain that I had on and off for a couple of years, in what felt like my lower fibula bone, plus back pain at night (but only if I fall asleep on my back, then the pain starts). The leg pain has gone - with hindsight could of been shin splints from running. The back pain is still there at night, so I dont sleep as well as I could. Anyway, it was dismissed at my post treatment appointment, so I’m still left wondering. Its good they are taking you seriously and are willing to scan you, I hope it puts your mind at ease. Its difficult, and the worry of possible signs doesn’t get any easier post treatment, also compounded by menopausal symptoms confusing everything. All the symptoms menopause chucks at you, is almost as if its taunting you to think the worst at times.
Well I’ve had a good three days avoiding google and anything cancer related. But realised in the shower this morning I’m swollen around my groin, bladder and thighs. So I quite innocently googled to see if I should see GP today or see if it went down - but of course the list of possible cancers and lymph involvement came straight up, and I’ve had flank discomfort for over a year that I never got checked out…so I’m back to thinking the worse, stressed, feel sick, cried down the phone at the GP receptionist 
Waiting for GP appointment later, whilst still waiting for appointments to be given for MRI and chest X-ray results. Back to feeling stressed and sick with worry 
I can’t get my head around how this is my life now, but then I feel guilty for feeling sorry for myself. I just want to see my daughter grow up and be there for her as she goes through at least her young adult life (she’s 11yrs). Normally I’m really strong and just get on with things but as you all know the bit where you don’t know whether it’s spread or not is shockingly hard.
Sorry that was a right ramble, but I’m glad I rambled. Thanks for reading xxx
Have you had your MRI results yet? Have a chat with your BCN meantime, hopefully there will be a host of innocuous possible explanations for it all rather than the most sinister, and it will turn out to be one of those. If premenopausal, maybe hormone related swelling, springs to mind as a possibility. Not that you should dismiss it. Write all your symptoms down that you have and tell your BCN, they will decide what investigations are appropriate under the circumstances. Try not to panic - easier said than done. Until you know, it could be nothing ( avoid google).
Sorry, realise you have not had results yet, I hope they come soon and can set your mind at ease. Also hope your GP has some ideas around it.
Thanks. GP wasn’t concerned, thought it a bit odd but no suggestions. I was relieved she found no obviously swollen lymph nodes, any mention of those is alarming now!
Oh dear sounds as if the internet makes things a lot worse for you. It certainly didn’t do me any good as I always think the worst. Could you go off line or would that stop you putting messages on the forum? I would try and set yourself limits and go out with your daughter to do some nice walks, and maybe start a hobby that distracts you from dwelling on what might happen. I frightened myself almost to death when I was diagnosed with a rare kind of breast cancer in 2003 but it was grade 1 no lymph node involvement. I still thought I would be dead in 5 years. It never came back! Unfortunately I got a new primary in 2022 but I have been treated for it so I am still around despite having grade 2 cancer this time with a lymph node full of cancer cells. Who knows? It’s 2025 now and no sign of cancer coming back.
So pleased you got past two lots Seagulls, and it’s always good to be reminded that this is possible. I don’t think I have anything left ungoogled now so maybe that will help - if I do look, all the sites have clearly already been clicked on! I took my daughter out for cake after school yesterday so no googling was had. My hobby is walking but I’ve ruined my foot last summer so whereas I’d normally be off up some big hills to clear my brain I’m rather limited at the moment, but I’ve secured a bike to borrow and I’m going to see if being a cyclist suits me instead, as I live in a beautiful area and it’s passing me by which is bad.
Oops! Wrong thread, how did that happen?
@floss2 - I’m
Sorry you’ve received this diagnosis , but thankfully Google has led you to here and you are in the right place x
First off Google can be your worst enemy in cases like this . I will tell you that after my diagnosis last summer of her2 positive breast cancer , I had myself popped off and buried in a week in my head . It’s a terrifying time … Google can be full of very outdated resources and papers and can just fuel your fear right now .
It’s good to be informed but I liken falling down the Google rabbit hole to watching a hideous horror movie I know will give me nightmares !
Stick to trusted resources like this site and sites like McMillan and cancer research etc .
Remember that if you have a hormone positive cancer this means it can be treated with targeted therapies x
Right now you’ll be waiting to find out your treatment plan and also MRI results , don’t panic about having an MRI , some hospitals do them as standard while others don’t , I was found to have several invasives after my mastectomy but I’ve never had a Ct scan or MRI .
The worst time is the waiting for a treatment plan , I found once I knew my plan … I felt a bit more in control , things were happening …
Please chat to your assigned breast nurse, I called mine in tears several times after my diagnosis and she was so lovely and reassuring.
You can also call the BCN breast nurses
The Breast Cancer Now helpline
Call us free on 0808 800 6000
Our opening hours are:
- Monday to Friday — 9am to 4pm
- Saturday — 9am to 1pm
Calls are free from all UK landlines and mobiles. To make sure everyone can contact us we have access to a telephone interpreting service, in over 240 languages, and the Relay UK - prefix is 18001
If the helpline is closed, you can leave us a message with your name and number. We’ll call you back as soon as we’re next open.
If you have a question but prefer to receive the information in writing, you can email our nurses instead.
Arty1
I do a lot of walking as I live in The Weald in East Sussex. i also have an electric bike which I am ashamed to say I have probably only been on once. I joined a gym which has a great swimming pool and circuit training, yoga and static bikes. I am a bit out of touch at the moment as my 97 year old mother died on 11 March 2025 and I am one of her Executors.
I’m sorry to hear that your mother has died @Seagulls. I know you’ve had a lot of things on your plate, her in a care home being one of them. Everyone said to me when my Mum died of dementia, you must be relieved that she’s no longer suffering but relief was absolutely not one of my reactions. How ever you’re feeling, it remains a profound thing to lose your Mum. My condolences.
yes I can’t say I am relieved my mum has died. It is so sad. My brother is equally miserable and he is not sure why. Until you go through it you have no idea how it will be
I lost my 93 year old MIL two weeks ago. People mean well but saying someone had a good innings is of little comfort and I think I will throw a bucket of water over the next person who says it!
When you have lost someone you love it hurts…point. I’m sorry you are going through so much but remember there are people here to help and support you. Thinking of you. X
I’m so sorry to hear that you lost your Mum @Seagulls . It doesn’t matter how old they are - your Mum is your Mum and for anyone who has had a good relationship with their Mum throughout their lives that’s really all there is to it .
All that admin stuff that goes with being an Executor can be stressful and tedious but you do get through it . People on the phone kept offering me psychological support. After Dad died I was trying to get his bank card cancelled as I had lost it but not been able to close the account . Somehow I got passed to the fraud department and a really nice sounding young man got the wrong end of the stick completely - he said do you need someone to talk to can I get you some help ? I said yes ! Please can you just do what I asked and invalidate the card because as I just said I’ve lost it and haven’t yet been able to close the account and I’m up to my ears in admin here . Also thank you for the offer but if I do need psychological support I’m not likely to ask for it from a bank. When I thought about it later it made me laugh - you have to take them wherever you can get them. Xx