Back in May I found a lump in my left breast, I went to my doctors about it and was referred to the local breast team. They diagnosed me with a fibroadenoma,and scheduled surgery due to its size. I ended up being unable to have the surgery when it was first scheduled and in the end had the surgery two weeks ago. At the pre op scan I was once again told that it was a fibroadenoma and not to worry.
I went to my post op check up yesterday and was told that I have cancer, was totally surprised while the negative part of my brain had been yelling cancer at me pretty much since i found the lump I had been ignoring the negative part of me.
I ended up feeling emotionally overloaded didn’t know what the hell i was feeling, and after telling my family I went into a numb denial, still there mostly. That and feeling really impatient, want to start fighting it already can’t handle sitting here doing nothing, need to find out what the plan is, need to regain at least some control over the situation.
Sorry that you have found yourself here but I’m sure you will find the discussion forums a great source of information and support.
Whilst you’re waiting for others to come along, I thought you might find it helpful to read our factsheet about diagnosis and treatment so I’ve given the link here to the page where it can be dowloaded or ordered:
Also, if you find it helps to talk, our Helpline and great listeners and can also direct you to other services, talk through your diagnosis and treatments or offer support if you need it. They’re on 0808 800 6000 and are open weekdays 9-5 and 10-2 on Saturday.
hi notvalerie
sounds similar to my story diagnosed with a fibrodenoma 5yrs ago was told to leave it sudden growth had a lumpectomy and was told 99.9 % sure fibro went on holiday came back to have scar checked so i thought to be told sorry to tell you you have a very rare aggresive cancer and need an emergency mx ,the one good thing to come out of it was there was no waiting all done and dusted within 5 days ,but it is one heck of a shock .
now you have to stay positive and take each day as it comes ,there will be good times and bad times but im sure once you have your treatment plan the other ladies say it is a bit easier .
I dont have any treatment there is surgery and if it raises its ugly head again then there is more surgery radio thearapy dosnt work chemo dosnt work and hormone traetment dosnt work ,but i am alive and kicking and no evidence of disease for now ,so far so good take care xx
lizzy
Me too . 6cm fibroadenoma removed 14 years ago went back to check wound by myself and was told then. Bloody devastated like you would have been prepared for it in the first place but was told so many times I was ok. Mine was 2.2 cm hidden in middle but I am still here to tell the tale and you will get through this.
Wishing you luck with your journey and treatment . You Will feel a little better once you have a treatment plan and can crack on with it
Thanks for the support, going to spend the weekend at my brothers as they called a family meeting as soon as i told them, a part of me is looking forward to seeing them all again especially their kids but another part of me is dreading being around them as it’ll make it all seem so much more real. Plus I’m going to be telling my dad about it face to face as i couldn’t figure out how to tell him over the phone as BC was what took my mother from him. Hope everyone is as well as can be expected.
Sorry to hear your diagnosis Notvalerie. I can imagine your utter shock. Good luck this weekend with your family - especially with your dad. He will be so worried. You will get your treatment plan soon, which will help you so much, and you must tell your dad just how much better and successful the treatments are these days. They get better and better all the time. xxx
Just been diagnosed today as well. Such a shock. I was on a training course in Kent and the The consultant (who had been very positive last week about it just being scar tissue) left me such a shocking voicemail message. There are some problems, not the news you wanted, sorry about that, make an appointment and then didn’t answer his phone for 3 hours. OMG. I was in a cold sweat the entire afternoon. Anyway, managed to see him this evening to be told it’s Grade 3 (I know NOTHING about cancer as I don’t know anyone who’s had it). The worst part so far is seeing the utter devastation on my husband’s face. I’d do anything to take that away. In part I think that was because we thought he meant stage 3. Still up reading whatever I can about it. Told my twin sister this evening. We’re 40 on Monday and she’s off to Gran Canaria with her family to celebrate. Hated bumming her out but I’ve got my op on Monday so felt she’d want to know. Telling the rest of the family over the next few days. Dear oh dear. Good luck to you guys too.
NOTVALARI am so sorry to hear about your devasting news, I am sure things will move pretty quickly for you now and you will soon know your treatment plan. The waiting is the hardest partof thE journey. Once you begin treatment you will fill back in control.
THEROADSHOW Sorry you have had to join us what devastating news to hear over the telephone. Would it help to call the consultant today and pop over see see him/her with your husband aget find out a little more, what surgery are they planning to dO on Monday. Please try andstoop googling, there are a lot of websites that are out of date or just contain wrong scary information. I scared myself silly and found articles to be so untrue. keep to this one and Macmillan.
TO YOU BOTH you will find all the support you need from this forum the ladies on here are fantastic, knowledgable and all their personalexperiences are true. Please feel free to ask all thequestions you want. I am day 14 following a mastectomy, LD back flap reconstruction and implant, I am 51 yrs and was diagnosed in November from a routine mammogram with multi site DCIS, what a shock it was and I can reassure you from personal experiences that it does get better, the road ahead can be long with unexpected turns and twists but you will come through this and take control again.
Big hugs to both of you and please please keep me updated with your progress. Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi, I was 39 when I was diagnosed last year in March and have just had my 40th too and I too am a twin (identical). I was a grade 2, 4cm lump. node negative. 8/8 oestrogen positive. Due to the position and size of the lump and needing to get good margins I had to have Mx and immediate strattice reconstruction which 9 months on is fantastic. I am on tamoxifen now for 5 years but if that keeps the cancer away then I am o.k. with that. Being under 40 and an identical twin when diagnosed, my twin and older sister are entitled to yrly mammograms and my daughter (12yrs) apparantly when she is 30 can start with mammogram. Hopefully by then they have better tests to determine if she will get B.C. I have been told that my twin is now a 1 in 3 risk of getting B.C but at least she will now be screened. Hope all goes o.k for you.
Just got back from my first oncologist appointment, I’ll be starting chemo (FEC-T) two weeks tomorrow, in hope of shrinking the tumour before eventually operating on it. As it came back as HER2 + I will be starting on Herceptin cycle 4. The bone scan I had yesterday came back clear, thankfully, and I’m scheduled for a CT next Friday (fingers crossed that comes back clear)
Its mildly relieving to have the beginnings of a plan to treat this, but also scary.