Hi, Im new here, thought i would just ask a few questions, I have a large quick growing lump on my breast, went to GP, who referred me to hospital, had my appointment last Wednesday, they did a mammogram, then an ultrasound, then I had a core biopsy, he took several samples and put into little pots, he also took samples from my lymph nodes, then I went back to discuss the outcome with the Dr.he said to come back next Wednesday for the results, but not to worry too much as there are lots of treatments, e.g. chemo, radiotherapy, surgery etc.
Sounds like Ive got it doesnt it? Can they tell now and then? without the biopsy samples tested by the lab? or are they just waiting to see if its spread further?
Roll on Wednesday… Im feeling sick and cant sleep like most of you on here, thought I would put this on here, as I dont really have anyone to talk to, I am divorced and my 2 daughters both work abroad. I dont want to worry them yet…
Hi pepihorse
Just wanted to say hi
This is the hardest part the waiting - your mind goes into overdrive and you think the worst
No one knows what your results really are till they have been to the lab to get a def result
I have my fingers crossed for you that your results are b9
If your results do come bk positive take some deep breaths as once you have a treatment plan things do seem to get easier
Please let us know how you get on
Alison
Hi pepihorse
Welcome to the BCC discussion forums, I’m sorry to hear that you are having a pretty tough time at the moment.
As well as the support you receive on here you may find it helplful to talk to things through with a member of our helpline staff who are there to offer emotional support as well as practical information. The free phone number is 0808 800 600 and the lines are open Monday to Friday 9.00 to 5.00 and Saturday 9.00 to 2.00.
Best wishes Sam, BCC Facilitator
Hello Pepihorse,
As Alison says, waiting for your results really is the worst part. I hope the next few days will pass quickly for you and that the results will be benign. But if not, you’ve found a great place to come and " talk" and lots of people to talk to who know exactly what you’re going through and can support you every step of the way if needs be. Just keep breathing until Wednesday and please let us know how you get on. Sending hugs and strength til then, Angelfalls xx
thank you so much for your kind words, just off to work, dont feel like going though, just want to curl up somewhere, but at least when I get there, Im kept busy !
I will be back to let you know my results, and probably will ask some more questions !
Thank you again…
Hi pepihorse,
Just wanted to pop in and say hello, it’s so difficult the waiting time because you are dealing with the unknown and your mind does go into overdrive no matter how hard you try to forget about it.
Not too long until Wed now, try and keep yourself busy and keep posting, take care and please let us know how you get on, fingers crossed for you xx
Hi Pepihorse
I have just experienced exactly what you are going through. Found a lump just under 3 weeks ago and have now had all the tests, bone scan, CT, MRI and sentinel node biopsy on Saturday. The consultant did tell me at my very first appointment that it looked like it might be cancer but waiting for results is definitely the worst time and I sympathise hugely with you - not being able to sleep or eat is certainly not fun. It does get better the more information you are given and the more you know what you have to deal with. I now know that I have to have a mastectomy and have a meeting with a plastic surgeon on Friday. I will get the results from the sentinel node biopsy on Saturday and then a full treatment plan will be put in place. I wish you lots of luck and be strong xx
Hi Pepihorse,
I had the same last Tues but have to wait 2 wks for results, I was just told it looks abnormal (what ever that means). I wanted to wish you luck as i know how you are feeling mind overdrive. The ladies on this forum have been great i found it helps to know that your not going mad and your feelings are normal.
Tina123
Tina123, one week is bad enough but you have to wait 2 weeks, I feel for you, I am going mad with this 1 week wait. Hope all goes well for you, when you get your results, I know I want it over with, not knowing is so hard, my fingers crossed for both of us now… 
Hi again, had results of my biopsies today, bad news, got invasive ductal breast cancer. I feel numb, and so tired after all this waiting, The next step apparently is waiting again now for Sentinal biopsy appointment, to see if the cancer has got in them as well, then that will determine whether I will have to have mastectomy with reconstruction at the same time or mastectomy followed by chemo /radiation therapy to kill off any spread cells before any type of reconstruction.
So,watch this space I suppose… Anyone whose had the above that can offer any advice, I would be grateful, thanks
hi again
deep breaths hun
i was diagnosed 2 yrs ago with idc and had lymph node involvment
i chosen to have max then i had to have chemo and radio then tamoxifen
just had my reconstruction 2 yrs later and another node was found with breast cancer cells in it - lucky for me this was removed and my scans were clear for spread - now need another op to remove overies
this is a horrible time for you but a plan of treatment will give you the strength to kick cancers ass
once you know what your dealing with things will get easier
youn can and will beat this crap
get your pink gloves on girl cos i am fighting with you in your corner
keep us informed how you get on
Thanks Alison, theyve, told me, to choose, sentinal node removal, then later MX or both at once, I dont know what to choose, they say doing the node removal first op, I could, if are nodes ok, have reconstruction the same day as the MX in about 2 weeks later. But then if the nodes are infected, I will only be able to have the MX (2 weeks later) then have chemo etc.
Do I wait the extra 2 weeks and go through 2 x general anaesthetics, and surgery or just get MX and sentinals in one fail swoop, then have reconstruction at the end of it all months/years later(long waiting list apparently)
I just dont know what to choose !
You sound as if youve really gone through it, and would love to keep in contact with you as Im now going the same way as you it appears, only my ovaries all went with hysterectomy 5 years ago (not through cancer just grapefruit size fibroid on cervix )Hope all goes well with overy removal, and thank you so much for taking time to talk to me x Wendy
wendy its such a hard decision to make and a personal one at that
i had the choice and i choosen to have a mx that was my personal choice - what i will tell you if i hadnt have chosen it i would have been back in because it had spead to my nodes and vascular invasion so i would have had to go bk and get a mx
my reasons for this was i just wanted this cancer out my body so i wanted them to take it all - but thats my reasons not yours and i also have 2 small girls and couldnt afford to keep getting called bk for more ops if they hadnt got clean margins
i was on the waithing list 10 months for my reconstruction they said 18 months
if you have to have radiotherapy they are very unlikely to do any reconstruction till all treatment is finished
i wish you all the luck in the world with which ever way you choose and please keep intouch on how you get on
if you need anything wendy even to scream moan or vent please feel free to get intouch
alison
If I can tell you my experience and wasp ing in case it helps…? I was shattered likes you, totally wiped out by the diagnosis. Never had any surgery before and I was terrified.
However, having done a lot of research and questioning, it seemed to me that if I had the ops separately they could fully analyse the lymph nodes and not take any more nodes than they needed to. This is known as a stand alone sentinel node biopsy…snb for short …which takes a minimal number of nodes, those most likely to be affected. If they are clear there is a very good chance, about 95% I think, that the rest are clear. Some places do a test on the SNs there and then while youre in theatre, but I understand more thorough type of tests take a bit longer. As you might have read, the fewer nodes you have to lose the better…unless of course they have cancer cells then you dont want them and it’s too bad.
So I went for the snb, and it was a short op, I went to theatre at 10.30 am and was ready to leave hospital at 1.30. My scar was about 5cms, a little arc under my arm. I was a bit sore afterwards and couldnt drive for three weeks but it wasnt terrible. I walked into town and did some light shopping the next day…luckily my nodes were clear though i had to wait two weeks for my results appointment which was a tough time. Anyway i lost only 4 nodes and was then able to have a mx and immediate DIEP reconstruction in November last year. Incidentally They reused my snb scar for the connection of my artery and vein. As I’d had a mx, with my type of cancer I didn’t need rads or chemo, so to some extent I was lucky.
I felt overall that going through the two ops was worth it to make sure as much as possible was known before any major decisions were made and to make sure I didn’t have any more done than was strictly necessary.
I think someone else mentioned that if you dont have the recon at the same time as the mx, you have less priority and even when they are cleared for the recon, in many areas ladies have to wait a long time to get to the top of the list. It’s been the right decision for me, and I wish you well in your journey. Hope this has helped a bit.
thank you Alison and Nonsuch, Im off to work today, thought it best to keep busy ! Im going to read the booklets tonight, and hopefully see if I can make a decision…
I will be back…
Morning ladies
It’s refreshing to Hear all the different scenarios we seem to have been through.
Like some of you I’ve had my share of playing the waiting game. From my initial visit to GP I was diagnosed with stage 2 invasive lobular ER+ on 22 November, but due to further tests ( and more waiting) finally had therapeutic mammoplasty on 16 Jan. At the same time I had a SLNB which luckily came back clear.
I’m now sitting very impatiently waiting for oncology appointment to discuss if I’ll need chemotherapy then definite radiotherapy then when that’s all finished a second op for the good boob to reduce to the same size as the other as at the moment I’m a nice lop sided figure!
Good luck to all waiting for results, I find it easier just to have dates to get to ( which is why things are driving me mad not having a definitive date).
I wish I’d found this site before all the waiting as you all know it’s like and as good meaning as people are unless you’ve been through this you dont know what it’s like.
carolyn
i send positive thoughts that you get to skip the chemo
good luck with your results hun x
alison
Thanks Alson I now have a possible oncology appointment next week so the end of the wait is getting nearer.
Pepihorse it’s mind blowing at times the information they give you and I’m sure I havnt listened to half if it. It’s a of putting trust in the doctors. Just from reading different threads it’s so true that no two cases are the same, which I think sometimes adds to even more confusion.
Nonsuch you are an inspiration someone who as been through it with very sound advice.
Sending positive hugs to all and off for more waiting.
Xxx