Hi,
Yesterday I had my appointment at the breast clinic. I wont go into too much detail, but the consultant sent me for an ultrasound. All was normal until the tech scanned over the area where I felt the lump (the reason for the appt) and the room went silent. After some time she said that she could see something she knew wasn’t a cyst but also couldn’t tell me it wasn’t cancer. She did 3 biopsies and inserted a clip and then sent me for a mammogram. After this, I was seen by the consultant again who told me that the lump I can feel is about 6cm but isn’t what they are concerned about..behind the lump is a 2cm lesion which is what they are concerned about. She showed me the mammogram and ultrasound pictures and showed me the lesion (this was really helpful to see!), but didn’t give me any indication that it was good news. She did confirm that my lymph nodes in my armpit were clear. However, she and the nurse kept telling me that it was small, local and early so very treatable. Why would this be said unless they were 100% convinced it is cancer.
I got given a letter with an appointment on for my results, its 21st May and they told me to bring someone.
I guess my questions are, given they are very experienced, can they tell if something is cancer before the biopsy results come back and is it standard practice for them to give you an appointment for your results there and then?
I’m sorry you’re going through this. Just before my diagnosis - waiting for results, then just after - waiting for a treatment plan & further pathologies, were the worst parts.
I think everywhere is slightly different, but my process was fairly similar - just with slightly less information. None of the clinical staff gave me any indication either way, and I didn’t ask because I knew they wouldn’t give a definitive answer. The only thing I got was a ‘Good luck’ from the nurse as I left, which made me spiral into ‘why do I need luck???’. I think they can have a very strong suspicion, but it’s important for them to wait on the biopsy.
I was given my follow up date a couple of days later rather than there and then, but again clinics will all be slightly different. If they’ve done a biopsy, they’ll know you’ll need the results so I wouldn’t read too much into the fact they organised the appointment straight away.
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Thank you for your reply. I definitely am ‘spiralling’ waiting for the appointment. I didn’t ask either but the way she kept repeating the same thing was concerning me and when I went into the room to be shown my scan pics the other nurses in the room sort of went silent and didn’t really look at me.
Oh! saying good luck would’ve knocked me sick! I am not sure where you are in your journey but hope all is well and thank you
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Hi
I guess they can never be 100% sure that a lump is cancer until the pathologist looks at it under the microscope but their experience tells them that it’s highly likely.
The consultant I saw at the initial breast clinic appointment did actually say “it is breast cancer” but that we’d have to wait for the biopsy pathology to know any details. I’d gone by myself to the clinic and when he called me back in after the ultrasound and biopsy etc the first thing he said was “are you on your own today or is there someone waiting with you who you’d like to come into the room ?” I knew when he said that that he was going to tell me it was cancer.
And yes, it is usual for them to give you an appointment to discuss the results. They know how long the path lab takes to look at the biopsies and send them the results.
Hope that clarifies things for you. The waiting for results is hard and can create a lot of anxiety. Its good to “get it off your chest” either on forums such as this or the MacMillan one or you can speak to Breast Care Nurses from Breast Cancer Now or use their Someone Like Me service.
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Hello,
Thanks so much for your reply. Yes, the consultant asked if my husband was still waiting for me and I said no and they said to make sure he is with me at my results appointment.
It is good to know that giving you appointments there is the norm.
Thanks so much, hope all is well with you