Waiting so hard

Recently diagnosed for the 3rd time with breast cancer.
My surgery date is 24th oct lumpectomy wire guided and sentinel lymph node removal.
Very nervous about the wire insertion i didnt have that before.
How do you keep yourself calm when waiting. It has been 5 weeks since being called in 4 weeks since my biopsy and then was 3 weeks for my results so has been quick but just feels i have been under this stress for so long.
Any tips would be appreciated

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I had a wire guided lumpectomy too with sentinel node removal. This was in 2019. I heard that the injection to find the nodes was extremely painful. I called the nurse navigator and she reassured me the new dye was not painful and she was correct. The injection was no problem at all. Very quick. The wire, the radiologist allowed me to stay seated at the mammogram unit, no pain with it either. They tape you well so the wire doesn’t move before surgery. It was a lot of worry on my part for no reason. I wish you well. I hope my experience helps relieve a bit of anxiety.

Hi Jolow
I am so sorry you are going through this again.
You will be nervous. I cant offer you advice on the surgery as I am stage 4. But having anxiety I understand. I know its hard, try to take one day at a time, doing something you like, treating yourself to something. Its trying to keep busy as you wait. Thats one thing i have always said to my oncologist the waiting is shocking for anxiety. Do you like reading, i find that takes my mind of a lot of things. My kids keep me busy too. I hope you have family support, catching up with friends for coffee if you feel up to it, will help. Your medical team should also offer counselling as that can help with anxiety just talking to someone who isnt close to you so you can vent in how you feel. Three times sweetie having cancer, you are amazing and strong :muscle: you will get through this again. I hope other ladies can give you more advice, this is a wonderful site. Takecare Sister you are in my thoughts and all the best for your operation, here if you need to chat too 🩷

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Hoping it’s third time lucky for you :crossed_fingers::crossed_fingers:
I had guide wire insertion , doesn’t seem to be standard now . It was like having a core biopsy - wire inserted whilst having mammogram guiding the technician , very uncomfortable and could have done without it when already every anxious about my op but I was in theatre very quickly after . Lots of hurdles to jump but hopefully worth the exertion !

Hi lovely. I had wires put in both breasts (lucky me) and didn’t feel a thing. Better than the biopsies I reckon. Best of luck x

Thank you everyone is so hard to do it again i think having those 2 procedures and surgery on the same day is daunting. The other procedures are early in the morning but surgery not until the afternoon so going to be a long day. Needs must i suppose but the anxiety is definitely getting to me xx

Hi Jolow
I had a wire guided lumpectomy and sentinel node removal in 2018. I too was anxious about the wire insertion, but it was fine and well taped up.
Not sure why they use the wire for some people and not others - is it because of the size or position of the tumour?
Good luck for your treatment and hope all goes well.

Hello there, I know how you feel about the waiting, I can confirm like others that the wire insertion should not be painful at all. As for axxiety, try calming methods - I found I could not concentrate to read but I have found audio podcasts and books are great, not least that they send you to sleep sometimes. Your local library probably offers a service for free Calle BorrowBox where you can chose and download any number of books. I used the all through 16 weekly chemo sessions and yes, I did find I had to rewind as I kept falling asleep because they relaxed me. There are also meditation/calming apps that you can download and they also help. Good luck Jolow, you will get through it. Lots of positive love to you :heart:

Thank you everyone it all helps. Less nervous of the dye injection and wire insertion. Have downloaded some calming music weightless marconi Union probably fall asleep now and miss picking my husband up from the station

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