I just wanted to say thank you to you all for the all posts I’ve read this morning.
I’m 46, a widow with 2 children. I found a lump probably 6 months or so ago but sometimes it was there and sometimes I couldn’t find it so conviced myself it was my imagination. Anyway now its quite definite there as its about 7 cms in diameter (my approx measurement) So I went to my GP last Monday. He told me he was convinced it was something nasty and referred me to the local breast clinic. I went Thursday and was told again they were sure it was cancer by the size, texture and other factors. Had a biopsy Friday and go back this Thursday for the results.
It’s been a rollercoaster of emotion this week but reading here, I see its the same for everyone. I had made the mistake of googling it and found what I was reading was scaring me even more, so stopped.
Anyway, this morning, I googled breast cancer forum and ended up here, what a relief!! I’m not saying I’m not still worried but I feel more at ease and more hopeful.
I will be a definite daily visitor here while I go through this journey and I’m so grateful that I ended up here
Welcome to the Breast Cancer Care discussion forums, where I am sure you will get lots of support from your fellow forum users who have a wealth of knowledge and experience between them.
While you are waiting for replies I have put for you below links to some of BCC’s publications you may find helpful. We also have a freefone helpline here for you to access if you need to talk to someone, the staff are all either breast care nurses or people who have direct knowledge of breast care issues. Lines are open Monday - Friday 9-t and Saturday 9-2. Unfortunately the helpline isn’t open on Bank Holidays.
Everyone on here will agree, the waiting is the worst part… once you have results and know what treatment you’re having, well, I wont say its easier, but you can move on and plan. Hey, it may not be cancer! No point planning anything until you get the results … but defo have someone go with you and have a list of questions too … leave space so you or whoever can write in the replies … its amazing how much you forget and how many things you wished you’d asked. Good luck and keep us all posted xxx
Waiting is the worst bit. But as Angielav says it will get better as soon as you know what the next step is going to be.
Keep posting here, too. The ladies here are all very supportive and have a lot of experience that they can share.
Good luck.
CO
welcome to the forum. I glad you found it. As you have read all the posts you know the sort of thing I would say about waiting and worrying being terrible.
I am sorry that you are a widow. Do you have someone else you can confide in to help you through this. Are you going back for results by yourself? Some people are private and independant, but even they benefit from a second pair of ears.
Have you told the children yet?? I dont know how old they are. My daughter was visiting when i found mine so i had to tell her, and i sent the boys emails.
So now you can stop googling!!! During the waiting for results and op i was on here several times aday reading and answering and using it as an outlet for those thoughts that rush round your head.
I had a 3.5cm cyst with cancers in and around it. I found it in may. I am now on my last weeek of radiotherapy and all there is left then is the hormone tablets. So its been a 4 month disruption of my normal life. But now i have several long periods in the day when i am not reminded that I have cancer, find my self smiling and humming again and only come on here twice a day.
do keep posting and good luck over the next week waiting for those results
Big hugs to you. We all know what The Waiting Room is like. You’ve probably read all the usual words of advice - don’t google, ask anything you need to, get a notebook, bring a notetaker with you to your appointment if you can, and be kind to yourself.
I’m very glad you found the forums, I have found them a complete lifesaver over the last few months.
Good luck for your results, but even if it’s not the news you would like, we will be here to help you through whatever gets thrown at you.
hi tina, so glad you found us this forum is a real godsend, i too am a widow aged 45 with 3 grown up children 24,21 soon and 18 but the 2 younger are still so dependent bless them ( thats my fault) how old are your children ? i have my first grandchild due next week so will be an emotional rollercoaster !you take care through horrible waiting game hugs to you rachel x
a lot of us have been in that waiting room, I was there back in april. I was told several times that they thought it wasnt cancer and then was. At least in some ways, they are telling you that it is likely, and I guess in a way, a bit of preparation. All I can say is that it will be a roller coaster of a week leading up to the results, but you will be better for knowing on thursday. There are so many treatments available (if you are diagnosed with BC) and at least you know what you will be working with then. I hope you have some support and someone to talk to right now, and to share the worries that you have. It sounds like you have already had your share of bad luck with being a widow. I hope, as we all do that it is good news, but if not you have come to a very positive and caring forum, where even in the small hours of then night there are some insomniacs about!
love to you x
Hi Tina, u’ve definately come to the right place. Ur right about the waiting, we’ve all been there & it really is an awful time. Hopefully thurs will be here before u know it even if u may not want to hear what they have to say. It would be better if u can take someone with u, sometimes i think your mind goes blank & also i didn’t remember half what they said, another pair of ears is always helpful & u may need the support as well.
The helpline is brilliant if u have any questions & obviously keep posting on here with any niggles or worries. Pls let us know how u get on, take care x
thank you all for your warm and comforting words. It definitely lifted my spirits reading what I have here so far.
Rachel, my kids are 21 and 18 and like you, they are still very reliant on me. I haven’t told them yet but thought I would wait till after Thursday, when I would have more information and some answers to their questions.
I promise to let you know how I get on and am sure I will be a regular visitor here
Like you I am also new to the forum but just over the last couple of weeks everyone here has helped me so much - even when I can’t sleep at 3am, there’s usually someone around to talk to.
I guess you will have your results by now so when you’ve had time to digest it all a bit, please come back to us and I’m sure there will be many people here who will understand and support you through all this. It is very odd, but talking to people you don’t know about feelings and fears etc is a godsend because although we might have close family and friends, nothing can help as much as talking to another person who truly understands where you’re coming from.
I went for a bone scan today and CT scan tomorrow and I was feeling very anxious about it all until I bumped into a lady today who I’d met in hospital a couple of weeks ago when having our mastectomies. She was also having the same scans and she’d been told it’s routinely done when nodes are affected. Ladies on here also told me that and that helps a lot - although I’ve still got a week to wait for results so I won’t really relax until that’s over.
