Last Wednesday I had a sentinel node biopsy and lumpectomy for breast cancer. I am now waiting the results and am really worried and am not coping very well with the wait. Dr. says that he will phone through the results and so I am really on edge with it. Does anyone know how long these results typically take to come through?
I would really appreciate also hearing from anyone who has gone through this, and what you do to get through the anxiety. I am recently diagnosed and just want to know that people survive.
Hi Yvetteh,
So Sorry to hear of your recent DX ,but welcome to the forums where you will get lots of support and advice.
I was DX with BC in July 2007 and like you i had a WLE and SNB, i waited 2 weeks for my results of the Op and had clear margins and clear nodes thankfully. Because my tumour was 2.3cm and grade 3 i had chemo followed by 23 Rads and am now on Tamoxifen for 5 yrs , and am doing ok.
Im a bit surprised that your Doc says he will phone your results through, as they usealy like to discuss results with you face to face, hopefully you should hear within 2 weeks though did they give you an appointment to go back to see your consultant? if not you could give them a ring and ask when you might expect the results to be in. ofen ive found with scan results that they are in quite quickly but am waiting for the appointment to see the consultant.
I know how very scarey it is to be DX with breast cancer but treatments have come a long way even in the past 2 yrs ,just try and take things one step at a time and dont read too much on the internet as it can be a scarey place and is not always very accurate. Once you get a treatment plan in place things will get better i promise,the waiting is always the worst bit, keep comeing on here to chat or rant as youll get lots of support from all the lovely ladies here who all know what you are going through.
All the very best
Take care
Lindiloo x
I think if you know when to expect them back - say within 2 weeks - it will help re the anxiety - otherwise every day you will be on edge waiting for a call and half of them will probably be people asking if you have had the result! Ask them to go on the side of caution though. I was told I would get an appointment for mine within a week of op and I still haven’t had that appointment over 3 weeks later although I was given my results by phone because I had convinced myself that because they hadn’t given me the appointment it was because the news was bad. In fact it was because the department seems to be understaffed and the right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing. I had a WLE and nodes removed and the results were clear margins and nodes. Just waiting for my appointment and treatment plan now. Take care and I hope your results are good. LooLoo x x
Hi Yvetth
I know exactly how you feel. I had a routine mammogram which showed a small lump which was found to be cancer. In March I had the tumour and 4 nodes removed. Unfortunately 2 of them showed cancer cells and a couple of weeks ago I had all the nodes removed which proved to be clear. I am now waiting for oncology appointment.
At first I thought I could cope on my own but the constant “it will be 2 weeks for the results” started to drive me slightly insane. I think the waiting does this because you don’t feel in control of your own life anymore. I joined this community because I couldn’t cope on my own and I needed to talk and rant to people who know what I am going through. Believe me, it does get better. You will have days where you burst into tears at the slightest thing - there’s nothing wrong with that. You will have days when everything seems possible - I have to be careful of those days- that’s when I usually end up overdoing things, but you will have more of those as time goes on, especially if you come on here and talk to some of the lovely ladies who are just like you. If you need to rant & throw your toys out of the pram - you go for it - I do. I have been told that you find an inner strength and it’s true - you’re a lot stronger than you think you are. You WILL get though this and if I can help in any way, just ask
Sending you a big hug Estelle xx
Hi Yvetth,
it seems to be different in every area! I had WLE and node removal and waited 2 weeks for results was given my appointment as I left hospital. 4 nodes were tested and 2 infected so they removed 21 in all. But I have to go back in for op for a ‘clear margin’! Bit of a pain, but each time you have to wait and it is awful, the waiting is the worse but hang on in there and come on here, its been a lifeline!
love Debs xxxx
Hi Yvette, The waiting is THE WORST !!! No two ways about it.
I had lumpectomy and sentinal node biopsy on the 23rd Feb and was lucky that got results 10 days later, even more lucky to have clear margins and no spread. Had my first rads today and there is def light at the end of the tunnel. Once you know where you are at with your results it does make things a whole lot easier and you will always find plenty support and help on here,keep chatting and good luck.
Big hugs.
Sandra x
Hello Yvette,
I actually got my results (clear margins and nodes) when I went for my post op check up 8 days after surgery, but I had been told before surgery that they wouldn’t be back then and I’d have to go the following week to get them! As everyone says, the waiting is the worst part because until you have them you don’t know what comes next.
Hope you don’t have long to wait and good luck for when you do get them.
Eliza xx
That’s brilliant news, Eliza - clear nodes means you have a great prognosis.
Morning Yvette
The waiting is just awful isnt it. I waited 3 weeks for my results after WLE and nodes. One was infected and I was devastated.
But 18 months on I’m feeling good, living life to the full, love my new hair and all the wonderful BC ladies I’ve met on this journey. Keeping everything crossed that your nodes are clear and they dont keep you waiting much longer!!!
Love from Judy x
Hello Yvette,
Think everyone here has said it all, really - the waiting IS awful, but the support on here, and the understanding really helps. I had an appt about 10 days post op, but, Easter meant the results were delayed. Did get them a few days later though, by phone.
Estelle, forgot about that feeling of not being in control! Yes, spot on, particulary difficult if you are a bit of a control freak like me! Once you know what the plan is - it really does feel better, doesn’t it?
Yvette, look after yourself, don’t forget you have had an op + anaesthetic, as well as the stress involved in getting this far. Estelle is right when she says not to overdo things, take it steady. Come on here, ask questions, rant, rave - whatever you need.
Lizzie XX
Hi Yvette,
Just wanted to echo what the other ladies have already said. The waiting sure is the worst but once you have your treatment plan you do tend to get your head down and get on with it, the inner strength we have is amazing. I had bilateral WLE in Oct last year found 1 Sentinel node with disease so had lymph nodes removed from one side, all clear which I felt I had won the lottery when told. This site was my saviour and even though all chemo and rads over now I still look to this site and have made lots of friends. Have more good than bad days now, in fact very few bad days and have just finished rads last month. Shout,scream,laugh and cry but most of all take one day at a time, you WILL get there.
Love
Brenda
Hi Yvette - waiting is the torture…definately!! That time of uncertainty is horrible, one minute you think one thing next something different, have a good day or two then a crap day where you feel you’re back to square one. I think after my wle and nodes I concentrated - if I could - on resting and getting better, it flew by in retrospect now because I had an infection which meant I was going for checks etc and ended up getting my results after a week - completely by mistake - as far as I was concerned I was going to have my seroma drained if it needed it but the cons thought I had come for results so had spent time rounding them up from the lab etc - I then went home having found out there had been clear margins but one node involved which put me down for chemo, so a bit of a shock…just keep chatting on here, you’ll find others who are at a similar stage etc and you all help each other - where are you from Yvette? mary x
Hi know just you feel as had my op on 30 April for lumpectomy and lymph nodule,have to wait till 14 May for results ,but aleast we have started out treatment and where on our way.
I look lovely in my little liberty bodice they gave me to wear and beautiful white stockings.
Keep going, where all in this together and yes we will get to the end of the treatment it may just take a little while.
Keep us informed how you get on and so will i.
Take care
Love Lynne
Hi you ladies have made me feel that I’m not on my own, I’m waiting for sentinel node results, today I think has been the worse day and its all because my appointment has been moved forward ( 3rd June ). I’m thinking the worse all the time. I’ve had all sorts of mood swings today, and thought I could cope with it, so only joined todaYou all you ladies make me feel I’m not alone. Thank you,
Good luck to all you brave ladies, love Becky
Hi…
I had a lumpectomy on the 29th May and q ouple of nodes removed. My scanbefore showed a 2cm tumourin my left boob and nothing in my nodes, although one was swollen.
I am now waiting for my results which I am told should be this Thursday.
You have to try & keep positive, its difficult and I know we all have bad days.
Its always something that happens to someone else…
Try and plan different things to do in your day and stick with doing them. Write a diary about what you did, who you saw and how you felt.
Look at trying a new hobby… Im sure who have been told all this before but I have found its a great help. Im even buying a book to help me learn to play my sons guitar that I found in the loft last week.
Chin up ladies… after all we have a moon lit walk to do next year. xxx
I have just joined today and had the same Surgery last Tuesday,I have an appointment on Thursday this week to find out the Pathology results.I have gone through a complete roller coaster of emotions since the initial visit to my GP back in March who sent me away saying I just had an infection.I went back and demanded that I be refered and was diagnosed on the 2nd May with Breast Cancer,I have since had lumpectomy and senitol node removed. The waiting is driving me insane,I am working from home which has helped me cope better to be honest.I have everything crossed for Thursday as the node had shown negative in the Ultra sound and the MRI scan. Yes you do find an inner strength that you don’t know you have and I am thankful for that as I don’t know how else I would do to get through this xx
Hello,
Jus thought i would write to say i’m so glad this site exists as i think i’m going mad and don;t know what to do with myself!
I have been on here previously in the section ‘Do i have BC’ as i wasw still waiting for my GP appointment. I had a Mammogram, Ultrasound and Core Biopsy last tuesday and was told by the specialist that the lump was suspicious and almost certainly BC, to say i was shocked is an understatement and i still don’t think it has fully sunk in! Since then i have been in limbo as my appointment for my results is tomorrow. Although i know my results will show BC i still can’t come to terms with it, i’m 42 and never thought this would happen, although i’m sure it is completely normal to feel like this My son is trying to be supportive, he’s 23 and i know he’s terrified so i can’t show too much in front of him, but i live on my own so when i get home from work i constantly cry and think this is it for me, i just want my life back:( I have also just started a new relationship with a lovely guy but don;t want to say anything yet, who wants a woman they may lose in a couple of years or someone who had to go through treatment, i know i sound totally selfish as all ou ladies on here are so brave but i just don’t think i can, i lost my mum to cancer 2 years ago and only just getting used to life without her (if ever you can)and the thought that my son may lose me as well is terrifying me:( Sorry to moan, hopefully things will become clearer when i see my treatment plan tomorrow, but to top everything off i’m feeling pain everywhere and am convinced it has spread already:(
Sorry ladies, thanks again for all your lovely feedback on your own experiences its the only thing keeping me sane 
x
Hi cazza
I am sorry to read that you are feeling so low, please feel free to call our helpliners to talk things through, lines open weekdays 9-5 and Sat 10-2 on 0808 800 6000
Take care
Lucy