Awaiting biopsy results

[TeaP]

ladybowler
Helena, thank you for replying. The community spirit and shared knowledge/experience has been an eye opener.
Not so cold here now (Essex), may even venture out for a good long dog assisted ramble! And then it will be back in here to read about vacuum assisted biopsies 😉
Tracey

[TeaP]

Ladybowler.
Another milestone to aim for... glad you have your dates and are going forward on this journey with hope and positivity. Gawd I never thought I'd be writing that in this kind of forum! It's really opened my eyes as to the positive support one can get from 'Internet sources. And quite empowering as a result. Not long to start your sessions now! X

[TeaP]

Kristiem
thank you so much; I did sleep rather well! Now crossing all fingers/toes they can squeeze me in asap so I can really 'settle' this starfish/lodger once and for all. The op can't be any worse than the previous biopsies - and even if it is I am thankful if is just that. I know exactly how the 'short of patience' took over last week but your appointment is nearly here and hopefully you'll get a good outcome too. And then sleep well, of course. xx

[Kristiem]

So so happy for you what a huge relief best to have it removed get rid of anything that could turn into something, bet you had an amazing nights sleep, good luck with the op wishing you a speedy recovery and to ladybowler well done on the first step of taking tamoxifen my mum has them took her a while to get used to but alls well now. I've thrown myself into running to keep me focused and busy gives me a bit of me time and to clear my head, have to say I feel myself short on patience at the moment and little things I find irritating, the next week cannot go quick enough. Keep safe and well ladies xx

[TeaP]

Aww thank you Ladybowler x

He was very kind - the ''hmms'' were reassuringly human and made me think he was hearing my questions and answering honestly. It's as good as all clear for me... a lumpy thing that will be removed and 'banished'. If i've learnt one thing from this scary fortnight it's The Screening Programme works. First ever mammo, recall and triple assessment with a marker left in situ and plan made in under 21 days. The second thing I've learnt is that whilst there's follow up snipping to be done I am very very fortunate; there are some truly postive brave and gutsy people in this forum who are dealing with their far greater needs and fears with grace and kindness.  Positivity has to win over. The disease (s) can shred you, change you and challenge you. But it's one day, one thing, at a time.

Very well done you. It really is one day, one trial, at a time. Today Tamoxifen, tomorrow rest and Wednesday will be.. Wednesday. I'm off to sleep (properly, at last) now. Hope you also get a good night's rest and wake up knowing it's going to be helping. xx

[TeaP]

Kristiem and Ladybowler

Phew. I think... Results are in. Still a bit gobsmacked at the speed of this 'thing' but it seems I have fibrous changes associated to a radial scar with ''hmm'' some necrosis and ''hmm'' no it's not benign but it's ''hmm not cancer/malignant'' based on the information thus far. The ''hmm'' were the very nice consultant's measured response to my questions, bless him. Will be having this little (ish) ''not-cancer'' but ''not benign'' starfish out by wire assisted excision at some point soon. My understanding is that there may be a very low risk associated with these 'scars' of developing problems later and/or difficult to say for certain that it may not be hiding cancerous cells so get it out in day stay under local anaesthetic as soon as. Possibly 23 December but unsure as to wether they'll be doing a full clinic that day so whilst they have spaces at this time it may be after Chrimbo. But it's got to come out, so that's good enough for me! It would be the best Christmas pressie, actually.

OK so it's a ''some say'' risk for the future/possibly a risk but it's an unwelcome lodger and will be evicted soon. And the door well and truly shut in it's face as far as I'm concerned (pathology will review it when they've got it out). Obviously the above is not a medical report but results are in and it will be out.

Hoping you receive similar good news/positive outcome, Kristiem.

Thank you both for the support, it was very much appreciated and helped me focus on the positive

Tracey xx

[Kristiem]

Teap
Keeping everything crossed for a good outcome today please let us know how you get on, thinking of you x

[TeaP]

Ladybowler - thank you for the reply- yes am taking my Mum along - she's pragmatic and very practically minded (as well as being My Mum). (I'm not 'young', I'm 50). Did have offers from close work pals but suspected I'd feel more 'vulnerable' to feeling a bit of a wuss with them, whereas with Mum she's used to my way of coping with things and how I react to things (good old denial, joke and followed by good old pragmatic ''get on  with it then-ness''. Don't actually feel anxious, as such. Just a bit worried and a bit angry, but that's normal in such instances surely. As for questions; I haven't got any particular ones as convinced it will be ''nothing to worry about''. Ha. A good outcome, as you say. But I am prepared to ask once I know what they say, if needed. Am a bit shocked as to the speed of this really, although being 'in the trade' - ie nhs - know full well it's linked to targets and waiting times hence the fast recall and result appt included in that recall/screen window. Just need to keep my mind positively engaged and occupied until tomorrow afternoon. xx

[TeaP]

I'm back in tomorrow for biopsy results (a week after the recall/2nd stage screening appt). Keeping self busy today cleaning/clearing out understairs cupboard. No, hadn't noticed anything at all, let alone a lump. They found puckering/dimpling inside / on mammogram. I'd convinced myself I must have moved or it was just a poor image; never noticed or felt anything unusual at all. After the biopsies and various scans the next day could see an indentation in the exact area - only because the surrounding area was so swollen/bruised a bit though. Am also wishing I'd asked the breast care nurse who says she'll be with me tomorrow for appointment more questions. Was in shock, I think, and doing my best to get away before they decided to stick more things in. It is awful, yes. But it's out of my control so am trying to tell myself to stop thinking about things I have no control over, and that it's probably nothing at all and completely normal to be distracted, worried and a tad neurotic. In fact think this denial approach is working so going back under the stairs in a minute 😉 Good luck to you, we are normal xx

[Kristiem]

Hi Ann I hope you are well and thank you for your reply, the not knowing I think is the worst as I am going over every possible scenario in my head as I'm sure you did too, I think it's a good idea to avoid Google too I have had a little look but I know the only answer I'm going to get is from the results next week, trying to be strong and positive, some days are harder than others, doing the countdown 8 more sleeps! Best wishes to you x

[Kristiem]

It's awful isn't it ? When do you get your results, do you have a lump ? I'm doing exactly the same going through the conversations picking over every morsal wishing I'd asked the dreaded question 'is it likely to be cancer ?' Even though I probably wouldn't have got an answer, it's driving me nuts, I'm trying to keep myself busy to keep my mind off things, but there it is niggling away in the back of my mind, my mum has had it ,had the lump removed,radiotherapy and has had the all clear, they said what she had wasn't hereditary but you never know. Hope everything is OK with you and thanks for your reply it has made me realise my feelings are normal and I am not the only one. Good luck xx

[TeaP]

Me too, Kristiem, (waiting for results, that is). Had my first mammo, recalled within 10 days and went along thinking was simply a poor image or some such nonsense as had no signs of anything. Within minutes of meeting radiographer was told that they'd found 'something' and would probably do ultrasound after mammo - then it was the biopsies and more mammo with another appointment made for a week after! I've been reading all manner of stuff (in here, not just random web searches) and thinking back to the recall last week trying to remember every little nuance of conversation look on their faces etc. So yes, not knowing and waiting is awful. But I'm telling myself that the recall after screening was exactly the right thing to do, and that if they have picked up something it's being looked at and when i get the results they'll let me know and if needed do whatever they need. Well, I'm telling myself that every time I start to worry a bit more 😉 Hope you're doing ok and can find some solace/peace from your worrying in the meanwhile.

[ann-m]

Hi Kristie,

The anxiety surround this situation is the pits, but you will get through it.

Thankfully, something has been picked up which needs further clarification, it is being dealt with & mostly, all turns out to be well.

If it is more serious, then the sooner it is dealt with the batter, bc is very treatable these days, with one of the best recovery rates.

When I was at your stage, I coped by going into a bit of a denial & keeping myself distracted. Avoiding google is also a good idea as it can make anxiety worse. If you feel you need more info, then use this site or the helpline.

Statistically, most women get the all clear.

ann x

[Kristiem]

Hi I went for a mammogram after finding a lump in right breast which turned out to be a cyst but they 'found something' on left breast mammogramed twice ultrasound and biopsy. Not given me any clues just got to go out of my mind with worry for 2 weeks. Just wondering if there's no lump and it is cancer will it be early stages or could it be advanced the not knowing is awful