Diagnosed with breast cancer last night

[Sarmori]

Thanks for the reassurance Ann - fingers crossed that mine goes the same way. I'm feeling better now I have a date for surgery. Sarah xx

[Sarmori]

Jill - thanks for your reply. My surgery is in just over two weeks which I am sure will seem like forever.  I'm glad the recovery seems pretty quick although I've decided to make sure that I don't rush back to work too soon because I've got a tendency to overdo it!  I'm feeling much less anxious about it spreading since seeing the specialist today. Regards, Sarah x

[Suzie22]

I really wish you all well
With your treatment, I'm now making it my mission to really generate some money towards breast cancer research xx

[Sarmori]

Michelle - thanks for sharing your experience. The 'what if' thoughts are the worst part of this - I'm managing to keep them under control most of the time, but now and again they get away from me! Sarah xx

[Sarmori]

Suzie - glad to see on the other thread that things turned out well x

[Sarmori]

Thanks for your note Caroline.  I met with the surgeon today and he explained more about the sentinel node biopsy and the treatments following surgery so I'm feeling a bit less concerned that the cancer will have spread and they won't have picked it up. My surgery will be on 6 July so just over two weeks to wait. 

I know what you mean about not really wanting to join this forum - I sort of felt like I shouldn't post anything until I was actually diagnosed in case it influenced the result!! But it is great to get advice and reassurance from people who really know what you are going through, so thank you for that. Regards, Sarah

[ann-m]

hi Samori, my situation was very similar to yours, a small bc, thankfully picked up by routine screening. I had a 'wide local excision' (wle) & snb. Fortunately, the tumour was removed with clear margins & the nodes were clear, As there was - quote - 'no evidence of metastatic disease,' I did not have any further investigations, which I feel absolutely fine about.
Initial diagnosis is always the worst time, but the team will do all the necessary investigations to get the best treatment plan for you.
take care
ann
x

[Jill1998]

Hi S,welcome to the forum.I think they are supposed to schedule surgery within 31 days of diagnosis although obviously it could be sooner ,my surgery was 3(what felt like very long )weeks after diagnosis .You need to allow yourself a week or so for recovery ,although I was out and about within a day or so.I don't think they routinely do scans .I think everyone has that anxiety re spread but they have a pretty good idea from the results of your nose biopsy how likely that it(in the vast majority of women first diagnosed with breast cancer the cancer will not have spread outside the breast).Jill

[Mumoftwo]

Hi Sarmori, I'm so sorry you've found yourself on here, it is a huge shock isn't it it, but how great that your lump has been found whilst small. I don't know the answer to your question as all cases are different, but in my case I had an MRI only because my lump did not show up on the mammogram due to having dense breast tissue. My nodes were clear so it was felt that the chance of any cells moving around my body was small. I have to say that I would have liked a whole body scan just to be sure but this would not pick up on small cells anyway so would probably have been a waste of time. I do get the "what if..." thoughts every now and again which I have to quash before they take over! I hope things goes well for you. Mchelle xx

[Suzie22]

Hi, I'm 32 and have a 5 and 3 year old and I get my results this evening so I will be pretty much in the same boat as you, might be nice if we keep in touch and share our journey together being 1 day apart x

[Caroluna]

Hi Sarmori

Welcome to the forum that no one wants to join... 

You've had a big shock but you have come to the right place for support and kindness,  I can't answer your question but maybe phone the helpliners or email you question to a Breast Cancer Care nurse in the morning, they are best placed to give medical advice ( and are so kind and gentle). Or ask when you go to clinic tomorrow. 

Try to stay away from google, I'm sure it should have a health warning ...causes anxiety, stress and confusion!  

Hope you get the information you need and try to do lots of slow breathing to take your stress down a bit, and I will too to get mine down!

Come back and tell us how you get on, night and all best wishes, Caroline

[Sarmori]

Hello,

This is my first post, although I have been reading posts on other threads that have helped me get my head round this over the last few days. 

Last night i had had the results from my biopsy - I have a 14mm lump in my left breast which is malignant.  I've been told that I would need a lumpectomy with a sentinel node biopsy and radiation (possibly chemotherapy depending on the results from surgery). I had a bit of a meltdown just before my biopsy where I convinced myself it had spread everywhere (thank you Google and late night internet searching) - but other than that have been strangely calm as if it is happening to someone else. Today has been a bit surreal - I have spent the day telling family, friends, colleagues and dealing with a variety of reactions. My kids (13 &10) seemed to take it in their stride and not be too concerned although both had questions for me once they were on their own when I was saying good night. 

Ive got an appointment with a specialist again tomorrow so I'm hoping I'll get a date for surgery at that point. I've got a trip booked to Ragdale Hall on 17 July so I'm hoping that the surgery will be soon and that trip can be part of my recuperation, but I'll have to see if it fits. 

Its all all been a bit of a shock as it was picked up as part of a health screening which has only just been introduced at work, rather than me finding a lump myself - but thank goodness it was picked up while it was still pretty small. 

One question if anyone can help please - do they routinely do checks to see if the cancer has spread to other parts of your body or do they do they only do this if the sentinel node biopsy shows abnormal results?  Thanks 

 x