Newly diagnosed and scared

[Mindymoo]

That's today I meant. Good luck today! X

[Mindymoo]

Hi Sam
So weird to think so many of us are going through this at the same time. Feeling ok today. Results tomorrow so just knowing that the waiting is nearly over feels better. Good luck on Tuesday. Please let me know how you get on. Mindyx

[Brewster]

Hi Mindy
I didn't get any of those tests. Had mammogram, prone (boobs through the hole!), core biopsies x9 then had three sentinel nodes removed which were clear.

Will be thinking of you on Wednesday, good luck

Whatever happens stay positive xxxx

[Mindymoo]

Sorry for writing such a long post! Mindyx

[Mindymoo]

Hello everyone
Thanks Helen Trish and Sam. It's comforting hearing from others. Good luck this week on Tuesday Sam. My surgeon told me that if I was going on a 2 month holiday he wouldn't tell me to cancel it. So I'm guessing it's not fast growing. I'm 51. I guess that's a good sign as they must know that it's not urgent. Personally I just want it out out out! Not that I'm impatient or anything!
The waiting is so horrible. Everyone seems to say the same. I feel sick and my heart keeps missing a beat. I was told my lump was grade 2 invasive ducal carcinoma on 29th oct. Also they found I had microcalcifications in my other breast. I have had a prone table stereotactic breast biopsy to see if they are anything to worry about. I had a hadfields procedure a year ago and the consultant said it could be scar tissue from that op. Now I'm so worried that could already be cancer even without a tumour. The nurse said the prone table stereotactic breast biopsy was to prove innocence. I also had a micro bubble test then a biopsy of the sentinel node on the breast with the tumour. The ultrasound didn't show any cancer cells in the nodes but gp says that doesn't really mean anything as this is often the case and they are seen at biopsy. I have my results of both biopsies on weds. Any similar experiences anyone? Good luck to everyone. Thanks Mindyx

[4444-pppp]

Thanks for your reply Sam, it helps hearing someone else has waited. Hope all goes well Tuesday and they treat you as soon as poss
Trish x

[Kess]

hi Trish - unless you have a very aggressive or large spread of cancer, if you are having an MX its quite normal not to have chemo first, as its quite possible the op will get all the cancer so you might not even need it depending on your pathology results. Your team will be able to advise you based on your own circumstances.

It's not surprising you are anxious - waiting is always the worst part. Hope you get your date soon and for good news for your other breast.

[Brewster]

Hi Trish
I was diagnosed on October 9th and am still waiting for surgery. I have questioned this many times and have been reassured by all consultants (and I have seen a few!) that this is perfectly ok and they are not concerned about this time delay. Obvioulsy I am ! But they have assured me several weeks won't make a difference, so I hope this offers you some reassurance. I am seeing surgeon on Tuesday and hope to have surgery in next 2 weeks for triple negative BC so this will be 6 weeks or so after biopsy amd 3 months after abnormal mammogram

Sam

[4444-pppp]

Hi all,
Newly diagnosed grade 2 which has spread to breast tissue. Waiting for other breast biopsy in 10 days time.
Can anyone tell me if this waiting time is normal as they told me I would need a masectomy so waiting 10 days to check other breast seems long time.They said they are not going to give me chemo before op for some reason. Not sure what size my lump is but feels big. Feel very anxious.
Regards Trish

[Helenbythesea]

Poor you, i was in similar place to you last year, September.
waiting, screaming inside and crying privately- yes i wa there.
use your partner, friends the breast cancer care nurses and contact MacMillan. They will all want to help and you will hear helpful stuff from them all.
At all my hosp visits i cried and couldn't speak, poor husband!
give kids what they need to know, it is the unknowns that are scary.
finally i found nights and Thursdays dreadful, ist cos it is dark and you can t get help and 2nd cos panics would build over a week...so hosp often had a call on Friday.
take care, one step at a time
Helen

[Brewster]

Sorry to hear it didn't go smooth, hope you are ok and feeling stronger now you have started treatment. I see the surgeon next tuesday with view to surgery in the next 2 weeks and then chemo after Xmas. Just want to get started really, the waiting is awful. Hope the chemo doesn't make you feel too bad. Stay strong

Sam xx

[Daffodilli]

Thank you Brewster it wasn't as smooth as I hoped but I'm now feeling human and learning that I can't continue at my usual hectic pace of life and need to rest. What is happening with you?

[Brewster]

Daffodilli, thinking of you today and hope first chemo goes as well as possible for you xxxxxxxx

[Tracy1967]

Hi Mindymoo, your body is hypersensitive right now and you'll notice every ache imaginable, I was exactly the same. I think the test you're referring to is an MRI, you lye face down and your breasts go into 2 holes for imaging. I was diagnosed back in September 2013 with invasive lobular cancer and requested a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. This was followed by FEC-T chemo, rads and now tamoxifen. I finished chemo in March 2014 and rads in May 2014. At the start of my diagnosis I was so scared and felt like my treatment would take forever but I can honestly say the time went so quickly. Once you have your treatment plan you'll have a direction and won't feel so helpless.

Wishing all you newly diagnosed ladies a speedy recovery, stay brave and positive, you will beat this horrible disease.

Love to you all Tracy XXX

[Mindymoo]

Thank you so much everyone. It's so nice to talk to people who understand. One day at a time is very good advice and I think I've got to learn to do that. Xx

[Daffodilli]

Thank you butterfly for the positive reply. My ca is 5cm and it seems impossible that it hasn't spread at the moment. It helped to see that someone else has come through this.

[Daffodilli]

Hi mindymoo
I'm getting my 'has it spread to the lymph nodes and the news of the other breast' results on Thursday. I had my MRI today. I've still got have a full body CT scan next Sunday. Keep strong.

[Butterfly318]

Morning Mindymoo and Daffodil

Just wishing you both a good weekend and try to take one day at a time with all the information you get at appointments.  I used to write things down but then still used to telephone the Breast Care Nurse to go back through things.  My initial diagnosis was October 2012 and like you girls a huge shock. 6.5cm invasive ductal had Chemotherapy first then surgery then radiotherapy.  It is difficult with children, my Son is 24 and a Specialist Renal Nurse who has bravely dressed mastectomy scars etc for me.  My initial panic on diagnosis was my boy is going to get married and i wont be there  (to say i was cross is an understatement).  After my initial panic i took the treatment one thing at a time and in August this year i had reconstruction surgery to right breast, mammogram to left breast currently showing NED (no evidence of disease).  Had 18months now of my ten years Tamoxifen.

Nobody can tell you girls not to worry 'cos you are going too. I can only tell you it does get easier as treatment starts you will feel that you are doing something positive and the more information you have the better it feels.  Please feel free to ask anything at all on this site, if its a delicate subject or has names etc somebody will PM (personal message) you.  Remember every diagnosis is different.  

Take Care girls and keep posting.  Have a good weekend.  Gilly x

[Sharbansh]

Try and take one day at a time ,easy for me to say,did you have to wait a week to get your results,it was the longest week of my life,had mammogram ultrasound and biopsy then could not wait any longer and called them on the fifth day which they had my results!i suffer from depression and anxiety and this does not help when you are awaiting results xx

[Mindymoo]

Thank you daffodil. I know I'm lucky having such a strong family to lean. It must be so hard being a single mum and it sounds like it is quite new. Hoping you have friends and family close by. Good luck when your treatment starts on Monday. Do you mind me asking what the outcome was of the biopsy you had done on the breast with calcifications? Xx

[Daffodilli]

Hi Mindymoo
I understand your fears and dark thoughts in the middle if the night. My path is similar to yours I have invasive ductal carcinoma but mine is big so I start chemo on Monday and I'm scared. I also had calcification in the other breast and had to have the biopsies done in the way you described. It wasn't to bad I had to lie still for a while a bit of local anaesthetic and then very similar to the first biopsy I had. I really didn't feel it that much.
I find that I'm bring given so much information but all I can think of is will I be here for my son who is 12 I'm a single mum as of this year. I too am waiting to find out if mine has spread and it scares me. Lean on your family and friends let them carry you through. Everyone says that this waiting is the worst bit once you start treatment you start to focus on getting through this.
I'm now on the thread going through treatment on November starters. It's difficult but try not to think to far ahead it messes with your sanity in a big way. Lots of people get through this and we have to believe that we will too.
Big hugs

[Jo_BCC]

Hi Mindymoo

Welcome to the BCC discussion forums where I am sure you will get lots of good, honest support from the many informed users of this site.  If there's anything you need to ask, just ask there's always someone here to help either other users or our helpline staff who are just a free phone call away and here to support you through this.  Calls to the helpline are free, 0808 800 6000 lines open weekdays 9-5 and Saturdays 10-2.

I have put for you below links to a couple of BCC's publications I hope will help you along.

http://www2.breastcancercare.org.uk/publications/diagnosed-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-you-diagnosis...

http://www2.breastcancercare.org.uk/publications/diagnosed-breast-cancer/medikidz-explain-breast-can...

http://www2.breastcancercare.org.uk/publications/diagnosed-breast-cancer/resource-pack-primary-early...

Take care,

Jo, Moderator

[Mindymoo]

Hi

I know this is breast cancer care but I feel like a fraud being here and I think it's cos I just can't believe I have become a member of this special club. And everything hurts! It's probably not even real pain and nothing to do with my diagnosis but I just can't help my thoughts running away with me. Every twinge I think it's spread already. I suppose I'm
just reaching out to others who may be also newly diagnosed or who have been through it for some comfort.

Just briefly, or not as the case may be! I found a lump, GP, one stop breast clinic, biopsy and doc said very suspicious and 80% chance it was cancer. After a confusing and horrid weeks wait it was confirmed on weds invasive ductal carcinoma. Even though I had prepared myself it was such a shock for hubby and I. Feel so detached sometimes as if it's not real and other times crying. Keeping busy but can't turn my brain off.

Today we told the kids, 4 aged 13 to 24. It felt so painful to bring cancer into their lives with all the worry it brings. We are a close family and we will get through it but like everyone it's a club we didn't want to join. Every one sounds so brave here and I don't feel brave at the moment I just feel scared and actually a bit hopeless.

And now it's the middle of the night and I can't sleep. I'm having bubbles (sorry I don't know the technical terms yet!) in the nodes on Monday to see if it's in the lymph nodes. Ultra sound didn't show it. Does it mean it's very unlikely they'll find it's spread? Also Ultra sound found I had crystals? in my other breast and and I have to have a prone table biopsy on my left breast on Tuesday. Has anyone had this done? The lady that booked the appointment didn't really know anything about it apart from I lie on my tummy and my boob goes through a hole?? And I am lying awake because my left boob with crystals is really aching and under my arm and down my arm and I'm panicking that it has already spread and that's why it's hurting. I had a Hadfields procedure a year ago in the crystal breast so doc and Macmillan nurse said it could be scar tissue and it's very common but it doesn't stop me worrying.

Sorry for whining on and writing so much. Thank you for taking the time to read my moaning and hope to hear from someone soon. Thanks xx