Probably but waiting for biopsy results

[Diddy]

Hi Helena

Thanks for your reply.

I guess I move into another chat room now. I have found this section so supportive and have made a new friend in Mgt66. She and I are continuing to communicate by email having contacted by private email via this site.

The next part of my journey is talking with friends and family. I have spoken with my older son and his wife and will speak with my younger son and his wife tomorrow when I can see them face to face.

My husband and I have discussed who we should inform and why. The fact is that I want to be very open with people in order that I can "bang the drum" so to speak about the importance of screening and the value of mammograms.

For everyone who is awaiting results I wish you good luck. Be kind to yourself and allow your feelings as they come to you. I feel so much better having had results and having a view of the way forward. Xxxx

[ladybowler]

Diddy

Couldnt have said it better myself, same with me mine was found as a result of a routine mammo last Sept, op Oct, 20 sessions of radiotherapy which finished in Jan this year and now on tamoxifen for 5 years. It was caught early, grade 1 tubular and the told me totally treatable with a very good outlook, All very doable and I am now back to my normal working routine and life in general

good luck next with your apt.

Helena xxx

[reneeromer]

Great news!!

[Diddy]

Hi M

I am so relieved for you. Thank goodness that dreadful wait is over for you.

I have had some 'good' news today in getting my results. My lesion is non invasive i.e. DCIS which requires surgery in approximately 4 weeks time followed by about 3 weeks of radiotherapy. The Specialist Nurse I saw was very upbeat and reassuring and said that having caught it so early the outcome is likely to be very positive. I will then have yearly mammograms for 5 years and that will be it.

I feel so much better for having had the results. 

I have an appointment to see the Surgeon on 19.06.17. The hospital I have been dealing with is marvellous. The speed and professionalism of the staff is amazing. Thank God for breast screening and our wonderful NHS.

To anyone else awaiting results good luck and very best wishes. Diddy xxxx

[mgt66]

I have spoken to the consultant’s secretary and she said that I didn’t need to come in for results. They have reviewed my case and I will be sent a ‘reassure and discharge’ letter. I think this means my biopsy was clear, but I can’t quite believe it until I see the letter. I also don’t know if there will be any follow up in terms of regular screening, etc, but when I get the letter I will update here in case it helps anyone else.

Meanwhile, good luck to everyone waiting for results or treatment .  

Thinking of you. M xx

[mgt66]

Hi Diddy. Sounds like you had a lovely day. I am okay. I have been keeping busy with work. I had a big wobble mid morning and phoned the hospital, and I got to talk to the consultant's secretary. She said someone will phone me tomorrow. I will be thinking of you in the morning and am hoping with every once that you get good news. Love M xx

[Diddy]

Dear M

Thank you for your lovely thoughts. I was hoping to hear from you that you are going to get your results tomorrow as well.

Have taken my Granddaughter to The Bath and West Show today which has been so lovely and took my mind away from thinking dark thoughts in trying to entertain her.

This evening however is not so good. Haven't slept at all well the last few nights. But this time tomorrow I should have an idea of what needs to be dealt with so I'm hoping to feel better by then, given that it's the fear of the unknown that is the hardest to deal with.

Take care M. I will post tomorrow. Diddy xxxx

[mgt66]

Hi D. Thank you for your support. I'm sure you are right about telling and not telling. Most of my blabs were because people wanted me to do things that I couldn't commit to, and if the news is bad I would have had to tell them anyway. I'm so sorry to hear about the problems you are having with your Dad's care. I do hope you can get him in for the assessment he needs.

I hope you get through today alright, and if I don't speak to you again before tomorrow, I will be thinking of you. M xxx

[Diddy]

Hi M.

Don't worry too much about having told several people. I am firmly of the opinion that we do it when we have to do it.

I had a book club meeting yesterday with 5 of my very best friends and prior to going I had thought that I might tell them whilst we were all together but actually when it came to it I didn't feel the need and decided I would just wait until the time feels right to speak with each of them which may be all together or singly.

I hope you have felt better today with the distractions of work. As well as work I have been having to sort out some care for my elderly Dad who is in hospital. The staff were talking about discharging him and I have had to be really assertive and insist that he goes to an assessment unit instead of going straight home to his assisted living placement which is no longer suitable for his needs. Tackling that issue has taken my thoughts elsewhere today.

Surely it can't be long before you hear when your results will be available now.. I hope you will hear on Thursday too. You are in my thoughts too M. Keep on keeping on and stay in close touch.Xxxx

[mgt66]

Hi Diddy. Sounds like your weekend was pretty up and down - me too. I think it was just a long time to fight off the thoughts. Like you with your brother I not only blurted the neighbours on Friday but then a friend on Sunday who asked if she could come over to stay next weekend with her husband and son. So after saying I would tell no-one, I have now told 7, yes 7, people who didn't need to know! Oh well.

I'm hoping that I can get back to work today and be distracted and that maybe I will hear when the results will be. Thinking of you. M xx

[mgt66]

Thank you for your kind wishes Debbie. I hope your treatment goes well and you can look forward to your holiday. M xx

[Diddy]

Thank you. I have been telling myself that breast secondaries are not usual but after a while you can't stop listening to your irrational thoughts. Thanks for your reassurance. Xxxx

[Diddy]

Thank you so much. Xxxx

[Debbie1964]

Hi diddy,  thankyou i so need my holiday . you are totally normal, i am postive most of the time, but i still have bad days when my brain goes into overdrive, i think its to be expected, thats what i tell myself, were all human with many emotions in us, its not morbid at all,  were on a rollercoaster ride , wishing you the very best of luck for thursday xxxx

[ann-m]

Hi Diddy,

Yes, it's quite normal for the mind go into overdrive, it is the anxiety & uncertainty of waiting.

I've never heard of bc arising as a 'secondary' from a primary cancer somewhere else & don't really see how this can happen so try & let that thought go. 

From your original post, it looks like the very worst that could happen, is that you may get a very early, totally treatable bc & it may not even come to that.

do take care everybody

ann x

[Diddy]

So pleased for you Debbie. It is so encouraging to hear from someone who has come through to the other side of results and feeling so upbeat. I do hope you have a lovely holiday.

I must say that I had been coping pretty well but am declining as time passes. I keep feeling sick and have convinced myself that I have a primary somewhere and that the breast lesion is a secondary. Roll on Thursday morning although I am sure that when it comes I will wish it hadn't.

Sorry to sound so negative. I hope I am being normal and not becoming utterly morbid.

[ladybowler]

Debbie

Thats is sooo good to hear, yay lucky you not long to wait before your holiday xxx

[Debbie1964]

I am doing good thankyou helena, i am starting hormone treatment on wednesday, zoladex injections, and letrozole daily, am going on holiday 1rst of july for 2 weeks, yayyyyy cant wait lol, and mt op is booked in 25th of july, then its back to the waiting game for me lol, but all is positive now my team are happy for me to have my holiday, nicecto have that to focus on. 

Debbie xx

[ladybowler]

Debbie

What a lovely supportive post for those ladies who are going through what you have already been through 🙂

How you are you doing?

Helena x

[Debbie1964]

I would like to wish you ladies all the very best for your results, i am about 4 weeks infront of you, and i remember the week waiting for biopsey results felt like a month, and when the day finally come, i actually then wished i could of had another week to wait, but so glad you all got checked , if anything is found we are fortunate we have screening and is caught early, i have everything crossed for you , and will check in and see how you are all doing, hugs to you all xx

[Diddy]

Thank you for your kind thoughts and help. Xxxx

[ladybowler]

Diddy

This is the most difficult time but it will get better.  The trouble is that our emotions are so high at times like this that the slightest thing can trigger us, dont worry it will all sort itself out.

Sending you a little hug and hope it helps xxxx

[Diddy]

Hi M

Sorry you weren't feeling so good yesterday. Hope you are much better now.

I have had a good weekend so far until this evening when I have had a little melt down. Just out of the blue. Stresses and strains of waiting I suppose. Had a barbecue with friends and family today which was such fun but I kept thinking about how I tell people what's happening or should I not. Would it be better not to tell? Then my brother phoned to discuss a little contre temps that we had a few weeks ago that he felt wasn't resolved and I blurted it out to him on the phone and hated myself afterwards for doing so.

I guess thought processes might be a little clearer come Thursday when results are known. I do hope you get your results soon M. 7 weeks is such a long time to wait. I really feel for you. Thinking of you lots. Do look after yourself.

Diddy xxxx

[mgt66]

And good luck to anyone else getting their results this week...

M x

[mgt66]

Hi Diddy. I hope your weekend is going okay. I wasn't feeling so good yesterday and spent much of the day in bed. But I am up and at it again today; staying busy seems to be the key. My timings are so odd because the lump that took me to the breast clinic turned out to be a cyst, and because they were so overbooked, I didn't get into the one stop clinic but just saw the consultant. Once he drained the cyst I was then down for non urgent mammos and ultra sound and that took another 3 weeks. Then they found a different lump, and couldn't biopsy for another week. But anyway, here I am and the results should come soon.

Friday evening was lovely here and the neighbours over the road invited me over for a drink. Mainly it was a good distraction, but of course after a couple of drinks I blurted out about my appointment. I played it down as routine, but I suppose if I do have to have further treatment, it will be a good thing to have her support.

Thinking of you.

M xx

[Eian01]

Hi Geraldine, I wish biopsy results will be in your favor. Take a deep breath and meanwhile make the most of holidays.  Keep us updated!!

[Diddy]

Hi M

I am amazed and concerned that you have had to wait 7 weeks so far. I must have just struck lucky with timings I think. The waiting is such agony and I have only had a couple of weeks since knowing I had been recalled.

We are lucky to have had our "lesions" found so early and need to hang on to that whilst waiting I guess.

We had such a thunderstorm here last night. Hope the weekend weather holds so we can get out in the gardens. I had a couple of glasses of wine last night which I enjoyed in the beautiful evening sunshine, hope you enjoyed yours too.

Take care. Xxxx

[mgt66]

Hi Diddy. I have been okay thank you, just keeping busy again, but it is always at the back of my mind.I'm in my 7th week of waiting now and I think I did most of my 'what if' crisis in the earlier weeks, but I know I will get more anxious as the results get closer. I still don't have a date, but they said 7-10 days, so it will be about the same time as you I expect. I'm sure you feel worse because of the doctor's comment, but like the others said, if it is bc then they have found it very early and this can only be a good thing. Mine is 8mm and only found because I had a cyst and a routine after check. I can't feel it and they initially said they couldn't see it on the mammos either (only the ultra sound) so I'm trying to look at this positively - if they hadn't found it, it could have sat there for at least another two years until my next screening.

I hope you can throw yourself into the gardening and enjoy some of the holiday weekend as well. I am in the South too, and am planning shorts on, gardening gloves in hand and a nice bottle of wine chilling in the fridge!

Look after yourself and keep in touch.

M xx

[Diddy]

Hi M

How has your day been? I have been to work today so mind kept full of other things. But as soon as I am in the car driving home the thoughts come rushing back in. 

I think I feel in a state of disbelief at the moment. 

I go for my results next Thursday at 09:15. This time next week I should know what it is I am facing. Have you heard any more about your results appointment yet?

I hope you have had some good dog walks today. The weather is so lovely isn't it?

I live in the deep South of England. Forecast looks good for the bank holiday weekend. Gardening, gardening and more gardening this weekend.

Take care and keep in touch. Diddy xxxx

[mgt66]

Hi D. I had a shower yesterday too - so nice to wash my hair. Mine looks just fine, just a couple of little dots and no bruising yet. I'm doing fine at the moment. It was a lovely day yesterday and I kept busy so as not to think too much. I was working in the morning, and then in the afternoon I got some flowers planted in pots on the patio. I went for a dog walk (her dogs not mine) with my neighbour but we didn't talk about my appointment at all. I also partially built a bookcase I ordered before all this. I didn't even know it was coming! I got all the bits out on the floor and the diagram which looks like a Chinese cartoon. The characters are called La, Ta and Su, and they have to be bolted together in a repeating sequence. A bit like one of those game shows where you run out of time and fail to win £5,000.

Good that you had your granddaughter over - that must have been lovely - and kept you busy!

You are so right about Manchester. Such a terrible thing and such heartbreaking stories.

It is strange to be talking to someone you don't know; but a very good thing!!! I can't really talk to my friends at the moment, there's no point worrying them yet, and they don't know what to say anyway.

Hoping you have a good day...

M xx

[Diddy]

Hi M

I had a proper shower today and took the dressing off. Looks well healed but bruised. Not at all painful which is great.

I have had my 2 year old granddaughter all day today which has kept me from moping but anytime my mind is not occupied I find myself slid into unhelpful thinking.

How are you doing?

The lovely weather today has helped to lift spirits and I also keep thinking of all the poor families in Manchester and other areas who are going through shell at the moment.

Keep in touch. Thinking of you too. Isn't it strange to be sharing such a personal experience with someone you don't even know but to feel that you are close because of your mutual experience. D xxxx

[mgt66]

Hi D. 1st of June sounds a long way doesn't it? I'm trying not to think of when my results will be, but I will keep you company on our wait. My biopsy was yesterday and I haven't looked at what it looks like yet, but it doesn't hurt. They say don't shower for 48 hours, so for now I am a smelly mad woman and I haven't told any of my friends. I don't have a partner or close friends near by but I told a neighbour who I walk the dogs with, who had a hysterectomy for cancer. I'm not telling anyone else.

Hope you are coping.

Love M x

[Diddy]

Hi mgt 66. Thank you for your reply. It helps to know someone at the same stage doesn't it? I have an appointment for Thursday 1st June at 09:15. It sounds a long time away but hopefully will come round quite quickly. It's the waiting that is the hardest I think.

Yes let's keep in touch until our results are known. How is your biopsy site feeling? I had expected it to be really sore because the Dr. had to probe around a bit but actually I have had no discomfort from it at all.

Have you got anyone you can actually talk with? I took my husband with me to the appointment yesterday. I have spoken with a friend who lives next door and to my boss and a friend at work. I'm not going to speak with anyone else until I get the results now.

Look after yourself. Have some treats and think positive thoughts. Will message you again tomorrow. Love Dx

[mgt66]

Hi Diddy. I had my biopsy done yesterday as well.They didn't tell me anything other than I would hear in 7-10 days, and that I would be phoned to get the appointment to come in for results.I asked if people always came in for results, whether good or bad - like, just because you have to come in, that doesn't necessarily mean it is bad news? The nurse said you are asked to come in whether it is good or bad. That's all I have, on information, but if you would like to talk to someone who is also waiting I am checking on here each day.

Love, M x

[Anniej]

Hi Geraldine, this is the exact scenario I faced 12 weeks ago. It does take your breath away when the C word is mentioned. Unfortunately I've learned that if it is said, then they are pretty sure.  Like you I had a holiday booked and was told to take it. Best thing I ever did! Sunshine, good food and plenty to keep me occupied, at least during the day. For me this was the worst period until my op. It's just a waiting game for tests, appointments,results. Happy to say that my op was good, I had all my lymph nodes removed as they were affected, and my first session of chemo has gone well. Geraldine, if you haven't already been told , if you have to have cancer,then BC is the one to have. Really! It's very very treatable. Good luck. X

[Diddy]

Thank you for responding so quickly. Your story helps a lot. I will let you know when I get my results. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[ann-m]

Hi Diddy,

Well, thank goodness for mammos, as if it is bc, then it's done it's job in picking it up very early.

I was diagnosed from routine mammo, the bc was 7mms & I had no idea, this situation is quite common.

Anyway, please be assured, that if it does turn out to be an early bc diagnosis, then it's totally treatable, with most of us making a full recovery.

I had minor day surgery to remove it, followed by radiotherapy & tamoxifen.

Having been through it, there's every reason to be positive & not to feel scared by it. It still might turn out to be fine anyway.

let us know how you get on if you want to.

ann x

[Diddy]

Help! I have had repeat mammogram today followed by ultrasound and biopsy. The doctor said she thought it is 'nasty' although only very small i.e. 2mms. She wouldn't be drawn on what future treatment might be. I am going back for biopsy result in 10 days. The upcoming bank holiday delays results I understand.

This anomaly was detected on screening mammogram. I have no palpable lump or any other symptoms.

Has anyone else had a similar experience? What was your outcome?

I keep trying to be positive but am feeling so scared.

[AliOG]

When they told me that I definitely had cancer and would need treatment, I had a two week trip to India booked. It was a belated honeymoon and although they offered me surgery a week or so before we were due to fly, I turned it down and went on the trip in one piece. I felt no urgency to get the tumour removed in haste. I figured a couple of weeks wouldn't make a big difference as I'd probably been living with it for some time. The time away gave me a chance to prepare mentally and physically. The surgeons were fully supportive so, if the diagnosis comes back positive, talk to the team about your plans and see what they say. Everyone is different and you should do what feels right for you. Best of luck with it all xx

[Millie67]

hi

im 7 weeks in now and they said same to me, if im honest they dont usually say anything if not pretty certain so it does prepare you...i went back following week not wondering IF I had it but how far it was etc.......next step will depend on what type it is etc, possible mri , more biopsies etc.........i hope your results are good if not take a deep breath and take this week at a time.....i am due double mastectomy may 11th invasive lobular, its been tough few weeks but i have got through, we all do.....dont google too much i have done and its not helpful, each thing i knew about i prepared for next stage nothing more now...here if you need

take care

millie x

[Jobey68]

Hi Geraldine, They are as honest as they can be with you and although the cannot be 100% certain until biopsy results come back they must feel it is highly likely to be cancer from what they have seen today, they told me mine looked ok but it did come back positive so they don't always get it right! Definately go on holiday, it's exactly what I wanted to do during the wait although didn't with hindsight I wish I had! You will find details plenty of support her across the forum , we've been through the lot between us! Please let us know how things go Xx Jo 

[Geraldinemc]

I've just come back from hospital having found a lump 3 weeks ago, the specialist told me she thinks it's cancer but can't give positive result until biopsy results come back. I was taken into another room and introduced to my nurse. Was at pains to tell them about the holiday I have booked, which they've told me to carry on with and will give me the results on my return. Is it just normal for them to prepare you for the worst or is it just a case of getting confirmation? So hard to process