Just diagnosed

[Rictina]

Im sorry your having to deal with this. Its a real biggy hearing the C word. I was diagnosed yesterday but waiting a week for the results. You struck a chord with me as I too cant eat, feel so sick with worry. Im here if you need to talk .. Take care.

[Trishy]

Hi Gill

Sorry for the late reply but i have had a lot going on.... I had my apt with the consultant and my op is 12th April next thursday,  i discussed the metal clip thing where they know where the lump is and i was worried also but they know what they are doing and she said they would scan again for the wire before the op.  Yes i know you don't want to say you are lucky but fortunate to get it early as none of us would like to say we are lucky with this awful disease.  yours is really small it's probably grade 1. my HER2 results were borderline and have now been sent for a fish test which is a much more detailed test.  I really  do not want a positive HER2  and i won't get this for another 2 weeks so they are still doing the lump by wire as it is small.  There is so much to take in re the op and i have to go for my apt tomorrow for the aneshesia.  It's so up and down each day. How big did they say yours is and where is it? Best wishes T xx

[Gill3105]

Hi Trisha and Jo. Have just read every message in this thread and Jo I have to congratulate you on your words and messages. I think maybe you were one of the first to leave a message for me earlier this week when I first joined. Having just read all through I feel so much better and maybe a little less fearsome. This sounds just like me and my diagnosis however I don’t know the grade of mine and cant remember if I was even told this and hers2?? I hadn’t heard of this until reading this thread. Should I be asking the question to my nurse? All I know on the size of mine is that it is tiny both the surgeon and the doctor doing the scan said this. It is this that is giving me sanity and keep telling myself it has been found in early stages. On the day of my results I ended up having 5 mammograms so the doctor doing the ultra sound was 100% sure he had the right spot with finally after scanning for 10 mins or more he finally placed a piece of lead shot on the outside then final mammogram confirming he had the right place. He had. He then inserted another clip as the first clip from the biopsy was in the wrong place which concerned me but I was reassured the biopsy was taken from the correct place it was just the clip was fired over to far. I then went inmelt down again saying what if the surgeons wire to the wrong clip??? And operate in completely the wrong place. He said they won’t. The first thing I know for sure on the day will be to check with them which clip they are aiming for as this is on my mind. Jo thank you again for your words and comments and congrats on becoming a grandparent.i have 2 grand daughters and they are amazing. Xxx. Trisha good luck and take care.

[Trishy]

Sorry i forgot to say congratulations on becoming grandparents Jo xx

[Trishy]

Thanks guys it really helps when I hear similar stories. I know it is very fortunate they caught it early. Had apt at hospital yesterday and it is idc grade 1 ER 9mm she said v slow thinks it’s been there over a year. doctor wants the results from the HER test so booked to see her next Tuesday then op 12th I really hope I haven’t got the HER2 I have got over the shock and went to the gym after work today but v surreal people working out and I’m thinking I have BC and no one knows! Trying to get my body fit and strong for the op etc.. I am trying to not think about it and enjoy Easter and my brother is over from NY Sunday. Hope everyone else is doing well. Xx

[Juliewulie]

Sorry for jumping in but found your answers very informative and I learnt things. You've probably read some of my posts before and am struggling somewhat but encouraged by yourself and other's that things do get better but at the moment it's a bit of a fog. I was fine from diagnosis through to radiotherapy but now it's hitting me. 

Speak soon and thanks

[Jane101]

What you are feeling is totally normal . I was diagnosed aged 48 two years ago. I had two tumours and an area of DCIS . I had a mastectomy with immediate reconstruction.
You are bound to be upset by this....it's a massive deal but it has been caught early ....it doesn't seem like it now but you are lucky it's been found early.
Once your treatment is done you will slowly get back to normal. It takes time. You will gave days when you are worried about every ache and pain ....it's normal...I'd you have worries don't be afraid to speak to the hospital or your GP. If you need to talk I will listen.
Be kind to yourself .
Jane xx

[Trishy]

Thanks Jo. Lets hope mine is as straight forward as yours was. I went to work today which helped as i was quite busy. I sell new homes and the ladies I work with are lovely. xx

[Jobey68]

https://forum.breastcancercare.org.uk/t5/Diagnosed-with-breast-cancer/Newly-Diagnosed/m-p/1202387#M7...

[Jobey68]

https://forum.breastcancercare.org.uk/t5/Diagnosed-with-breast-cancer/bd-p/4432

[Jobey68]

I had a wire guided wide local excision which is another term for lumpectomy , all very straight forward.

i will add some links for you to join the recently diagnosed thread, it's a bit confusing when you first join the forum but you will get the hang of It! Xx

[Trishy]

No they didnt tell me it was either of them just right breast ductal cancer and very small grade 1 hormone pos est prog. A wide guided wide local excision is what they said they woudl do.

It's just my mind running away thinking the worst.  I am trying not to google as i don't think it helps at all.  I am trying to find other areas on this site but not sure where to look.  Thank you again for your feedback and comments as you have been through it and had a similar biopsy it really helps.  xx

[Jobey68]

Have they mentioned invasive to you? Ductal carcinoma is basically the name for breast cancer and it's either invasive or in situ ( DCIS) Mine was invasive, it had began in the ducts but was beginning to spread in to the breast tissue so they call this invasive. 

They test for HER2 regardless of the grade, if it's positive it's not likely to be grade 1 as HER2 cancers tend to be more fast growing , a biopsy only takes a few cells and it isn't until they have removed the lump and tested it fully that they know for certain what grade you are , often it doesn't change but it can be up or down graded if they find more or less aggressive cancer within the whole tumour. they should have explained all this to you when you had your biopsy results but I know a lot of it goes over your head at the time .

Please don't be panicked by any of this, I'm just trying to explain how it all works and not frighten you even more, I was told Grade 1 after my biopsy results and this didn't change after my lumpectomy , the majority of us have straight forward breast cancer that is treated by radiotherapy and hormone tablets afterwards. 

I was right where you are 3 years ago, diagnosed on 11/3/15 , lumpectomy on 27/3/15 and full results 9/4/15 , I was clueless, terrified and wishing it wôuld all stop but it came and went and I dealt with it all a step at a time as you will, it's so important to take notes , ask questions and be involved at every stage so you understand exactly what's happening , if you don't then make sure they explain it again until you do. 

Try not to google too much, keep asking any questions you have here and we will do our best to answer 😊

[Trishy]

I think you are right.  Although they have said grade 1 common type .  what i don't understand is if they have said to me it is very slow growing and small why the HER2? surely that tells you how fast it is growing but they already told me mine is very slow.  I don't get it. I have looked up DCIS what is the real difference and would they have told me if it was that.  My leaflet i was given  just says ductal cancer grade 1 Does that mean it is in the ducts or outside? x

[Jobey68]

Your days will be up and down for a while, you still don't have all the answers or know your exact treatment plan and that was the hardest time for me, once I knew there were no more nasty surprises lurking and I had a clear plan ahead of me I felt so much more settled. 

You will have had your HER2 results well before any treatment would start so they will go ahead with lumpectomy as that's going to happen regardless of what they are.

I did join the Macmillan forum but as it covers all types of cancer and not just breast I found it all a bit too much. 

You will be ok , it's damn hard work getting your head around a diagnosis so don't expect too much from yourself at this stage , I would feel strong and able to cope one day then ready to shove everyone's heads in the freezers while walking around our local Asda the next! 

Xx 

[Trishy]

Thank you .  I had a good day yesterday but today not so good.  The doubts creeping in again!  I called the nurse and they have scheduled my appt for next Tuesday to meet the consultant as although Colchester had graded and set for lumpectomy and radiotherapy they want to go through all the notes again.  I said i was worried as i haven't had the HER results and she said they can take a couple of weeks but they are cracking on with the treatment anyway.  Why do i feel so sick again?  I think until the treatment etc.. is over with maybe this is the way i will be feeling.  I'm trying to find other useful forums which are positive any suggestions?  Thank you for replying it really helps.

Trish 

x

[Jobey68]

It really helps that work are understanding and not pressuring you, I'd been in my job for 12 years when I was diagnosed and knew well enough they would be hugely supportive, my boss had cancer years before and he totally understood but said keeping a routine was so helpful to him which he was right about! 

I didnt have any other scans due to having a grade 1 diagnosis, I was classed as low risk of any spread and once they knew for certain my lymph nodes were clear then it it was pretty straight forward , you will see an oncologist once they have the final results from your lumpectomy and node biopsy and they will give you your suggested treatment plan, mine was 15 sessions of radiotherapy and 10 years of taking Tamoxifen which is  what you take for oestrogen positive BC .

it certainly does make you appreciate what you have in life that's for sure, I've been with my husband for 30 years now and we just make the most of every day together, we became first time grandparents last year to a beautiful little girl and moments like that are huge milestones after a cancer diagnosis ❤️ 

[Trishy]

Thanks Jo that really helps. I have only just started a new job so that sucks! I didn't go in today as i couldn't face it after the diagnosis yesterday. I think you are right i need to go back in a couple of days as i sell new houses and it is really busy.  The company have been so supportive which has really helped.  Did you have to have any other scans etc.. i don't mind surgery as i had a fibroid removal years ago which was nearly a 4 hour operation it's the C word that is the worst. I am looking at things so differently now my whole life.. normally i get home from work and glass of wine and relax and see the kids but tonight we played hangman etc.. they are keeping me going and my amazing husband of 18 years.. we have our ups and downs but this really makes you see the wood through the trees. xx

[Jobey68]

Always happy to help😊 I did work up to my op although it was so hard to drag myself in every day as I just wanted to hide under the duvet really but my husband was having none of it and would get me up and out of the house inspite of my protests and he was absolutely right as staying home alone was the worst thing for me!  I'm lucky I work with my sister and one of my best friends so I had a good support network there so he knew I would be well looked after.

I only took off two weeks after my op and worked through my radiotherapy, my choice as I could have taken off as much time as I wanted but by then I was feeling so much better mentally and it really helped to get back to normal! 

Ive always led a pretty healthy life, I don't smoke and didn't drink a lot, ate a good diet and walked miles a day with my dog but I still got breast cancer so don't believe diet plays a huge part personally, my mum was the most clean living women ever to live yet she still got it so please don't beat yourself up about having bought this on yourself , we didn't give ourselves this , sadly it's just what happens to people and we are just people after all! 

I drank through diagnosis, treatment and beyond! Am sat here with a nice glass of wine now 🍸🙈 

The op is so straight forward and I was back driving and feeling really well within 10 days , there was no real pain more a discomfort , it really isn't what you will be imagining , I went through worse having my tonsils out! 

Hubby cooked lovely protein rich meals at the suggestion of my surgeon and wouldn't let me lift a finger for at least a week after but I was going stir crazy by then and itching to get out and about.

Dont be too hard on yourself about food and drink, this isn't a time to be putting yourself though any extra stress so just do what works for you! Xx Jo 

[Trishy]

Thank you for replying.. i haven't really been able to speak with anyone but the screening nurse as i am being transferred to Chelmsford from Colchester (where i work) i live there so waiting for my notes to be transferred then the appt and then the treatment.  Mine is right ductal grade 1 oestrogen postive progesterone positive ki67 waiting HER2 waiting.  Did you go back to work before your op? They said it is hormone driven so treatment after.  I lost my mum 7 months ago so i feel stress and drinking may have brought it on.  It really helps to talk about it with others, as much as i have good friends and my husband thank god it's not the same as speaking with others who have been through it. Any tips on good advice forums for preping for op.  Diet etc... i have had no intentions to drink any alcohol and will not be (which is weird as i also said i drink through stress) xx

[Jobey68]

Yes it's completely normal to feel like that, I've never lost weight as quickly in my life as I did in those early weeks of diagnosis I could barely breathe let alone eat anything and I certainly couldn't cope with being alone with my own thoughts , your not losing the plot I can promise you it's just all part of the process. 

The scan of your nodes under your arm is about 75% accurate , mine showed nothing and they were all clear when checked during my op. It is rare for an early grade 1 breast cancer to have began to spread , not impossible but highly unlikely , in fact it's only a minority who will be diagnosed with any spread at initial diagnosis. 

Its will be the HER2 results you are waiting on , it's a protein that feeds cancer cells, the test for this seems to take a bit longer than the others , did you say it was estrogen positive or are you still waiting on this too? 

They check for HER2 , estrogen and progesterone , mine was HER2 neg and estrogen Positive, never did know my progesterone results for some reason! 

I know this is more mumbo jumbo to try and get your head around but it will all soon make perfect sense! Xx Jo 

[Trishy]

Thank you Jobey88 for you’re kind words and experience. Sorry you had to go through this, I am so worried . They said the us scan showed nothing under the arm but I am terrified that it has gone there and spread or something. Also I am still waiting for the 2 tests to come back I think Hep or something. Is it normal to have a sinking feeling all the time and I can’t eat. I don’t want to be alone either x

[Jobey68]

Hi Trishy, 

Welcome to the forum, not a place any of us would have chosen to be but we all help and support each other and share our experiences so I hope you will find some comfort here 😊

Your diagnosis sounds a lot like mine, I found out I had breast cancer 3 years ago aged 46 , had gone to my Gp about a lump which once at the breast clinic it was found to be just fat but the ultrasound picked up something else which after a biopsy showed to be an early grade 1 cancer. 

Totally traumatising at the time but with hind sight I feel incredibly fortunate that it was found at that stage as it was dealt with by removal and radiotherapy and within a few months life was back on track. 

Emotionally its so very hard and the way you are feeling right now is completely normal, we all imagined it was spreading and every little twinge would be sinister but in reality it is nothing like that for the majority of us but it's what we go through as our minds try to adjust to what the hell is happening! 

A lumpectomy is a straight forward op and mainly done as a day case, I was wheeled out of theatre at midday and on my way home by 2.30pm and inspite of having just had an operation I was on a complete high and recovered really well within a few days with lots of extra pampering from hubby! 

Your children are much younger than mine , they were in their 20's so we had to tell them but you don't need to with yours, let life carry on as normal for them it will really help you too as you do the normal every day things with them that have to be done. 

You are at the worst part of the whole process at the minute where your still in shock and waiting on an op and results, it really tough but it will pass and you will fight back and be amazed at how strong you will come out the other side! Xx Jo 

[Trishy]

Hello everyone x

I have just been told i have BC.  Can not believe i am actually saying these words....Went for a random mammogram for 47 year olds got called back for repeat when the doctor did a lot more tests and said she saw some dense tissue and just to be safe biopsy it.  Nothing came up on the ultrasound and she seemed very reasurring.  Went yesterday for the results with my husband and there were the words you have breast cancer.  They said that is why we do the screening it is very early stages stage 1 proges and eost they say the best type to get (to me it's still C)   I will be booked in within the month for a lumpetomy and 2 weeks of radiation therapy .  One part of me is grateful it's early but my mind is running away with me as i have sholulder pain and am thinking its everywhere. I can't eat, feel sick is this normal?  I have 2 beautiful children 6 and 9 and feel my life is ending.