What to ask?

[ann-m]

Hi Choops, 

Oh goodness, I think we can all relate to what your saying! Getting the head around it feels surreal at the least. 

But, most importantly, the vast majority of us do get through it, get back to life as normal & there’s every reason to be positive. 

Outcomes for bc are some of the best around & getting better all the time. Don’t listen to the doom mongers offering uninformed opinions, they really don’t know what they’re talking about 😠

Anyway, welcome to this lovely & supportive gang who between us have been there & done it all, even if we never thought we’d join!

ann x

[3331melanie]

Hi Choops 

i totally understand how you are feeling. I was diagnosed with IDC last week. Scans indicate no lymph involvement but obviously need biopsy to confirm this. Mine too is hormone positive. I have pre op tomorrow and surgery planned for 9th May. I still don’t know if I’ll need chemo as waiting for HER2 result. Like you it is 3 weeks since finding the lump to diagnosis. I can relate to your feelings of how unfair this is. I feel horrible that my family, friends and colleagues are having to deal with this too. At the moment I’m trying to hold onto the positives from my consultations ‘small’ and ‘curative treatment’. This is a journey I never envisaged I’d be on and still feel overwhelmed at times that I have cancer. I felt very lonely when I was given the diagnosis but I have to say coming in this forum has been so helpful connecting with all the other ladies going through this too. It is also good to read stories of women who have come through this.

Hugs to you - we will all be positive together and can keep coming to the forum to offload and pick each other up xx

[Jac67]

Hi 

I know how you feel . I’m the same . But I’m sure we will get through this . My operation is next week I was diagnosed on 24th February . Feel like im waiting forever. After operation I’ll find out treatment plan . Hopefully avoid chemo but all depends on results. Such a scary time . But this forum is amazing . Take care ❤️Xxx

[Choops]

Hiya

Apologies for the silence I've been attempting to process things. I'm still unsure of everything but I have DCIS with a, grade 3 tumour, due to it being 3cm, my nodes are clear and I'm oestrogen positive. I'm awaiting further results on the 24th April and have an MRI scan this week due to some calcification being identified in the same breast. 

It feels weird writing this, at times I'm dissacociated and ignorant to the fact I have cancer and others I'm a bit of a weeping mess.

Life at the moment feels exceptionally unfair, yet I'm completely, aware that I'm not the only one and need to be grateful for having a mere3 weeks between me finding a lump and diagnosis. 

I will not lie I am petrified of what lies ahead, the thought of the indignity of losing a breast then chemo taking away more of my feminity is unpleasant.  I wouldn't mind I've never been vain...until last week. 

I'm trying not to read too many things as they scare me, too many people like to tell you when things are really bad I need positive stories about treatment, how people have blossomed, how people have braved the outside world looking different yet felt empowered by it. This is a crappy enough situation to be in anyway and I want to surround myself with positivity, life affirming, ego boosting individuals. I hope you are all out there.

Sorry for the outpouring of emotions but I've avoided coming on here for almost a week and now I feel,like I can't stop.

Thank you everyone, I'm almost ready to join this girl gang 

[Jac67]

Thanks you too 💕xx

[Jewels994]

Mine is grade 1, ER and PR positver. Haven’t had Her2 result yet. Good luck on 24th xx

[Jac67]

Hi yeh it’s such a long wait doesn’t help anxiety 🙈 hope your iron levels improve. Did you find out your stage and type yet . I’m stage 2 er positive her negative. Funny how weeks ago knew nothing about this . New world!  Just feel that life is on pause for now . Good luck hope u get a date soon 💕xx

[Jewels994]

Jac67, that’s awful you’ve had to wait so long. I was diagnosed on 20th March, and was told op would be mid April. However my low iron levels mean my op will not happen until my iron levels are up. Because my op is delayed they’ve started me on tamoxifen. Got to have a blood test on 29th April and hopefully will be able to plan op once the results are in.

[Jac67]

Hi that’s how long wait is for op ! I’m in Glasgow feels too long looking at how quick other people get seen to . Suppose only next week now . Just want it over find out treatment plan . I’m anxious to say the least . Xxx

---

@delly wrote:

Hi choops

Where are you now up to with things??? Please let us know, when you feel up to it, and have a m'o, will yer, darlin. 

Jac67 - That's a massive wait, 2 months !! What's that all about then - you deciding what option to go for?? Wishing you so much speedy healing for the 24th  

Much love to everyone, Dellywelly  x x x x x x x

---

[delly]

Hi choops

Where are you now up to with things??? Please let us know, when you feel up to it, and have a m'o, will yer, darlin. 

Jac67 - That's a massive wait, 2 months !! What's that all about then - you deciding what option to go for?? Wishing you so much speedy healing for the 24th  

Much love to everyone, Dellywelly  x x x x x x x

[Jac67]

Good luck today . I’m getting lumpectomy in 24th April. Diagnosed on 24th February feels like waiting forever just want it done now . All best today 💕xx

[Alvilajo]

Hi

you should get a breast nurse take you through everything after results. Mine was lovely, as others say we're all here going through it with you and at different stages to help, I get my results tomoz and then I'll know my treatment plan xxx😘

[Shi]

Chips, I second everything Annie has said. Also step away from google, don’t go on there. If it is confirmed then do write answers down against questions, stage, grade and do they know which type. If it’s tnbc, push for brca test too. Find out treatment plan, surgery/rads? Or chemo/surgery/rads or surgery/chemo/rads. If chemo what type of chemo plan? They will be tailored to you specifically it’s not a one size fits all. Use these threads and also the someone like me on here too 👭👭 and remember your teams are experts and if it is, you will be in safe experienced hands 😘😘💕💕✨✨Shi xx

[Choops]

Hi Ann

Thanks for reaching out. They indicated that it was breast cancer due to the combination of a mass and calcification (?)

Thank you so much for this advice it really is invaluable,  my partner is coming with me and has started to draw up a list of questions. I'll be certain to keep you posted.

Thank you so much, this instant support is ever so comforting. 

[Choops]

Hi thanks for reaching out.

They did, 3 samples from my left breast and 2 from the lymph nodes. 

[ann-m]

Hi Choops,

I take it you’re going back for the biopsy results to confirm whether or not it’s bc & that they have indicated that it might be?

Do take someone with you, who can be another pair of ears & make notes, as it can be hard to take things in initially. 

IF bc is confirmed, then they will take you through the findings, in my case, the size, type & grade & that it was er+ (hormone positive). 

Things tend to move quite fast, so do ask about the next stage & what further investigations are needed to finalise the treatment plan. 

You would normally have a breast care nurse or bcn allocated to you, who will take you through the diagnosis & plan & also be a point of contact. 

There is lots of infomation on the main bcc site here & loads of support from all of us here. 

Do let us know how you get on. 

ann x

[Shi]

Hi chops 😘😘did you have a biopsy taken today? 💕💕✨✨Shi xx

[Choops]

Hi,

After finding a lump 3 weeks ago I was seen at the breast clinic today. long story short I saw the consultant who said things do not look great. 

I am back at the clinic on Friday for the results and encoraged to come armed with questions. I know this sounds silly but I haven't a clue what to ask. It would be great to know what questions any of you asked or wish you had asked so I that can get an idea of what to expect over the next few weeks or months.

I genuinely wasn't expecting this and feel horrendously underprepared and would hate to walk out of that appointment knowing so very little about my fate.

Thanking you all in advace for anything you are able to share or advise me with.