Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hiyer Jennie,   Waiting for those results of a biopsy is just horrendous, I remember it well - You rollercoaster emotionally from fear, panic, crying to hope and every shade of possible feelings inbetween. It is a shame that it sounds as if your consultant didn't talk to you very much, but I'm hoping they at least said that they felt there was a necessity for a biopsy to be sure what the breast anomally is/was. Sometimes from mammogram and ultrasound they are easily and obviously able to tell exactly what the 'lump' is, there can be clarity and something benign is diagnosed. Sometimes, but less often, they are very certain from images, that they are seeing something cancerous. Then they might give you the news that they are 'pretty sure' at that point to prepare you, and then a biopsy would follow anyway. In many cases though they just can't tell without biopsy - there is enough evidence that a biopsy should take place, a possiblity, but no surity of what the tissue is they can see in your breast. It sounds like, in your case, that they have a doubt about the tissue type, but don't know any certainty either way without a biopsy being done. 'What it is' is something they often won't commit to when asked, as it can give false hope or alternatively cause unnecessary anxiety. Sometimes they are being ultra cautious, and if there is even an inkling of doubt, they will go for the biopsy - it makes sense to do that. I am yet again surprised though that more wasn't explained to you about why they were taking the biopsy. Sometimes, as in my case when I pushed them, they gave a percentage certainty, which as it happened was 50/50, so that didn't help much to know anyway.  I know this makes it terribly hard for you, as it means 2 weeks of not knowing, but sadly only the biopsy can give the results and the certainty that you need. I'm afraid its a case of getting through this the best you can, as hard as it feels, but I'm glad you've come to the forum for some support and hope that its only a short visit here that you need to make !   ... View more

Hiyer Jennie,   Waiting for those results of a biopsy is just horrendous, I remember it well - You rollercoaster emotionally from fear, panic, crying to hope and every shade of possible feelings inbetween. It is a shame that it sounds as if your consultant didn't talk to you very much, but I'm hoping they at least said that they felt there was a necessity for a biopsy to be sure what the breast anomally is/was. Sometimes from mammogram and ultrasound they are easily and obviously able to tell exactly what the 'lump' is, there can be clarity and something benign is diagnosed. Sometimes, but less often, they are very certain from images, that they are seeing something cancerous. Then they might give you the news that they are 'pretty sure' at that point to prepare you, and then a biopsy would follow anyway. In many cases though they just can't tell without biopsy - there is enough evidence that a biopsy should take place, a possiblity, but no surity of what the tissue is they can see in your breast. It sounds like, in your case, that they have a doubt about the tissue type, but don't know any certainty either way without a biopsy being done. 'What it is' is something they often won't commit to when asked, as it can give false hope or alternatively cause unnecessary anxiety. Sometimes they are being ultra cautious, and if there is even an inkling of doubt, they will go for the biopsy - it makes sense to do that. I am yet again surprised though that more wasn't explained to you about why they were taking the biopsy. Sometimes, as in my case when I pushed them, they gave a percentage certainty, which as it happened was 50/50, so that didn't help much to know anyway.  I know this makes it terribly hard for you, as it means 2 weeks of not knowing, but sadly only the biopsy can give the results and the certainty. I'm afraid its a case of getting through this the best you can, as hard as it feels, but I'm glad you've come to the forum for some support and hope that its only a short visit here that you need to make !   ... View more

Hiyer Jennie,   Waiting for those results of a biopsy is just horrendous, I remember it well - You rollercoaster emotionally from fear, panic, crying to hope and every shade of possible feelings inbetween. It is a shame that it sounds as if your consultant didn't talk to you very much, but I'm hoping they at least said that they felt there was a necessity for a biopsy to be sure what the breast anomally is/was. Sometimes from mammogram and ultrasound they are easily and obviously able to tell exactly what the 'lump' is, there can be clarity and something benign is diagnosed. Sometimes, but less often, they are very certain from images, that they are seeing something cancerous. Then they might give you the news that they are 'pretty sure' at that point to prepare you, and then a biopsy would follow anyway. In many cases though they just can't tell without biopsy - there is enough evidence that a biopsy should take place, a possiblity, but no surity of what the tissue is they can see in your breast. It sounds like, in your case, that they have a doubt about the tissue type, but don't know any certainty either way without a biopsy being done. 'What it is' is something they often won't commit to when asked, as it can give false hope or alternatively cause unnecessary anxiety. Sometimes they are being ultra cautious, and if there is even an inkling of doubt, they will go for the biopsy - it makes sense to do that. I am yet again surprised though that more wasn't explained to you about why they were taking the biopsy. Sometimes, as in my case when I pushed them, they gave a percentage certainty, which as it happened was 50/50, so that didn't help much to know anyway.  I know this makes it terribly hard for you, as it means 2 weeks of not knowing, but sadly only the biopsy can give the results and the certainty. I'm afraid its a case of getting through this the best you can, as hard as it feels, but I'm glad you've come to the forum for some support and hope that its only a short visit here that you need to make !   ... View more

I'm really sorry that you ladies are having surgery delayed due to the NHS Covid pressure, it must be adding horrible worry to an already difficult time. If it helps you to know, my surgery was 5 weeks after diagnosis, this was a few years ago, and there were no NHS pressures then. I recall asking my surgeon at the time 'how long would it be before you were worried that the outcome would change' and she told me 'maximum 2 months before I would be becoming concerned', I was a grade 3 cancer (highest), so for lower grades it would be longer. I don't know if this helps or not, but BC cancers are generally slow growing. ... View more

Hiyer,   Was this addressed to the original poster of the message ? Just wondering. ... View more

Absolutely Suzy ! I so agree with everything you have written. My breast cancer nurse once said to me, when I was wrestling with a decision right at the start of my treatment, that stats and opinions of medics are good, research very helpful, information gathering important, BUT a psychological 'comfort' about a decision on the part of the individual is most important. Sometimes you need to search your heart and head (and life experiences you mentioned) for what is right for you, and not feel pressure or guilt. Nobody wants to have regrets, or look back on something and think they did the wrong thing, but ultimately we are all individuals and are 'in charge' of our own bodies and know ourselves like nobody else can. Treatments and surgeries are a choice, they are a choice that I would hope everybody takes if they are relevant to them based on the advice of the professionals, but nobody has to. Nobody is right and nobody is wrong - everyone is just as you say - different.   Hi Tili ! 😘 ... View more

My concern is that, for me, there has been little interest by my medical team in diet, exercise, toxins and stress.   Yes, and that was my feeling also - I had no advice on any of these matters at all, and mental health as a problem is picked up by the charities (like this one). all the research shows it extends survival and it isn’t really optional in any scientific sense   The research isn't that simple, in terms of large scale stats, yes of course it makes a big difference. For some individuals, quite a percentage (I think 20 percent) it makes no difference at all. This is the point I was making about tailoring hormone medication in the future to those for whom it is effective, as at the moment there is no way of knowing who it helps and who it doesn't. There are women out there who religiously take the likes of tamoxifen and have recurrences, there are those who take it and don't get recurrence, there are those who don't take it and get no recurrence and those who don't take it and get recurrence. There are no markers to show which women it is effective for. It is because the medics don't know who it will and does actually help that everyone is urged to try it/use it for the timescale prescribed.   ... View more

I would agree Susan - I have always urged anyone, despite my own experience, to try it and 'give it their best shot' (just as I did). There are loads and loads of people who don't even have once side effect, and those for whom side effects can be managed easily. Statistically of course it has made a big difference to recurrence, but for a few women at a trully terrible price. It is used as a 'one size fits all' medication, and I'm hoping that in the future there will be a way for subtle differences to be made to this type of hormonal therapy based on research into those who it will actually help. ... View more

Hiyer Tili, I do feel for you, its a horrible situation to be in - truly awful. My experience was over 4 years ago now, but I still remember it like yesterday and all the fears and terrors from taking it or not taking it. It took me 6 months to feel as if I had recovered from the tamoxifen experience. You are in such a vulnerable place, I understand, and don't know which way to turn or what to do, devil and deep blue sea. Sometimes I think it really helps to find a medical professional with a really good knowledge and empathy with mental health issues. I first was referred whilst on tamoxifen by my GP to a locum oncologist, who told me to try evening primrose (!!!) and said it was life or death for me to take it or not take it (!!!), he literally had no idea how severe the mental changes were and how physically ill I was. (I had a list as long as my arm of physical changes but they were nothing compared to my mood and collapse of my mental health,). My second referral was to a doctor who recognised the severity of the problem and had an understanding that the women aren't just about their bodies, but their minds and wellbeing. I was advised at this point that the only way I could begin tamoxifen again was as an inpatient in a psychi unti. I would urge you to talk with everyone you can during the process of making decisions, there are a range of people from other patients (users on here) to medical professionals and nurses - all of whom have experiences and opinions. Some of those people might have suggestions for possible different treatment regimes, or other changes that made a difference to their ability to take tamoxifen. There is also the helpline number above, where I'm sure there will be people who can help you to process the issue you are having. Obviously, as this is your second cancer there is extra importance attached to your decision, but please remember it is always YOUR decision and should be made without pressure or feelings of guilt, but based on good amounts of consideration and information.  I personally found that once the active treatment was done and I was discharged, there was a lack of any real medical interest - and I was going through a hugely worse time than during surgery and radiotherapy.  Side-effects, they are to be expected for many and for many they disappear over the following weeks, but there is a minority and that minority really really struggle. The trouble is nobody can tell you the 'risk' with taking it or not, there are no guarantees or certainities that can be applied. The majority of women want to feel ok and be able to take this medication, I am sure, but there needs to be support for those who find it a challenge and sometimes even more than a challenge and unbearable.   ... View more

Hiyer Katie, You could ring the helpline number at the top of the website and I'm sure somebody would be able to talk to you about your feelings about hormone therapy. I am presuming that you have a breast cancer nurse, GP and surgeon who you could also speak to about the issue ? ... View more

Hiyer Susan, We aren't just talking a few side effects here on my part, my life wasn't worth living - I was removed from them by my oncologist. Their exact words were 'you won't be here to have any life if you carry on taking them for any time longer'. I think there is an underestimation about how ill some people can be, and believe me I wish it had been possible to continue. Unfortunately, I had previously had a hormonal post natal psychosis, and was close to being that way again. A few side effects would have been a joy compared to my experience. I entirely encourage anyone and everyone to try them and stick with them if at all possible, but for some it isn't possible and that is the minority luckily. I actually personally felt dreadful stopping them, and very scared and vulnerable - but the balance of what needed to be done was very obvious. You say we are not 'cured' without them, well, to be honest - we aren't 'cured' with them either. They are only effective I believe for 20 percent of those who take them, the trouble is we will never know which 20 percent they are effective for and which they are not. There is literally no way of knowing. Ultimately, we are all individuals, who have to feel 'happy' with our personal life choices - 'happy' isn't the right word - we all need to feel psychologically comfortable with the decisions we make. Mine was the right one. ... View more

Hiyer Maria, Its a horrible, awfully frightening time waiting for that breast clinic appointment. I don't know what type of clinic you are going to but you would certainly expect a mammogram/and or ultrasound of the area. Many clinics start with a consultant talking with you and giving you a physical examination, then the mammo/ultrasound follows, but this does vary from area to area and hospital to hospital depending on their policies. They may be able to tell you there and then their feelings about if what you have is benign or not, but if the mass you have found is needing a biopsy then that can also often be done on that same visit if it is a a 'one-stop clinic' set-up. They don't take any chances with anything that is even slightly suspicious - so unless they are 100 percent certain from the images they have taken that its a benign lump then a biopsy can be done quickly with a local anaesthetic injection (in most cases). Whatever you find out from your visit, even if you need treatment, you can rest assured that there are loads and loads of us on here who are many years further down the line to you and doing just fine and dandy (over 4 years in my case). I hope you find out tomorrow that there is nothing to be concerned about, but if you don't and need a biopsy do come back and reply on here or phone the number above left by Bernard. The ladies on the phone helpline are awesome and have 'been there'! We are all here to help and support. x ... View more

Lovely Lady H,   I know I've already replied to you via instant messaging, but just wanted to come on here and document my deep and heartfelt condolences to you. The loss of your Colin must be something that is profoundly painful and shocking right now, I know the love you had for each other and the ways you cared for each other and completed each others' lives. I'm so terribly sorry to read this news, and I can only hope that in the time ahead you find some peace and happiness in your memories and joy in the love you shared. I can't imagine how lost you are feeling, and don't really have words to express how sad I feel for you. Please take care xx ... View more

Hiyer Drida,   The 'can I be cured' is one that is of course incredibly hard to answer, and the word isn't used nowadays as we all know there are no absolute guarantees for the future. The medics now prefer the term 'cancer free' or 'No Evidence of Disease'. Can you be NED, yes of course you can, and there are plenty here, many thousands before you who have had a similar set of diagnoses (including the lymph node involvement) and gone on to be cancer free after treatments. I'm no medic, and I would honestly recommend you putting these questions to your breast cancer nurse, or surgeon/oncologist. They should be able to talk you through in detail the stats and their judgement on your likelihood of recurrence following the full treatment regime. I do think though, you should have every hope with modern, effective treatment, experts with a very good understanding of bc and how it responds, that you should expect to be cancer free in the future (as are the majority of women).  ... View more

Your post very succinctly described my own devastating response to tamoxifen in the summer of 2015. I can relate to everything you said, my thoughts and feelings about the drug were identical (though a different drug) and can say that you won't regret the decision you have made. At the end of the day my choice was 'easy' too, there really wasn't a choice, as I believe if I'd have continued I wouldn't have been around to live a life - with or without cancer. Best Wishes to you. ... View more

Oh Lee! Luckily I read your 'everything is alright after all post' first, and then went back and saw that you'd had the suspicious area and biopsy. Oh my word, I can FEEL your relief  and happiness, fantastic news. ... View more

Gemmy, there is no right or wrong answer to this - all you can do is do what your gut and heart tell you and do what feels right for you. Unfortunately, although sometimes we want someone to give us instructions on what to do for the best, there is no 'best' and it is what feels right for the individual. At times, for many of us through treatment, after diagnosis, there are times where the decisions are left to us. I did cancel my holiday 3 years ago as it was when treatment was needed and I personally knew there was no chance of me enjoying it to its full potential with my mind on the BC diagnosis, but you are a different person and have different views and personality. We ended up doing the same holiday 12 months later 🐵 I also had to make decisions on chemo myself (as was borderline and there was no definitive right or wrong on it) and though it was tough my BCN advised that my decisions needed to be  psychological ones - take advice, do some research if you like, but ultimately do what you feel in the future you can easily 'live with'. By that I mean, would you regret choosing the holiday over starting treatment? If you wouldn't, then go for the holiday. ... View more

Hiyer,   The clinics are usually run by the 'breast surgeon', they are generally leading the ultrasounds, mammograms and the process IF there were extra tests needed. They are usually also the first ones to do a manual examination, to determine benign and breast cancer issues. I think your GP has just used a different terminology; most people DO see the breast surgeon as the one and only person they see at the clinic. Many are given the 'all clear' at this point by the surgeon, but if there were a different outcome and treatment were needed the breast surgeon would also lead/request all following parts of the process. ... View more

Well done Gaby, one done.....tick it off !   Welcome Fiona.....30th May...Oooo methinks, the same as me, you are going to have the warm weather over your RT period. It has positives and negatives - firstly you can just walk around with no top on lol but it is a bit urrgy when hot and your chest is burning.   Can I make another recommendation, that was made to me, to you both?   The burning isn't just the skin, it is deep inside, it doesn't feel like sunburn more of a 'cooking feeling' (sorry lol). So, lying down with a damp cool flannel across the boob in the evening, and a fan blowing at it, really helps. Pick up the flannel at regular intervals, waft it in the fan breeze, turn it and repeat.... ... View more

Yes, it is true, EARLY detection !   When I first came on here 3 years ago I said the same as you to a lady (Jobey68) who helped me. 'I wish I was at the stage where I could help and reassure others', I didn't actually think that I would be at that stage ever as the mental hole felt so hopeless. She said 'you will be'. I say the same to you ....you WILL get to the stage where you can look back and help others. ... View more