Breast Cancer Diagnosis Today

Hi Lolly P and a warm welcome to the Macmillan Online Community, a Community that no one really plans to see themselves joining, and so sorry to hear about your breast cancer diagnosis.

A cancer diagnosis brings a lot of confusion, stress and many questions but talking with other people who are on the same type of journey helps a lot.

The Community is organised into groups and I see you have joined our very supportive Breast cancer group, this is the place where you will connect with others walking the treatment journey both as a patient or family.

Follow the above link then introduce yourself, post questions or just  join in with existing discussions by clicking on 'reply'. 

Its always good to talk and the Macmillan Support Services provides lots of information, support or just a listing ear.

The service is open every day 8am to 8pm and it's free to call on 0808 808 00 00 have a look by Clicking here for more information.

You can also email them, use the online chat and we also have our Ask an Expert section, but do allow two working days for replies from our expert team.

Our Online Information and Support Section  is a good place to find information covering diagnosis, treatments and pages covering most types of cancers.

All the very best.

Hi Lolly P,

I thought i'd drop in and try to help out as i was in a similar situation.

My Mum had had breast cancer last year and whilst she was undergoing treatment, i found a lump in my breast.

I had the tests as you did, they confirmed it was breast cancer but said we should wait until the biopsy results returned. They did 2 weeks later and at that appointment i was told of the treatment plan moving forwards.

I was so worried about telling Mum, especially as she was recovering well, and she too is a worrier. My husband offered to come with me, but i didn't want to overwhelm Mum with the news. The way i told her was to initially pop in for coffee, tell her the diagnoses but to stress the positives about it, just as i had been told at the biopsy result consultation. It was operable, treatable and although i would face chemo and radio after an operation, they were hopeful it could be resolved. Mum seemed to handle it better with a 'positive' and casual spin on it, rather than a tearful doom and gloom formal chat.

I asked her if she would mind being a part of my journey to help me answer any questions i had regarding treatment, as she had been on the same journey, and she was only too happy to try to help, it seemed to focus her on helping rather than worrying. Then Covid happened and i had to do all my treatment on my own. However, we did chat everyday on the telephone, and it was so helpful to me just chatting about everyday things.

So in a nutshell, I thought i should tell Mum when it was confirmed, i had all the facts, and in a relaxed way.

I hope this is a little helpful, the fact you have a husband that sounds amazingly supportive is awesome, don't forget he may need someone to chat to too, a friend or colleague, just to offload. I am wishing and hoping all the best for you, please do reach out for a vent or a chat, you CAN do this, just take things in bite sized chunks, one step at a time. 

Please take care, 

Beckie x

Hi Bex1972

Thank you so much for your reply. I don't feel so alone now. It's funny how you feel as if you're the only one in this situation but then you find out there are thousands of others like you.

Your situation sounds very similar to mine though I am slightly older -56. I'm married to a lovely man but don't have any children and my mum has ovarian cancer.

I can't believe this is happening to me (though why shouldn't it). I feel as if my life has turned upside down in a day and I just want to be normal. I don't want to be the person everyone's going to pity . I just want to be me. 

I think you're right. I will wait till I get the biopsy results and have all the facts and then tell my mum. Like you say concentrating on the positives (hopefully there will be some).

Thank you again for answering me when you have so much going on in your own life at the moment.

Take care and wish you lots of luck. If you need to talk I'm here for you too x

Hi Lolly,

Lovely to hear from you.

I was like you, as soon as i found this forum i didn't feel quite so alone.

It's amazing how like you say, life can turn on its head in a 24 hour period, i just want things to be normal again like they were before all of this too.

I have the meeting with my Oncologist tomorrow at noon for my follow up PET scan results, i'm scared witless, but also want to know what i'm to expect.

Its like someone has pressed a big pause button on my life but let everyone else's carry on!

I also wish you all the best Lolly, please do stay in touch, it's surprising how much strength we can draw from each other.

Keeping everything crossed for you and your biopsy results.

Take care.

Beckie x

Hi Beckie,

Try and do something nice today if you can to try and take your mind off tomorrow. I know it's hard, particularly in these times but even a walk in the fresh air helps. We have a scooter and yesterday we went for a ride on it and for those few hours I felt normal again. It's amazing that you spend your life wishing for things and really just health and love are all we need. I wish we could tell our 20 year old selves that!

Good luck for tomorrow. Once you find out what to expect you can start taking control again. I really think the waiting and not knowing is a really hard part and you sound like a worrier like me so that doesn't help us at all does it? 

Take care and let me know how it goes.

X

Hi Lolly,

I've just got back and wanted to share my news. My oncologist has given me the all clear!

The node that showed up on a CT scan was nothing untoward, and although they want to do a follow up scan in 3 months he said it is nothing to worry about.

He said we will carry on with the Tamoxifen i take everyday, and the Herceptin jabs i have every 3 weeks, and he will see me in 3 months!

I am over the moon, and cried unashamedly in his office in front of him and my husband!

I wanted to say, i want to be here for you, and to hear how you are doing, i'm here for a moan, questions about side effects or treatment, cry or just a vent. You can do this, absolutely, and you will have ups and downs, but you can do it.

By the way, your scooter sounds awesome, what fun!

Thinking of you.

Beckie x

Hi Beckie,

Wow that is fantastic news. I am so pleased for you. You must feel so relieved. You can have your life back now and look forward to Christmas and enjoy every day.

Thank you for saying that. At the moment I just feel in limbo. As if my life is in hold till my results and then so scared of what is to come. But you've done it so I will definitely try to.

Take care . I bet you'll have the best night's sleep tonight you've had for ages.

Lolly x

Hi Lolly,

I remember the stage you are at now, and how it made me feel too. I found because they had told me that is was cancer, and i had had time to process that bit, at the biopsy results consultation i was more wanting to know what they could do about it.

The treatments for breast cancer have come such a long way, so much money has been ploughed into research, that it has become more treatable, curable and manageable than ever.

The chemotherapy wasn't half as bad as i had imagined it to be, and the radiotherapy was really quick in comparison.

I think our own minds are our worst enemy at times.

When is your appointment, do you know yet?

By the way, what part of the country are you in?

You will get to the stage i am, you can absolutely do it. Once the biopsy results come through, you have had that chat with your dear old Mum, things will seem more in control.

I'm going to be checking in here to see how you are doing.

Thinking of you.

Bex x

Hi Beckie,

Lovely to hear from you again. Are you still enjoying that feeling of relief now you have had your results? I bet you and your husband feel so happy.

My biopsy results are in the 17th. Im terrified that they are going to say it's untreatable as it aches all the time and so does my back so I've convinced myself it's moved to other parts. I just need to get the results and like you say, be a bit more in control. Once you had received your results what happened next? Did you have chemo first?

We live in Manchester. What about you? 

Thanks for thinking of me.

Lolly x

Hi Lolly,

Lovely to hear from you again too.

The 17th for your results, ok, i've made a note of that. I was the same as you about thinking it had spread and getting aches etc, but they would have already worked out what it is and how big, the biopsy results will tell them what type of cancer it is so they can treat it with the best drugs. 

Mine was HER2 positive, that is fed by Oestrogen. So the chemo i had was called FEC-T. 

When i got my results the plan was to start chemo first and then have an operation and then have radio, but Covid came along and so they decided to operate first, in case they had to cancel operations, then do chemo followed by radio.

The first stage of treatment was lots of scans, CT scan and MRI, just to tell them exactly where it is and how to get to it, none of the tests were hideous, it was probably harder to have to lay still to be honest!

They assigned me a breast care nurse, who gives you a telephone number to call and chat about ANYTHING, i've called them a fair bit and no question or worry is too small, they have heard and dealt with everything. I still am under them for 5 years, so the relationship you build will help you so much.

We are in a town called Waterlooville, near Portsmouth. But Manchester isn't a million miles away, i love it up there, everyone is so friendly.

Hubby and i are very relieved and happy, all of this as well as Covid being around has made me realise that it's all about the time together and the small moments that make you happy, not the huge grand gestures. 

I do think about you, and like i say, i will check in to catch your messages and see how you are doing.

I'm with you Lolly, you can so do this girl, just you see.

Please stay safe, look after yourself.

Bex xx