Hi everyone,
I just wanted to say hello and introduce myself. I'm Pippa - or Pip - to most people and I'm going in for the results of a core biopsy in two days. It might as well be two centuries 
I'm 55 and down in Plymouth and already living with cancer (Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma) that was diagnosed 15 years ago and thanks to some incredible chemo , I've been in remission ever since. I discovered a lump on me boob which appeared very quickly a couple of weeks ago, So far, I know that it's 30 mm and "spiculated" (I had to look that up). I'm off to the really wonderful Primrose Breast Care unit on Thursday to find out a little bit more.
I'm interested to find out about the experiences of others and hopefully in time, may be able to support myself but at the moment, I am totally clueless about everything breast cancer.
Sending you all my warmest wishes and love.
Pip xx
Hi Pip (DottyPip )
Welcome to the MacMillan community. I am sorry you are awaiting results from the breast clinic. Always a difficult time and it must be especially worrying given this isn’t your first rodeo. I am not sure whether you are visiting the breast clinic for tests, or whether you are returning for results, but I can give you a bit of information on what both those appointments were like for me. I am one of the Community Champions on the breast cancer pages. When you are ready you might like to join us there. Just click on the bold text here: Breast cancer forum
If you are visiting for tests you will likely be examined, talk with a nurse, have a 3D mammogram, an ultrasound, and have one or more biopsies taken. They will very likely tell you whether or not they think it is cancer. At the results appointment you find out the grade of the cancer, assuming it is cancer. The grade is how different the cells look to normal cells under the microscope with grade 3 being the most different. Whether it is ductal, lobular or something else. Whether it is invasive (ie no longer contained within the duct or lobe). Whether it has any, all or none of 3 different receptors - oestrogen, progesterone, human growth hormone. These things together along with the size of the tumour and whether or not they think it’s in lymph nodes in your armpit, determine the treatment plan. As you can tell from all of this, breast cancer isn’t a single disease.
Try not to google at least until you know more. There are lots of treatments for most types of breast cancer and most people get a good outcome. Data on the internet is often out of date because it doesn’t reflect people who are doing better through more recent treatments. They will take very good care of you.
Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm
I am a Macmillan volunteer.
I have metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer, in remission
