Just became one of the 370 males in the uk the get breast cancer..now what..

Hi Andy

im sorry you find yourself here 

it must be stressful in itself to be a guy amongst all us ladies but we will help you out where we can. Everyone is so helpful.

with regards to aches and pains, I suffered terribly whilst I was going through all the tests. I’d been diagnosed but was having to go through the stresses of finding out exactly what was what. I was petrified. I imagined it was the cancer when in fact it was stress. of course, if you have major concerns mention things to your team, or speak to someone here  at Macmillan on one of the phone lines. They’ll put your mind at rest. 
I gather your node scan is an ultrasound or are you on about an MRI? They look at my lymph nodes using an ultrasound which is a hand held device which is rolled across your skin. An MRI is the one in a tunnel, but let me reassure you it’s ok. I suffer with claustrophobia but they talk to you all the time and you have a hand held rubber like bulb that you can squeeze to let them know if you can’t cope and they will stop things. You can also choose what music you want to listen to, so I listened to Coldplay and kept my eyes shut!. I had an MRI, CT scan, bone scan and they checked my heart out too. 
Anyway, if there’s anything else you need to ask just pop it on here

Di

Hi Andy_49

I was also diagnosed this week with a 16mm Invasive Ductal Carcinoma and am due to have a lumpectomy on 6th feb. Not sure if the aches and pains are ‘normal’ but I’ve also been getting them..legs, arms, back etc but I also forget about them when busy so think you could be right about them being stress related! It’s a scary time, I was totally unprepared for the diagnosis as I had no symptoms whatsoever..mine was discovered on an ultrasound for menopausal problems (I’m 50 yo) then taken for MRI and biopsy and now waiting for surgery.

I also kept researching and looking at Dr Google and it was just freaking me out and making things worse so I’ve now promised myself I will stop..I don’t think it helps as a lot of the info is out of date. I know it’s hard but please try to stay positive, your cancer has been discovered and things are moving along..wishing you all the best x

Thank you.

I am pretty sure the aches and pains are stress and anxiety, i went through a lot last year and it seems its taken its toll in more ways then i thought.

I think i need to give up DR google..Seems whatever the symptom the end result is not good.

A few weeks back i had an ultrasound since i had a lump which a year back i went to the doctor for but was told it was almost certainly a fatty lump, not to worry but keep an eye on it. I only went back last december due to having a tight chest and arrhythmia and flu. Again i was told its nothing but for once and because it was a new year i said i really want it confirmed. They did an ultrasound and i kinda knew i was in trouble when another doctor was called in because the lump looked "weird" they did a biopsy there and then. Week later diagnosed and mastectomy planned for. The node scan i am unsure of , its a sentinel node scan with some radioactive thing to see if its spread i guess.. Probably why i am feeling stressed. Let alone the op. friday.

I hope your right about the music and squeezey thing. I might just be able to keep still if i close my eyes, although i am such a fidget.. 

Thank you for your words.

Hi

sorry to find you here but you have come to the right place, there is no one more claustrophobic than me, I asked them so many questions before I had my mri, things like what if I got stuck, what if the power failed and so on but honestly now it’s not to bad, I asked them to put me in and out couple times before starting properly, you will be fine, takes lots of deep breaths and think as positive as you can , all the best

Rita

Hi Andy_49 

My story on profile just click on my name if you want to read . I know you'd rather not be on here but welcome . Please stop googling it's usually out of date anyway .

There is nearly always someone on here who has the answer or is able to redirect you . 

Were you assigned a Breast cancer nurse ? If so ring her or the breast clinic and ask for Details of the procedure you are having on nodes . They will not have a problem with taking the time to explain things to you .They understand it's too much to take in . 

My op was 8days after diagnosis and on morning of op radioactive dye was injected into boob .  I had what is called sentinel node removed so only about 3/4 removed . 

This is the worst time waiting for things to happen when your brain goes into overdrive . Have a browse thru the threads and read some of the stories . Awake thread is good if you can't sleep someone is usually on thru the night . Be warned those of us in the Awake group do have a sense of humour therefore called fruitloops 

keep posting 

Let us know how you get on 

margaret

Andy_49 sorry you find yourself here but welcome.  Glad you persisted in making then check out you lump.  I know we all really want the quick, easy it’s fine but I think we know instinctively when to question .

Re aches and pains.  When I was waiting for my recall from first annual mammogram i had awful pain in my breast and under arm.  Continued while I awaited biopsy results then once I had treatment plan it subsided.  Now it just tears it’s head annually when the letter drops in my post box for my annual mammogram check up.  Stress is a b!tch.

You should find with BC treatment things move at a pace.  Do not be alarmed this is normal .

You should be allocated a breast care nurse who dill be your advocate and answer all your questions.  This board is also amazing at doing that too.  

Andy_49

hi Andy , sorry to hear your news and that you find yourself on this rollercoaster! 

Regards to the nodes scan I would check which scan this is with your breast cancer nurse. As I had mammogram,ultrasound and mri which all showed no node involvement !  Did they mention a node biopsy? 

The day before my surgery I had to go to the nuclear medicine ward to have radioactive fluid injected via the outside of the nipple ( its takes 10 seconds and is not painful )  which travels up to the nodes which should in theory crackle with a tool.The surgeon uses this is to identify the sentinel nodes for way of biopsy. Sometimes this fluid  doesnt work so blue dye is then used at time of surgery to identify the sentinel nodes. They then remove the sentinel nodes and test for cancer cells. If you have this dye then tears , wee and other things that you extract from your body is blue for a few days , you may look a little grey in colour and the nipple area may also be blue. But please contact your nurse to double check what exactly you are having done on Thursday. 

I wish you well and a speedy recovery . Keep posting 

Jukie x

Andy

I know someone asked if you have a breast cancer nurse.  I hope you do and if not there's some other form of support where you are being treated.

Please do bombard them with questions, you may want to have a look at the "surgery chat" (I'd put a link on if I wasn't so technically inept) discussion thread as there may be lots of things on there you didn't even think to ask about.  And its 100% better than google!

Good luck in your treatment - and you're in a good & supportive place here.

Sam X

Hi Julie

Yes i think there removing 2 nodes at the same time as the masectomy, and also i am having the same nuclear sentinel scan thing, i think to help identify the nodes and likely ones be removed during surgery for the biopsy. 

Its coming back to me now, doctor did mention something about being blue, think i will try to not cry then if tears are blue also and i shall hope i don't go like a smurf. Otherwise i shall have to grow my white beard..

Hi Sam

Yes i have a macmillan nurse , although i have not contacted her yet. Foolishly thought i could get better info from Dr. Google only to stress myself out and think the worst.

After a bit of bullying from a friend or two i have set myself up with a counsellor too, poor person wont know where to start with me, relationship issues, divorce, cancer.. i will go easy on them.

Thank you for your support / help and all those who replied.