New here...

Hi  (Emma?)

Warm welcome to the club no one expected to join :-/

The way you are feeling is so totally normal - everyone here will tell you the waiting period between breast clinic appt to getting full results and a treatment plan can be an emotional time (scanxiety)

The numbers you mention is the score out of 5 for the M = mammogram and U = ultrasound screening. Most under 50's have denser breast tissue which can obscure the mammogram image hence the ultrasound scan as well.  The U5 score and the 19mm is why the biopsies were taken.

Good news is your nodes are normal which is great as they capture any dodgy cells, so whatever this is; it is contained. So you may possibly be offered a lumpectomy rather than a mastectomy but your team will offer you a plan tailored to you, as everyone's case can differ. Not everyone goes through chemo fingers crossed you won't need to cross that particular bridge.

No doubt you will get several more replies and a warm welcome from the many other ladies here, it's a great place to find yourself at a tough time.

Even though it looks like your fears are going to be confirmed please be assured BC has a very high (around 95%) recovery rate and with clear nodes this has probably been found early.

I'm a bit of a square peg in a round hole - it was my wife who was diagnosed way back in 2012 (see profile) and we are still living and enjoying the 'new normal' and have been helping out here where we can since then.

Fingers crossed for you on Wednesday, hugs, G n' J

Hi and another warm welcome, sorry you find yourself here but hopefully you’ll find lots of support and shared experiences, you’re certainly not alone. Your feelings sound very much like mine in these early days - outwardly full of positivity but inwardly full of fear and doubts. And the waiting is truly tortuous, you’re in limbo and it’s very easy to slip into negativity and dread. But the information you have so far does sound positive, so try to hold on to that. I think anything under 2cm is classed as ‘small’, and the fact that nothing has shown in the axilla would suggest ‘early stage’, although of course it all needs confirming before they’ll talk about possible treatment plans. And as has said, breast cancer is very treatable.

There’s no getting away from the horror of a cancer diagnosis, which is shocking, scary and downright shi***..... but we all seem to feel better once we’ve had a full diagnosis and can discuss treatments. Keep posting here, ask questions, rant and rave if it helps! And once you know exactly what you’re dealing with, others here will pop in with their experiences- there will always be someone in a similar situation. There’s also a ‘Breast cancer for the under 50s’ group though I think that tends to be quieter than this group. 

Sending love and gentle hugs, HFxx

Hi Emski2623,

I found a lump in my left breast just as I broke up for Christmas holidays. My lump measured 25mm. I had a lumpectomy a week after getting my results. My lymph nodes are clear and they got a clear diameter. I too had feelings of will i loose my breast, am i going to die!. I'm 44 so not too much older than you. 

I start my treatment plan on Thursday this week. Once you have the results it may make you feel better. I was told that I had caught it early!  

Having supportive friends and family around you really helps! I only joined here today as I wanted to see if I  could get some support from others going through a similar thing, at times it feels a little isolating.

Good luck with your results! x

Emski
Hi. You can read my bio in terms of my "story" but just wanted to let you know that there are many good parts to cancer treatment (other than being rid of it), bear with me as I know this sounds really odd. Not sure what treatment you'll be having but the nursing staff on my chemo unit are great, not only caring but also very funny and huge personalities, I actually looked forward to spending hours with them...its like a social occasion. I also had different pals accompany me and, often with other chemo recipients, we had a bl00dy good laugh.

Its also a great opportunity to share stories & top tips with others in the same position, be that at the hospital or on these forums, I hope you build up some good support as I have.

You will find, as I have, that your friends and family will really help you get through this and provide support & fun when needed.
Yes there will be times when you feel ill or rough. That said I actually had a relatively good time on chemo, some others have it a lot worse but often you won't hear a lot from those who don't suffer from bad side effects. Surgery is annoying but doable as am sure radiography will be for me.

Please do use this forum to rant, get practical & emotional support as well as the opportunity to speak to McMillan. You may well find, as I did at my hospital, that McMillan provide sessions (workshops, complimentary therapy) that help and there's look good, feel better...the charity support for those undergoing cancer treatment is really good. You may also want to look into "someone like me" via breast cancer now if you want to talk to someone who has been through what you will be experiencing.

Good luck - and you're in good hands now.

Sam

Morning

Dare we ask how you got on yesterday ?  :-/

G n' J

Good morning

Yes, of course, and thank you. I was just too tired to write last night.

So it definately is cancer. It's 19mm big and it is a grade 8 on the hormone receptive scale (think i said that right!).

The plan now is to start me on hormone therapy-injections and tablets to enforce the menopause as i am only 41. That will hopefully cut off the food source to the tumour and start to shrink it. Then around November time i will have surgery to remove what is left, radiotherapy and then stay on the hormones for at least 5 years.

I've got lots of booklets to read and a lot to process. I was intending to work today but I am absolutely drained beyond belief.

Lot's of changes are happening quickly and while i feel good to have a plan I also feel like I need time to just get this right in my head.

Thanks again for asking x

Hi

I'm assuming you are HER2 - negative then - so it is good to find your are Oestrogen positive the score is out of 8 so this is highly treatable with your oestrogen production being stopped. Sounds like Goserelin / Zoladex and Tamoxifen treatment ?

If you were negative for ER/PR hormones and HER2 you would have been given chemo, so it looks like you have dodged that particular bullet.

Any questions pop into your head regarding treatment and/or what to expect just start a new discussion asking, loads of ladies here are on the same therapy and will give you experienced replies

Hugs, G n' J

Hi , glad you have your results and a plan. Yes it’s a huge amount to take in, there’s no getting away from the hard facts, work probably just doesn’t seem very relevant at the moment. 8/8 is a ‘good’ score (so I was told, snap that was my score too!) as very treatable. I didn’t have injections as I’m an older bird so that ship had sailed! Good that the lump can be shrunk first, I’m guessing that means a less drastic operation when the time comes. Hope you can enjoy a more relaxed evening now you know what you’re dealing with. Love and hugs, HFxx