Help with waiting…

You poor poor thing

honestky this is the worst bit

once you meet the team and realise that it’s their daily bread and butter and the outlook is usually excellent you will feel much more in control

also SO hard keeping a brave face on and pretending everything is fine. I didn’t want to tell my family at all but once I did it felt like a huge weight off. And before you ask - your girls will be fine……especially once they know there’s a plan 

best of luck you you 

Hi CLK81,

I was exactly the same as you but I had vulva cancer.  They told meat my first appointment I had vulva cancer without any results.  I could not sleep eat or function properly. I was referred to the complementary medicine team and they gave me an inhaler made of cedar oil, lavender and ylang-ylang, you just use it when you feel the anxiety kicking in. Also the head of that team Neil Browne has put some meditation sessions on YouTube and they are very helpful, would not have got through 2022 without them.  Ask either your Macmillian nurse or the specialist nurse about the inhaler I was under Bart’s hospital trust in London.  Also like you I was signed off work as I just could not think straight and had to keep going to different appointments. Ended up being signed off from April to December some of which was because I needed 2 ops and recuperation after each was 6 weeks. Was not allowed to do any housework so enjoyed that bit. 

on the plus side I was on blood pressure meds before the op but when I went in the hospital took me off all blood pressure medication and I have not had to take any since.  I do think that the meditation helped with that too.

i hope that you can get that inhaler it’s just like the Vicks one,  there is always someone on these forums that can give you advice based on their journeys. Good luck on the 3rd and let us know how you get on.

Hi CLK81,

I am sorry to learn you are going through all this, I don’t think they should have told you until they had the full results, no wonder you are in a mess. However, waiting a few weeks for results is not unusual and I know, living on m6 own it felt like an eternity.

I had a lumpectomy five months ago and lymph nodes removed, I  finished my radiotherapy a few weeks ago and now await other results.. If this is the worse case scenario, although It is a shock when you are told, it is important you take a bit of time to let it register and sink in. The strides made in modern cancer medicine these days is amazing and they can do so much for you. However, there is so much you can do for yourself too.

You have made the first big step by finding the Macmillan site, also do visit your nearest Macmillan centre, a list is on here, or ring them on 0808 808 0000, they are superbly helpful and give you lots of great info, do walks, talks, help with benefits, bills, open 10-4 Mon-Fri for coffee and chat and lots more. Please also get a good support structure in place, family, friends, good work colleagues, I’ve lived on my own for nigh on forty years, but realised you can’t do this on your own. I also go for a short walk every day (British weather permitting) and do a daily diary, this is mega helpful, as it gets everything off your chest and out of your system. It is important during the day to keep yourself occupied, hobbies, interests etc., it stops you from dwelling on what is going on. You may also find it beneficial to listen to a meditation podcast, they really help you to relax especially when you are trying to get to sleep. I use one called ‘Go Gently’ by Christine Elizabeth Smith, it does a lot for me. Whatever you do, do not visit Dr Google as there is so much conflicting information, your head will spin and it will stress you out, listen to your medical team and you get great support on here.

I know it’s hard sometimes, but try and keep as positive as you possibly can, have positive people around you and dump the negativity, above all, be kind to yourself - I promise you, you will get through this. You are never alone and can always come and chat to us shower in here.

Keeping fingers and everything crossed for you.

Take care and big hugs.xxx

Boobybabe hope you are ok?? May I ask what tests you are waiting on? Hope all ok

Thank you for all the replies, I had a U5/M5 result from my ultrasound and mammogram. I’m guessing they are just waiting for the biopsy to see how bad it is. I did have a moment where I thought perhaps it’s not anything and when I get the biopsy results it might be all fine. But I suppose they do this all the time so were pretty confident. It’s shocking how many people go through this but does make you feel positive that lots of people are ok in the end x

Hi C22,

I found a new lesion on the underneath of my left boob (same one I had lumpectomy on) two weeks ago, so had to go through my GP, who got me an appointment and I see a specialist on Monday - quite quick so can’t complain.

Fingers and everything crossed

I know the feeling of going insane, feeling ill, not sleeping, etc.  I had 6 biopsies because my Surgeon wanted to be absolutely sure (found very early stage cancers in both my breasts), and the two months that I had to wait drove me crazy, but guess what?  I had my surgery ten days ago, and because of all the tests done, they knew exactly what to do, and I recovered from it very quickly.  I am seeing my surgeon on 3r October to find out the results from the biopsies and nodes. I found telling all my family and friends about it helpful because I had and have upteen messages of support which were great and bolster me!  Each person handles breast cancer in their own way, but having two young daughters and being off work because of shingles just adds another dimension to your worries!  Hang in there and know that all will be well in the end.

Oh wow 6 biopsies! Poor you! They took two pinches last week and I’m in agony, my lump seems to of doubled in size and is rock hard and I have a big black bruise all over! Was yours sore? I wonder if they have jumped the gun telling me I have breast cancer without having the biopsy results back. It’s getting all on top of me and I don’t know whether I’m coming or going. Hopefully you will get good results.

I do believe they jumped the gun. The lady told me that it was definitely cancer after one of my biopsies, and it turned out that she was wrong -so do wait for the results. Sorry you are sore; I can stand a lot of pain so just took panadols and continued with my lude. 

Of course I’m so sorry. I get mixed up but I do remember 

when do you think you’ll get an answer? So sorry you are having to think about this xx