Diagnosed 20th November over the phone by my gp

Hi , just wanted to say firstly how cr4p that is and your reaction is what lots think but unfortunately s**t happens. But I'm really surprised that it was your GP that told you, I've not come across that before, but then again up until last week hadn't come across Christmas being cancelled (tier 4 dweller here)!!  And being told at work too, that must have been dreadful all round...most of us were sat in consultants offices with our loved one.

I do hope that you've been given some details as to what the cancer consists of and have been allocated a BCN (breast cancer nurse) to whom you can ask questions as if you don't have any now am sure you'll have many soon when the shock has work off a little.

If you do need to speak to someone sooner rather than later (or don't have a BCN allocated yet) then the McMillan helpline is excellent, as is the Breast Cancer Now service 'someone like me' where you can (as did I) speak to someone who has gone through what you are/will be, I had a fortnightly call with a lovely lady throughout my treatment.  They're there for whatever you need - practical, financial, emotional ...

Good luck with whatever happens next.

Sam

Thanks Sam 

So my diagnosis up until 2 weeks ago was that I had a 1.5cm lump in the left lateral breast ,very well defined.This was detected by an ultrasound but not the mammogram. After a biopsy was taken via the ultrasound it was confirmed I have grade 2 invasive carcinoma.Receptive positive. An action plan of sorts was put into place.MRI just to make sure there wasn't anything else and I quote 'highly unlikely but just to be sure'.

Get me in for the op-lumpectomy, and then radiotherapy.

However-

I had a call the week following the MRI from my nurse, to say it showed an area of 6.5cm that looked suspicious and so they would need to ultrasound me again with another biopsy.

This was performed plus 2 other mammograms. The day after this I had another call from the nurse to say she had booked me in to have a chat with the consultant as it may now be time to talk about having a mastectomy. She said some patients prefer just to get rid rather than having lots of tests.

My app with the consultant is tomorrow.Im trying to compile a list of questions right now as my partner and I are totally confused.

Little wolf x 

Hi Welcome

 Have a read on my profile just click on my name I didn't have a lump as such nothing you could feel or surgeon find even when he knew where cancer was . Mine was found by mammogram they call Calcification  looked like confetti sprinkled over boob rather than anything solid . Nothing found on ultra sound  .

I was told by surgeon that a lumpectomy would be offered at below 40/45mm my calcification was in two places if both added together it would be 51/52 mm but because I was wide he would do lumpectomy.

I said just do masectomy at my age 70yr I don't need it .He was worried I would change my views after op Then I found out a junior radiographer that second area had no change from previous mammogram.

I asked for second biopsy concentrating on second area whilst in there chief radiographer came in to watch I was absolutely fuming by this point So demanded who he was and what were his views he felt 51/52 needed to be removed .So when biopsy came back that area  had changed I decided on masectomy done 8 days after first diagnosis .

The point I'm trying to make is ask as many questions as you like til you are comfortable with your decision take I ask if lumpectomy what area of your boob would be effected . 

Is it likely to change again ..

Its your decision I chose masectomy knowing I would cope but also because a lumpectomy would have been a large area and I felt more comfortable going flat on right side using a prosthesis.

Could have had reconstruction ask about what is there for you if you go for masectomy. 

Im now 18months since masectomy and fine . Good luck tomorrow write your questions down and their answers or if they allow your partner in to take notes . 

Dont be afraid to say you need time to think in the 8 days I saw consultant 4 times usually 8am before his clinics lol  

good luck let us know how you get on 

Never heard of GP giving results !  Anyway sorry you still have uncertainty but hopefully this will soon be resolved .  As northerner says of you have large areas of calcification or small lumps dotted throughout your breast cosmetically they might not get a good result with lumpectomy.   I was originally offer a reduction of my other breast as they thought I would be unbalanced due to location of area that needed removing even though it was only 11mm and 5mm.  I agonised over for a week shall I shan't I and when I next saw them they told me that at weekly meeting my case had been discussed and it was decided that cosmetically the removal wouldn't be noticeable!   

I believe they discuss every case at weekly meeting to decide on most appropriate treatment so if I was I'd ask if you had been discussed , is a mastectomy offered due to ease, cosmetic impact, increased risk of further/multiple surgery if no clear margins, location or because it's the safest course of treatment.  Ask what the next steps are.  Is there chemo radiotherapy required if mastectomy.  If chemotherapy is yes is it before or after surgery.  Good luck xx

Thanku Carol 

I had an email from my nurse yesterday to say the app with the consultant is now 12pm in a different location . I’m assuming it’s because of covid and the precautions they have to take. 
It’s all very surreal at the moment. Trying to stay positive but also realistic. Having breast cancer sucks but having it during a complete lock down and we are now in tier 4 does nothing for your mental health. 

Xx

Awful time indeed .  I'm in Wales so we were lockdown again on Saturday with a few hours notice,  Welsh govt also told our health board 2weeks ago they could reduce all non essential surgery  including cancer if too busy  !  However I a friend had routine surgery last week so are they not any more busy than they are during normal winters!  

Are you allowed to take anyone with you?   

,

How did the meeting go?  I hope you asked lots of questions and got some answers.

I also went through, like many others, a multitude of tests, scans & biopies, unfortunately its quite routine to have so many...but good as the more the experts know about our particular cancer the better.

If you're confused in any respect there's loads of people on here who can help but also the MacMillan helpline/nurses- that's what they're there for....and your hospital support team of course.

Sam X

Hiya 

The meeting was a good one,I managed to get some clarity. My next step is to have an mri biopsy performed up in Northwick Park hosp in Harrow,apparently by the top guy in the country William Teh. This is to get some confirmation as to weather or not the suspicious speckles are cancer or not. Im still waiting on biopsies taken from a second lump last week. 

So dependant on all of these results,will determine if I have a lumpectomy or a mastectomy. Im booked in with the surgeon for 31st Dec if all results come back by then-but bare in mind I haven't had the mri app through yet for Harrow.

So my phone is staying close and waiting for the call.

It's the waiting thats the worst!!

Thankyou for your support so far guys xx

I also have it in my left breast. It's a shock when you get told the news. I have also got a couple of nodules in my lymphnodes

Thanks for the tip on the chats by phone.