Feeling frightened

Hi it wasn't long ago that I was where you are right now and I was also frightened, couldn't sleep and couldn't eat.  I did have cancer but 3 months later and I was finished with treatment and am fine now.  I'm not going to tell you not to worry because you will but firstly your results might turn out to be fine and you don't have cancer but if like me you do get told you have cancer try to remember that breast cancer is very treatable these days.

Feel free to keep in touch with me if you want to.  I'm sure others will also be in touch with you soon.

What helped me was reading people's bios ( just click on our names and if we've written a bio you will see it) as it showed me how treatable breast cancer is.

Wishing you all the best xx

Thank you for your reply. It’s the not knowing I think is the worst  I think I might call the hospital in the morning to see if I can see them tomorrow not Thursday. They can only say no I suppose xx 

. The unknown is awful and the nurse tackless if she was a nurse.  I rang year 2 as I hadn't had my annual mammogram results after 3 weeks.  I rang my BC nurse number, normally a direct line to the BC nurses.  The person answering the phone asked my DOB etc then said my results were there but she couldn't give them to me!  I just went 'oh it's bad news then' and she got all flustered and said I'll get a nurse to ring you.  I had a call back 10 minutes later to say they were fine and it had been a receptionist and she's not allowed to give them.  
Year 3 I had to have biopsy on good side at annual mammogram.  It was a Monday and told I'd have call Friday with results .  My 3.30 Friday no call so I rang .  Nurse said biopsy fine but they want to see me again to repeat mammogram and if necessary tests just to be sure so she hadn't ring me as no appointments available!   Following Tuesday I was rung by my BC nurse and given s as n appointment for following Monday .  Wednesday a letter arrived with appointment to see surgeon in two weeks time .  Back into panic mode , why did I need to see surgeon so ring by BC nurse again - the BC nurses are allocated to you for full 5 years .  She said letter for mammogram but always recorded as appointment with surgeon and sent before she'd found me a cancellation!  Anyway had repeat mammogram & ultrasound nothing there so they decided it had been a bruise !!!! 

So understand the anxiety etc but there's no need to plan your funeral hymns!  If snd I say if it's cancer it's very treatable.  I was diagnosed in 2015 and had surgery to remove offending area and then radiotherapy and then just annual mammograms .  

No harm in calling them and letting them know you can go in sooner if they get any availability.  The not knowing and the waiting is definitely the hardest.  Hopefully you don't have cancer but if you do you will start to feel better when they give you your treatment plan.  

It's a really awful period for you at the moment I know but you will get through it.

Try and keep yourself distracted with anything you enjoying doing even if it's watching lots of box sets.  

If you find yourself awake and unable to sleep you can try the AWAKE thread.  Lots of us are on there, some in the background just reading posts others posting about anything and everything and someone is often awake and on there at all hours of the day and night.  Just pop on and introduce yourself and you will get a very warm welcome. Click on this and it should take you there https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/chat-breast-cancer/f/breast-cancer-forum/128753/awake/1557899#1557899

Thank you for your reply. You seem to have had miscommunication problems as well!! I’m so pleased you are doing ok now   

Thank you. I’ll try the link now. You have been very helpful and it’s great to know there are people on here willing to listen and help. Xx

Hi Elioe,

I was the same and was told I could take someone with me, but I actually asked the nurse who called if she could give me the result over the phone and she did. It was cancer, but it gave me a bit of time to take the news in before I went for my appointment to discuss the results. It might be that you can asked to be told on the phone so that at least you’re not waiting? I’m not sure how you feel about that but maybe worth asking if you’d prefer to know? 

Ruby xx

Hi Ruby. Thank you. I’m going to call them in a little bit and ask if I can see someone today so I know something at least that might help  x x