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Dearest ,

I am so sorry you find yourself here, the place none of us want to join.  

You are possibly at the worst part of your journey 'the waiting' - you mind will drive you wild, your imagination will go into overdrive.  

Try to not over think this, for at the moment you don't know anything - so no matter what you and your mind think up - you won't know the answer, you will just wear yourself out. 

Keep in mind whatever has caused this 'it can be treated - if treatment is needed' - try to slow done and take some breaths.  Once your Doctor has made the referral you will usually get a fast tracked appointment to be seen within '2 weeks' - if you don't here anything approaching the 2 weeks contact your doctor again.  

Whilst waiting, if you do have trouble sleeping or suffer from anxiety etc you might look into the Mindfulness app's - they really do help, this comes from someone that could never listen to this 'type of thing' - yet, when in this situation I found them amazing, very focusing and relaxing.

If you find yourself awake during the night time hours look out for a thread called 'AWAKE' - many of us drop in there during the night and day for that matter - it's where 'anything and everything' gets discussed.  

You asked how we remain calm and rational - we tend to refer to ourselves as 'Fruit Loops' so we might not be all the calm or rational.  In all seriousness, speaking for myself, at your side of the journey I was not calm nor rational ...... take it one day at a time - at the moment you don't know anything other than what you can see - you mind will make up stories - don't listen to them. Wait until you know what or what it isn't and then take then next step - for now you have done the right thing and will have answers soon.

Hopefully the link to the Awake thread below works..... any worries or questions etc just ask away  

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/chat-breast-cancer/f/breast-cancer-forum/128753/awake/1585356?focus=true#1585429

Gail W x

Thankyou so much for taking the time to reply. I have no family nearby, and friends don't know what to say! 4 days have gone by, that's 10days left before I hear. I'm a retired  Nurse and have worked in breast clinics, this makes things worse!!!

Hi Noo52

Welcome and I am sorry to hear that you find yourself in this situation.  It's hard at times to remain calm and rational so what I do to calm myself down is by doing the things that I love doing like taking my dog for a walk or reading a good book.  I find that it usually helps, nothing like a good walk or a good book to help take your mind off your troubles.

Wishing you the best of luck with your results and hopefully it will be good news for you. But if it's not you'll get plenty of support from the ladies on this forum. Breast Cancer is very treatable these days. I was diagnosed last September and had chemo and then surgery and I am now in remission.

Best wishes

Daisy53

Hi Noo52,

It is very difficult to remain calm. 
I was in a similar position to you at the beginning of February. My left breast became red and swollen, very much like an infection. My GP was great. She started me on antibiotics but said was making a Breast Clinic referral ‘just in case’. I think she understated things to keep me calm.

Within 2 weeks I had a mammogram and US. Biopsies were taken but I was told on the scan day that clinical signs and scan results strongly suggested Inflammatory Breast Cancer. I promptly Googled this which was the wrong thing to do as lots of information was alarmist and very outdated. This was a very difficult time psychologically but I did get threw it. Especially when I found out I was able to go down the curative route.

You can click on my name for an idea of my treatment plan and progress to date.

Easy for me to say but you’re not sure what’s causing your symptoms. Hopefully there will be another cause but, even if not, there is still hope.

Wishing you all the best.

Bluebell xx

Dear Daisy,

Thankyou for taking time to write.  This is certainly a scarey time. I haven't had the date for the one stop shop.  This waiting is awful.  My children aren't nearby, so I spend too much time thinking

Have you had an appointment date yet? 

Hi,

Yes its Monday. A friend is taking me. The waiting is awful

Hello Noo52, yes the waiting is awful i agree.. Try  to keep busy..Iim a keen gardener, and gamer..But thankfully i dont have to wait too long now. Hope all goes well for you on Monday.. x

Good luck and fingers crossed for you. Mines 14th and it’s hard waiting for it x

Hi Sarah,

Not good news for me.  I had excellent care, consultation, mammograms x8, ultrasound, 8 core biopsies, a cuppa tea and  biscuits!  I see the big chief this Monday to hear test results.  I was in shock, but have had a couple of visitors and that helps.

Lots of luck coming from me to you!Xxxx