Newly diagnosed and shell shocked!

Hello Celie

It sucks doesn't it. I got my diagnosis last week. Like you i lost my husband 2 years ago after being together 49 years.

I have non invasive ductal cancer grade 2 and am awaiting appointment at hospital. I think it's the waiting around that is the hardest. I had to wait over 3 weeks to get result of the biopsy...the anxiety was awful.

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.   Sorry to hear about your husband. Didn’t think anyone else could be so unlucky to be suddenly widowed and the next minute be diagnosed with cancer!

I don’t know what that is, but 3 weeks is a long time to wait!

  Do you feel better or worse now that you know more?  Have you been told the order of your treatment?

Hi

Well I think I feel better knowing. So far I've only had a diagnosis...awaiting to hear from the hospital about what comes next.

Were you told straight away at the screening that it was cancer?

Hi,

Yes, I was told at the second assessment.  

He couldn’t feel the lump as it’s small (a good thing as it’s treatable ) but he could see it on the ultra sound.  He said it wasn’t a cyst and I asked if it was cancer and he said yes.  He said the histology results will determine what type of cancer and the order of treatment.

I was given an appointment for the results in 2 weeks and then I would meet the surgeon 2 days later to discuss what will be done. I was given some reading info and a leaflet saying occasionally it might be longer than 2 weeks.

Hope you get your appointment through soon x

That must have been a terrible shock to be told that there and then.

Yes it was. But the way he was talking, he was sort of avoiding the word, so I asked him straight out.

. I’m glad I did because I’m getting prepared for the next bit now.

How awful for you.  It’s just such a shock isn’t it? I know it’s hard but try and keep yourself busy and try not to google! Every case is so different and the offer to talk to others does not appeal to me at the moment but I am keen to support others going forward. 
 I was diagnosed yesterday with lobular cancer. I’m almost 70. I’ve always been healthy. I am thinking why me and why now!!!!
  I found my lump 2 weeks ago, paid for a private appointment with our cancer specialist/surgeon in the the next few days and then had a very quick mammogram. My meeting yesterday with said surgeon was a bit strange really and was hard to take in. I’m a very positive person but this shook me. Of course you think the worst when you heathe word cancer but we are far more advanced now in terms of treatment.I  live in Jersey and our health service is great. The breast cancer nurse called me in the afternoon to check I was ok. I haveo wait 2 weeks now for a MRI scan to check my other boob and the rest of my body. The plan is to remove the lump by breast reduction and then radiotherapy. The final plan will be to reconstruct my oer boob so they match. At least I will end up with the perky boobs I’ve always wanted. I am really trying my best not to let this get to me. I’ve gone. Wry public and MH friends have been great. Some say stupid things snd one even told me about her friends disaster of a reconstruction? Duuurrr! People don’t think do they! Anyway this dratted C is not getting me. The only thing is that I’m probably going to be recovering over Christmas. What a pain in the butt!! Just to add I’m not private. Just my first appointment was. I do feel that I have joined a very special group of strong and resilient women. You will get through this and will be able to look back and think “I made it”.  Let’s stay connected and support each other! Lots of love and hugs to you. 

Thanks for your reply and support. 

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis.  I can completely understand going private to begin with to find out.  I went private when I found a lump years ago, simply because I had a really stressful event coming up and needed to get it investigated quickly.  It turned out to be one of many cysts I had over the years.  I had it drained and that was that, I could move on then.

I can relate to the ‘why me’?  It’s such a shock isn’t it.  You sound really positive though and that’s great.  Your friend’s comment was really insensitive! It’s hard enough to accept what’s happening and keep your thoughts from racing, without people telling you tales about other people they know who’ve had breast cancer and what happened to them.  

It was a shock for me as I hadn’t found a lump and just thought it was probably another cyst that had shown up on my screening.  It’s taking me a while to believe this is happening to me.  I’m finding it hard to sleep, I keep waking in the early hours and can’t get back to sleep.  I’m normally quite a positive person and part of me is saying, ‘it’s been caught early, it’s treatable’ and all the other things I’m saying to myself, but it’s not helping.  Maybe it’s because the shock is coming on top of the earlier shock of losing my husband suddenly and traumatically.  Maybe it will feel more manageable when I know what I’m dealing with and have a plan in place.

Its the ‘not knowing more’ and having to wait, that’s worrying as you said. I’m afraid I’ve been Googling (only good websites)I know it’s not a sensible thing to do, but I think it makes me feel I’m doing something to help me understand, even though I’m not reading about my particular cancer, if that makes sense.

On the plus side, the breast care nurses were lovely and I feel lucky that we have a breast screening service and that it was picked up through this.

Finger’s crossed for good results from your MRI scan.  I can see from your message that you’re strong and resilient.. Love and hugs xxx

We have got this! I’m going to fill my time watching crap tele,  reading rubbish books and making cakes!!

Good thinking! Xx