Hello,
New to the forum and page..I just got my diagnosis yesterday at 5.30pm... Friday.. I was sent out ofnthe hospital knowing I had breast cancer at the weekend with no support. I am in shock and now have to play the waiting game on the biopsy test results.. I don't know where to turn to or what to do with myself.. my mind is in overdrive.. Help..
Hi Hannah
i got a recall from my mammogram. Went along to clinic for ultrasound and they tried to aspirate but could not get anything out so decided to do a biopsy, just to be on safe side. I was told that it didn’t look like anything to worry about and she was sure it was a cyst. I left the hospital all positive and relieved. Had to wait 2 weeks for results - one of the worst times of my life, only to get a call after 2 weeks to inform me results were not back! Yet another week of waiting to then get a call from nurse inviting me in for a chat with consultant. I’m naturally impatient and asked was she able to tell me anything and she said she could tell me as much or as little as I wanted - I said everything. I was then informed it was cancer, grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma, oestrogen positive and measuring 11mm. Bolt out the blue as I’d left the clinic thinking it was a cyst!! My head was a mess and I imagined the worst until I had a chat with my consultant who assured me it was treatable and told me the treatment plan. Once I knew what was happening it really helped as it’s the unknown that’s the scary bit.I was also scared to tell my children as I think I was in denial to some degree - I felt well, not how you imagine someone who had cancer would feel like. I was also scared about finances and work as I would not have been able to continue if I’d ended up needing chemo. We had a holiday booked for start of August too which I was worried about not being able to go to. Spoke about all of my fears/ worries with consultant who said one step at a time. Don’t tell work for now if you are still able to do job, don’t cancel holiday for now. After lumpectomy I was back working from home the following week ( I’m lucky that I have the option to work from home) and I am now finally getting excited about holiday in 2 weeks which we are still able to go on.
Had ultrasound on lymph nodes the following week and they all looked normal thankfully. Consultant also sent a sample away to be oncotype tested. Its sent to America so then had another 2 weeks of waiting, but my score was low at 13 so unless anything came up on results after surgery, I should not need chemo. Had to have a scout inserted as was so small and deep, but as it was so deep and I’m a well endowed lady, had to have a wire inserted on morning of surgery as well as an injection into bon so they could see sentinel nodes to take and check there was no spread.
Anyway, had surgery on 4th June and finally got my results last week - now that was a bloody long 6 week wait! but all good
no spread to nodes and everything out with clear margins. Waiting for my GP to prescribe Anastrozole which I will be on for 5 years and some radiotherapy - seeing consultant on Friday so will find out how many sessions.
I am completely back to normal physically, not so sure about mentally and don’t know if I will ever get my ‘old’ self back, time will tell, but I’m here, free of cancer and fingers crossed will continue to be for a good many years to come. It’s hard to believe how strong we are when we need to be, and I was not going to allow this horrible disease to take anything more from me.
Stay strong, keep positive and believe in your breast care team as they will be doing everything to get you through this xx
Hi Elizabeth,
Thank you so much for your reply. It really does means a lot. I can't deny the fact that I am struggling with the unknown and I want to know whats going on but equally I don't because I am fearing the worst. My head has gone to places I never thought possible and it is only people like yourself that has been in this position that will truly ever understand what it is like. I am really grateful for all the support I have had on here!
As a trained counsellor I have thought in the past that I have empathised and understood what this was like for my clients who have been in this situation.. but omg.. I have been nowhere near it.
Last year I nursed my 19 year old daughter through Leukaemia, we enjoyed a few days in Crete in May this year to celebrate her recovery after everything she'd been through. Little did we know that we would be here again..
Thank you so much again for your support! It means a lot.
