Hi all. I’m new here as I’ve just been diagnosed with grade lobular breast cancer.
I had breast pain for a few months but no lump and on the 3rd visit to my GP and 2nd to the breast unit (the 2nd they sent me to A&E with suspected heart attack!) they did a breast biopsy and found it.
I’ve had a lot of tests since and we now know that it’s HER2 negative but that after a biopsy of under my arm (far less painful than the breast one!) that there was cancer in the lymph node too.
So now I am waiting for a CT scan to check other areas then hopefully surgery in a few weeks. This waiting is so hard tho! I have no idea what I’m doing. We told my kids (not really kids, they’re 26&25) last night and they were really good but now I’m massively stressing.
I felt that what the consultant wasn’t actually saying rather than what she was has caused me the most stress but I’m hoping I’m reading too much into that!
Nice to meet everyone here, I’m sorry it’s not in better circumstances but reading through a lot of the other comments has helped a lot. It’s good to see how strong everyone is. Thank you!
Hello PurpleWarrior
Welcome! - but obviously, every one of us would rather not be here.
I know how hard it is to get that diagnosis. My diagnosis was nearly 9 years ago and I can recall doing the 'death clear' of my house. To get a cancer diagnosis sent me automatically to 'that's it then'. But in actual fact, things are very different from what I believed.
The diagnosis and waiting for the treatment plan, for me, was the very worst part. Followed closely by the 'What If's' in relation to how I would cope with the treatment and then the thought that it would be back on each annual mammogram.
So, based on having gone through it, I would say - easier said than done - don't stress about what you can't control and accept that it might not be as awful as your mind thinks it will be.
For me, it was MUCH better than I envisaged. (I didn't need chemo.) I had a lumpectomy and radiotherapy and oestrogen suppressant tablets for 5 years. I went home 3 hours after my operation of 80mm removed from my breast, so I didn't even need to stay in overnight. It was painful and couldn't use that arm without it pulling for about a year, but is now practically back to normal - a little pain every now and again, but not much unless it is pressed - for instance in the follow up mammograms.
The biggest piece of advice that can be offered is just take one step at a time and try not to worry about the next steps. (Again, I know it is SO much easier said that done). But if you can do that, then you will find it a whole lot easier to navigate everything that's ahead.
Kindest wishes to you,
Lesley
