Hi everyone. Thank you for taking the time to read this. My mum had a mammogram a few weeks ago which was 6 months late due to it being cancelled in March because of covid. She got called back and she had a second mammogram and scan tues which showed a mass on her left breast. No lumps or bumps or any other symptoms. Swollen lymph nodes on each side but as they are symmetrically swollen they said they are too worried as it may be normal for her. She had a biopsy and is awaiting results weds. They showed her the scan pic and she said the whole left breast is black. They’ve told her to prepare for cancer as they don’t know what else it could be. Has anyone had this? I’m worried as it seems such a large area of the breast is affected.
Thank you.
sending you all lots of love in his forum that are going through this devastating journey. Xxx
Hi
Typically the cancer shows up as an abnormal area in white from what I recall, so I suspect that she's not really knowing what she's looking at? At this stage, it is the worst - the not knowing, but take comfort from what they have said to her "they aren't too worried about the swollen lymph nodes on each as as they are symmetrically swollen". They suspect it is cancer, but they aren't too concerned that it has spread to her lymph nodes by the sound of it.
This is actually not really bad news - it sounds like it when you hear the words cancer. However, I was diagnosed in 2017, no lymph nodes affected and didn't even need chemo because of the type of cancer I had - oestrogen positive, which is the most prolific form of breast cancer. There are naturally other types which do need chemo. I just had the cancer cut out and a biopsy of my sentinel lymph nodes (the main ones where if it has spread, it would show) at the same time as the op. Then as there were no cancer cells in the sentinel lymph nodes, I just had radiotherapy. I have an annual mammogram and take a tablet every day. Other than that, it's all over an done with, if you get my meaning.
Once upon a time, we read stories of having cancer being certain death - but now there have been sooooo many advances in cancer treatment that it's really not the case. Even a year after my diagnosis new tests came in that weren't available for me.
Try not to think too much and take each step at a time (and tell that to your Mum) as the worry and fear of everything is far worse than the actual going through it.
If it's any help, I had 8cm chopped out of my breast and they were able to save it as I was a 38D. I had 3 separate areas, 1 of cancer and 2 other areas of pre-cancer (known as DCIS), but they successfully got it all out and I've been clear for the last 3 mammograms.
Don't use Google as so much on there is woefully out of date and until she knows what type/size/grade/stage etc Just use Cancer research and Macmillan on Breast Cancer uk.org for information and you'll know their information is up to date.
You could beworrying yourselves daft and there may be no need if it's not spread and small enough to warrant a wide local excision / lumpectomy and be the lowest grade/ stage.
Kindest wishes,
Lesley
