Diagnosed today - after routine mammogram. What are my options?

Hello Mary

Sorry that it is here that we meet, but you have found the right place to get support, stories from those further down the line and hints and tips to get you through this.

I don't know what part of the country you are in, or what your local BC services are like. I live in Scotland and have attended the West of Scotland Regional Cancer Centre for the past 14 months. Starting out with rapid access referral to the one stop shop breast clinic in the adjacent hospital, I have been delighted with my NHS treatment for HER2+ BC. I have had state of the art oncology treatment for this condition and do not believe that I could be doing any better if I had gone down a private treatment pathway. My treatment pathway is described on my profile page. 

I have such a beautiful scar from my lumpectomy that three times recently at my annual review appointments since diagnosis, I have been asked if both the sample of nodes and the lumpectomy were done with the one axillary incision. They were not, but I have had to show a nurse, a radiologist and the oncologist where the boob scar actually is as it just looks like slight mark from where my bra had been.

The most important thing for me is that I got a complete pathological clearance of cancer from two previously affected nodes and a large lump even before the surgery. I continue now with anti HER2 treatment to stop the gremlin coming back if there were any stray cells. 

Each of us must do what we feel is best under our specific circumstances. I am very glad that my treatment has been done in a centre with a critical mass of cases with the same diagnosis as me and where there is an on-site MDT which as all associated specialities present and there is an associated internationally recognised research centre of excellence. I know that not everyone will have a facility like this on their doorsteps. However, it is worth finding out what is around your area as you are able to request referral to a particular NHS hospital if you wish.

Sending you very best wishes to get through this

All the best

WallyDug

Hi Mary 

I had the same as you 8mm detected through screening. I have had all my treatment ( surgery and next week 5 sessions of radiotherapy) on the NHS. My surgeon was excellent and did a brilliant job of removing the cancer with good margins whilst leaving me with minimal scarring which sits in the creas underneath my breast 

My hospital is a one stop shop so all treatment delivered at one site so no travelling to other hospitals although I am having the RT in another hospital due to demand for RT but its an equal distance so no problem. Planning appointment was done at my main hospital.

I did explore private RT at one point in case of delay ..cost for what I will be having was £16k so a big cost. In any event there wasn't a delay and it will take place around 8 weeks after my surgery 

I can't fault the treatment I have had. One stop breast clinic on 4th November saw surgeon on 11th surgery on 7th December and results on 23rd December  RT consent appointment with oncology on 4th Jan RT planning appointment on 17th Jan and RT starting 1st Feb 

Hope that helps 

Thank you so much, Jurassicgirl.

That's very encouraging - and I'm at a one stop shop as well. They tell me that path results will be back next week, and surgery within 3 weeks after that.

I can't see anything on my breast, but it appears that the "lump" is on the top of my right breast, on the LHS. It will be fairly visible - which is why I'm thinking I need a good and skilled surgeon.

The only problem with the one stop shop approach is that I feel as if I'm on a roller coaster and there is only way I can go - I can't explore other options - e.g. being referred to e.g. the Royal Marsden or seeing someone privately should I want to. And if I did, where best to go?

Too many questions are going oround in my head - and I have no answers!

WhatHappened you had IORT ?  

I'm another NHS patient .  Absolutely no complaints over last 6 years .  I had lumpectomy- also called WLE (wide local excision) followed by 15 sessions radiotherapy in 2015 - now standard 5 sessions.  I didn't require chemo or hormone therapy as I had DCIS that wasn't hormone receptive and early stages.  I'm over 6 years clear.

Thank you, Carol and WallyDug

Sorry, I'm still new to the site and didn't see your posts until now!

That's so encouraging, your NHS treatments have been so positive I'm not quite as petrified as I was!

I guess all the negative press about the NHS hasn't helped, and the unexpected diagnosis has knocked me for 6 - but maybe I should relax a little and have more faith in what they're planning. To be fair, I thought they were great today and I was looked after really well - especially appreciated as I live alone and had no one with me to share with.

BTW, I live in Gloucestershire and travelled to Cheltenham for the mammogram.

• You are very welcome. It is a rollercoaster to be sure ! My cancer wasn't able to be felt either by anyone ..I was told " this is why we do screening " to catch cancer early. 
• My suggestion would be to wait until you get your results and know what type of BC you have as that will shape your treatment plan so any decisions you make are with as much info as possible. I naively thought there was only one type until I was diagnosed but that was not correct. My was invasive ductal hormone receptive HER2 negative with no lymph spread so treatment plan was quite straightforward and I didn't need chemo. 
• Interestingly my surgeon didn't do private work but others did at the clinic and I could have moved but I instantly felt confident in my surgeon having met her ( got to  love someone who opens a conversation with " this is 100% sortable"!)  so wanted to stay with her 

Hi, I also was recalled after my mammogram and have been on the roller coaster too the last 2-3 weeks. I got my biopsy on the Thursday, my results on the following Tuesday,  then appointment with the surgeon on the Friday.  I didn't know there was anything wrong and it is like being hit by a truck when you get the results.  I've to have an MRI before they can plan the surgery.  I'm also attending the West of Scotland Breast Screening Clinic and am going to phone my Macmillan breast care nurse later this week to chat over stuff. I needed a few days to digest everything. Hope you have a friend you can talk all this over with but feel free to chat further here. 

Hi. Recalled after mammogram. Biopsy, marker inserted, ultrasound. Diagnosis 17th Dec. Lumpectomy 20th Jan, plus sentinel lymph node removal. Told Grade 2, Invasive Ducal, 1.5cm HER2 +. Awaiting more results late next week. Advised will need radio, chemo plus Herceptin. From diagnosis to op, 4 Wks on NHS. Surgeon has been excellent, felt cared for all the way through. Dressings removed today, both wounds look very tidy. Right breast, close to nipple. Don't think I would have been cared for any better if had gone private. Pre op picked up low iron, so starting iron infusions x 2 on Thursday. We can do this!! 

Hi Mary, I too was diagnosed following a routine mammogram. I am an NHS patient and I have had the absolute best treatment and care. I had two biopsies, a lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy. Final lab reports showed 3cms DCIS and 2mm IDC. I am due to start radiotherapy in a few weeks. It’s definitely a rollercoaster but these forums have been amazing for information and support. You will be allocated a breast care nurse and I found them to be a fantastic help with any questions and fears I had. The physical  operations and recoveries have been much easier than I thought. Keep asking questions and voicing your concerns. Best of luck. xxxx

In Shropshire area, using Shrewsbury/Telford hospitals for treatments