New Diagnosis in Shock

Hi, 

I am sorry you find yourself here but personally I have found it a great outlet and support when I’ve needed it. Everyone is here because they are or have been where you are now. 

Breast cancer is incredibly treatable, so please do not go straight to the worst case scenario. Stay off Google, there is a lot of outdated information, people tend to share negative experiences over positive ones and in your mindset just now you will pick up in the negative more.

This is the worst time, once you have results and a plan you will start to feel better, scared maybe but you will start to feel a little more control, what is happening is daunting but absolutely doable. 

I have Triple negative Bc so am having a belts and braces treatment, Chemo, lumpectomy and a radiotherapy, this is due to the type. Your treatment plan may be different once you know more. Remember results are scary but knowledge is power. I am 49, generally fit and healthy and am managing Chemo fine, it’s not something I ever thought I’d have as you always think things like this happen to other people but here we are. One day at a time and we will get this sorted!

Please try to find ways to stay positive, take it one day at a time and try not to worry about something you can not change today, your team will have your back and a plan will be put in place to walk you through whatever comes next. 

xxx 

Hi Mrs C70. I was exactly where you were back in December. 3rd routine screening recall revealed a 8mm Invasive Ductal grade 2 BC ..highly hormone receptive. It's shocking isn't it and completely rocks your world. Everything changes. I'm 57 and very post menopausal but healthy 

Harringoose is right. This is the worse time and it does feel much more positive when you know what the plan is. I had a lumpectomy which got clear margins and no lymph node spread so went straight to 5 sessions of Radiotherapy and 5 yrs of Anastrozole. I was discharged to patient led follow up by Feb. I had 2 periods of 2 weeks off work ( post surgery at during RT) with flexi working also available around that as needed. Back to full time by March and back to usual life ..just back from 2 weeks in the USA with my teenage grand daughters !

I was fortunate in my treatment was quick and uncomplicated compared to some of the ladies on this forum and I share this as you may have a similar experience. What I will say is don't underestimate the emotional impact and it takes time to process and make sense of. Physically I made a good recovery but the emotional side is still a work in progress! I have regular accupuncture throughout my treatment which I found really helpful and have " maintainance" sessions now

I wish you well and I found the advice and support on this forum invaluable and sure you will too. Everyone here understands as they've been there. And the advice about Google is spot on..most of it is out of date and isnt personalised to you so approach with caution ! 

Much love xx

Hi Mrs C70

Welcome to the forum and sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with breast cancer.  It's perfectly understandable that you are shocked and don't know how to handle things.  Waiting is the worst but your medical team need all the knowledge they can get to give you the best possible treatment for yourself.  Once your treatment plan is in place everything should start to get better for you.

Why not give the Macmillan helpline a ring on 0808 808 00 00 and talk about your worries about work and money to the person on the end of the phone who will only be too happy to give you help and advice.  The helpline is open 7 days a week from 8 am to 8 pm.

In the meantime please continue to reach out on this forum and there will be people who will only be too happy to give you advice or a virtual hug if you need it.

Best wishes

Daisy53 x

Thank you. I was on Google alot and didn't realise how individual a diagnosis can be.  I've stopped googling now.  I know I'll feel better once I know what it means for me. Good luck on your treatment too xx

Thank you. It's the not knowing that is worrying me but hopefully with it being small they can get rid of it  Dr seems to think so. It really does rock your world especially when unexpected.  Wishing you well with your journey too xx

Hello and welcome from an old timer.  It does seem a long wait for results but they'll probably blame Covid !  
I was recalled in 2015 from my first routine screening for 2 areas of calcifications.  One 10mm one 5 my.  Initial biopsy revealed larger area intermediate DCIS and smaller area benign.  I had surgery to remove and final diagrams 11mm high grade DCIS.  I then had radiotherapy and that concluded my treatment, then just annual mammograms and last year back on routine.  Click on my name to see my profile.  

Good luck with your results x

I was recalled from a routine mammogram in January. Similarly they found something of that sort of size on ultrasound and they took biopsy samples. The doctor doing this left me in no doubt it was likely to be cancer but also that he couldn’t see any enlargement in my lymph nodes. He was also quite reassuring that it was likely to be treatable. Although I only had to wait 12 days for my biopsy results, it helped that I had already got through the first shock. I had researched the different types of BC and was therefore relatively well informed about how it might be treated. Finding out it was grade 3 triple negative was the next shock as I knew that would probably mean chemo. 

I had a wide area excision and sentinel lymph node biopsy in March. The tumour was 18mm and had clear margins. The 4 lymph nodes they removed were clear, but there was some vascular invasion from the tumour. I was therefore recommended to have 4 cycles of EC followed by 12 weeks of Paclitaxel. I have just started the Pax. I am also having 6 monthly infusions of Zometa for 3 years, and will have 5 days of radiotherapy.

I have been writing a blog of my experiences on this site which can be found in the blogs section and is called A trip with triple negative breast cancer. https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/a-trip-with-triple-negative-breast-cancer
I hope this is a help to you in seeing what some of the treatments are like, it’s been relatively straightforward for me.  

I am sorry you are joining us in this club none of us wanted to be in. Unfortunately it gets all sorts of people at all ages and it’s best not to think about why you have got it. Just a random bit of excessive cell division Your fitness will be a help in getting through whatever treatment you may need. Wishing you all the best.

Hello. I have been exactly where you are. I also am fit, with an active job, 46 but my diagnosis wasn’t a shock, ive been expecting problems just maybe not yet (both my parents had cancer, different sorts and not anywhere else in the family). I go to receive my final results and treatment plan today. It has been about 4 weeks since my initial diagnosis, just over, so your timeline is not unusual. But it is hard. I have spent the 4 weeks holding my emotions in check and “being strong” but I don’t advise this really. I was trained as a child not to show emotion and to always be tough, it is hard to change but something I must do. If you have a family who will support it, let your emotions out. If you need to cry, do so. If you want to laugh, do so. This really is a time when we need to put ourselves first if we can.

The worry about finances and work I also understand. I don’t know if it will get easier but I do know there are professionals to talk to who may be able to help if it is possible. As to the future, let’s hope we’re looking back on these posts in a year wondering what all the fuss was about. I hope the next few weeks will go quicker than you expect and good luck for your final diagnosis. Take care of you. Xxx

Hi 

It is a shock & difficult to get your head round. I was diagnosed end of May with Grade 3 17mm IDC + DCIS (age 51) so only at the start of my treatment but just wanted to say hi.

The waiting times seem to vary, I had many tests all of which was necessary to ensure nothing was missed but with waiting periods in between at the time it seemed to drag on. I panicked it was all taking too long but after I knew my type etc things seem to move a lot quicker. It's not always easy but trying to keep busy sometimes helps.

Hopefully you will feel a little better once you know your results & your team can start to put an initial treatment plan in place. It still feels scary at times but the not knowing is worse, I resorted to Dr Google which is the worst thing I could have done!! 

It is a rollercoaster of emotions but it is ok sometimes to not be ok. The information that I gained on here along with just a chat when needed has been such a help.

Sending hugs xx P

Hello. Thank you for your reply and I hope you are keeping well, as well as possible anyway with the situation.

I received results yesterday, not the stage although I know the tumor is over 7cm and in some lymph nodes and is a grade 2. I still have a cardiac scintigraphy, checking to be sure my heart is ok for the chemo, and a breast MRI (again, just double checking I think) the same day a clip is going in. Then chemo should begin on 26th August.

I have a huge dossier of prescriptions to read through and organise including one for a wig (don’t think I’ll bother unless I can have a fun one). I was advised to cut my hair as my chemo will most likely cause it all to fall out so I did that today. I am more positive now the beginning of treatment is getting near.

Take care and I hope everything goes well for you. Xx