In a dark place and waiting for results

Hi LtheK  I am sorry you are facing the uncertainty that comes with waiting for results. It really is the hardest place to be. Know that if it does turn out to be breast cancer, most people with a breast cancer diagnosis are treated and are able to return to a normal life. You did the right thing by getting checked, it has given you the best possible chance of a good outcome. 

There are a number of support services you can access. This page gives info on how to phone, email or post something for our lovely staff to help with. 
www.macmillan.org.uk/.../get-help

Hi I know exactly how you feel. It was nearly 3 weeks I had to wait and I couldn’t get it out of my mind. What helped me was distraction by meeting up with friends and family and planning each day with some activities that involved having to concentrate and clear my mind. I’ve had my appointment now and I do have cancer in my breast and lymph node. Now everything is happening more quickly and I have a plan for treatment. I’ve accepted this and just want to get on with it now. The hospital staff are lovely and you get a lot of information and they explain it well and make sure you are well supported. I hope that helps a little x

Thank you both so much.  Its been a little easier looking through peoples' experiences and getting a bit more perspective. I still go between crazy and crying which is making me feel totally bonkers. 

I do think it will be better mentally just having a plan in place and knowing what my next steps are. 

Its really hard to speak to friends because I just get angry at their reassurances!  Which i know isnt fair on them, as they are doing their best, so I want to hide. 

The thought of trying to put the game face on in work is hard, I did get great advice via the helpline to talk to my gp and potentially see if I can get something to help with sleep and the anxiety.  Anything to feel a little more normal. 

Biopsy not meant to be too bad but my breast is hurting a lot today and I've got really black bruises and a dead arm!

Hi I’m still hurting and it’s 4 weeks now . I got some sleep aid tablets from the doctor and they work well and I’m not groggy in the morning. Friends and family are well meaning but don’t know what to say and tend to say it will be ok. It’s natural. I didn’t want to talk about it whilst waiting for results but I have a friend who has been through it and is cancer free now and she has helped me so much to not feel scared. I’m waiting for chemo which should start soon. I’ve felt better knowing this is happening and having a plan helps the mind to settle down. Keep in touch. This forum helps and you can clear your mind by writing your thoughts down 

Thanks Katie the sleep tablets sound like good advice. I think I'll try and get the doctor in the morning. 

Day 3 from biopsy and its swelling quite a bit, which doesn't help the paranoia at all. I cant tell.if the redness is the symptoms worsening or the biopsy reaction!  Although I know I needed the biopsies to find out exactly what is going on. 

Im sure the wait for chemo is hard. I imagine that once you get a plan for treatment you just want it to start already!!

I did manage to chat to someone the other day who is going through Stage 1 invasive. She answered a ton of my questions about what the steps forward may look like.  

I feel really needy and obsessive, its nothing like myself! I can understand that im just probably trying to seek any answer during this limbo period, but I feel like a complete  burden, even posting here feels like Im attention seeking but its just something I can actually do right now to keep my head in place!

Hi LtheK,  you are not needy or attention seeking posting on here.  It is a safe place to say how you feel and if you are like me, it helps to put things in writing on here.  At the moment you are waiting and not knowing which is one of the worst things that I found.  If your breast pain and swelling gets worse you should contact the breast care nurse to make sure.  When you get your appointment for your results I think the best thing is to take someone with you.  I always take my husband when I go to oncology appointments, he remembers a lot more of what was said than I do.  I am happy to chat anytime.  Big hugs from me.

Lee x

Thank you so much for the reassurance.  

Its probably sad, but the fact you all are kind enough to reply has made me feel less alone with this. 

I am counting the days now, and have spoken to the GP and waiting for breast nursing team to call me back about the swelling and increased redness since the biopsy.  

Youre amazing.

Thank you and everyone here so much for just taking the time to listen and reply.

Hi LtheK you know if you still have lots of questions you can phone the Macmillan team on here, they are great.  on 0808 808 00 00 I phoned them in the beginning and they were wonderful, really helped me.  Good thing about this forum is we all understand and been/going through it ourselves.

Lee x