Feeling scared and worried

Hi, I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in January this year, I've had 7 rounds of chemo and was told the 2 tumours I had which were 18mm and 7mm had shrunk down to 7mm and 5mm, which I was so pleased about. And I was told lymph nodes didn't look malignant.

I then had a Lumpectomy and lymph node biopsy 3 weeks ago, and got my results last week.

The surgeon said he took 1 lymph node which has cancer in it, and cancer was found outside the margins of the tissue he took out.

He also said the cancer he removed was 66mm, which I'm so confused about when scans said they were so small.

I had a ct scan yesterday, and I'm so worried about it all, that it's now spread somewhere else.

If ct scan is OK, I'll be having all nodes removed, and he wants me to decide what surgery I want he gave me so many options I don't know what's best. And I'll be having radiotherapy after surgery.

I'm so confused now, as after the lumpectomy I thought things would start to be better, and now I feel like I'm back at the start again!

Linz xx

  • How awful for you to be in this position again.! After all you’ve been through already ! Maybe you could write down the options given to you and gather as much information as you can before making your decision. Sending you a hug and good wishes x

  • Hello Linz, and thank you for posting.

    I am sorry you are going through this period of uncertainty. Sometimes what is seen on scan can be different in size from what is seen in theatre. The scan reports give the surgeon an idea of what and where the tumour is, but what they see, assess and decide to remove to ensure clear margins can be different. 

    It can be hard to process everything that is going on, particularly when asked to make decisions about surgery. Do read through our web pages for breast cancer surgery here and those of Breast Cancer Now here. Also do contact your breast cancer nurse (CNS) to help go through these decisions. 

    If you want to talk through anything it might help to give our helpline a call on Freephone 0808 800 4040. The lines are open from 9am till 5pm, Monday to Friday.

    Yours sincerely,

    Sarah.