Hi I have my appointment on Wednesday and I’m terrified.   Good luck

I got my appointment through yesterday for the 18th April. So just under 2 weeks since I was referred. Thanks and good luck to you too

Gemma 7887

Hi Gemma,you have the same name as my daughter, which I think is a lovely name. I've just read your post and I see yoir appointment is sheduled for the 18th April,which is thisThursday, so im so glad you will be seen soon. The waiting  is hard,I remember my time of waiting  for my first  2ww breast clinic  appointment  so I know how you  will be feelimg, nervous,anxious with a mind that doesn't shut off,and sleepless nights, and tiredness from those.  But it doesn't always turn out to be cancer,there are many other things it may be,it could be a cyst . Bit if it does turn out to be breast cancer like mine was in 2020, yes its a shock,my head was all over the place,but thrn my level head kicked in ,telling me at least its been found( I found my lump)  and it was  confirmed and caught early and  a treatment plan could be put in place,once size of tumour ,grade anf tyoe were confirmed from the biobsysi had ,and that's better than if it hadn't  and had been left .to grow and spread even more than it had. 

But I do hope  it isnt cancer, but what ever the outcome,you've done the  best thing by getting it checked out . Will be thinking of you on the 18th, I will be getting my bloods tested, as I have got  a fatty liver now as well as a small  cyst  on my liver.

Always popping on here from time to time, let me know how you get on at beeast clinic  praying that all will be ok for you .

CatLW

Hi saw your reply to Madfy and Gemma,and like Maddy I see yoir appointment is on Wednesday  I will be thinking of all three of you,and praying that it's not anything sinister . Good luck  CatLW.Here if you need to chat. 

Good luck everyone. My appointment has now been changed to the following Monday and at a hospital miles away so I am.going to struggle getting there.

Thanks Jassoscared for your advice and yes you are right 

You will understand how it feels having been there yourself 

so thank you x

Thinking of you Madfy and Gemma - Gemma - I will be thinking of you on Monday xx 

Thanks for reply. You've got this, glad I could help .xx

Gemma 7887

Oh Gemma I'm.so sorry to hear this you don't need this added worry.  I do hope you can get there. Can you not call the hospital appointments line if you don't know the number go through to the main switch board and ask to be put through to appointments. Explain what's happened and that you would struggle to get to this appointment  and see if thry can give you another appointment at the hospital you originally was going too. But I know if that means waiting longer by a week or so that would just add to yoir stress but if it was only a few days later it might be easier.  It's worth a try or maybe you can reach out and ask a family member  or friends if they could take you hope it all works out for you. Xx. 

I had my appointment yesterday as managed to get a cancellation and they have said it is breast cancer and it has spread to my lymph nodes. Only one lymph node is affected. I am absolutely devastated and shocked. 

I had my appointment yesterday as managed to get a cancellation and they have said it is breast cancer and it has spread to my lymph nodes. Only one lymph node is affected. I am absolutely devastated and shocked. 

Sorry to hear your news,Gemma. I am in a similar situation as it was confirmed that I have cancer in the left breast and in the lymph nodes (three in all). I have a revised appointment with a consultant breast surgeon next Thursday. My original appointment was this morning but it had to be cancelled because the consultant has covid! I was very upset by the delay and phoned the team because I had waited ten days to hear the final test result. I had already had a letter telling me the results of a mammogram ,examination and ultrasound but the missing piece were the biopsy reports. I have been told that Thursday's meeting will inform me of the type and grade of cancer and that I will be "booked in" - presumably for surgery.

I can understand your shock and devastation and I know it will take time for you to come to terms with what has happened. However the cancer nurse I spoke to assured me that there is a cure - so please take heart from this. Fortunately I was aware that I might have cancer more than six weeks ago when a ct scan showed abnormality in the left breast and my GP said it was in all probability cancer. Please do not give up hope. Modern treatment methods are very good and I am confident you will be ok

This morning I have tried to do something positive for an expected hospital stay. I understand that it is a good idea to wear a loose top which buttons down the front and I have spent hours trying to find a suitable item ,scouring every clothing shop in town. At one point I almost gave up and thought I would have to buy a jazzy linen shirt from the men's department of M&S! Eventually I discovered a nice wide ladies shirt from Made in Italy. It is bright pink and highly patterned so it cheered me up immensely. No doubt it will be a knockout in the hospital ward

I send you my best wishes and hope that when you get your treatment plan you will feel much better

Anne.

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Sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I hope everything goes well and will be thinking of you. I don't know how long I have had it for as to be honest I'm not the best at checking my breasts. I did notice a dimple nearly a month ago but it might of been there b4 then. And now sure how fast I can spread to the lymph nodes. If you feel up to it let me know how you get on on Thursday x

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I hope everything goes well and will be thinking of you. I don't know how long I have had it for as to be honest I'm not the best at checking my breasts. I did notice a dimple nearly a month ago but it might of been there b4 then. And now sure how fast I can spread to the lymph nodes. If you feel up to it let me know how you get on on Thursday x

I had my appointment with the consultant breast surgeon on Thursday and am relieved that I only have to have the lump removed from my breast (without a mastectomy) and most of the lymph nodes under the arm cleared. Afterwards, I am to be treated with a tablet but I am not sure what this is. However, further treatment via chemo or radiology has not been ruled out. It depends on the biopsy results from the surgery.

The good news is that I shall be able to return home on the same day! The operation will take place on 8th May. 

I had to complete a lengthy pre-op questionnaire online and this took me about 2 hours to fill up because I have difficulty using the keyboard. Shaky hands and not much sensation in the fingertip due to fibro and my age! I then got an urgent phone call from the hospital to attend a clinic for an ECG. This is for Monday morning. I can only conjecture that there has been some confusion and crossed wires over my GP's original diagnosis of angina. I had a series of blood tests and an ECG only 7 weeks ago. Unfortunately pain over the left breast is usually associated with a heart problem and not cancer. All these tests were perfectly all right so it is difficult to understand the urgent summons.

I could have had the operation on 1st May but I have had to wait for my daughter's arrival from Hong Kong and therefore it was decided to wait an extra week. My husband is unwell and it would be difficult for him to collect me from the hospital. Their policy is not to allow you to go home by yourself in a taxi even though he can help me once I return.

I don't know how quickly cancer can spread to the lymph nodes but I presume it depends on the grade.Mine is grade 2 and I am oestrogen and progesterone positive but Her2 negative. I shall have to ask my cancer nurse to explain when I have a chance to see her. At the moment I am happy for them to get on with the job of making me better!

I was told to wear a bra without any wiring so have bought some soft body bras from M and S. They have a good selection.

Your diagnosis seems similar to mine. If you wish, let me know how you get on.

Best of luck,

Anne

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis. But glad you have a plan. I have grade 1. I have a lump in breasr on 1 lymph node effected. I have surgery planned on the 15th of May and I to will be having them removed and awaiting on what the results say. I Will also be on tablets for 10 years apparently. Hope everything goes well. X

Thank you .Gemma 

I have at least three affected lymph nodes but I expect many more will have to be removed. The surgeon says she has once had to remove 70!   I hope I will not add to her record. Perhaps the tablets you mention are to suppress the hormones which promote the growth of cancer cells. I expect my tablets will be similar. It will be interesting to find out.

I will be thinking of you on the 15th.

Anne

Yes it is to suppress the hormones. I will be thinking of you too. Good luck x

Hello

I had my operation on Thursday and I am delighted with the result of the lumpectomy. The surgeon has made the left breast look completely normal, lifting it slightly so it looks almost a complete match to the right side one! She used dermabond glue to stitch it and I have been careful not to get it wet.

I had to have a complete clearance of all the axillary lymph nodes because there was too much cancer involved and she expects that I shall have to have chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy plus tablets but this will be decided on 24th May when I will be told the biopsy results and next action plan.

I was given codeine tablets along with paracetamol but decided to discontinue the painkillers after one day because they were making me feel sick and bloated and caused constipation! I doubt whether this would be approved by the hospital team but I am used to fibromyalgia pain and this was no worse.

I started the arm exercises the day after the operation and I think they are getting easier to do. The wound under the arm is slightly swollen but this is to be expected.

I am sure everything will go well for you next Thursday. Don't worry. You will be in good hands at the hospital and any discomfort is completely manageable.

I shall be thinking of you on the 15th, so best wishes.

Anne

Hi glad the operation went well. I have mine next Wednesday. Then I have to wait 2 weeks for the results of that. Waiting 2 weeks after the biopsy was hard so this will be hard too I think. I also have to wait another 5 weeks for genetics to see if I carry a gene as that will change my treatment plan completely if its positive. I haven't been shown any exercises yet but have a telephone appointment about them on Monday. X

How are you, Gemma?

I have been thinking about you and hope everything went well with the operation

. I have had my biopsy results and was a bit disappointed when I was informed that the breast tumour was 2.5 cm. and much larger than shown on the scans. Also, four lymph nodes were cancerous, not the expected three. The healthy breast tissue around the lump was slightly less than the 1mm guideline and I could have a further operation to remove more tissue. However the consultant surgeon said she did not want to put me through another procedure due to my age. Chemotherapy was not recommended because I am almost 81 but radiotherapy was the way to go.I shall expect an appointment with the oncologist in the next few weeks - possibly up to a month! Constant waiting seems to be a necessary part of our treatment pattern.As you say, this is hard but at least we are on our way. She does not expect that I shall receive radiotherapy for a further four weeks because the swelling around the armpit could take 8 weeks to settle. Still, in the meantime I shall try to get the garden into shape - between the rain showers - and then look forward to fifteen rounds of radiotherapy over a three week period at another hospital 35 miles away! The equipment there is more specialised so I shall be forced to travel. Just imagine the taxi fares!!

How are the arm exercises? I have been doing these as directed but can't say they are comfortable yet. Hopefully they will feel better with time.

Best wishes,

Anne

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Hi Anne just read your reply to Gemma,and wanted to say I'm sorry your tumour was bigger than thought and that four lympth nodes were cancerous. I too has lympyh nodes removed ,so I know how painfull this can  be,ecspecialy the swelling . I developed a seroma and had to have fluids drained twice, tool a long time to heal,but it dud eventually, but left me with mold lymphedema . I noticed yoi said you would have to travel a long way to another hospital your radiotherapy sessions, and were worried about the cost of taxis. You should be entitled to hospital transport as a csncer patient you are entitled to free hospital transport,speak to your cancer team and they should be able to give you a number to call to book in your transport too and back from the hospital. I had to travel to another hospital for my radiotherapy sessions for three weeks ,and I had free  hospital transport, the only drawback is you have to be ready a lot earlier ( hrs before ) as thry do pick up other people sometimes. I had ambulances puck me up and drop me off and sometimes it was a taxi sometimes it was a volunteer driver, but all were reliable and great. I wasn't aware thst as a cancer patient thst I waa entitled to free hospital transport untill one of my csncer nurse's told me. It was such a releief to know  as it would of cost so much . Hope this helps you,and you can get transport to your radiotherapy sessions. Also it might help if you Google free hospital transport for csncer patients in uoir area,it might give uou a telephone number to ring.  You will obvously need all your dates and appointment times beforehand so you can book the transport. Good luck with evetything Anne. 

Meant mild lymphedema not mold. Gosh how funny ,I'm always making typo errors, I really should check, before I send my replies lol. I can see there are lots more typo errors in my reply,but km guessing you can understand it all. Corrected the mold one, as it made me laugh.

Thank you very much for the information about hospital transport. I shall certainly look into it when I see the oncologist and have definite dates.

When my husband had his operation for stomach cancer this was carried out at a hospital fifty miles away and I had to book in to a nearby hotel for ten days. There never was a mention of help when he had to visit the outpatients department on several occasions but his consultant finally transferred all his medical notes to our local hospital and eventually he attended follow-ups from there.

I am sorry to hear about your seroma problem. Mine is causing quite a lot of pain because I think some nerves were severed close to the back of the upper arm and it hurts to touch. So far there is no sign of lymphoedema but I have been given an appointment with some nurses who specialise in this. It won't be until  July, which seems a bit odd! I am keeping an eye on the swelling because the consultant said it might have to be drained if it increases in size.

I forgot to mention in my post to Gemma that I shall have to take hormone tablets for seven years in addition to the radiotherapy. I was given a terrifying booklet about Abemaciclib (Verzenios) and after reading it I decided that it was not for me. My son-in-law advised me not to touch it because it had given him and his father nasty side effects. They have had skin cancer and his father died from this disease. Although all treatments are tailored to particular cancers it is certainly difficult to come to the right personal decision when there are alternatives and additional drugs to fight this awful disease.

Again, thank you for writing this helpful post.

Best wishes

Anne