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Breast cancer diagnosis

Debs10
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Hi, I'm new to this forum and not sure if I'm looking for answers or just somewhere to put down my feelings.

Around 3 weeks ago I found a lump in my left breast so my GP made an urgent appointment at the One Stop Breast Clinic. This was for Monday last week. The doctor did an examination - feeling and a mini ultrasound (?) and said he couldn't see any cancer and then something about fibrocystic and fatty tissue. I then had a mammogram, ultrasound and a biopsy on the lump. Today I received a letter from him outlining the results of the mammogram and the ultrasound. I know googling is the worst thing to do, but I did and it seems that these results show that it is cancer - the lump (U5) and an impression of architectural distortion (M5/T5). He then said that he'll review me at the breast clinic after discussing my case with the Breast Multi-disciplinary Team.

I think I'm reeling from the fact that I've been sent my results like this without any explanation; I assumed that they would call me back and explain everything to me then.

I suppose I'm just wondering whether anyone else has been given 'bad' results in this way.

  • Offline in reply to Jolamine

    Hi Jolamine,

    That's reassuring. I assumed that once it had spread it couldn't be trerated but just managed in some way.

    Debs x

  • Offline in reply to Jolamine

    Hi everyone,

    A quick update. I had a call from the hospital yesterday with an appointment for my body scan this morning (they had a cancellation). You were all absolutely right - it was so quick I didn't have time to worry about anything!

    I also have an appointment for a bone scan on Monday, which is a bit of a surprise although my husband said the consultant did mention it. I was probably too busy panicking about the body scan. It does look a lot scarier than the CT scan I've just had but I'm sure I'll manage it. Will let you know how it goes.

    Debs x

  • Online in reply to Debs10

    Hi Debs,

    That was probably the best way to get your scan - no time to think about it! I'm glad to hear that you didn't have any problem with the scan itself. If you managed that, you'll have no trouble with a bone scan. 

    It depends upon how far a cancer has spread, as to how treatable it is. Most can be treated. It is only the very advanced and widespread ones that pose a problem. Even when these are deemed to be incurable, they can still be maintained for several years and controlled as chronic conditions, thanks to the ongoing development of  sophisticated new treatments.

    I shall be thinking of you on Monday and hope that all goes well.

    Keep in touch.

    Jolamine xx

  • Offline in reply to Jolamine

    Hi all,

    Well, I went for my bone scan on Monday and had a major panic attack and practically ran out of the hospital! I just couldn't face it. My consultant originally said that if I was struggling with the thought of the body and bone scans that we could go straight to the operation so I called his secretary on Tuesday to ask if I absolutely had to have it. She said that there was a Multidisciplinary Team meeting today and she would let me know after that. I had a missed call/voicemail from her this afternoon to say that they they've discussed my case and I have an appointment with my consultant on Monday afternoon 'to go through the results and discuss onward management'. I'm now really concerned because they're talking about 'management' rather than 'treatment' which suggests that my body scan has shown that it's spread. My lumpectomy has been provisionally booked for 15 October.

    Hopefully, I'm reading too much into this and it will all be fine but I have a horrible feeling that things aren't quite as straightforward as originally thought.

    Anyway, I'll let you know how it goes on Monday.

    Deb x

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