I recently been diagnosed with breast cancer, right out of the blue. I had an invite to go for a mammogram, my first, I'm nearly 60. Off I go , found no lumps, feel ok and went to appt. All done, thanks. About a week after, I received a letter asking for me to attend another appt, as they want to make sure. A percentage of recalls, do not have cancer it said, so I wasn't worried. I went to the follow up and they then tell me, they've found abnormalities, so need to do another, but more intense mammogram. Had that, and a biopsy and waited for another appt. still didn't seem worried, just thought it would be benign or a blocked vein. When the time came, sat in front of a surgeon to tell me I had breast cancer. It was like an lit of body experience. I couldn't take it in..... She would perform a lumpocomy and look at the lymph nodes, just to be sure. (, biopsy for lymph nodes came back negative) Had the surgery, quick, but quite sore (, obviously) a 4 inch scar ony breast and 5 inch undery armpit. Was told everything went well, took out cancer from breast plus a few millimetres just to make sure, and a few lymph nodes to the lab. Another appt to have a follow up came today.
Was hoping that was it, as surgeon said all well, however cancer in breast is gone ( hooray) but lymph nodes, not so great. Surgeon took 11 'funny looking' lymph nodes, and 5 are cancerous. So back to surgery, but before this, a CT scan to see if any other body parts are cancerous before another op. My fear really today was, negative lymph nodes to almost 50% changed in 3 weeks? How many others will be, whilst I'm waiting for a scan??? I'm probably being dramatic, but that's really worrying. I'm still waiting to find out if it's radiotherapy or chemotherapy I need.
I've gone from being positive and they caught it very early (surgeon's words) to being really down and don't want to wait for the 'day' and die with dignity.
Sorry for the rant, but feel alone, as no family really understands.
Thanks for listening
