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Feeling very alone - breast cancer diagnosis

annej66
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I received my breast cancer diagnosis yesterday - very brutally via a phone call.  I should explain that I am a british expat living abroad, and the doctor who called me is from a foreign hospital.  Im sure he didnt mean to be so callous but English is not his first language and Im having trouble actually processing any information..... My diagnosis stemmed from an abnormal mammogram followed the same day by a biopsy (not sure what its called but they used the needles that make the loud bang).  Results came via phone call yesterday.  All I could really understand was DCIS, possibly spread to lymph nodes and they are recommending a total masectomy.  I am driving 3 hours tomorrow to see the dr in person and hopefully get a bit more clarification. Ive also made an appointment at a different hospital the next day to get a second opinion.  I am so scared and have no one to talk to.  All my family are in the UK and my husband is working in a different country. Im trying to keep it together but its so hard. I would appreciate any advice on what to do next, what to ask etc. Thanks so much everyone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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    Hi,

    I'm not entirely sure that this will be of any help but my Mum has of recent been diagnosed of the same.  It all started with her routine Mammogram, from that it was noticed that there were some areas of calcification which form with age, generally over 50.  Following this mammogram she had to have a biopsy to further examine these areas of calcification.  DCIS stands for Ductal Carcinoma in situ.  It is a very early stage of breast cancer described as non invasive.  What this means is that the cancer cells are contained within her milk ducts or the lobes and at the moment they cannot move or spread.  They are usually described as low, medium or high with regards to how active they are.  My mums have been described as high.  Being contained at the moment they cannot spread and cause any secondary cancers however if they were to be left eventually what would happen is they would work their way out of the milk duct and begin to form a lump which would then be classed as an invasive cancer with the potential to spread via the lymph nodes or the blood to other areas.  You have several lymph nodes/glands within the breast and armpit.  The treatment plan for my Mum is to have those cancerous cells removed before they break out of the duct followed by radiotherapy to reduce the chances of them returning from 33% to 5%.  This surgery would take place within one day followed by 2 weeks of rest.  After that her radiotherapy would take place 6-8 weeks later.   There is no requirment for my mum to have a masectomy at this stage so I shouldn't think you would require one that being said I don't know the severity of your diagnosis.  It does sound very like what my mum has been told though.  See what comes of your results but get a second opinion re the masectomy as it would be awful for you to have to go through that if it is not required.  I hope this helps.     

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    There is a lot of information on this website which is easy to understand

    breastcancernow.org/breast-cancer-research

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    Where are you? Could you not fly back to the UK? You're very wise getting a 2nd opinion. My sister did after her oncologist told her she had the most serious kind of breast cancer when it wasn't. She just needed a simple mastectomy followed by reconstruction. I hope you have friends you can talk to. Are you on Facebook?

  • Offline in reply to ZLE1987

    Thank you for sharing that. It's more reassuring than anything I've researched so far. I'm really hoping I get the same prognosis as your Mum. It was really difficult to understand the doctor who gave me the results obver the phone (as he was talking in his second language). I'm seeing him face to face tomorrow and then will get a second opinion at another hospital the day after so I'm hoping and praying for a more positive outcome. This is all such a shock really. I'm 49 and was just booked in for my first routine mammogram. No lumps or anything to give warning. Wishing your Mum a swift and healthy recovery x

  • Offline in reply to ValJ

    valJ, thank you for reply. I am seriously considering flying back for treatment. I will wait and see what is suggested in the next couple of days.  I live in SE Asia so it's a 13 hour flight back. I haven't to,d anyone yet as I'm not really sure myself what is happening. I do have medical insurance here and the hospitals are supposed to 'international' standards, but I'm not sure I trust them 100% which is making me feel even worse.... Hope your sister is recovering well x

  • Offline in reply to annej66

    Oh gosh that's not good, maybe request a translator at your appointment if possible if not in person one that can translate over the phone just incase you encounter the same issue.  It was a shock to my Mum too, she is only 53 it's the last thing you expect especially with it not having been in the family ever previously.  What they have told my Mum is that it is a development with age and not a cancerous gene as she was concerned that I or my sister could be affected (just incase you have daughters).  Also further on this, although not the cause of it, they have asked that she stop taking HRT straight away (if that applies to you or not I don't know).  With you not having a lump it does sound the same as my Mums prognosis.  As I mentioned earlier from what we have been told the lump only begins to form once the cells break out of the duct/lobe so that sounds more positive for you.  If you can think of any more questions if I can answer them from what I have learned so far feel free to ask away.  Thank you for the well wishes for my Mum, I too will hope and pray for a positive outcome for you, it's very daunting.  Wishing you all the best x

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    Hi..I feel sad that you have so little support and hope further hospital appointment's will be reassuring Although I was told in person that I need a mascetomy I too felt the delivery of the news was a bit stark and matter of fact..particularly as I will lose the nipple when it comes to reconstruction. No matter how many people tell you 'it will be fine', it is SO scary. My son returns to university tomorrow in Durham and I am dreading his absence..only the budgie for comfort. We need to stay strong xxx

  • Offline in reply to annej66

    My sister is fine thanks. University College Hospital London is brilliant. Everything done there and then, scan, biopsy and you walk away with the results straight after. They couldn't have been better.

  • Offline in reply to LynneJ

    Stay strong Lynne. When is your surgery scheduled? X

  • Offline in reply to ZLE1987

    Thank you ZLE1987, will post an update in a couple of days when I have more info. X

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