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They say I have Breast Cancer from Calcifications

Rictina
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Im 44yrs old living in the Northern Scottish Highlands. It all started with me going to my GP last week as one breast felt tender & slightly larger than the other but no lumps at all. She told me its nothing to worry about but best to get it checked at the breast clinic. Went there yesterday, wasnt even nervous, the doctor checked me over & wasnt too sure so brought in the Consultant (her boss) to be sure. He thought it best to do a mammogram and ultrasound to be on the safe side. So had that done & back to the Consultant, they confirmed the worst. & something about finding Calcifications which I dont really know what that means. Then they did a Core biopsy via ultrasound which was painful & still is which they warned me of. They did about 20, they had to try to get some calcifications. I asked if the scan was going well as they seemed to be struggling, they assured me it was hard to target the calcifications for testing & they havent found any more baddies, only 1 I think they said was a nodule but not sure as Im still learning the lingo. Tears were just rolling down my face the whole time. Ive been given a dedicated Macmillan Nurse who will be with me throughout, she is lovely. My husband is being brilliant, absolute rock. They cant really tell me what type of cancer till the results next Thursday & the Consultant is on holiday till the week after but Ill still go to the Macmillan Nurse face to face for the results. They are talking of a mastectomy, reconstructive surgery taken from back muscle, chemo, radio therapy ect ..already. My head is a mess & I cant eat well, so scared as I dont know anyone with BC. Id love to chat with others in a similar position & others who have been through it. Just feel so lost & uneducated. One minute I think Im doing ok then the next I fall apart. Sorry for my ramble.

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    Hi there rictina....

    bless ya, there's lots of us breast cancer ladies here ... all different stages and different treatments ... and our [@Jolamine]‍ who's old hand at all this, she's our original breast lady ... I'm nearly 9 months post mastectomy... others followed me, and we now have 3 having their ops this week ... so your deffinatly not on your own ... and they will all make you welcome ... and anything you need to know, at least one of us will have been there too ...

    I'm back in hosp on 18th with lumps that they said look like calcification. . So I'm there with you ... pesky little blighters ..... we can do this ... we were all scared at first , l think it's the thought of the unknown ...and trust me, we have down days ... and good days, but on here you can say almost anything ... 

    If you want to look back on others journey on here ... there's a thread started by rilleyroo ... there's lots of it but it's a great informative read and you can see how others got through those early scary days ... and take heart, wer all still here, holding each other up and if I could go back in time , I would tell myself ... live in the day ... no looking too far ahead ... no more "what ifs"  and go with the flow ... take those feelings and go with them ... cry, scream, yell at the unfairness..  and then get back on this rollercoaster of ours and hold on tight, it's a bumpy ride ...

    Cancer wants you to give in, cry and feel helpless and stay down , but when we all stick together .. we can have it on the run ... you can do this ... you don't know how strong you are till your backs against the wall ... so when you feel scared, look around that rollercoaster your on now ... and wer all there right by you ...  big vertual hug Chrissie

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    Hi Rictina. Welcome to the forum. I am sorry to hear of what you've been through. It's perfectly normal to be ok one minute and fall apart the next. I am glad you have good support. I was diagnosed through a mammo and like you - one minute everything is ok then you're on this treadmill and rollercoaster of emotions. The waiting is very hard but try to keep busy and do the things you enjoy. The good thing is you're in the system and will be treated now to be rid of the ******* cancer! I am a year post treatment and was stage 2 breast cancer. You will definitely find support on here - this forum has been a godsend throughout. I am retain others will post on here shortly. It's a hard journey but you got This!

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    Just another good thread is "the good and the bad" by sandra123  .... welcome to our little chat room .. jbains has already popped on ... they will all look after you ... if you need it ...x

  • Offline in reply to Chriss

    Thank you so much for such a positive reply *hugs*. I get so emtional hearing all you lovely ladies, your like super heros. xx

  • Offline in reply to Jbains

    A huge thank you for being so positive! xxxx ♥

  • Offline in reply to Chriss

    Thank you. Your so lovely xx

  • Offline in reply to Rictina
    You just hang in there - we're right here with you. Please keep us posted.
  • Offline in reply to Rictina

    Hello Rictina. Welcome aboard the tour that none of wanted to join. 

    Any time you want a chat about anything doesn’t have to be cancer, we’re here, a lot of what we talk about isn’t cancer but it keeps us sane. 

  • Offline in reply to Rictina
    Hi Rictina and welcome here. I'm 48 and one if the ladies whose op is this week. I too was diagnosed following microcalcifications showing up on a breast screening mammogram. My first appointment was on 2oth Feb and I was final diagnosed stage 1 invasive breast cancer on 15th March after 2 biopsies (have 2 areas to be removed). It all feels absolutely terrifying at this point but the ladies on here have held me up and helped me find my inner strength. Wishing you all the best for your results and you must let us know how you get on....and of course come back and chat....we have some lively discussions x
  • Offline in reply to Rictina

     

    Hi Rictina,

    A very warm welcome to Cancer Chat.

    I am so sorry to read about your recent breast problems, but I am glad to hear that you have a good breast cancer nurse and a brilliantly supportive hubby. You will find them a great help in getting through this. I am fortunate in that I have a very supportive hubby too and it has made all the difference to me.

    I cared for my mum for 12 years when she had breast cancer. She died 20 years ago, but I have found tremendous changes in treatment since then, as I have experienced this all over again myself.

    I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer, the first 8 years ago and the second 7. I had a lumpectomy the first time followed by Tamoxifen and a double mastectomy the second, followed by Letrozole for 6 years. I stopped taking the Letrozole last July, after 6 years. I am now waiting to see a dermatologist with a mole on my back, which my lymphoedema nurse advised me to get investigated. I have an appointment to get this seen towards the end of April. If you are looking for any help or advice, I am always here.

    I have copied this description of calcification from the Cancer Research Website, as you might find it helpful:-

    “With early stage breast cancer, there might not be a lump. But your mammogram may show small areas of calcium in the breast tissue.

    These areas of calcium are called calcification. But calcification also develops because of non cancerous changes in the breast. The skill and experience of the technicians and doctors helps them to read the different patterns and decide which might be related to cancer and so need further tests.”

    There are plenty of people who have calcification posting on this site. If you want to follow some of their threads, go to the blue banner at the top of this page, where you will see the search engine. Click on this and type in ‘calcification’ and this will bring up previous posts on this topic. I don’t know much about calcification and I am not a medic, but it seems as if it is mostly found in pre-cancer or early stage diagnoses.

    I do hope that this is so in your case. You have some excellent advice from some of our other breast care ladies already. This is a scary time, full of pent up emotion, but you will get through it.

    Do please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are here for you whenever you want to talk.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

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