I know how you feel. I had a wide excision and biopsy on 25th March. The waiting is horribleHopefully it won’t be much longer for both of us

Hi Knic,

A very warm welcome to our community. I am sorry to hear that you are also waiting for results. This is always an anxious time, but I hope that it all turns out well for you in the end.

Please update us when you hear the results. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine,

thank you so much for your reply. I have been following your posts for the past week whilst waiting for appointments and I just wanted to say what an amazingly strong lady you are. 
Mum discovered a lump in her armpit last week, when we went to the breast clinic nothing showed up on her mammogram or ultrasound of the breast but the ultrasound of the lump (which is a lymph node) didn't look great so it's a worry where this has come from.

mum had a mastectomy and lymph node removal 16 years ago, this has been a complete shock to the system. I was very young when she was first diagnosed but now that I am older I have been and will be going to all appointments with her. She is a very strong lady like yourself and I'm sure whatever the results are on Thursday we can get through it as a family. 
 

thank you so much for your reply, your posts and stories truly are inspirational and have given me some strength throughout this process (again!) xx
 

Hi Roo,

I'm glad to hear that my posts have helped you in some small way. My mum had breast cancer for 12 years before she developed secondary breast cancer, where it had spread to her brain, bones, liver and lungs. I know just how hard it was to support her and, I am so glad that your mum has you. Do you have any other siblings who can share the load with you?

Seeing it from my own perspective now, it makes all the difference in the world to have someone who you can discuss your fears and worries with and discuss things openly. I am glad to hear that your mum is a very strong lady, as a positive approach is a great help in coping with all that is going on.

I sincerely hope that the results on Thursday are as good as they can be. I shall be thinking of you both and praying for a favourable outcome. Do please let us know how she gets on.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine,

we have just come out of the meeting for biopsy results. 
the consultant did confirm that it is cancer and in her professional opinion, it has come from the breast. She said either secondary from the first breast cancer 16 years ago (although the consultant at the time 16 years ago said that he had managed to get everything) or it could be "occult" breast cancer as there is nothing in the actual breast but the markers from the biopsy are breast markers. The consultant said that sometimes the cancer cells go to the nearest lymph node even if there is nothing in the breast. 
Next step is an MRI and CT scan to see if there is a spread (in the liver, lungs etc.) which the consultant said was unlikely due to no symptoms and feeling perfectly fit and healthy. Once the results of those scans come through we can then move forward with a treatment plan of chemotherapy first then surgery, or surgery and then chemotherapy. The breast care nurse seemed positive and although the initial bad news of "yes it is cancer" wasn't great, the consultant reassured us that the waiting for the next few weeks will not affect the outcome of the treatment. 
 

More waiting but at least we know What it is now and that it is treatable. Maybe we can get a decent night sleep for the first time in weeks! 
 

thank you again so much for your replies, they have really helped. Hopefully the wait isn't too long and we can crack on with treatment. 
 

Roo xxx

Hi Roo,

Thank you for the update from your appointment today.I am sorry to hear that it is cancer and that you are no further forward as to the source. Do you have long to wait for your CT and MRI? It is always a more aanxious time when you have to undergo these additional tests, but here's hoping that they will provide more answers for your mum.

Please keep us updated on any progress. The main point to keep hold of is that it is still treatable, so please try to stay positive.

Kind regards,

Jlamine xx

Hi Jolamine,

thank you for your quick reply. It sounds bizarre, but we are actually relieved to have some answers (although it's not the whole picture) as we were thinking it was spreading as we were waiting a few weeks for results and treatment to start, but that's not the case and that's not how cancer works. 
 

yes, hearing a medical professional tell you that it is treatable (even if scans show it has spread to other places) is such a relief.

Will update when we have results from scans. 
 

xxx

Hi Roo,.

The unknown is a frightening place to be. It is so much easier to cope with everything when you know more. I am glad to hear that the wait for results won't cause the cancer to spread in the time you are waiting.

Fingers crossed for the results of CT and MRI.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine,

I hope you are well. We had some scan results. The CT scan showed that there was no spread to any organs which is great news! The CT scan did show up 2 suspicious areas on my Mum's spine (one lower and one middle) so the consultant has scheduled a bone scan to rule out anything sinister. She did say that these areas could be caused by degeneration (mum is 67 and has suffered with back problems such as slipped discs most of her life) so we are hoping it is that!

the MRI picked up a suspicious area deep within the breast that would not have been picked up on a routine mammogram, so that's good news that the MRI has found it. We are waiting for more biopsy results of this area and they have put a metal wire in to help locate this area as it is so small. The consultant again seemed pretty positive that this is the primary area of breast cancer that has caused lymph nodes to swell (and I think she said it is confirmed triple negative so definitely a different cancer to the one mum had 16 years ago). 
we have to wait for a bone scan to be scheduled and have the results of that before we can start some sort of treatment, but due to the time of year, it doesn't look like it will be done before January. This is worrying for me as 3 weeks doesn't seem like a long time but you never know what might happen in 3 weeks. 
All being well, we will have a clear bone scan and then have a full mastectomy and lymph node clearance followed by chemotherapy, or chemotherapy first to shrink the lymph node and then surgery.

thank you again for your kind words and support, you have really helped me through this difficult time. 
 

Roo xx

Hi Roo,

The news that there is no spread is excellent news. The fact that there are 2 suspicious areas on your mum's spine is not such good news, so I am glad to hear that a bone scan has been scheduled and hope that this indicates natural degeneration and nothing more.

It sounds as if it is fortunate that your mum had the MRI, which showed up the suspicious area deep within her breast, as heaven only knows when it would have been discovered otherwise. It is now normal procedure to put the wire in, but again sounds fairly positive that it is a small area and, that your consultant thinks that this is the primary area.

It is unfortunate that your mum has been caught up in the Christmas holiday fever and has to wait that bit longer for her scan. Here's hoping that she gets it early in the new year. She has probably had bone scans before, but just in case she hasn't, tell her that there is nothing to worry about, as it's not nearly as bad as a CT or MRI. Also I found my double mastectomy much easier to cope with and recover from than my lumpectomy. Many others have found this too.

Do your best to enjoy Christmas, despite having this hanging over you both. If someone is looking for a useful present for your mum, she will be glad of nightwear that opens down the front if she has to have a mastectomy.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine,

Happy New Year to you, I hope you are well. I thought I would update this thread with positive news that you mum had yesterday at her last results meeting with the consultant incase it can help anyone following  

The breast cancer hasn't spread to any organs or bones. The cancer in the lymph nodes is triple negative but the very small area of cancer in the breast (that was only picked up through an MRI and would not have been found on a mammogram/ultrasound) is showing signs that it could be treated with Herceptin. 
My mum can expect to start 6 rounds of chemotherapy treatment within the next 2 weeks to shrink the size of the lymph nodes. Surgery then to do a full lymph node clearance and either a lumpectomy/mastectomy and then possibly a year of Herceptin. 
Now the wait for results is over we can concentrate on moving forward and getting treatment underway. There's a long way to go yet and the battle of chemotherapy and surgery but to speak to the consultant and for her to have so much positivity that the final outcome will be a good one really made my year (and it is only day 3 of 2020!)  

thank you Jolamine once again for your support throughout this difficult time and if I can be of any support to anyone else going through this horrible experience I am only a message away.

Roo xxx

Hi Roo.

Thank you for the update on your mum's results. It is so good to hear positive news after all these tests. The fact that there is no spread to other organs is great news.

I'm sure that your mum won't be looking forward to having chemo, but here's hoping that it shrinks her nodes. Tell your mum to drink copious amounts of water while she is having chemo. I have had both a lumpectomy and a double mastectomy. I faced both with dread, but the surgery was a lot easier than I expected.

I sincerely hope that her consultant's positivity has rubbed off on to your mum, as it is so much more helpful to face this with a positive outlook. I am hoping and praying that the final outcome will be a good one.

Here's wising you both A Healthy and Happy New Year.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Roo.

Thank you for the update on your mum's results. It is so good to hear positive news after all these tests. The fact that there is no spread to other organs is great news.

I'm sure that your mum won't be looking forward to having chemo, but here's hoping that it shrinks her nodes. Tell your mum to drink copious amounts of water while she is having chemo. I have had both a lumpectomy and a double mastectomy. I faced both with dread, but the surgery was a lot easier than I expected.

I sincerely hope that her consultant's positivity has rubbed off on to your mum, as it is so much more helpful to face this with a positive outlook. I am hoping and praying that the final outcome will be a good one.

Here's wising you both A Healthy and Happy New Year.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx