Hi Olivia

I’m so sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis.  I have also recently been diagnosed with grade 2 breast cancer and can totally relate with you on the horrendous waiting on test results. I’ve never experienced anxiety like it and my constant Googling hasn’t helped matters! I’ve two teenage daughters, 19 and 15 so with them being older have explained everything to them. It’s still very hard though keeping a brave face in front of them. 

It’s looking like I’m going to be having a mastectomy and I also find out results on Friday. I’m hoping he will be telling me the next steps as I think I will feel a bit better for knowing what’s going to be happening and when.

Good luck for Friday.

Alison x

Hi Alison,

I just wanted to wish you all the best for Friday. I am glad that you and Olivia have met up. You will both find it helpful to have someone going through the same thing at the same time and should be a great support for one another.

As I have already told Olivia, I had a lumpectomy 8 years ago followed by a double mastectomy 7 years ago. I was terrified of what might go wrong with my last ops, but it was really straightforward.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Alison, 

sorry you have to go through that, must be very frightening for you, but just think it will be out and you can start recovery. Good that they are doing the reconstruction at the same time too.

Keep strong and all the best for your CT scan 

Liv xxx

Hi Liv

How are you? Have you had your MRI and CT scan results yet and how’s it going with chemo?

My op is on Thursday... feeling nervous now! I’ve been cleaning like a mad woman this weekend to try and take my mind off it.

Hope to hear from you.

Alison xx

Hi Alison, 

i hope you’re doing ok, the waiting is the worst bit I suppose, prob best just to keep busy and It’ll be over soon! Let me know how it goes and  try and get rested before if possible 

I had CT and bone scans which were all clear so that’s great, such a relief, still not heard from my MRI presume my consultant will discuss with me when I see him on Thursday. 

Chemo was a bit of a shock to the system initially but feeling fine now, they said they will adjust some of the meds to stop me being so sick so will see how the next one goes just waiting for my hair to fall out now... wig at the ready

 feel so normal most days but not working now so all a bit strange 

Will be thinking of you on Thursday 

best wishes 

liv x

Hi Liv

That’s good news on your scans and fingers crossed for your MRI result. 

Sorry to hear the chemo made you feel so sick. How long do you have to have it for? I won’t know until after my op whether I’m going to need that or radiotherapy, so don’t really know much about it yet. 

I’m initially going to be off work for 6 weeks but it worries me if I do need further treatment that I won’t be able to work through it. Still not much I can do about it so I should stop worrying! 

What part or the country do you live? I’m in London.

Take care and I’ll let you know how I get on.

Alison x

Hi Alison, 

how are you doing? How are you feeling after the op? I hope it all went well and you are recovering...

im half way through the chemo now which is great.. on count down now then will have to prepare for surgery which they are saying is likely to be a mastectomy so just trying to get my head round that and looking at options.

im in Woodbridge in Suffolk. Have you gone back to wor or are you having more treatment? I’ve been working a bit on and off which helps a bit but hard to get into it mentally

sorry not been in touch for a while. I hope you are doing well and can enjoy some Christmas fun! 

Olivia xx

Hi Liv

It’s lovely to hear from you. How are you doing?  I’m glad to hear you’re halfway through and hopefully the next half will speed past. I’m so sorry to hear it might be a mastectomy. When do you think surgery will be? My surgery was a Diep Flap, so please if you want to ask me anything.

My surgery went really well.  I had a few problems with swelling and had to make a few extra trips to the hospital, but it’s all settled down now and I went back to work a couple of weeks ago.... that was a shock to the system, but back just in time for the Xmas parties I thankfully haven’t had to have any further treatment other than Tamoxifen tablets for 5 years. They’re causing a bit of havoc with my hormones right now, but I’ll take that! I’m seeing the plastic surgeon at the end of Jan, so I’m hoping it’s all settled down and he can tell me when he will be able to do the nipple reconstruction and symmetry surgery.

I can’t believe it’s Xmas in 9 days, the past few months have been a whirlwind haven’t they?! 

I hope you have a fab Christmas.

Alison xxx

Hi Alison, 

so glad to hear it all went well and you’re back to a. Bit of normality...the last few months have been so crazy

the timing of my treatment have worked out well so feeling my best for the chisrmas period and looking forward to some fun with the family and get really for the next phase of treatment.

have a great Christmas and a happy 2019!! 

Hi

I really hope you don't mind me joining in on your thread. I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer on Monday with 2 lymph nodes. 

I came across your post about waiting for more tests and I am feeling exactly the same way you did. I don't feel well, aching all over and terrified that the cancer has spread.

Reading your posts has given me some encouragement. I am glad to hear that you are doing well. 

Also I am 41, so just a little bit older than you. 

Xxx

Hiya, so sorry to hear about your diagnosis, such an awful thing to go through, I hope you and your family are ok. I was the same and didn’t feel well in myself and thought the worst but I guess a lot of it is psychological and all the stress prob causes some of it so try and not worry and all the best for positive results, the waiting is the worst  

have they told you what your treatment will be?

whtever it is you will get through it and get rid of it and anything you want to ask feel free

take care and keep in touch xx

At the moment they have said chemo first before mastectomy. Is that similar to you?

I have a day off from tests today, bone scan tomorrow.

Very nervous about that as every bone is aching!

Xxx

At the moment they have said chemo first before mastectomy. Is that similar to you?

I have a day off from tests today, bone scan tomorrow.

Very nervous about that as every bone is aching!

Xxx

Hi Luna

I’m so sorry to hear your diagnosis.  I agree with Liv re the stress. The shock and the waiting for results is such a stressful time.  I’d never experienced anxiety on that scale before and didn’t realise the physical pain it can cause. 

I had a mastectomy 2 months ago and am doing really well, so if you have any questions on that please feel free to ask me.

Good luck tomorrow.

Alison x

Hi Alison

Many thanks for your reply, it's so good to hear that you are doing well, gives me hope. 

I've never felt anxiety like this before either. It's a journey into the unknown and I'm finding it hard to deal with. It's the fact that it is in my lymph nodes that is terrifying me. Does this mean its spread? 

Coming to terms with losing my breast will be another huge obstacle. I have big boobs and feel like I will be losing half of me. 

Will or are you considering reconstruction? 

Xxxxx

Yes sounds the Same as mine is having 8 cycles of chemo and then surgery... if you want to ask any young about the chemo please do.. do you know when you start? 

Good of luck tomorrow xxx

I've no idea when I start. I feel so in the dark at the moment. I don't have another appt with consultant till 6th Jan. When I've been told I'll find out more about my treatment plan.

Hope you don't mind me asking, what symptoms were you having prior to bone scan, ct etc?

Xxxxx

Hi Luna

It’s the not knowing that is the worst.  Once I knew what they were doing and I had a plan of action I started to feel calmer. 

I rang the breast cancer helpline a couple of times when I was first diagnosed and stressing out and they were lovely and really helpful. Their number is 0808 800 6000.

My sister’s friend went through the same this time last year. She had lymph node involvement too and had chemo first and then a mastectomy and was given the all clear in September.

I had a Diep Flap reconstruction at the same time as the mastectomy and it is amazing what they can do now. I’ve got an appointment with the plastic surgeon at the end of Jan to discuss symmetry surgery and nipple reconstruction. 

Let us know how you get on tomorrow xx

I am so scared about tomorrow. I feel physically sick. I just want them to tell me it hasn't spread and then I can focus more and start concentrating on getting better!

Xxxxx

Hi All 

just reading all your posts, I had a mammogram & biopsy over a week ago and was told it is breast cancer and the lymph nodes that were taken were clear but that's not anything to go by, I have a coil fitted which they say can affect the readings so have to have it removed and have to go for an MRI @ CT scan, I am really scared it has spread as my back is in agony at the moment but wasn't there before so hopefully it is anxiety and stress. The doctor didn't give me any stage as to what it was at as she has said the lump is about 2 1/2 cms and they want to check it isn't any larger, are the scans standard at this stage and is anyone else at this stage as at the moment I am so scared it has spread and untreatable, don't think I have ever been so scared and cried so much.

lots of love 

Kerry xxx

HI Kerry,

The scans are perfectly routine and give a clearer view of the lesions. They probably want to wait until your coil is removed before giving you a grade. The way you feel is also very normal. It is impossible not to be worried with so many unknowns flying around in your head.

I have had a number of these scans within the past 11 years and cancer has only been present twice. We all tend to think the worst at this stage, but fortunately, this seldom comes to pass.

Here's hoping for a better outcome.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine

Thank you for your encouraging words, hope you are okay x my middle of my shoulder blades are aching and just worrying it has spread, just feel so emotional at the moment and scared not sleeping xx 

lots of love 

Kerry xx 

Hi Kerry,

I am not a doctor, but I understand from the many posts that I've read here throughout the years, that pain does not usually accompany breast cancer, so let's hope that this is so in your case.

I wish that there was something that I could do to help you through this awful waiting stage. Unfortunately, we all have to go through these emotions, but things will improve once you know what you're dealing with.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx