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Diagnosis at first appointment

KLF49
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Hi everyone, I'm new here I've never posted before. I noticed that my right breast was a weird shape at the arc on the bottom just before Christmas but kind of ignored it and then just before new year I thought I should do a proper check on myself and I then noticed a dimple on the bottom and then a lump above it. I sent an online request for a same day doctors appointment on the Tuesday immediately after the New Year bank holiday. They text me an appointment time and saw me that morning. I was then referred on the 14 day system and was seen at the breast clinic on Thursday last week 12th Jan. 
Everything happened very quickly at the clinic the lead nurse saw me and she told me straight away she wasn't too happy and sent me down for the tests. I had an MRI type mammogram, an ultrasound and 2 core biopsies. I asked the radiographer if I had cancer and she said it was suspicious and to go back upstairs to have another chat with the first nurse that I saw. 
I went back up and the first thing I said is have I got cancer. She said in her opinion and that the imaging suggests that I do. She said that they had already checked my lymph nodes on the scan and it hasn't spread and that it is 2.1cm. She also said she thinks it is probably caught early and localised. She said that when the biopsy comes back they will know what it is and what stage and that my treatment plan will be in place when I go back in hopefully less than two weeks. I asked her if there was any chance that the biopsy might show that it's not and she said I should prepare myself that it is. Even though I had a sense myself hearing all this was a shock and I'm still trying to process it. I've already spoken to my closest friends and family as I'm single with a wonderful 17 year old son and we need to have that support.

I've got a couple of questions, has anyone else experienced this, is there any chance the biopsy could come back not cancer? 
We have a lot of cancer in the family and four years ago discovered we have the Lynch Syndrome genetic mutation on gene MLH1. I was tested for MLH1 four years ago and the test was negative. My mum was tested a few months after me and she was also negative. The nurse wants me to bring the paperwork in for this when I go back as she wants to know what was done. I'm now reading that there are five genetic mutations for Lynch. Is it possible to have more than one mutation in a family?

I have to say that all the medical staff were absolutely amazing and although i'm still reeling i'm glad that I already have this information so I am prepared for the results. Also just to say i'm 49. My cousin who has Lynch was diagnosed with cancer at 47, my aunt at my age and a cousin of my mum's also same age. My cousin (male) has Lynch but we don't know about my aunt and my mum's cousin as they both died before tumour testing for genetics. None of them had breast cancer. However my grandmother did and my grandfather had lung cancer. Also, I have been on HRT for two years, my GP took me off it two weeks ago at that first doctors appointment. I'm now really worried that the cancer is going to be oestrogen or progesterone fed and that I made a really bad decision. 

Thank you for reading any information would be very gratefully received X

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    Hiya

    This is exactly how my wife was diagnosed, and these chat boards are littered with similar stories. So yeah, it happens.

    Whilst biopsy is the only definitive test, they are rarely wrong. Can they be wrong? Yes, there are stories the internet over telling of this exact thing. But in the grand scheme of things, it's rare that they are wrong.

    My wife was told not to go home, thinking it would come back as anything but cancer. They were correct. They see this a lot in their job and they're making an educated guess. But like any "guess", they can be wrong. I mean, someone has to be in that small minority where they get it wrong, so why not you? However, I'd use this time as to wrap your head around it all, so you're not having to pick yourself up from square one all over again during your next appointment.

    The official diagnosis wasn't the nightmare it could have been, and that's because we accepted the fact she more or less had cancer before the results proper were in. Assume the worst, and it can make the official chat less daunting. Won't make it a walk in the park, because nothing can, but it helps going into the appointment with your eyes wide open.

    Believe it or not, the cancer being hormone fed is a good thing as it opens up more treatments. So don't overly fret about that part. My wife had triple positive, had 2 tumours, and 2 lymph nodes involved, 14 months later she is considered cancer free. She had a total response to the chemo. She was also a kick up the backside away from being terminal due to how locally advanced her cancer was. She was also down for a full mastectomy, but due to her complete response to the treatment, she got a lumpectomy in the end.

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    Hi klf 

    welcome 

    I just read your post the exact thing happened to me last July , I was told it's suspicious week later it was confirmed.

    I am now back to living my normal life like it never happened.

    good luck I'm here for a chat good luck take each day at a time it's a lot to process x 

  • Offline in reply to ProfBaw

    Thank you so much for responding ProfBaw your words make total sense. The last couple of days I've been saying that exact thing why shouldn't I be the one they get wrong but also aware if I keep that up I'm going to have to go through this again in a couple of weeks. Even though I had a sense it was cancer I still didn't expect it to be so clear on Thursday, but I'd much rather have all the facts I don't want anything sugarcoated. I'm so glad your wife is doing well, hearing stories like this are a massive boost. I feel very positive about the fact she said it's not in my lymph nodes and looks localised. The waiting is hard I think when I know what it is I can focus on the getting rid of it part. 
    Thank you also for the hormone info too I didn't know that so that's also a reassurance. I'm berating myself for going on HRT but I was really struggling with anxiety at the time and it really helped me through a difficult patch. 
    Many best wishes to you and your wife Xx 

  • Offline in reply to laraj

    Thank you so much laraj I appreciate your message. I'm so glad you're back to your normal life so quickly that is very encouraging. Very grateful to have found this forum Xx 

  • Offline in reply to KLF49

    Never berate yourself for doing things such as taking HRT. The vast majority of women taking it never find themselves in the position you now find yourself in. No one knows if you would have been in this position anyway had you never touched HRT. Nothing you did caused it, it's just sheer bad luck. No one asks to get cancer and you're not to blame in any way. Unless there's an obvious genetic connection, you will never know why you developed cancer (if it does come back as cancer). Like i said, it's just a lottery in life.

    My wife went through the same "what if" scenarios. I think it's natural to do so. But you ultimately arrive back at the "just sheer bad luck" conclusion. It's wasted energy trying to find answers when it comes to the "why me".

    You also have a positive to focus on, it not being in your lymph nodes. It may mean you require less treatment. Easy for me to sit here and say this as we've sat through it ourselves, but looking back, we were damn lucky in some respects. Your tumour is also a lot smaller. My wife's tumour was 4.5cm, and the deeper one was 2.5cm. Not everyone requires the same treatment, so it's never a one size fits all scenario.

  • Offline in reply to ProfBaw

    Thank you ProfBaw you've really helped me to feel a lot better today :happy:

  • Offline in reply to KLF49

    Klf 

    I hope that you are the one where they get it wrong that can well happen .

    for me the time I went I had never felt so well in my life I'm 48 I went through sheer paranoia as my freind was diagnosed a few months before could not feel any lump it's lucky I sent my lump was 1.5 I had grade 1 to 2 her2 negative, I had a lumpectomy and 5 rounds of radiotherapy I did not require chemo as I had the Oncotype test where they send your tumour to America and it gives you the detail on your tumour and whether chemo will benefit at all in my case I had a low score and I now take tamoxifen daily and heard horror stories about them but I have found them no trouble at all .

    my life is right back where it was before my journey I need to always come back here as it helped me so much I feel I can't leave please stay here for support if you need it you may walk away next week I hope so but we are here akways take care good luck lovely ️

  • Offline in reply to laraj

    Thank you I'm so glad that you guys are here as only you really understand what it's like to be facing this ️ Xx

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    HI KLF49,

    A very warm welcome to our forum.

    I am sorry to hear about your worries, but can assure you that these are all perfectly normal.  I lost my Mum and several other relatives to breast cancer, then was told, at my first breast clinic appointment, that they were pretty certain that I had cancer. Unfortunately, when the biopsy results were returned, it proved that they were right. This came as a terrible shock, although I cannot explain why, as I had always expected that there would be a genetic connection. 

    I was fortunate that it was caught early, had a lumpectomy and took Tamoxifen for 1 year. After 6 months, I discovered a larger lump in my other breast. Again, my surgeon was pretty sure that it was cancer, but biopsy proved that he was wrong and the tumour was benign. Fast forward another 6 months and I discovered a second lump, in the original breast. This time I had a double mastectomy, followed by Letozole for 6½ years. I have found a tremendous advancement in diagnosis, treatment and after care of cancer patients. There was just no comparison between the experiences which both Mum and I had. That was all 13 years ago and, I still lead a busy and fulfilling life.

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

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

     

  • Offline in reply to Jolamine

    Thank you so much Jolamine I'm so sorry for all the things that you've been through but so glad that you're now well and living and full life. I just felt completely detached over the weekend but last night I had a good cry and feel better for that release. I was beginning wonder why I wasn't having any emotional reaction to this! I'm going to try and keep busy until they call me. I love nature and being outside so need to try and keep up my normal routines as much as possible and keep busy with work. I'm also off to the cinema later this afternoon with my two closest friends which will be good. Thank you for replying I'm really grateful ️ I don't know anyone who's had breast cancer apart from my grandmother but that was over 20 years ago so this is a real lifeline Xx 

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