Hello lovely 

This is what happened to me two weeks ago. Was told highly likely it was cancer on ultrasound and mammogram alone. If you are anything like me, you may be worried that because it is so "obvious", this means it is the very worst kind of BC. That's not true. It is just characteristic, it can't be anything else.

I got my biopsy results back early. On Thursday I was told I have Grade 3 Stage 2 DCIS. I am 39 and require the full hog: chemotherapy first, lumpectomy, radiotherapy, drugs.

It is a good thing if your tumour is hormone receptive (mine is) as means you can accept more treatments.

This is a scary time, but now you can get some questions together and talk it through without feeling an atomic bomb has gone off.

If you can't sleep speak to your GP - I got some sleeping pills and something to help with physical effects of anxiety.

My cancer spread to my lymph nodes so I have to have scans to see if anywhere else in body, which is terrifying, but my surgeon said most women with it in their lymph nodes do NOT have secondary cancer. We just have to hope the lymph nodes have done their job.

You will get through this. This is temporary.

Clars 

I hope that you are ok lovely it's a scary time but time moves quick your treatment will fly and you soon be back to yourself .

I had a lumpectomy in July then august had full auxiliary node clearance 2 operations I then had radiotherapy skipped chemo and take tamoxifen I'm now back to living my life as normal just stay busy and as positive as you can you will fly through it .

good luck come here if you need a chat big hugs love Lara ️

Hi clars, gosh it's a lot isn't it i'm sorry about your diagnosis and so glad that this group is so supportive. It's really odd one minute your living your life with lots of plans for the year and then boom. It's difficult to get your head around it all. How long was the wait between your biopsy and your result? They have said up to 14 days but the nurse said it could be sooner. Even though they've said to me that it's not in lymph nodes and she thinks it's contained I keep hearing her in my head saying we'll throw everything at it which as you say is making me think crikey is it the worst kind? Thank you for your reply it means so much to be able to speak to people that are going through similar. Did they say when your treatment will start? Xx

Thank you [@laraj]‍ good to hear you are back to your old self. Yes I just have to remind myself I will get the old me back. 

[@KLF49]‍ hi lovely. My biopsies were taken 3 Jan. My original appointment to discuss results was meant to be 20 Jan but they called me, with two hours notice, on 12 Jan, and asked me come into clinic then. Of course your mind goes into overdrive thinking it is the very worst type of cancer. Of course no cancer is "good" but what my brain accepts as ok or not now I have this has completely flipped during these two weeks....!

Oh and [@KLF49]‍ not sure when treatment starts exactly as depends on results of the MRI and CT (which we obviously hope is all clear) and fertility stuff which would need to happen first if I do it, but nurse did say potentially all treatment done by October, so at least not entire year of this, ha!

I'm sending you all my very best wishes and positive vibes clars and grateful to have met you here xx

If you've to get the full hog (the exact same thing was said to my wife) and your treatment is similar to my wife's, one of the best pieces of advice I wish we were told is, get a bona fide baby toothbrush just in case.

One of the things that did bother my wife deep into the chemo regimes, was her mouth. Not everyone gets the same effects, but having a very soft toothbrush at hand will save you rushing around trying to find one at the last minute. She also found mint toothpaste difficult to use. Again, this is not the case for everyone. The mint hurt her gums, and stung. If you find yourself in a similar position, either use non mint kids toothpaste or Amazon sell toothpaste called "OraNurse". That toothpaste is specially made for people who have altered taste, find mint toothpaste painful to use (chemo patients etc). Don't believe the stories that kids toothpaste is not strong enough for adults, it is. The UK uses more fluoride in kids toothpaste because so many kids were getting cavities.

Not everyone gets inflamed gums, but if you happen to be one of them, the above will help a lot.

HI KLF49,

Feeling totally detached is a great way to describe how you are feeling.  Over time you will probably feel all sorts of emotions. Fear and anger are two common ones too. I am glad to hear that you managed to have a good cry last night - this is a great way of getting rid of a lot of pent up emotion.

I hope that you enjoyed your trip to the cinema this afternoon. Keeping busy is always recommended when you're waiting for results. It is good to hear that you love nature and being outdoors. There is no better way to aid your recouperation, than by enjoying all that nature has to offer.

I am sure that you are probably thinking of the treatment that your grandmother had all those years ago and worrying about how you'll cope. Try to put all thoughts of this out of your mind. I certainly thought of how my Mum struggled, when I was first diagnosed. However, all aspects of care have made great strides since then. Diagnosis is much more accurate, treatments are more tailored to the individual and after care is a real boost - I don't remember my Mum having any after care. Once her surgery was over, she was very much left to her own devices. 

I am glad to hear that you have already broken the news of your diagnosis to friends and family. It is so much easier when you can talk openly about what you are going through.

Remember that we are always here to support you

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi,

I know exactly how you're feeling, I'm going through the same now. I noticed a change to one of my breasts over Christmas. I called the doctors on 4th January and was seen the same day. The doctor was also concerned and made a referral to the breast clinic. I was seen on 10th January. There I had a scan, mammogram and biopsy after they found a 3cm lump.

The consultant and the nurse diagnosed me there and then, the same as you. I asked the same questions and they said that whilst it wasn't unheard of for the biopsy results to come back negative, their experience told them they wouldn't and if they did the wouldn't trust them as everything else was presenting otherwise, so in that case they would retest. They said it was better for me to hear the diagnosis them so that at my follow up appointment I could focus on the treatment plan.

For me, it was a relief as I had prepared myself for that result. I am still devastated as I am 44 with two primary aged children.

I have my follow up appointment tomorrow to confirm my results and find out my treatment plan, I just want to get that appointment out of the way to take away all the uncertainty and have an idea of the kind of treatment I will receive and how it will impact on my children, husband, work etc.

xx

Hi hlk 

welcome 

good luck for your results hope all goes well please stay here for support 

love Lara ️