Breast cancer - found out it's stage 1, will know what type it is at the end of the week. I'm terrified

Hi all, I have never been so petrified in my life. Im 37 and 4 weeks ago I was showering and bent down to lift the shampoo and noticed like a lump on my left breast. My doctor checked it that day and said it could be a fibroadenoma but he was going to refer me anyway. I eneded up going private for an ultrasound and the girl said she couldn't tell for sure what it was and put it down as undetermined and that she would advise a biopsy. She said it could be a fibroadenoma or phyloddes that it presented like an atypical fibroadenoma. I went last week for my biopsy and I also got a mamogram and they did like a cell test that day which they were able to confirm that it was malignant. They said my lymph nodes were clear and they told me it was stage 1. I should hear results back at the end of this week about the type of cancer it is and I am terrified incase it is a rare one. I just can't believe this. 

Because in my first ultrasound when she wasn't sure and mentioned not to panic that it could be a fibroadenoma or a phyloddes. I googled them and phyloddes can be benign, borderline or malignant and the malignant ones are very rare. Before I had my biopsy the consultant said he had only ever seen 1 in his whole 33yrs in his role. So now im freaking out incase that is what I have and  that it is not just a malignant breast cancer that they can treat. 

  • Hi there. I hope I can help you with this message. I went for my mammogram this weekend. They did 3 mammograms and 5 punch biopsies in my right breast. I had a rash on my nipple and very bad itching. Even waiting for the results, they did tell me it is cancer and they will have to operate but they have to wait for the results to see what type of cancer it is and what stage it is at. You are stage 1 so please please please do not worry. The survival rate for stage 1 cancer is extremely high - 99% to 100%. Being in a state of panic and anxiety is not going to do anything for your immune system. I know its hard, but you are choosing to drive yourself crazy thinking of the worst case scenario and there is no need, it wont help in the slightest. I know this because I have suffered from a sever panic disorder for decades and for the last 10 years I have been terrified of having a heart attack. Nothing happened and I ended up with a cancer diagnosis. Take a deep deep deeeeep breath and calm yourself. and tell yourself I can get through this. Everything is going to be ok, Relax. Think of everything that life has thrown at you up until this point and everyone has had hard times but we get through it. Please feel free to add me if you need to talk or just want to vent :) Talking about it really helps. The panic and anxiety needs you isolated to take control of your brain, dont let it. People are here to help you xx :)

  • Hi, I really appreciate your reply and I am very sorry about your situation also  I had 5 punch biopsies done also on Wednesday. I am just afraid that it is going to be  a rare type and that it ends up having spread through deep lymph nodes within the breast to other areas and th the stage changes or something. I know that this doesn't help thinking this way i have been handling it pretty well up until this point and know that im starting to worry more because the day that will recieve results is getting closer. I have not googled a single thing because i know how much worse that can make you. I suffered very bad health anxiety also a few years ago and that was my biggest fear. I remember showering with my bra on incase i found a lump . Thinking about you and thankful for your chat️

  • I completely understand where you are coming from. I am 10 years older than you and if I had this diagnosis 10 years ago I would have been a total basket case lol But the reality is there is nothing to fear in this moment. When you get the results it will be dealt with professionally and efficiently and until then you will be absolutely fine. I realised that I had to leave the old person behind, the neurotic anxious worry wart is what my early life made me, but it's not really me. You can be free of all that worry. There is a lady on youtube Ana Pashyanti and she has amazing videos about how to not only calm your anxiety but actually how to talk to and listen to your body. It gave me so much comfort to listen to her and made me feel like I am in charge of my own situation again. I requested you as a friend on here if you ever want to chat xx I don't work so I am on here daily xx

  • Heya.

    Welcome to the forums. We are all here for you. Keep us updated. You can do this. Ring the helpline number 0808 400 4040 to get more advice. During my chemo I did puzzles, and arts and crafts too. They helped me. Avoid the internet. 

  • Hi Caoil,

    A very warm welcome to the forum.   

    I am sorry to hear that you have been told that this lesion was malignant. Waiting for results is always an anxious time. It is good to know that it has been caught early when it is stage 1 and that there is no lymph node involvement. Most of us tend to give in to our over active imaginations and this leads us to all sorts of dark places. Fortunately, this seldom turns out to be the case. I am glad to see that you don't have much longer to wait for the results. It does become much easier to cope once you know exactly what the results are.   

    I was first diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer, 16 years ago. I had 2 bouts of breast cancer and 1 of pre-cancer within the first year. I had lost my mum to secondary cancer which had spread to her bones, brain, liver and lungs   She had a hard 12 years with this disease and I suspected that I faced the same fate. Fortunately, breast cancer is one of the most treatable types of cancer today. The advances that have been made with diagnosis, treatment and after care in the interim have been phenomenal and there was no comparison to the experiences which we both had. It is now 16 years since I was first diagnosed and I still lead a busy and fulfilling life.

    I sincerely hope that you get the same news again when you see your consultant and that all will go well for you. Please keep in touch. We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx