Need to talk please

So biospy came back postive. 8mm in left breast.  Doc said really tiny and treatable. Hasnt spread to the lymph nodes   Gonna have a wire guided local excision and then radiotherapy.  I have been goole everything and making myself sick with worry. Every ache and pain i am convinced it has spread.  How long does a operation last please as never had a general before so scared about that as well . Why do they pick radiotherapy over chemo ?? I have many questions and just so scared as feel no one to talk to 

  •  

    Hi Shaz,

    I am so sorry to hear that your biopsy has come back positive. It is normal for any of us who get a cancer diagnosis to imagine that every little ache and pain is the disease spreading. Fortunately, most of this is just in our imagination and doesn't usually come to anything.

    I know that a diagnosis of any cancer knocks you for six. It can also affect your emotions - lots of crying, sleeplessness, worry, fear, loss of apetite, etc - you name it, you've probably already experienced it.  It may not seem so at the moment, but it sounds as if you have caught this at an early stage and it hasn't spread to the lymph nodes. This is all good news, as your cancer is eminently treatable.

    The decision about radiotherapy versus or with chemo, is something usually decided by your MDT(multidisciplinary team).  Before you were given your results, your consultant will have discussed your case with all the other health care workers involved in your care. Between them they will have decided on the best way forward for you. Chemo tends to be for the more aggressive forms of cancer, wheras radiotherapy is for the slower growing cancers.

    The best thing to do with your questions is to write them all down, so you don't forget to ask something important when you are speaking with your consultant. You will probably find that you need to review them before every appointment.

    I know how scary all this is. I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer. The first was 10 years ago and the second was just a year later. I have also had a few false alarms. Fear of the unknown is the most frightening thing. Now that you know what you are dealing with, you will find that it gradually gets easier to deal with, as you start to treat it.

    One piece of advice I would give you is to stay away from Google. A lot of the information there is out of date, poorly researched, inaccurate and aimed at the spectacular. If you have to research this, stick to well respected sites like Cancer Research.

    Have you been told what type of breast cancer you have and, what grade it is yet? I am not a doctor and, cannot answer your question about the duration of your operation. I suppose that this will vary from one person to another. I wouldn't expect your operation to take long at all - possibly ½ an hour to an hour. Some people come around from a general anaesthetic very quickly, whereas it can take others a little longer and, they may feel a bit groggy afterwards. There can be problems yes, but these are very few, when you consider the number of operations carried out on a daily basis.

    Have you got a date for your local excision yet? The wire is just a guide to where the cancer is. This ensures that the tissue removed is from the correct area.

    I am sure that you will sail through this procedure. Do please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

     

  • Hi

    its such a scary time isn't it. I was diagnosed with an er+, pr+ Grade 2 breast cancer back in Feb. I had a wide local excision and sentinel node biopsy on Tuesday. I was really worried beforehand mainly about how painful it would be. I was very sick for about 8 hours after the surgery (which I have since found out is common in my family) but the pain was a lot less than I expected. I think the operation took a couple of hours, my surgeon performed a small lift as well, which jnvolved moving the nipple. I have large breasts and this was to prevent being left with a big dip due the location of my tumour. (I will get the other breast done at a later date so they match) Everyone's operation is different so it's impossible to compare. 

    don't google too much, it will drive you crazy. It's a long journey and I am finding that it's easier to relax and take it one step at a time. My Breast care nurse has been fantastic and has answered all my questions and has been a real godsend. Use them over Dr Google. 
     

  • Thank you all. Its so scary i have tried and tried to get in contact with  the breast care nurse but not once has anyone called me back . I know its unusual times but ours is answer machine on which you leave a message and they are meant to  call back

     

    Two hours out OMG OMG thats  so scary

  • Im sorry your breast care nurse has not been helpful. I know mine is about to help elsewhere but here (Aberdeen) the McMillan nurses are taking over the phone lines to triage calls and answer questions. I don't think COVID 19 is nearly as bad here as in other parts of the country so it's maybe not as good elsewhere. 
     

    I told my anaesthetist that I was nervous about being under, he said " all you've got to do is have a really nice sleep, everything else is for me to worry about".  He was right there is nothing you can do, other than following advice about eating and drinking etc, so try not to worry. I only know it was 2 hours because they told me, it only felt like 2 mins since I fell asleep.