Hi Alicaic,

I am sorry to hear about your symptoms and the fact that you have to wait until the new year for your clinic appointment. This is always a worrying time and our imaginations take us to all sorts of dark places. Not all breast lumps are cancerous. Many are benign cysts, hormonal or fibrous changes. It is also a fact that only 1 person in every 8 referred will get a cancer diagnosis. The younger you are the less likely you are to have breast cancer. 

Even if it does turn out to be cancer, breast cancer is one of the most treatable types of cancer nowadays. I myself have had 2 bouts in the past 12 years, but I still live a busy and fulfilled life.

Do you have a pastime or any jobs to catch up on?  We usually advise people to keep themselves as busy as possible to help the waiting time to pass.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you're getting on. We all know what you are going through and, are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thanks for replying. I have been following cancer research forum for a week or so and you have been very helpful. Thanks. 
 

I am a third year student nurse who is currently on AL so I have three weeks off to sit with my own thoughts! And as a nurse, I feel like I am going slightly crazy. I am struggling to switch off at night. 
 

I've had this lump and swelling for at least 6 weeks now. And even though im aware there chances of it been cancer are low... im just concerned with the swelling in the armpit and the fact I have a separate lump in my breast. 
 

I have children aswell (that im not breastfeeding) and it's just stressful. 
 

alicia 

Good evening 

She is right arm dominent and has broke her right arm. 
 

mastitis would be fantastic tbh... considering the more sinister alternative. I have majority of symptoms of mastitis apart from the heat, but my youngest is 5 and I am not breastfeeding and haven't breastfeed for 4 & 1/2 years. I'm praying it's not the type of breast cancer it can be associated with. ( I'm just overthinking) 

You organised for Christmas? 
 

alicia xx

Sorry you lost your mum to secondary breast cancer ️Xx

Hi Alicia,

Poor wee soul. She must be finding it difficult. I'm praying for you to have a good outcome too. It's all too easy to overthink things.

I'm more disorganised than I've ever been. I am in the process of selling my practice with a view to finally retiring. This is involving a lot more work than I expected. My son is going into hospital tomorrow for a discectomy. He broke his neck two years ago and developed further problems with his lumbar region last year. Cortisone injections have been of no use, so it has to be surgery. We are aware of the risks, but hope that all will go well.

How about you - are you ready?

Regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi jolamine, 

how did your sons operation go? 

i was mostly organised for Christmas. I felt I really couldn't enjoy it this year. As I type this message, my 5 year old is just being the cutest wee soul. 
 

I haven't left my front door in two days. I'm seriously struggling to find motivation to do a lot of things that I wouldn't usually struggle with. My husband is back at work (he's a postman) so being home with four children over Christmas is overwhelming. 
 

I feel like I'm constantly checking the swelling under my arm which is obviously there and the lump in breast is there. 
 

I am feeling very overwhelmed. And I still have to wait until the 10th January. 
 

Hope you've had a lovely Christmas. 
 

alicis 

Hi Alicia,

Thank you for asking. My son got through his operation without suffering any paralysis, which the surgeon said was a strong possibility. It's too early yet to say how successful the operation has been, but we're ever hopeful. I'm sorry that you couldn't enjoy Christmas this year, but I'm not surprised. It's almost impossible to put this to the back of your mind, even for a day or two. I hope that the children enjoyed themselves regardless.

How is your daughter coping with her broken arm? I hope that it hasn't hampered her too much over the holiday. We usually advise people to keep busy with some sort of hobby or pastime, but with 4 children, I don't expect that you get much time to yourself anyway.

Most of us would agree that waiting to be seen and then waiting for test results are some of the hardest times of our cancer journey. Try not to look too far ahead. Take things day by day for now.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

I'm so glad your son got through his operation. I hope his recovery is going well. 
 

she's coping well with her broken arm. 9 days until her cast removal already... she's counting down the days

ive spent two weeks having a pitty party to be honest... doing the bare essentials! But the past few days or so, I've made a conscious effort to reach out to my close friends and open out to how I feel. And it's helped. 
 

obviously no one wants cancer, but this wait to find out if I have it or not if horrific! 
 

happy new year!! 
 

Alicia 

Hi Alicia,

It's such a relief to have his operation behind us. He even thinks that he can feel a slight improvement already. It's early days yet, but we're hopeful that it has helped.

It is all too easy to have a pity party. You will also find that if you portray this image to some friends thet may turn away. The more positive you can appear to be about the outcome, the more your friends will stay around you and they can be a great support. You will soon get to kow who you can genuinely open up to and who you can't. I lost some friends in the early days, but I have gained so many more along my cancer journey. Those original friends, who stuck with me are among my closest friends.

 I agree that this wait is horrific. Most people describe it as one of the worst parts of their cancer journey. It helps if you can put a brave face on and get on with life - not easy, I know!

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

That's fantastic if your son can feel a benefit already... even though he has a long recovery ahead of him, the fact he can see a benefit already if fantastic! 
 

ive had a better couple of days. The kids have been back at school so I think I've been forced out the house, into a better routine so I do feel better for it (as I'm typing this at 23.13). 
 

my anxiety is still very high, but the fact my appointment is only days away is providing me with some comfort! I feel like I'm days away from having at least a basic answer of some kind. I have a few worrying symptoms that I know myself as a third year nurse just isn't right. 
 

hooe your well ️
 

Alicia xx

Hi Alicia,

I am so glad to hear that you've had a better couple of days and have managed to get back into a routine of sorts. It's down to the number of sleeps before you attend the clinic, which must be a relief in a way. 

That's the problem - as a nurse, you know too much and tend to think the worst, but this doesn't always turn out to be the case. I hope that  laost doesn't mean that your sleeping is upset too. I had terrible trouble sleeping at this stag. Even whn Iid manage to fall asleep, I would wake up with all sorts of dark thoughts going through my head.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Monday!

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi 

Across my local health boards they've been cancelling non urgent appointments... but mine is urgent but I've been dreading getting a phone call to say tomorrow is cancelled. 

but here I am .. thank goodness... tomorrow is my appointment!! 
 

alicia 

Hi 

Across my local health boards they've been cancelling non urgent appointments... but mine is urgent but I've been dreading getting a phone call to say tomorrow is cancelled. 

but here I am .. thank goodness... tomorrow is my appointment!! 
 

alicia 

Good luck tomorrow Alicia!! 
 

Im waiting on a date and so it feels never ending but you're at the end of the wait so fingers crossed you get the all clear. 

Thank you! I appreciate your kind words :) 

sorry you are also waiting for an appointment. Waiting is definitly so difficult. What symptoms are you experiencing. 
 

I'm here anytime you want to chat. 
 

alicia 

Thanks Alicia. 
 

I found a lump, GP could also feel it hence the referral. Weirdly though (and I'm not sure if my mind is playing tricks on me) I can't feel it like before. I noticed it without hardly trying before going to GP and now I'm searching for it and I can only feel anything if I really rummage with a bit of pressure which makes me wonder if it's moved or if im now just feeling normal breast tissue. Either way I need that appointment to stop my insanity! :laugh:

Good luck for tomorrow Alicia, I'm so glad your appointment hasn't been postponed. I just keep expecting mine to get pushed back further. My hospital trust announced they have 800 staff currently absent with covid Hope all goes well & for the best possible outcome for you. Will be thinking of you x

I can relate to how you feel... just a few weeks ago I literally felt like I was going insane... waiting for the postman. I knew where the breast clinic was, so I phoned them and they told me when my appointment was. 
 

I feel my lump a lot. And then I'm like do I really feel like... I do feel it... but I drive myself crazy feeling it. And I'm constantly asking my husband if my underarm is still swollen. 
 

alicia 

Hi 

I work for the NHS so I can fully understand where the absences are coming from. They are prostponing non urgent appointments and deploying staff to essential services like cancer services to ensure these go ahead! Which is positive for us (in a way) 

I will update you tomorrow. 
 

alicia 

Hi Alicia,

I shall be thinking of you tomorrow and hope that all goes better than you're expecting. I also sincerely hope that your appointment doesn't get cancelled.

Please let us know how you get on.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

No I'm sure it won't get cancelled. 
 

the challenge now is trying to sleep..... I've just got a million scenarios playing around in my head for tomorrow. 
 

alicia 

Appointment is going ahead and I am here! 
 

barely slept last night and I feel like I could projectile vomit at any point!! 

Good luck  

glad you are there and all is happening. 
 

keep us posted