Hello Daisy_B, 

You did well to go to the breast clinic after experiencing these symptoms and it's good that they are being thorough with their investigations.  I can understand why what the doctor said to you has left you perplexed but I think you can take 'grey area' to mean just that, that they can't really tell yet. 

Playing the waiting game is definitely not an easy thing to do as many of our members will know only too well. Try if you can not to anticipate the worst as this will only make you feel more worried and stay well away from the temptation to look things up on Google as this may make you feel even more anxious and confused. There are helpful tips on this page to help you cope while waiting for important news. 

I hope that you will hear from other members of the forum who have been through something similar before and that they will come and share their story with you. You're right to try and keep calm but it's easier said than done as waiting for results can be so stressful! 

Everything crossed for you that everything turns out to be fine.

Best wishes, 

Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator 

Hello!

I had a recall from a routine mammogram 

after the biopsy where taken at hospital the Dr told me to bring someone with me to my next appointment!!

I asked should I be worried and she said .. there was something there

At my appointment ( with my son by my side) the consultant told me I did have a lump and needed surgery 

Thankfully .. surgery was all fine .

I start a course of chemotherapy next week .

Its human nature to overthink things AND Google!!

Im a lucky one... caught early , and positive treatment plan

Sending love and positive thoughts ️

Thanks both for your replies. The doctor did also say that on one of the scans it did look like it could be 'warts' which my husband immediately googled and found out about Intraductal papilloma, which I know isn't cancer. So my husband has convinced himself it's that, and hopefully he's right. 

I know the whole point in biopsies is to check what they can't tell for certain by checking with other methods, so I'm hoping that the results do confirm what they have found. He did say if it doesn't confirm there is the possibility of further tests(MRI and another which I hadn't heard of and can't remember the name of!)

My husband is coming with me on Thursday so hopefully he'll be able to pay better attention than me to anything I may need to know.

Thanks again for your replies. Botwinkle, good luck with the chemo, I hope you are OK and treatment goes as well as these things can xxx

The only way they can tell with 100% certainty is via a biopsy.

But yes, even before the biopsy, they tend to be fairly open with the patient. My wife got told it was looking "sinister", and asked her if she understood what they were saying. They never once used the word "cancer". They used every other piece of terminology. She got told not to go home, expecting it to be anything but bad news. When the confirmation day came, it wasn't a shock. So i assume they do that as to avoid people falling to pieces when they're getting it confirmed, or at least try to lessen the impact.

Thank you ProfBaw, I'm sorry to hear about your wife, I hope you are both coping OK in the circumstances.

I'm surprised doctors use euphemisms at all, I would have thought direct would be less confusing. But I suppose they also are treading a fine line between preparing and scaring people. It's not not easy job for them.

I feel slightly better as the doctor certainly didn't use any words to indicate it was more likely something bad than not. Thursday can't come quick enough to find out for sure!

Hi DaisyB

I've seen your replies on a couple of threads and suspect we have similar time frames waiting for results. I hope you're coping with the wait, it really isn't fun.

I was very clearly told during my initial screening that they suspected precancerous or cancer cells, which was reiterated in the follow up letter to my GP. The consultant didn't mince her words or use euphemisms, she was very clear on both her findings and also the need to wait for the biopsy results to confirm her suspicions and to determine treatment pathways. So in my circumstance, yes they have told me they think it's bad news before receiving the results, but I don't know whether that's common or not I'm afraid.

My thoughts are with you as you wait, I sincerely hope you get positive news in the near future.

Hi leprev.

Thanks so much for replying, it's nice to have someone waiting along with me somewhere out there.

How long has it been since your appointment? You seem like you've had a long wait if you've had time for a letter to be sent to your GP in the mean time. Have they set a date for your results appointment? 

I hope you don't have too long to wait, and I know you are prepared for difficult news, but I am crossing everything for you.

I am off work for summer holidays and my kids are keeping me busy while I wait luckily, still wishing for Thursday to be here though! x

Hi Daisy_B, so pleased to hear you have your appointment tomorrow, the very best of luck for good news.

I only had my screening appt last Monday, but chose to go privately so it seems they have slightly different timescales for letter writing. Sadly our 2WW here is more like 4-5 at the moment and I simply couldn't wait. I have my results appointment next Monday so still a few days for me to wait! Then I need to be referred back into the NHS for treatment (assuming the initial findings were correct), so fingers crossed I made the right decision to have a private screening appointment in the end! 

I'm glad you're managing to keep busy, it's not been easy has it! I tried to work last week, but have just cancelled everything this week, my concentration was appalling so it wasn't quite the distraction I'd hoped. I have a 10 and 6 year old so their arguing keeps me more distracted! 

Anyway, the very best of luck for tomorrow x