Hello,

I got diagnosed with breast cancer a month ago. I have had a full raft of tests - MRIs , CT scan, ultrasounds,  additional biopsies - to check if additional spread. This has definitely been the worst part of this whole process and the only thing I can advise you is to keep busy and live life as normal. It all happens really quickly though- I had all my tests done and returned within 3 weeks. I've had my first chemo today.

If you are diagnosed - If - then they need the full picture before they establish your treatment in plan. It really is best to know everything so there are no surprises.

Until you are diagnosed, anything you are thinking right now is just that - just thoughts, not facts. It is completely normal to worry though but don't be googling as you will just go down a dark rabbit hole. After I was diagnosed, 2 suspicious areas flagged up on my breast MRI. They warned me they could be additional tumours. The biopsies showed them to be fibrodenomas (so benign). 
 

Good Luck. Be sure to update how you get on x

Hello, I was diagnosed with cancer July 2020. I had felt unbelievably tired in the run up to this. I also had a constantly aching shoulder on that side. My tumour was 37mm x 22mm but had not spread to lymph nodes. The ultrasound normally gives a good indication if it is in the lymph nodes. If they thought it was they would take a biopsy from there too. 

I have just had 2 year check, all clear.Just had lumpectomy, radiotherapy and tamoxifen for treatment.

I put the tiredness down to my body fighting the cancer and seemingly doing a good job as mine had not spread beyond the breast. 

You will soon have the results and a plan to move ahead. Hopefully this will help you feel more in control of the situation. 

Wishing you all the best, Jane.

Thanks a lot for replying to me and really sorry to hear about your diagnosis. 
 

Reassuring that it was relatively quick for all of the tests although the last week has felt like a year despite being crazily busy with work and kids. ‍♀️ 
 

You are definitely correct on the Googling front. It is so hard not to look up every little symptom or niggle I have had over the last year. 
 

Good luck with the chemo. I hope you stay as healthy as can be. Xx

Thank you. Keeping everything crossed. I hope you are ok. 

Hi Jane, that is great to hear re your 2 year check and amazing that you didn't have to have chemo also. That gives me hope! It is so hard to stop your brain from constantly thinking of the worst possible scenarios  

Thanks a lot for replying. X

Hi,

just wanted to say I had felt very tired for the 6 months before I was diagnosed. I was diagnosed with stage 2 lobular breast cancer in Oct 2019. No lymph node involvement. I would say cancer affected my energy levels for a long time before I was aware of having cancer. It hadn't spread anywhere else either, but I was constantly exhausted. 
 

Fearing the worst at times is a natural response to hearing such a shocking diagnosis. I tried hard to talk out my fears with trusted people plus try to be distracted by other things. Some days it's very hard and some days not so bad. The actual treatment programme helps us to get focussed and it eases anxieties. Hard to believe but honestly it does.  
 

I wish you well as you move forward. I always thought I would collapse in a heap if a doctor ever said the C word to me. Yes I did have a few tears initially but the treatment helped me to move on. Nearly 3 years on I am happy to be well. Not always confident it won't come back but mostly believe it won't!!!  So yes doing good and enjoying life. I wish the same for you. 
Kebbs x x 

Hi Kebbs

Thanks so much for your reply. I'm really pleased to hear you are recovered and well. I was really unsure about posting on here but the replies I have received have definitely helped. I am still freaking however should get my biopsy results today and hopefully some sleep tonight will help. It is the uncertainty that is so hard. If it is C I just want everything to start so I can get past it. I am dreading telling my children and my mum. My dad has only just finished cancer treatment. 
 

If I stop to think my fatigue has definitely been there for around 6 months but my life has been so crazily busy that I didn't stop to think. Am annoyed with myself for not getting checked sooner. 
 

Anyway, thanks for your reply. X

Hi there,

This is the worst you will feel.  Waiting for biopsies and results is horrific and the mind does tend to go into overdrive.  There's no point speculating.  Try to stay busy and distract yourself.  It's understandable to think the worst and put your previous tiredness down to having cancer but that may not be the case.  The fact you've had covid twice will almost certainly have taken a toll.  My son has had it 3 times and he still gets very tired.

You will only know when the results come in so there's no point living in misery every hour until then  It's hard, but remember that biopsies are done to rule out cancer just as much to confirm it. When you know exactly what you're dealing with you will feel stronger.  Until then stay off Google and try not to self diagnose!

I had a mastectomy back in March for IDC AND DCIS.  I did feel very tired, and had done for some time but that may have been because I was too heavy and probably drinking too much wine!  I'm on tamoxifen now and I don't have the same stamina I had before, but I do feel better and brighter, but that may be due to giving up wine!

I wish you all the best.  If you don't get the results you hope for, do stay positive.  You will be very well looked after and will get through everything.  You will be okay.

Mary x