Hello Cherry10,

Due to high demand for health services, waiting for appointments and results can be delayed. I can understand waiting is difficult, but I hope posting has helped in some way. There are some tips here, which may be useful, whether you're waiting for an appointment or results.

I hope this helps,

Moderator Anastasia

Hi Cherry,

I seem to be very much in the same boat as you ! 
I had a normal mammogram in November which identified that I had dense breasts and I was given the option to join a trial.  The trial was to find out if a mammogram was the best screening for people like me.

In February, I had a contrast medium mammogram which flagged up three areas of concern. So since then I've had a needle biopsy under ultrasound, a VAC biopsy again guided by ultrasound, an MRI because the MDT couldn't be sure what it was.

The MRI showed that the main area of concern was benign but one of the smaller areas was needing to be investigated further. So yesterday I had a MRI guided vacuum biopsy of this area and am currently waiting for a phone call from the consultant!

I'm not really sure what he will be able to say other than to comment properly on the result of the initial MRI because the biopsy result shouldn't be back yet.

So, yes, I fully understand how you feel about getting on with your life but it has a tinge of worry to it that seems to take the shine away from your day. I, like you, feel mad that I can't just worry about it when there is something to actually worry about but I suppose it's just human nature.

Take care Cherry..let me know how it goes for you.

x

Hi Woozy

You poor thing, it must have come as quite a shock to find an abnormality when you only joined a trial looking at screening methods! I guess it does definitely demonstrate that MRI screening works better for denser breasts.

I really hope though that after all this worry you find out it's nothing more than a fibroadenoma or something else that's harmless.

How did you find the vacuum assisted biopsies? I didn't mind the first one so much, although I was lying in a really uncomfortable position and my back and hips were aching, and my hands were numb after about 10 minutes. I really didn't realise I'd be in that position for 45 minutes, if I'd known I'd probably have made more effort to get in a comfy position first. I made sure I was more comfortable for the second one, although comfortable is an odd word to use when you're lying on a hard table with your boob hanging through a hole and it's being squashed to the depth of a pancake! :)

The excision one was really painful, I'm not sure why it felt so different, even the anaesthetic really hurt...thankfully the staff there are fantastic, really caring, patient and understanding, which was the only thing that made it bearable. The bruising and swelling has gone down now, but I have a massive hard lump where the tissue was taken...but I guess it's just the way it heals and will soon settle down. 

Ahhhh, I've just had a phone call whilst writing this, it was a local area code, so I really thought it was the hospital calling with an appointment date. Every time the phone rings I think 'yes, at last', and it's always someone else, it's driving me nuts!

Sorry about the long reply, but to be honest it's nice to be doing something other than waiting! 

Take care, finger's crossed for you x

Hi Cherry,

l've had three VAE's now, not something to be proud of and I wish there hadn't been a need for them. Probably the most positive was the one I had yesterday with the mri, because I was clamped and the radiologist put loads of anaesthetic in first, but I agree, the holding completely still for so long was more of the challenge.

I still seem to have a hard lump where tissue was taken a month ago under the ultrasound. I told the radiologist yesterday and he said that was ok, it's just bruising.

I don't seem to have had such a long wait between actions as you have, and it is just the worst thing. I hope you get your call soon. I've a 3.30pm telephone consultation this afternoon..maybe why I'm on here chatting to you!

Let me know how you get on. There is comfort in knowing that this is the way it goes for a few people and we are not alone in this experience.

Woozy x

I've had my chat, as expected I need to wait another 7-10 days for results of yesterdays biopsy, then I shall get an appointment to discuss everything and have a plan of action.

I think, from what I can gather, the previous biopsies came back as benign but with precancerous changes so I think he wants to remove more of the area to protect for the future.

I will stop surmising (easier said than done when google is so available) and try to wait for my appointment.

Please let me know about you. I feel your post has just given me a chance to sound off and it's all become about me!

Soeak soon Cherry.

x

Honestly Woozy, you can sound off as much as you want to! I only posted in the hope it would give me a chance to chat to someone who is going through a similar thing and therefore has a good idea how I feel.

I've a couple of friends that know, but they just change the subject if I mention it, and say not to worry as it'll all be fine...which is sweet, but by not being able to talk about it I'm just left to think about it when I'm alone, and it's all this waiting that is driving me crazy.

Chatting to you has been great for me, it's really helped, thank you! Hopefully you feel a bit better too, and I'm sure there are others who are in the same boat who will just feel better by reading the posts and knowing they're not alone. When I posted after the first biopsy I felt really silly for worrying, but a couple of ladies (Lara and Jolamine) really helped with their support and kind words, so if I can also help someone else just by chatting then even better.

I hope your next treatment goes well...knowing all the abnormal tissue is being removed does help, but there's still all the blooming waiting, lol.

Look after yourself and let me know how you're getting on...and if you want to chat, rant, scream or even cry, you feel free to direct my way and I'll definitely reply :)

Hugs, Cherry x

Hi Cherry,

I know what you mean, I've told a couple of friends and mine have had a different response. I feel that now I have to protect them from what could be rather than have them be a support for me.. They're so caring but have become more concerned than me as I'm actually pretty practical as a person. 

Chattong to you has been a great help for me. You are in such a similar 'waiting' game,  you completely understand the situation and are able to be sympathetic without overly worrying for me

Thank you for your kind words of support, I hope that your waiting game does not go on for much longer, and likewise, if we can fill the time chatting to one another then that can only be a good thing! 

Woozy x

Hi Woozy

It's great to hear that you have such caring and supportive friends, but yes, you really need them to be there as a support for you, not as an extra thing to worry about. Bless them, they'd probably be upset if they knew that their worry was an extra stress for you, and are probably unaware of how their worrying is making you feel. It's a tricky one isn't it, that's the reason I haven't told my dad, he's 82 and has a lot of his own health issues, and because we lost my mum to cancer (and she was younger than I am now), I know he'd go into a panic and end up making himself ill from the worry. My stepmum knows, and she's lovely, but I think I've made it hard for her by asking her to keep it all to herself. I only told her once I knew I had to go back and have more tissue taken, and it was nice to be able to share it, but I also feel a bit guilty now as she's been worried but can't tell anyone about it.

I feel a bit guilty for having a moan really and even for the worrying, as there are plenty of people on here that really do have good reasons to worry and moan about, but I think this waiting gets to all of us.

Anyway, I hope you have a good day :)

Hugs

Cherry x

Hi Cherry,

Sorry for the late reply. 
I completely understand why you've not told your Dad to spare him the worry, however, the world has changed in terms of treatment since your Mum died  and all this waiting we're  going through is part of the progress that has been made in terms of catching the disease so much earlier.

Have you got any further with your results ? Are you in a position to know what is going to happen for you?

I know there are lots of people on this site with much more pressing situations, but you must never apologise or feel guilty for voicing your thoughts. You have helped me and this is just a vehicle to get similar people talking.. so it's a good thing.

Let me know how you get on.

Sue x