Hi Beachhut,

A very warm welcome to our forum.

Have you been told when your results should be back? This is always an especially emotional and anxious time. Our over actice imaginations, don't help either, as they tend to go into overdrive, usually in the early hours of the morning. Don't worry about the tears. Crying is a good stress reliever and many of us shed copious tears at the start.

I am so sorry to hear that you lost your mum to cancer. I lost my mum to secondary breast cancer as well. It had spread to her brain, bones, liver and lungs. I was then diagnosed with 2 bouts of breast cancer, within a year of one another. That was 13 years ago. I had two young teenage children at the time and was terrified that I would never see them grow up. I have since been fortunate enough to see them leave school, go to university, graduate, find gainful employment, marry and provide me with 2 beautiful granddaughters, who are the light of my life. I also still lead a busy and fulfilling life.

Treatments have advanced so much since my mum had cancer. There was just no comparison between the experience which we both had. There are many different types, grades and stages of breast cancers. Some are more aggresive and need more aggressive treatments. There are different types of chemo, some of these have a number of side-effects, whilst others have very few. Radiotherapy is not as protractedas it used to be. In most cases it is now given as a 5-day course. This seems to be equally aseffective as the longer courses.

With a less aggressive type of cancer, some people don't even need radiotherapy or chemo and are given hormone therapy instead. Oestrogen feeds certain cancers, so these combat the effect of oestrogen. This is what I had, so I cannot tell you any more than I have read about radiation or chemo, as I never had either.

It is never a good idea to consult 'Dr Google' when you are still waiting for your results. Much of the information is out of date, poorly researched  and aimed at the more spectacular cases. This will only serve to scare you more. Try to stick to the more reputable sites, like this one if you have to read about it.

Can I ask what your symptoms are? Not all breast lumps are cancerous and 90% of cancers occur in the over 50ies. It is also a fact that out of every 10 people who attend the clinic, only 2 will get a cancer diagnosis.

Try not to look at the bigger picture, until you have a diagnosis and know what treatment, if any, is planned for you. It usually takes between 1-3 weeks to get the results of a biopsy, depending upon whereabouts in the country you live and how busy your hospital is. I would imagine that you should be hearing something soon.

In the meanntime, try to remind yourself that no amount of worry will change the outcome. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. Remember that we are always here for you.

Here's hoping that you will be around for that little daughter of yours for many years to come!

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx