Hi Kerry,

Thank you for updating us. I am so sorry to hear that it is cancer. It is good that your lymph nodes were clear. It sounds as if your consultant is being thorough, which is good, as you don't want to miss anything at this stage. I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer and had CT and MRI on both occasions, along with ultrasound, mammogram (1st time around) and biopsies. Both times there was no lymphatic invasion or spread. The CT and MRI take detailed pictures inside the breast and across the body and show up more than is usually seen in mammogram or ultrasound.

Oestrogen can stimulate some cancers to grow, but there are a number of treatments to block the effect of oestrogen on cancer cells, so don't panic. I took Tamoxifen for a year, then changed to Letrozole for 6½ years, when I developed a second cancer the following year.

Try to steer clear of consulting 'Dr Google' until you know what you're dealing with as this will only scare you further for no good reason. Have you been told what type of breast cancer you have or what grade it is?

I hope that you get your scans soon and don't have too long to wait for the results. Please let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thank you so much, just so scared it has spread and worse case scenario are going through my head at the moment xx but really appreciate your reply. So sorry to hear your story too. It's horrible but hopefully we all get through this together xxxx

Not knowing if it has spread has been one of the hardest waiting games for me during all this, and because I will not be having a CT scan it still concerns me, but I have been told it isn't in lymph nodes nor on my chest bone so I'm taking that as a positive and you need to take your clear lymph nodes as a big positive too. 

I'm HER2 positive which means it is one of the cancers most likely to spread but I'm just hoping and praying that it has been caught early. Plus the chemotherapy will target any cells that may have spread so hopefully all will come good in the end. 

I know that telling you to wait and see what the MRI and CT scan say is easier said than done but unfortunately that's all we can do for now, just wait and see and pick out the better bits of a not so good situation. 

My 1st MRI showed a second lump, which I then had to go back for an ultrasound which actually showed there isn't a second lump (turns out there was a technical issue with the 1st MRI) so now I have to have another MRI on Sunday.

Your mind will be all over the place until you have all the information and have a treatment plan in place. I can't tell you the amount of times I've cried to the point of exhaustion. It's totally natural and a good way to get it all out. But it will get better and once your treatment plan is in place you will feel a lot more determined to see the other side of this. 

Like I said I'm here if you need anything. Let's do this! 

Amy x

Hi Jolamine

thank you for the reply, no I saw the doctor after the biopsy and mammogram but she didn't say what stage, which when I read some posts on here it seems people are told at this stage so I am really worried now, and also made worse for all the scans I am going for xx blood test on Tuesday and waiting for an appointment for the coil to be removed as my GP was unable to do it so waiting for an appointment for that as I can't have my scans until the coil has been removed. 
 

lots of love 

Kerry xxx

Hi Kerry

I haven't been given a stage either, but I have found the macmillan website useful to understanding staging: -

www.macmillan.org.uk/.../staging-and-grading-of-breast-cancer

I'm not sure when they actually stage breast cancer but if you are unsure just ask your breast care nurse, I'm sure they will be able to explain everything to you and give you some reassurance. 

Amy x

Hi Amy

thanks for the reply, that is really helpful I will call my nurse on Monday and ask the question as I am sure she said stage 2 but in all honesty I wasn't listening as I was an emotional mess at the time x what is your current situation are you waiting on tests or scans, please don't feel you have to say but I'm just so confused and worried at the moment, currently working from home so thinking and hoping the back pain is posture as I am sat at a computer all day  

thanks 

Kerry xx

Hi Amy 

apologies but the doctor graded it at 2 I think as she said this wasn't the stage and not to confuse it with the stage xx

I understand there is so much information to take in all at once it's hard to make sense of it all. 

I was diagnosed with Grade 1, 18mm tumor, triple positive (right breast).

When I had my MRI I was told the tumor had grown to 22mm and they found a 2nd lump of 6mm and found a few nodules in my left breast which they wanted to look at. So went in for another ultrasound and was told left breast looked normal and couldn't find a 2nd lump?! Anyway, turned out the MRI had technical issues so they think the imaging was incorrect so have to have another MRI tomorrow to check it. 

I think your back pain could be due to posture or maybe even a phantom pain. Since being diagnosed I keep feeling a bruising sensation in my armpits; had them double check lymph nodes and all was fine. Also after my MRI I was having pain in my chest, convinced myself it has spread to the bones but was told the tests show it hasn't, once I was told that the pain hasn't been back. 

I am starting chemo on 22nd Feb, 6 sessions 1 every 3 weeks, followed by surgery and hormone therapy. 

I was an absolute mess before I had my MRI results and treatment plan, and weirdly now feel somewhat better as I now know what is going on. You will be confused and worried until you have all the information but it will come. Im still confused as my tumor is at Grade 1 which means it is slow growing, yet I tested positive for HER2 which is fast growing (no one has been able to properly answer this for me but cancer is not so black and white unfortunately).

Trust me when I say you will find the strength to tackle this head on. It will come once you have had the results and have a treatment plan in place. Until then feel free to cry and scream and do anything else you need to do to get it all out. It's completely natural and lord knows I've done it.

Amy x

Hi Kerry and Amy,

The grade is based on how different the cancer cells are to normal breast cells and how quickly they are growing. This is totally different from staging which describes the size of the cancer and how far it has spread (according to Breast Cancer Care).

Hope this helps.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi all I know this is an old thread but it seemed to be one I could relate to. I have found a lump in right breast upper area. Put off getting it checked as I read some lumps can be hormonal but it's still there. Just been to see gp on Wednesday and he agreed he felt a firm immovable lump but could not determine if it was on the chest wall or breast tissue. He referred me for the urgent appointment at breast clinic and awaiting the assessment from them to whether I'm a 3/6/12 week review. Family history of cancer and it was this time last year she was diagnosed and then she was all clear within 6 months with operations they had caught it so early. I am a mum of 2 girls 8 and 8 months and have 3  step children . My first daughter had a brain tumour aged 2 which was benign and my mums cancer was low grade so I'm trying to keep all my positive thinking on but my mind wonders to worst case many times a day. I think the doctor acknowledging he was concerned made it feel more real. If anyone still active on this chat or can move it to a more suitable recent one I would appreciate it a lot. The waiting and staying sane is very hard not to disappear into the dreaded feeling of doom . Everyone on here seems so supportive and nice to read positive messages regards treatments and plans And how you all cope when the results are cancer. Xxx