Waiting for breast biopsy result

Hi

I had a breast biopsy and mammogram done last week and have spent the last 6 days in complete fear of the results. After the biopsy and mammogram I was called back into a room with the doctor and a bcn to be told the mammogram was very worrying as the mass looked highly suspicious. As a 42 year old mother of 2 I have been beside myself with worry it’s been with me 24/7 and anxiety levels through the roof!

Today I got my results (I was literally crying on the way into doctors room) it’s not breast cancer, it’s a Fibroadenoma. I wanted to share this so that anyone going through this awful time can see suspicious lumps don’t always mean cancer. I also want to wish everyone good luck whatever their outcome xx

  • Hi Jolamine

    Yes, the last 6 months have been a rollercoaster of appointments, treatment and emotions. I had a lumpectomy in September and radiotherapy the month of November. Thankfully there was no node involvement. The tumour was Grade 2 ER/PR+ and HER2- so I am on Tamoxifen for the next 10 years. 
     

    Thank you for the suggestions. I have been receiving counselling for myself as well as marriage counselling as it has effected all aspects of my life. I have also received complimentary treatments through cancer charities that are just amazing! I have signed up for a moving on course too, which start in a couple of weeks. So I'm hoping it gives me some direction in what happens next or at least some advice on how to feel! 
     

    Im currently in limbo as my next mammogram will be in July so that crippling fear of reoccurrence is constantly there. And when I keep hearing of people who had similar diagnosis to me having had reoccurrences it does fill me with dread. So I'm sorry you had two bouts of it. I'm trying to stay 'positive'.

  • Hi

    I know its difficult to keep things in perspective, by the time I went for my results I had convinced myself that the lump under my arm and a tiny lump in my groin definetly meant that I had cancer everywhere and there was no hope... it sounds a bit daft now, but I just wanted to let you know that the fear you are feeling must be normal and that if you felt fine before the news, the symptons you are feeling are probably all being linked together by the stress, to add up to a terrible amount of worry!

    Is there anything you can plan over the next few days to keep busy, even if its something simple like reading a book to stop your mind racing !

    I know you said they didn't say anything reassuring... but did they really tell you it would be bad news, or was it a case of talking through the possibilities?

    I think its good to be prepared for all outcomes if possible, but everyone is different and no 2 cases exactly the same.

    Try not to think the worst, whatever the outcome, there will be a solution...

    Take care x

    Emma

  • Thank you Emma.

    well, I knew something very irregular had shown up because of the time the ultrasound was taking and then the subsequent punch biopsies. When I asked something like 'is it likely to be cancer?' (I can't remember exactly what I said now) the lady said 'well they were worried enough to do the biopsies so.... ' then she said 'there are lots of great targeted treatments available these days' I basically feel like I've already been told. I'm really expecting the worst possible news. It's crazy that I went from feeling 'normal' (occasional aches and pains and headaches and stuff but nothing major)  to now feeling really achey, headaches, panic attacks, no appetite, no sleep etc.... I know rationally that those things are all stress related and I can think like that for a bit but then I get an overwhelming feeling that it's all connected to the lump.

    i love reading and I bought a new book on Friday so I need to start that. I don't work on Mondays but I will go in on Tuesday and Wednesday. I work in a school so it's quite hectic and should be a distraction. 

    i really appreciate your comments. Thank you xx

  •  

    I'll tell you what was said to me, it may not help but it will give an idea of what was said in my case:

    I didn't know I had a lump, I went for my first mamogram and after the lady doing it said, as this is your 1st mamogram they may call you in to the breast clinic, as the pictures may not show things clearly !

    Straight away alarm bells went off and I checked that none of my friends were told that.

    Sure enough a letter arrived, so went in the room for the appointment and straight away saw my scan on the screen with an obvious mass (1.5cm lump).  They said we need to do an ultrasound to see what this is.

    Then after the ultrasound, they said they were sorry to tell me it was a solid lump not a cyst and needed investigation with a biopsy.

    After the biospy I said I want to know if this is cancer as I have a lot of history in my family and I'd rather know straight if it looked like bad news.

    They said that's what the biopsy is for and they cannot tell until the results are back.

    I had a phyllodes benign tumour in the end that can also be borderline or malignant.

    I think even if they knew it was a tumour at that stage, they could not tell if it would be good or bad news.

    I hope my waffle is some reassurance, I felt very lucky with my outcome but the recovery from the stress took months... try to be positive that you are strong enough, with the help of your hubby, to get through this x

     

  •  

    Hi 40yearold,

    Did they say what type of breast cancer you have? It is really good news that there is no node involvment. How are you coping with Tamoxifen? This can affect your emotions and might be responsible for how you feel. Many people with a cancer diagnosis suffer from depression and sometimes a mild anti-depressant can help. It might be worth having a word with your breast care nurse.

    You are doing the right things in having counselling. Unfortunately, cancer doesn't just affect the person with cancer, but also their family. I am so sorry that this has impinged on your marriage as well. The additional therapies offered by cancer charities are amazing. I am glad that you have already signed up for a moving on course  and hope that this helps you.

    Try not to think about what might happen in July and, just concentrate on day by day occurrences. This is enough to worry about for the time being, as it sounds as if you have a lot going on in your life at the moment. Do you have a family member or friend that you can talk to about your feelings? This can be very helpful.

    Having already had a recurrence, I am more aware than most that this can happen, but I cannot let it consume me, or I will go crazy. I have learned to consider each new day as a bonus. I sincerely hope that with the benefit of time that you can  do this too.

    Please keep in tuch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

     

  •  

    Hi Moll,

    Not that much longer to wait now, even though it'll probably feel like a lifetime!  We all seem to think that every ache and pain is due to cancer and, to think the worst at this stage, but this seldom turns out to be the case.

    It is very reassuring that your lymph nodes appear to be clear. They never biopsy the underarm, as far as I know. It is only during surgery that they remove some lymph nodes and test them.  You get the results of these at the same time as you get your post-surgery pathology results. This is why the nurse didn't say anything.

    It is not until your biopsy results come back that they will know anything for certain. I hope that you are bringing someone with you to your appointment. It canalso be helpful to write down a list of questions to bring with you.

    I shall be thinking of you on Thursday.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Just back from a very long & muddy walk with my husband and the dog. My head feels a little clearer for now. 
    thank you so much for taking the time to message me again. I can only hope that I get the same outcome as you. I know there's a big chance that I will not be as fortunate but at least it gives me a little hope. Funnily enough I was reading up on phyllodes tumors last night and also adenosis (or something like that) which also has a malignant appearance on ultrasound and mammogram. I wish the lady hadn't said, prepare yourself or words to that effect. I know they can't give false hope but I feel like I was given the complete opposite of that. 
    I know what you mean, IF my results are good I will be overjoyed obviously but it will take some time to get over the anxiety it's causing me. I'm so drained and I look so different xx

  • Thank you Jolamine. Yes I'm holding on to the mention of the lymph nodes being clear. I hope she was right about that. Although I worry now that it can spread to my lymph nodes while I'm waiting (I'm a nightmare!!)

     

    yes my husband will be coming with me thank goodness. Thank you for your words xx

  • Hi Jolamine

    It is grade 2 invasive ductal carcinoma and yes so relieved to not have node involvement. Have been on Tamoxifen for 4 months now and my moods have been all over the place and I have the occasional hot flush. I wanted to give it until spring to make sure it's not just the 'winter blues'..although crying on holiday where it was sunny and warm was a pretty low point, so you may be right about it being the Tamoxifen affecting my moods. 
     

    I don't really have anyone to talk to about how I'm feeling as most people think that because I look ok I am ok and I think others just want to move on from it all. So I find it hard to bring up how I am feeling. But I have met other women on social media who also have bc and have found them a great source of emotional support (likewise having a forum like this helps too). 
     

    I hope that with time I will be able to find a new normal and will be returning to work soon. I don't really know what I want to do moving forward. But hopefully the moving on course will help. What I do know is that I don't want to go back to how my life was . Cancer has certainly been a wake up call.
     

    Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my messages. Wishing you all the best and good health x

  • I would try to stop reading things till you know what is happening, you are frightening yourself...

    My partner would not discuss anything, he just said stop torturing yourself, which seemed harsh at the time but probably the right advice, looking back...

    It is so worrying, but try to keep well by eating when you feel up to it.

    I hope when you get back to work time will pass quicker and the distraction will help xx