HI SholaR,

A very warm welcome to our forum. I am sorry to hear about your concerns and hope that you get some answers soon. The 'not knowing' is always a scary place to be. Men can develop breast cancer as well as women, or could this be in your lungs? It is always worth asking questions at the time of your appointment if you are unsure about anything that is said.

It is only natural to think the worst - fortunately, this seldom turns out to be the case. When are you due to see your consultant again? Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Here's hoping for a favourable outcome.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine,

Thanks for the reply and welcoming me to the forum.

I am next seeing the Hematology consultant on 8th March. I saw her last on 20th January when she informed me that I have a mass just below the chest area and she said they wanted to do a biopsy for more information and that she will be arranging that and the next appointment I hear about will be for the biopsy but few days ago I have received a appointment letter to see the consultant once again not a biopsy. I am thinking if it was something serious and major like Cancer. Would the consultant have got me in sooner? and if she suspected I had cancer do they tell you that at the first intial consultation. Can they tell from PET Scans if someone has Cancer or not? I understand they have to do biopsy to check what stage it is and to diagoise it properly but does Cancer show up on a PET scan when they inject you with the radioactive tracer? I am little confused as why I have been referred to a Hematlogy Consultant. They mainly deal with blood diseases and major cancers like Leakemia etc. I have seen them in the past as I have Thalesmia so maybe I have been refered to them as a pre caution I am not sure.

It is a very worrying time for myself and my family. I can't eat. Sleep or do anything. I am trying to stay positive as much as I can. I keep thinking I will die. Sorry to sound so negative but its just the way I currently feel. I assume people in my situation that are waiting on further tests and in the "Not Knowing" stage will be having similiar thoughts. I really hope it comes back it's nothing major and it's maybe something like a Cyst or Fatty Tissue or something like that. 

The lump under my left breast I picked up on this afternoon and I was shocked. I'm not too sure what it is so I am going to call my GP on Monday and ask if they can see me and check it out or do you suggest I try and get in touch with my consultant?

What is your experience with Cancer Jolamine? I have read a few posts on other threads from yourself but not too sure of your journey. I hope and pray you are well. Will keep you and everyone in my prays.

Thank you for the support and advice. It is greatly appreciated because I feel so alone and scared even though I have family around me.

Kind Regards,

Shola

Hi Shola,

It does seem quite a long wait for a biopsy. Your consultant would only have told you that it was likely to be cancer if they felt that this was the case. You are however right, that it needs a biopsy to decide what type and grade the cancer is.

I know just how stressful this stage is for both you and your family, as most of us tend to think the worst. Fortunately, this seldom turns out to be the case. It is not at all unusual to feel so alone and scared by what could be and, I expect that like many of us, you don't want to let your family know how afraid you are. Irrespective of the outcome of your biopsy, you will cope better once you get your results and, know exactly what you are dealing with.

I am not a doctor and, my challenge has been 2 bouts of breast cancer in the past 11 years, so I do not know why you have been referred to haematology. I hope that your GP can shed more light on your questions. If you get to speak to him on Monday, do make sure to ask him about your concerns. I usually draw up a list of all my questions before each appointment to ensure that I don't forget anything important. Don't be afraid to ask any time you are not sure, or not told what you should be told.

I sincerely hope that things will turn out to be better than you're expecting. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are alwauys here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine,

Hope you are keeping well.

I am still waiting on a biopsy appointment. The mass they found is in my Abdominal Aorta. It kind of has a pulsating feeling to it. I have appointment with the specialist on 8th March but I really hope I get the biopsy appointment before as I think the 8th March appointment will be for results of the biopsy.

The lump I suspected below my left breast I got checked out by my GP and she said there is no lump and what I am feeling is just my ribcage so that was a slight relief.

Regarding the other main mass I am worried to death and extremly anxious is a understatement. I can't eat,sleep or do anything. I am trying my best to stay positive but it is so hard. I feel so alone and scared even though I have a really supportive and lovely family. I am constantly running to my phone and googling and I get more worried. I really hope and pray that its nothing serious or major. 

Do all people who have masses discovered have them biopsed. Does it mean that the specialist suspects cancer  thats why they have requested a biopsy or can they tell alot more about the mass. Do you have any trusted websites or statsics of what percentage of masses are proved to be benign after discovery and biopsy. 

I am so scared and I do not know what the hell to do. I just want to run away from this worry and escape but I can't. I have become severely depressed and extremely ill due to this dreaded wait. 

Sorry for the rant and long message and I hope you don't mind and can you please keep praying for me that it turns out to be something not serious or major.

Thank you,

Regards,

SholaR

Hi Shola,

I'm sorry to hear that you are still waiting for your biopsy. Since you have now received an appointment to see your consultant again on 8th March and, expect to have the results of your biopsy by then, why don't you contact your consultant's secretary to see what is happening? They are usually able to give you some indication of time frames.

I am delighted to hear that your GP didn't see anything untoward with your breast lump. I'm sure that this must have been a massive relief.  I am no expert on biopsies, but, as far as I know, all suspicious masses are biopsied. This helps to identify the type and grade of cancer if present.  I don't believe that you get these details from any other types of test. 

There are some reputable websites, but I would suggest that you are better avoiding these until you know exactly what you are up against, as it's impossible to look up anything reliably until you have an exact diagnosis. It is best to avoid the internet until you have these details to hand, as it will only scare you further and serve no useful purpose. Your consultant will be happy to give you contact details for some reputable sites which predict the statistics that you are looking for when you get your biopsy results.

It is only natural to feel so scared. Try to keep yourself busy to distract from the wait, which I know feels interminable at this stage. Why don't you phone our nurses? They might be able to give you answers to some of the important questions you have asked. They are available Mon-Fri from 9.00am-5.00pm and there is no charge for the call.

I  shall certainly keep you in my prayers and hope that whatever the problem is, it urns out to be manageable.

Please keep in touch.

Kind regards,

Jolamine 

Hi Gem,

Many thanks for an update. This is fantastic news. I am so glad for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

How did it go with the GP? I know someone with the precise same thing. Had it for fifteen years. Quite healthy otherwise.

I'm 15 and have the same thing should I be worried 

Hi Jolamine,

I hope you are keeping well. Thought I would quickly update you on my health situation.

The mass that I had was actually in my abdomen area and I had my first biopsy in March from my neck Lymph Node. The results came back negative for cancer or anything else so my Hematologist Specialist sent me for more scans and sent me for another biopsy of the actual tumour in June which ended up being open laparotomy surgery and I was in intensive care for 2 days then in hospital for further 8 days. The results came back that I have MultiCentric Castlemans Disease which is a very rare disease. It's basically Benign Lymphoma. It acts same and looks the same hence why I was kept getting told it's most likely Lymphoma. I have been in and out of hospital as I have been so unwell with infections and as its effects my immune system I cant mix with people or anything like that. There is currently no cure for Castlemans Disease. They use cancer like treatments to see if they work its 50/50. Treatment options recommended have been Immunotherapy with steroids and if that fails it will be Chemotherapy and possibly radiation. No treatment has started yet. I am due to go back for another CT scan end of November so the specialists can see how the tumour is behaving and how its effecting my other affected lymph nodes & immune system.  The disease is so rare that my Hematology/oncology specialist team had never dealt or heard of it before so it's new to them and they are working and consulting with doctors in America whars best route of treatment as most patients are in states and there is on going research going on over there. I have been told my chances of getting Lymphoma/Kaposi Sarcoma & Leaukamia are extremely high and if treatment fails the disease would eventually turn into cancer. 

Please pray for me that everything goes fine and too plan.

Will keep you posted when I can. I have been really unwell and in hospital alot.

Thanks.