Hi

I’m sorry to hear of your symptoms. I know it’s easier said than done, but try not to panic until you know all of the facts. There are a lot of women on here who are or have been in a similar situation and it’s been good news for them, not all lumps are breast cancer.

I also thought the worst when I was referred, and I also convinced myself it was all over my body and had aches and pains all over. 

The only advice I can give you is try and keep yourself busy, please do not google....my experience is that it sends you to worst case scenarios, and if you can take someone with you to your appointment for support and to ask any questions.

I’m sure other people will join this thread, but feel free to ask any questions. Let me know when you get your appointment.

keep in touch, sending you a big hug.

WL

Thank you so much WL. I really appreciate knowing someone is there. Trying really hard not to google. Xx

Hi Sunny day,

How did you get on? I have the same symptons and also in that terrible 2 week wait where I'm thinking the worst and in such a panic I can't sleep. 

Thank you xxx

Hi Sally, 

I am so sorry you are in this position. It is such a scary place to be. I did find out I have breast cancer but finding this out is no where near as bad as the waiting beforehand. I am now having chemotherapy. It is not pleasant but it is doable and I am confident that it will make me better so all is moving in the right direction. Medical science is incredible these days. Keep remembering that they are making breakthroughs in research all the time. Try as much as you can not to google things (I was rubbish at this!). Google really doesn't help. This site and also the breastcancercare uk site though are really good because you can 'meet' lots of really inspring ladies who are in or have been in the same postion. Yesterday for example someone posted about their grandmother who had breast cancer when she was 46. She is now 95! These are the stories we need to hear about. 

When I went for my first appointment they did a mammogram and an ultrasound and a biopsy. I then had to wait for a CT scan a couple of weeks later. My first appointment was 22 May and I started my chemo on 4 July. So far I have done 5 rounds of chemo which means I only have one left - YAY! So excited for it to be over. 

Let me know when your appointment is and how you get on. Whatever the outcome it is doable and there are loads of ladies on here to help you out. 

Xx

Hi Sally, I am 53. Yes it had spread to one lymph node and the lymph node lump was very noticable and different from the node in the other arm. Hopefully what you are feeling is a normal one on both sides and nothing to worry about. Let me know though when you have had your appointment. Xx

Thank you - very reassuring. 

If it helps you, my 93 year old Grandma had a mastectomy at 53 and has been fine ever since :)

Xx

Wow that"s awesome! Xx

Thank you [@sunny-day]‍ for all your support - you are one of the angels on here who, despite going through treatment and so much worry yourselves, have given up so much of your time to helping others - if there's one positive to come from this experience, it's realising how many amazing women there are out there who are kicking cancer's backside! I wish you all the luck and strength with your chemotherapy xxx

I had my appointment at the Breast Cancer Care unit today - after all that worry it turned out to be just a simple cyst underneath glandular breast tissue which made it feel hard and fixed to the breast wall. The nurse did a physical examination and then an ultrasound - I couldn't bare to look at the screen for ages but there it was, clear as day, a black circle (about 5mm). So strange as it definitely felt long and oval (my GP noted it down as 2cms), and not like any descriptions I had read online. It wasn't soft, round or what I would have described as moveable - although the nurse said she thought it was moveable in her terms. 

She said I didn't need anything else and sent me off home. I'm pretty sure, now I've looked into cysts (I had ruled them out a couple of weeks ago) it was caused by going on a higher oestrogen contraceptive pill for 3 months. 

For anyone reading this who has found a similar lump and is desperately trying to get info, mine is in my upper inner quadrant of my right breast. It doesn't roll around under the skin (at least how I would describe that) and it feels quite large and firm - and oval shaped, like a firm ridge. My right breast has always been bigger than my left but I could have sworn the difference had got bigger too. And after finding the lump, I discovered my lymph node under my right armpit was bigger than my left. But it was just a small cyst in the end, and a whole lot of panic and Googling. And my lymph nodes were normal - she struggled to even find them for a while.

Wishing anyone else going through this lots of luck and sending calm, positive thoughts your way xxx

Yay! Sally I am so happy for you. That is truely fantastic news. Thank you so much for letting me know, I am really delighted. I have my last chemo on Friday and in the last few weeks I am pretty sure my lump has disappeared too so all is good for me too. Xx