Hi.

this week is the worst week I have ever had to go through. Had panic attacks and can't get the biopsy and waiting for the results out of my head. 
every little niggle or pain I get I'm looking up and thinking what if it is cancer and it has spread.

why do the hospital make you wait, it's cruel. My biopsy was last Wednesday so surely they must have the results now! 
 

It's awful, I know, sends your head to dark places and makes you panic. 

7 days is the quickest they can make it and is part of the guidelines for testing....there will be lots of people just like us waiting for the results. Mine was last Wednesday too, and it's been dreadful waiting and thinking, thinking, thinking....but there are lots if possibilities and some of those are positive - ie it could be nothing, or something really treatable....and the stats show it is more likely to be one of those.

Whatever the outcome, you and I will deal with it when it happens. All we have is the moment, right now. 

Try not to Google, you will really freak yourself out. Our brains are wired to look for the worst eventuality to 'disaster plan'.

How did you get on? 

I was diagnosed with invasive ductal cancer. I have to go in on Thursday to get it cut out and my lymph nodes checked. I hope to god it hasn't spread. 
mum getting chest tightness and electric shock type pains over different parts of my body. I'm hoping it's just anxiety and not the dreaded cancer. 
I have a 9 and a 14 year old and absolutely terrified. Just praying they get this awful thing out of me and it hasn't spread 

How was your results? I hope you got good news x

loumw

Hi Loumw,

I got the same diagnosis - invasive ductal carcinoma. I've got to have an MRI tomorrow to check it isn't in my lymph, then speak to the surgeon on Friday about a date for the operation to remove it. Then radiotherapy. 

I've got three boys (16, 14, 13) and have been updront with them about it. Haven't told my mum and dad yet because they live a way away and I want to tell them face to face so they can see I'm alright.

Your chest tightness will def be anxiety, and so will the electric shocks. I work as a mental health nurse and these are common in people who are tense and anxious. I ache a lot, and am sleeping lots. I think it's a reaction to the news. It's scary and a lot to take in. I hope you've got lots of nice things planned for yourself and your recovery. Because you, and I, will get through this. 

I don't know where you are in the country, but where I live there is a Maggie's Place (there are a few all over the UK) and they offer drop-in support, classes, activities, etc. It's so important to keep busy and active. There's also a Macmillan Centre on-site at one of the hospitals nearby, they offer the same support plus complementary therapies. Take every bit of support you can get.

xx

Thinking of you both, I am going for my biopsy results on Friday. I feel like I've have been waiting for ever, does it get any easier once you know what it is. xx

Hi SimplyDivine,

For me, it did get better, because it took the mystery away. Once I was told what was going on, I felt like there was a plan, a team behind me, and I could get going to recovery. My friends and colleagues have been great. 

Nothing takes away that sickly anxiety on the day. Whatever happens next, you HAVE to start putting yourself first. Keep yourself busy until Friday. I'll be doing the same, because that's when I get my MRI result to see if it's in my lymph.

I hope you've got nice things planned this week. When I got my biopsy results last Wednesday, I was dumbstruck for 24 hours, quite dissociated from the whole experience. I didn't feel like they were talking about me. When we went to tell my in-laws, it felt like I was on autopilot saying the words 'I've got breast cancer'.

The next day, we went out for a walk in the Peak District up Mam Tor, followed by a pub lunch and a few halves of real ale next to a roaring fire. Book yoyrself a treat in for the following days, whatevet the result, cos your head's been to one hella shocking place.

Here if you need to talk

BB xxx

Thanks BB, for me it's reassuring to hear from others that it's not as bad as my head is thinking. Once I know I think I will be able to deal what's coming next. It's the waiting, I am so impatient with everything. 
 

Unfortunately nothing nice this week, only work.  Which is a kind of distraction, have a few really good friends there that will happily listen to me ramble. 
 

I hope all goes well on Friday and I will be thinking of you. My apt is at 2 so just need to get through the morning. 
 

Also here if you need to talk

lisa xx

Hi

im in Lancashire. The hospital have told me today that I will have the lumpectomy removed on Thursday and the type of cancer I have, I will have to have chemotherapy after then radiotherapy. I'm just hoping it's not spread anywhere else. But have to wait a further 3 weeks after operation as some of the lymph nodes are being taken out and sent for tests.

they haven't offered me an MRI so every hospital must do things differently. I have to go for my pre-op tomorrow and back again on Wednesday for them to fit  a marker in before the op, so they know where they have to cut. They said the lump is 12mm so they class it as small.

You sound really positive and wish I could be more like that. I just fear that I will get more bad news.

xx