Hi Maggie,

I got my letter from the NHS this morning and was very nervous opening it especially as I was told I wouldn’t get results for 6 weeks and they came back in only 2. It’s good news I’m Ok.   The VAB I had last year got rid of all the abnormalities and am clear of any more .  There was an article in our news paper only  this week singing the praises of VAB and how successful it is.  So please try not to worry about your VAB it really isn’t too bad and you are back to normal straight after. 

Let us know how you get on. I will be thinking of you on the 15th. 

Ann X

Hi Ann,      

That's wonderful news, I'm so glad everything has come back ok for you. Really sounds as though the  VAB has done an excellent job which puts my mind at ease a little as well. You must be so relieved. I'm still very nervous about the procedure but I'll get through it I know. Thanks for letting me know how you got on, and of course I'll let you know how everything goes on the 15th.

Maggie       x

Hi Ann, 

Just a message to let you know how my Vacuum assisted biopsy went today. It was not a good experience at all I'm afraid, Dr gave me quite a bit of anaesthetic but I was still in a lot of pain and because quite hysterical, I'm mortified at the thought. He ended up having to stop and give me a lot more  anaesthetic and I was able to get through the rest of it (barely). The nurses were fantastic, Dr didn't look happy about what was on the ultrasound so it's another waiting and worrying time now. He didn't use the mammogram machine, just the ultrasound and there was very little bleeding so that was good at least. How is everything going with you?

Maggie     x 

Hi Maggie, 

So sorry you had such a bad experience today, at least it’s over and done with now.  

I know what a worrying time it is waiting for the results, I had convinced myself there was something seriously  wrong, both when waiting for biopsy results last year and mammogram results this year. 

Try to keep busy to keep your mind off the results. Did they put a tytainium marker in your breast for future reference? 

Hope you feel more positive tomorrow. 

Hi Ann, 

Thanks for your message, I'm sure I'll be feeling a little better tomorrow, honestly think I was slightly traumatised today, never again! Just hoping everything will be ok with the results but if I need anything further done it'll be under general anaesthetic, I'm not putting myself through anything like that again.

Maggie     x 

Hi Ann,

How are things going with you, hope you are well.  I just had a question about how long you waited for your vacuum biopsy results, I had mine done on 15th September and still haven't heard anything.  I've phoned hospital where my consultant works twice, the hospital I had it done and my GP surgery and nobody will tell me anything.  Secretary for consultants just keeps telling me she will pass my details to breast care nurses!?? I can't understand this, surely I should have heard something by now?  And why is secretary not speaking to consultant directly?  I'm starting to slightly freak out that these biopsies have been lost as they had to go to another lab outwith hospital I had biopsy done for pathology.  I couldn't go through that procedure again, also the lump in my breast is still there, not even gone down in size a little and breast feels weird and itchy.  Sorry for the long post, just scared about this situation now.

Maggie

Hi Maggie, 

I’m very well thanks. I’m very sorry to hear you are having such a long wait for your results as I know how stressful the wait is. I waited about 2 weeks for mine but that was a year ago and before the pandemic.  I was told 6 weeks for mammogram results this year but was very lucky they came back in 2 so I know everything is expected to take much longer than usual and no news is often good news. 

I know the consultants secretaries are not allowed to tell you anything over the phone as several years ago I had a biopsy on a suspicious mole and the results got lost in the post  I had to wait for another letter another 10 days extra to wait for the good news. 

Have you got a phone number for a breast care nurse I think it might be worth a call as they go out of their way to be helpful. 

As regard to your breast feeling weird, mine felt different for  a full 12 months that why I was so worried about my mammogram. I felt like there was something crawling around inside, not painful but just strange. Absolutely fine now, not a mark where the insision was, the only slight thing is my left nipple is now a bit lower than the right. 

Hope you get some good news soon 

Ann X

Hi Ann, 

Thanks so much for your reply, I feel a bit calmer now. I know everything is taking longer now, I'm more scared that they tell me results have been lost and I'd need to go through the VAB again than anything else I think! I reckon I'll need to leave it the 6 weeks, I don't have a number for the breast nurses unfortunately but maybe my GP surgery can help me with that. I think because I had my first letter in within 2 days after first biopsy I was just panicking. I'm glad to hear everything is good with you and of course I'll let you know when I hear anything. Thanks again.

Maggie     x

Glad I have helped a bit.  Try to stay positive, very difficult especially in these times. We have just gone into tier 3 lockdown hope you aren’t in a lockdown area, 

Take care 

Ann X

I'm in Scotland so we're in exactly the same boat, pretty much everything closed. I daresay that's not helping with getting my results either. Think everyone is getting so fed up now, I'm hardly going out at all, I'm working from home so starting to feel like a hermit! Scary times indeed and that's without waiting for biopsy results!  Surely better times ahead soon, what a year 2020 has been.

Maggie       x