Hi Janeylou. I know how you feel. I'm 51 and received a recall letter on Christmas Eve (great timing) saying an abnormality was found on my first screening mammogram. My clinic appt is 5 Jan and I can think of nothing else at the moment. I'm trying to keep distracted. My teenage daughter and husband saw me open the letter but I haven't told my teenage son or anyone else apart from my best friend. Kind of want to know what is actually the outcome before I worry other people. Will tell my boss (she is lovely) though as need time off work for the appt. My Mum and her mother (so my maternal grandmother) both had breast cancer. My grandmother died years ago from another cancer in the end and my Mum is doing fine, four years on. I had three (one per year) mammograms up to the age of 50 on the familial screening programme (which were all clear)but the last one was nearly two years ago (I'm 52 in February). When I  had the recall letter last week I then took a close look at my breasts as I hadn't noticed any lumps (I am a bit rubbish at checking though) and was horrified to see a considerable area of dimpling/puckering under my left inner breast - quite obvious lines and indents when I raise my arms. I have no idea how long they have been there as I don't go around with my arms in the air staring at my boobs Kind of wish I had now though. I can really understand what you are feeling and the waiting is awful as every scenario goes through your head. All I can say to you (and me!) is that most cases referred aren't cancer so let's hold onto that thought!! Good luck for tomorrow. X

Hi Kiwirunner, just wanted to let you know....my circumstances very similar to you, age 53 years, referral letter arrived the day before Christmas Eve.....not sure how I've got through Xmas as no extended family around to keep me busy as usual, due to their health issues (my sister has secondary breast cancer) Just myself, hubby and teen daughter, who, as you, saw me open referral letter, which I managed to play down.

Attended my appointment first thing today (my birthday) I was told that there was a change in one of my breasts so I had a more detailed mammogram and an ultrasound. After the ultrasound the consultant told me that I am absolutely fine and can go back to three yearly mammograms. 
 

Just wanted to give you some hope and let you know that things can still be okay even though you might think the worst....I found it so difficult to.stay positive. I was sooo scared, i am a bit of a glass half full person. It's awful having waited over Christmas, I can't tell you how stressed I've been. Good luck with your appointment and fingers crossed for you xx

Hi Kiwirunner, just wanted to let you know....my circumstances very similar to you, age 53 years, referral letter arrived the day before Christmas Eve.....not sure how I've got through Xmas as no extended family around to keep me busy as usual, due to their health issues (my sister has secondary breast cancer) Just myself, hubby and teen daughter, who, as you, saw me open referral letter, which I managed to play down.

Attended my appointment first thing today (my birthday) I was told that there was a change in one of my breasts so I had a more detailed mammogram and an ultrasound. After the ultrasound the consultant told me that I am absolutely fine and can go back to three yearly mammograms. 
 

Just wanted to give you some hope and let you know that things can still be okay even though you might think the worst....I found it so difficult to.stay positive. I was sooo scared, i am a bit of a glass half full person. It's awful having waited over Christmas, I can't tell you how stressed I've been. Good luck with your appointment and fingers crossed for you xx

Hi Mumofteen thanks so much for posting your experience. Funny isn't it when you realise how similar our experiences can be. So relieved for you - that is a good birthday present. Phew! So good to know on the day too. Stories like this really help. I dreamt last night I had Stage 3 cancer. Can't handle more nights like that so Tuesday can't come fast enough! Feeling bolstered by your news. Thanks again for sharing and enjoy the lighter feeling you will now have. Fab news x

Stay strong, i know it's easy for me to say....please let us know how you get on xxx

Thank you! Will make sure I pop back on here on a Tuesday to update x

I said I would come back and update after my breast clinic appt today. Looks like I am one of the less lucky ones as was told today it looks like breast cancer and to prepare for that when I get my biopsy results. However I am feeling quite positive as looks like it was caught early and shows the value of the national screening programme. The staff today were absolutely amazing and made me feel so cared for and relaxed. The nurse who looked after me  told me they found something on my left breast they wanted to look at more closely. I then had a more detailed mammogram than the screening one and had to wait while that was reviewed by the consultant radiologist. I was taken to see her (she was just so lovely - great bedside manner) and she had the images up on the screen to show me (quite weird seeing your boobs in all their glory lol) and showed me my last mammogram from 2 years ago when I was still on the family history screening programme. She then pulled up my national screening one from  December to show what had changed and said after the more detailed one done today she was now satisfied that concern was all fine. However, today's mammogram had identified a new area of concern - described as an incidental finding as they weren't looking for it. When I then told her it was in the same place as I had recently noticed some puckering/tethering of the skin she went "ahh OK" and I showed her when I raised my arms during the she said that was concerning. She then did the ultrasound and that confirmed the new suspicious area matched where I had skin distortion. Next she took four biopsies which sounds like a staple gun but didn't hurt once they gave local anaesthetic to the area. She sat me back down and said it does look like cancer but good news is that it is small (15mm on mammogram but only 10mm on ultrasound) and the nodes in my armpit all felt and scanned as if clear (phew). She started talking about surgery and radiation therapy being most likely but treatment plan would be discussed with me at results meeting with surgeon. The nurse then took me back to a room for a cup of tea and a chat about how I was feeling. A bit shocked but also not in another way as I had a feeling it was cancer. I feel oddly quite positive because it looks to have been caught early. Yay for screening and being that 1 in 100 women that screening picks up. And even more so in that it wasn't what they were planning to investigate today. Now it is just a waiting game for full diagnosis and treatment plan. I appreciate this is a long post but I was so hungry for info while I was waiting for my assessment clinic so I hope this is of help to others xx

Thank you for updating I have been thinking of you. I'm so sorry it was not the news you wanted. I hope you get everything back so you know what treatment and the plan is. It is very lucky that you were called back and today's was found as it sounds like it is very small and caught early which is the most important thing. I hope your ok and you have support at home. I am thinking of you keep positive my aunt had treatment 30 years ago and she is still great. Keep positive and take care xxxx

Thank you so much for taking the time, after what must have been a very stressful day, to update us. I'm so sorry that it wasn't positive news. Hopefully as you say, a positive is that it has been picked up early. Once you have a definite diagnosis and treatment plan in place, hopefully you'll be able to get your head around it all a little better. Hang onto the fact that it has been discovered early and treatment for you may not need to be as radical as others. I would love to keep in touch, if you would like to and have the time. Take care my lovely xx

Hi Janeylou and mumofteen, thanks very much for your kind words. I had a call this morning to say my results appointment has been set for the morning of Friday 15 January. The hospital doesn't generally allow anyone in with you to receive results and I didn't push for it as I understand the challenges with Covid, but the receptionist voluntarily told me to check on the day if it is possible as it depends on the space on the day for social distancing. Would be nice if my husband could be there. I have to wait in the car and then they call me to say the surgeon is free - a way of managing in the pandemic. Better than standing in the cold outside the unit yesterday which was freezing cold! Mumofteen that woud be lovely to keep in touch - not sure how the private messaging thing works on here as I am new to this forum. xx

Hi, positive that you have had some news this morning, hopefully you can have someone there when you speak to the consultant/surgeon. For me, I find a second ear is useful to pick up things that I may miss, especially under times of stress. I am also new to this forum and have requested you as a friend so that we can pm. I hope that okay. Always here if you feel like a chat. Xx

That would be good if you could have have your husband with you I agreed with mumofteen that someone with you helps. Thinking of you and keep positive hard at times I know but sounds like this is tiny and caught so early. I will also send private message to keep in touch always there for a chat sometimes helps when it is someone that isnt a family member.  Take care thinking of you now and for the 15th xxx keep positive x

Hi , just popped on to see how you are kiwi runner  x