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

Hiya!

Thank you so much for this post. I've had a similar experience! I'm 41 found lump in breast,saw dr same day and had mammogram and biopsy last week. Results next Monday. When they took the biopsies (4) he mentioned that the skin under my boob was puckering. Like u I didn't think to check under the breastacles and although I would feel the skin it felt smooth so I thought it was fine. It wasn't until he said lift ur arms that I could see how my boob was mis shaped towards the bottom,due to the puckering skin. Like the shape of a circular boob resting on a hardback book to create a definite angle. Not sure if this is making sense ‍♀️ 
It's great to see how positive u r. Good luck and take care x

Hi [@JenLam]‍ good to see your post. Your description of the puckering made me laugh even though I know it's not funny if you not what I mean! Mine looks like two long lines stacked above each other. No hardback books involved :laugh: Anyway, the dodgy area was removed from my breast in surgery on Tuesday and I will find out full results on Friday 26th.

Good luck with your results on a Monday. Do let me know how you get on. Good luck. Waiting is hideous isn't it!
 

And [@Janeylou]‍ thanks for the good wishes. [@KimMarie]‍ How are you getting on? Did you find out what was going on on the RH side?? XX

xx

Hi Kiwirunner, i messaged you but have now found the thread and see that your surgery took place. I hope you are okay xx

Hi kiwi runner!

thanks for getting in touch. It means a lot. I find that I want to talk about things but don't want to upset my husband and friends. It's horrible sitting with the worry so I'm trying to keep busy. 
 

thats great news that it's removed already. Was it a lumpectomy yes? Do u mind me asking what the process was like? I've googled too much and am now thinking of the lines of...if they suggest a lumpectomy am I better off asking them to whip off the breastacles all together so less chance of recurrence? ‍♀️
I have very sensitive nipples (too much info I know) so a nippless life sounds like a positive thing but of course I don't want to write off my boobs if it's not that serious!  

results tomorrow and hopefully they will send me for an MRI as I've smoked for years and am worried the 2.5 cm lump in my right breast has been growing for ages and has come from something already in the lungs. Joy! Then it'll b a case of waiting for those results which is really frightening me. 
 

any who! I hope ur feeling good and positive and ready for the next step in ur journey. 
 

jen x

Hi [@JenLam]‍  thanks for getting in touch.  Oh I do hope results day today goes ok  for you. And your MRI. MRIs  can throw up lots of false positives as they are so sensitive. Freaked me out when they found a new area of concern on mine but it turned out to be benign.

Yep I had my surgery on Tuesday. It was a Wire Guided Wide Excision Biopsy. Wire guided because my 15mm mass is non-palpable. Had to go in morning of surgery to have a wire inserted in my boob so surgeon knew where to go. End of that sticking out (taped down) was a tad surreal!! 

I was in surgery for about an hour. Hilarious banter with my anaethatist  as I'm a Kiwi and he was South African and neither of us like being mistaken for Australian, lots of chat about rugby etc as I'm lying on the operating table waiting for the general anaesthetic to be given. Staff were all fab

If it is confirmed as cancer at my results appt on Friday then it is likely I'll be back for more surgery.

The scar where my surgeon went in is pretty tidy. She went in under the areola around my nipple so the scar will blend back with the natural line of that. And there is now a small indentation where she has removed the dodgy bit that was a B4 on mammogram, a U5 on ultrasound, a B4 on first biopsy, no sign of cancer on second biopsy (to their confusion) and where I have had significant puckering/tethering which concerned them.

My surgeon said I might feel a bit low this week and she was spot on. I've been coping really well bit hit the wall in last couple of days. I worked out that since my recall letter on 24 Dec I have had 10 mammograms, 4 ultrasounds, 1 MRI, 4 biopsies, 2 results meetings where they couldn't give conclusive results and now the surgery. All the while being told right back on 5 January at original assessment clinic that they were sure it was cancer and to prepare for that.

It has taken more of a toll than I realised and I decided I would take the full two weeks off work they recommended so I can just be kind to myself and not have the pressure of a demanding job and team to manage while I wait for my results. 

Now back to you and your breasticles (loving that name) it is a super personal decision and you don't have all the info you need yet to make an informed choice I guess, which ever option you go with. I'm personally rather fond of 'the girls' my end so don't  really want to lop one off if or comes to that but would do what ever is best. My dodgy area is left lower inner quadrant which is much less common (about 6% of cases) and my next worry is if I need radiation therapy as that area is right over my heart. I dont like the sound of that...

Anyway,back to you Jen - fingers crossed for your results meeting today. Will be thinking of you. Let me know how you get on. xxx

[@KimMarie]‍ you have been in my thoughts lately. I notice you haven't been on here since your meeting to see if you more challenges to deal with. I really hope you are doing ok and am here if you want to chat xx

Hi Kiwirunner

You've done so well!!! How r u feeling now? Mentally and physically? sounds like you had a good team around you for surgery! It's so uplifting to think of it as a positive experience. Speaking of uplifting they've suggested a lumpectomy and uplift which means taking the lump out (obvs) and lifting up the breastacle so I'd have one slightly higher and smaller than the other. Nice! But then if I didn't have huge bazuccas in the first place they wouldn't even b able to offer that and they'd have to whip the whole thing off so I'm lucky to have the option. They said that a single or double mastectomy would not guarantee it won't come back and in her experience it it's better to do a lumpectomy then radiation for a better outcome ‍♀️
I find out this Friday if I have HER2, if so I'll need chemo. They were very supportive and informative and it was a huge relief to get some news! As I'm a smoker (*hangs head in shame*) I'd have to stop smoking 6 weeks before the op if I want a double mastectomy. This is no problem as I'm giving up tomorrow or at least starting the process. Just kicking myself cos I stopped for6 years then started again when life got stressful. What a fool! 
thank you for ur messsage it means a lot that u we're thinking of me this morning! 
what's next on the agenda for u? Stay strong and take care of urself. X

Hi [@JenLam]‍ oh your posts make me smile - you've got a great attitude to it all and the best names for breasts :laugh:

A perkier uplift with lumpectomy sounds good to me and you seem happy with the approach which is great. I don't think any of us need to beat ourselves up about stuff like you smoking again when stressed. I need to step away from the biscuit barrel - comfort eating has been a thing for me over last few weeks which is annoying as I lost a stone two years ago and had been keeping it off. So right now I'm not running and eating more treats and my jeans are getting tighter but hey - big picture it doesn't really matter right now. Although gold star for looking at giving up smoking again. You go girl.

Well let's do a results swapsies on Friday when you get your HER2 result and I get my surgery pathology report. I have fingers crossed for you.

Keep your chin up and do what makes you feel good (apart from smoking haha). I'm swapping biscuits for fruit and getting outside for fresh air. I'm managing a walk each day and it is soooo good getting out for a bit even if I can't run for a while yet.

Take care xxx

Hiya! ️

Lovely to hear from you again! It sounds like your surgery went brilliantly Does the pathology report include details about exactly what type of cancer it is??? Or am I totally off track here?! It's possible! ‍♀️
Don't worry about a slight weight gain you can always walk it off as you start to recover. Then by the end of treatment/healing process you're fit, strong and can get into the jeans again! Result!

speaking of which...yes swappsies Friday sounds good  

lumpectomy may b off the cards depending on fri results. Heard lots of conflicting info so a bit confused now!! 
 

Not stopped the smoking yet. Getting my head around it and hope to stop Fri. Bit worried about the thought of chemo as I'm not one of those people who's gonna look good bald. Think Gollum meets an alien. Ok maybe it wouldn't be that bad!!!!! I can always throw on a headscarf....and some slap would probably help the face situation. Hmm still gotta b realistic you can't polish a turd. 
 

good luck for Friday and look after yourself x

Hi @JenLam yep tomorrow's pathology report to go through with the surgeon should tell me that. I'm a weird case as all along they have said it looks like cancer but two biopsies were inconclusive but indicating malignancy. Ultrasounds and mammograms were more certain it looked it. You never know it might end up being benign but I'm expecting it to be not good news. After two months of to-ing and fro-ing I just want some certainty which I should finally get tomorrow.

I know my MDT meets on Weds mornings so it's weird knowing my case has been discussed (for the third time!l) and my fate determined. Just one more sleep to go. 

What time is your meeting re your HER2 result? Mine is 1pm. I hope you too have a clearer path for the breastacles.

'Speak' tomorrow and good luck xxx

Hi @JenLam yep tomorrow's pathology report to go through with the surgeon should tell me that. I'm a weird case as all along they have said it looks like cancer but two biopsies were inconclusive but indicating malignancy. Ultrasounds and mammograms were more certain it looked it. You never know it might end up being benign but I'm expecting it to be not good news. After two months of to-ing and fro-ing I just want some certainty which I should finally get tomorrow.

I know my MDT meets on Weds mornings so it's weird knowing my case has been discussed (for the third time!l) and my fate determined. Just one more sleep to go. 

What time is your meeting re your HER2 result? Mine is 1pm. I hope you too have a clearer path for the breastacles.

'Speak' tomorrow and good luck xxx

Hi again

The waiting is so hard. Once you have more info at least it's something to work with! They're being thorough I'll give them that!!! 
They haven't given me a time for results but I have work to keep me busy! Seems like this process is going to b a step at a time. Let's try not to get ahead of ourselves as it gets really overwhelming! 
Chat tomorrow. Thinking of you x

Hey Kiwirunner  

How did you get on with your results? 
Im HER2 Negative which means I won't need chemo. So brilliant news! Having to tell family members tomorrow and really not looking forward to it. 
 

I hope your results were good and your looking after self. Chat soon. Hugs xx

Hey [@JenLam]‍ oh wow that is great news to hear that you don't need chemo and you are HER2 negative. I bet that feels like good news!

I finally got to the bottom of my situation yesterday and it is such a relief to finally have a diagnosis after all the tests, and back and forth to the hospital.

Confirmed that I do in fact have breast cancer but the great news is that it was all removed during last week's operation so I don't need any further surgery. Yay!

I have a pretty rare type of breast cancer called Tubular Carcinoma (about 2% of cases). It was Grade 1 and tiny - only 3mm and had a Grade 2 DCIS growing next to it (5mm) so total tumour size only 8mm.

Apparently Tubular Carcinoma is a 'good one' to have as it is low growing, rarely spreads (so they don't even need to check my nodes) and has a really good prognosis.

Only got my results yesterday but already have an appt on Monday with the oncologist which is pretty amazing. They want to discuss radiotherapy which won't start until I am fully healed from the op last week - a few weeks time apparenlty. Location of my tumour is right over my heart so I have lots of questions for the oncologist about how that is managed safely. They would normally put me on Tamoxifen as my tumour was strongly ER positive but it raises the risk of DVTs and because I have had a DVT before it is probably too risky to be on that - something else to discuss on Monday. I had to do injections in my stomach for five days after my surgery last week and wear the sexy socks for a whole week due to my DVT risk (got it after a long haul flight from NZ a few years ago).

They also took some blood yesterday to see where I am on the menopause range. I have just turned 52 but no idea if I am through menopause or not as I had a hysterectomy when I was 39. Tamoxifen is for pre-menopause so there might a safer alternative to take if I am post-menopause.

Anyway - I feel oddly euphoric to finally have a diagnosis as I have had two months of expecting it to be a worse outcome.

Hope you are feeling reasonably positive and manage to tell family and friends OK today - it will be a weight off your mind when you do and you can draw on the support of those around you.

Hugs in return xx

Hi Kiwirunner!! 
There's a lot that has been going on! I hope you're well and recovering nicely! How r u feeling lately? There's so much to take in. You seem in good spirits and at least you have some answers now. :happy:
My surgery is booked for next Monday and I have an x ray this Thursday to check my lungs. Fingers crossed it hasn't spread. I've also got an isotope injection to the booblet on Thursday which I'm not looking forward to at all. With all these injections I'll be like a water sprinkler by the end of it!!! Still keeping positive and know they're doing everything they need to kick cancers butt. I'm just not very good with needles. 

what's your update and how have you been getting on? Hope you're safe and well. Xx

Hey [@JenLam]‍ good to hear from you! Booblet- the latest name. Love it! Are you still having a lumpectomy or is it now a mastectomy? How are you feeling about it? A couple of steps to get through before your surgery on Monday but just keep eating your elephant one bite at a time. That also means it is just one needle at a time and that makes it easier to deal with I think. 
Like you say you are in good hands and it's great to hear you are being chipper.

I've found the last few days harder to be honest. I think because I went back to work last week and everything is carrying on like normal around me even though treatment still yet to be completed. Felt pretty flat. 

Anyway, had my CT planning appointment today for the radiotherapy and that starts on 29 March so it does feel good to have some dates now. Got my tattoo dots and the one in my cleavage is quite big so just as well I don't flaunt the girls too much in low cut tops! I think I will take that week off and the one after. They said fit and active people get hit by fatigue more apparently so I should plan to be a bit wiped out. Hot date with Netflix and a pile of books on the cards then :laugh:

Good luck with the appointments on Thursday. Thinking of you xx

Hiya! 
Im having a lumpectomy with uplift!! Apparently I have enough boob to do this so am lucky! Tried to convince them to give me a tummy tuck while they're at it but they weren't up for it. So I'll have one pert boob and one droopy one for a while until they can do the reconstruction. Lovely! I've also asked them to remove my nipples as they're sensitive and not really needed any more. No more worrying about cold days with the nips out! Bonus!

Although people are supportive I think we need to remind ourselves that they haven't been through it so things 'go back to normal'. For us though it's different as it's a mental process too. 

How long is each radiotherapy session and how many days or weeks are you having it done for?  I was told after recovery it could be 1-3 weeks of radiotherapy, 10 minutes a time each day. Just have to wait for results from the op first. 
Hey when this is all over get flaunting I say!!! The girls deserve to be shown off!! 
 

Im thinking the same thing about Netflix and books to keep occupied!! Good luck but I'm sure we'll speak again before u have radiotherapy. 
Im shaving my head this Saturday and donating my hair to the Princess trust and am raising money for the Breast Cancer Care Clinic at my local hospital! We're up to £700 already so I'm chuffed! It's my daughters 9th birthday this Thursday and I have an x ray in the morning and injection in afternoon which sucks. Just hoping I'm ok after the isotope injection and we can have quality time together. Fingers crossed. 
Take care hun x

Hi [@JenLam]‍ that sounds brilliant to be getting an uplift out of it! You sound really positive which is brilliant and will really help with your recovery to be thinking like that.

So impressed with your fundraising commitment and shaving your head. Do you need chemo down the line or are you just embracing the hair loss concept in the spirit of the challenges faced by so many women?

The timing does suck doesn't it re your daugther's birthday and your appts that day. I had a birthday and my 20th wedding anniversary during all this. My wedding anniversary ended up as a 'dry' one for me as I was antibiotics for a raging toothache that couldn't be mixed with alcohol. Boo. I have a root canal next Monday as I thought I hadn't had enough fun so far in 2021 haha. NHS won't do it for me as they are under so much pressure and could only offer to extract the tooth, so I am having to shell out £700 privately for the pleasure and a further £350 to have it capped off. At least my NHS experience on the booblet front has been super positive.

My NHS trust does the 5 day treatment plan for radiotherapy for early stage breast cancer so each appt is 25 mins and they give a more intense treatment over a  shorter time frame. Not sure how long the actual radiotherapy itself is within that appt - quite a bit of time is getting you all in place to make sure it is identical each time you are there - hence the tattoo dots.

Hope your daughter's 9th birthday goes well even if Mum is having a weird day. Such a nice age - I always thing that is in the 'golden period' of parenting when they think you are still Christmas and do what you ask them to do haha.  I have a big hairy 19 year old son in his first year at uni and a 16 year old daughter in Year 12. They've popped out the other side of being a grunting/argumentative (select as appropriate) teenager and are now such good company.

Have a good day tomorrow on all fronts! xx

Hello again! 
perkier breasts sounds like a good deal to me! 
I decided to shave my hair as I was told I wouldn't need chemo and wanted to do something for those that have to have it. Feels like I'm giving a little something back. 
 

You'll have to make up for the drinking as soon as you're able!! A trip to the dentist is the last thing you need on top of all this but you're taking it well. Especially when you have to pay for it too. 
 

Ah yes, the nurse told me I may need a 5 day radiotherapy sesh after surgery too. 
so glad to hear the grunting has transitioned into something meaningful and that's all extra support which you need right now. 
Sit tight and keep looking after yourself x

Hey [@JenLam]‍ i just wanted to wish you all the best for your surgery tomorrow. 
How did Thursday go with your daughter's birthday, your chest x-ray and the dye injection? What a full on day for you!
Thinking of you and here's hoping it all goes well xx

Hi really sorry i have not been on for some time. As you know i had really good news with my breast lump. Didnt feel i should therefore keep commenting when you are all going through so much. I often think about you all and i do appreciate that i was lucky on this occasion. I am wishing you all well and keeping everything crossed for you all . Sending you all so much love and good luck xxx