Hi MickeyM,

A very warm welcome to our forum. 

Stereotactic biopsy will give your team the chance to look at your breast in more detail. This doesn't always signify bad news, but is a good sign that your care team is being thorough. It is impossible to find out much until the results of your biopsy come back and you know exactly what you are dealing with. You should find some information about DCIS and calcifications on the Cancer Research Website. Try to avoid consulting Dr Google, as much of his information is out of date, poorly researched and aimed at the more spectacular cases. This will only serve to worry you further.

There is a lady called Karen1971 on the forum. She has been posting under the title ‘Waiting on breast biopsy results.’ If you do a search for her, you may be able to help one another through this.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thank you Jolamine, your reply was really helpful and appreciated. Thank you so much for taking the time xx 

Hi I'm ok just keeping busy and trying to think every day no news is good news. I struggle with the not knowing and the wait. Its the hardest part. Especially with my mum having had bc it's hard to keep positive some days. My apt is on weds for my results x

Morning Jolamine, I'm sorry I didn't reply yesterday. I had my consultant appointment in the afternoon and all the surgery talk kind of threw me. They have said to ring next Thursday afternoon to check if they were in but if not the following Thursday. The breast nurse will then call me back to tell me, as they know I just have to know straight away. Consultant apt is being arranged ASAP, but will likely be first week November just to be sure results are in. That's fine because I will know before then and that apt will be to start planning my surgery xx I know I have to do this, but it is hard to get my head around right now. 

Hi 4105ac,

It is so difficult to struggle with the unknown. Having lost my own mum to breast cancer, I know how you feeal - no doubt your imagination has taken you to some dark places at times. It is hard to keep positive, but try your best. This time next week you'll know what you're dealing with and be able to move forward.

I'll be thinking of you on Wednesday.

Lind regards,

JOlamine xx

Hi Mickey,

This all sounds fairly positive. Here's hoping that the results are in by next Thursday. It is hard to get your head around it all, but take it day by day, as sometimes you feel as if you are just being swept along by the tide at this stage.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thanks Jolamine, today has definitely been a swept away day xx

Hi Jolamine, thank you for your reply on the other thread. I really appreciate the advice about front opening nightie or pyjamas and I will look out for these. I've taken a few days away before everything starts (hopefully) and am back home tomorrow. I certainly needed a few days escape. I'm just waiting on an appointment now with the plastic surgeon. All being well, I'm under the impression that they will try to reconstruct at the same time, but obviously I have yet to see him/her.  I hope to get a date for surgery when I see him/her, or within a few days. I will keep you posted and thank you for being a constant support in mine and so many other peoples journeys. I hope you are well, Mickey xx 

Hi Jolamine, seems I just replied to myself, lol -  thank you for your reply on the other thread. I really appreciate the advice about front opening nightie or pyjamas and I will look out for these. I've taken a few days away before everything starts (hopefully) and am back home tomorrow. I certainly needed a few days escape. I'm just waiting on an appointment now with the plastic surgeon. All being well, I'm under the impression that they will try to reconstruct at the same time, but obviously I have yet to see him/her.  I hope to get a date for surgery when I see him/her, or within a few days. I will keep you posted and thank you for being a constant support in mine and so many other peoples journeys. I hope you are well, Mickey Xx

Hi MickeyM,

Don't worry, I reply to myself frequently. I am delighted to hear that you have taken a few days away and hope that you are enjoying yourself. This is the best thing you could have done.

I hope that you get an appointment with plastics soon and that you won't have too long to wait for surgery. It would be great if your reconstruction can be done at the same time. Do you know what type of reconstruction you are going to have yet?

I am always here for you.

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, 

I had a lovely break, thank you - it was the right thing. 
 

Ive had a phone call today to see the plastic surgeon on a Friday morning before his clinic opens. He's coming in early to fit me in. My choice is the diep flap (if choice is the right word), but you know what I mean. 
 

Can you recommend any good sites to start looking for bras/ night wear for hospital / post surgery? 
 

Thank you for your ongoing support and I hope all is good with you. 
 

hugs Mickey xx 

Hi MickeyM,

I am delighted to hear that you enjoyed your break. It is also good to hear that you have your appointment with plastics on Friday morning, so not much longer to wait.

There are a number of sites which offer post surgery bras, but I never found any there were good for front opening nightwear. There are selections of sexier bras on some of these sites, but you will find them considerably more expensive than some of the high street stores. Marks and Spencer have some bras in their bigger stores and Asda offer some on line. Other on line companies are 

Nicola Jane for Bras, Swimwear, Breast Forms, nicolajane.com

Amoena:  Amoena.com

Anita: Anita.com

Royce: www.royce-lingerie.co.uk/ 

Women's Zone for Swimwear: https://woman-zone.co.uk/

There are lots of companies that supply lingerie and swimwear on line. Just look up Post-surgery or post-mastectomy wear.

Some of the companies mentioned at the begining will send you a catalogue if you contact them.

Other shors which claim to stock some stock are Selfridges, and John Lewis.

I found it easier to buy my nightwear from the high street.

Hope this helps.

Jolamine xx

Hi MickeyM,

I am delighted to hear that you enjoyed your break. It is also good to hear that you have your appointment with plastics on Friday morning, so not much longer to wait.

There are a number of sites which offer post surgery bras, but I never found any there were good for front opening nightwear. There are selections of sexier bras on some of these sites, but you will find them considerably more expensive than some of the high street stores. Marks and Spencer have some bras in their bigger stores and Asda offer some on line. Other on line companies are 

Nicola Jane for Bras, Swimwear, Breast Forms, nicolajane.com

Amoena:  Amoena.com

Anita: Anita.com

Royce: www.royce-lingerie.co.uk/ 

Women's Zone for Swimwear: https://woman-zone.co.uk/

There are lots of companies that supply lingerie and swimwear on line. Just look up Post-surgery or post-mastectomy wear.

Some of the companies mentioned at the begining will send you a catalogue if you contact them.

Other shors which claim to stock some stock are Selfridges, and John Lewis.

I found it easier to buy my nightwear from the high street.

Hope this helps.

Jolamine xx

Thank you Jolamine, you're a star and really helpful as always. I definitely want front opening bras also, my frozen shoulder is so sore and I know my arms will get even worse post surgery. I have an apt for the frozen shoulder so that's good, hopefully I can start some improvement after that. I'll keep you posted. Hugs Mickey xx 

Hi MickeyM,

The main thing to remember after surgery is to make sure to do your exercises regularly. Your frozen shoulder is something you could do without right now, but here's hoping that your appointment for that will help.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thank you Jolamine, It seems the letter from orthopaedic hospital was just to let me know I'm on the waiting list for the frozen shoulder. Hopefully. I'll get an appointment soon.  I will make sure I know what exercises I need to do and do them, so thank you for that tip also. I'll keep you posted. Hugs Mickey xx 

Hi MickeyM,

I hope that you get an appointment through soon. My hubby has been on the waiting list for physio since January. Last week he received a letter telling him that he would get a phone consultation soon. What good is that for someone who is having real difficulty in walking?

Take care.

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, I'm so sorry to hear about your husbands difficulty walking and horrendous waiting times for physio. That must be so hard for him and you also. I really hope the phone consultation is soon and that he then gets fast tracked for the physio and any other treatment(s) he needs. Sending positivity to you and your family. Mickey xx 

Hi MickeyM,

Thank you.

Regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, I just wondered if your husband has had his phone consultation yet? Here's hoping. 
 

Just an update - I had an upsetting first consultation with the plastic surgeon yesterday and my sister came with me and we both left a bit distraught. In brief, it was like he hadn’t read a thing and was trying to convince me to choose every option other than the diep I had already agreed. Then he tried to just send me away and it was far worse than this, but in short I had to get quite s**ty and say I was expecting a date for surgery and not accepting this avoidance drivel … I had to insist he sent me for photos because he couldn’t be bothered to fill in the form and he hadn’t even organised any MRI I need (likely two week wait). I was clear that I expect a date before Christmas as this is what I have always been told. 

I said I was not prepared to be wasting more weeks delays on other things. The plastics BCN said she had no time to see me that day and has booked for me to see her next Friday (what a waste of time that will probably be).  
 

I rang my other BCN later and she did call me back last night and said now she knew the photos had been taken that she would work on pushing it forward and making sure it's heard again at next weeks MDT.  Six weeks til Christmas Day and so time is short. 
 

Please keep your fingers crossed for me Jolamine. 
love Mickey xx ️

Hi MickeyM,

After 11 months of waiting my husband got a letter yesterday, telling him that he will have a telephone consultation with the physiotherapist in December. 

I am so sorry to hear about the disgraceful way you were treated when you saw your consultant. I am glad that you had your sister with you and that you were able to stand up for yourself. I had problems like this with my first consultant too and it is so frustrating at a time when your emotions are already running high.

It is hard to believe that an MRI hadn't even been arranged and that you had to fight to get your photos taken. You were quite right to state that you expected it all to be done and dusted by Christmas as you were originally led to believe that it would and I hope, that he has at least taken this on board.

Here's hoping that your visit to the plastics nurse next week won't be so traumatic. Your breast care nurse seems more helpful and she's a good person to keep on side. Unfortunately, a number of people have had experiences like this and not all are able to stick to their guns.

I shall certainly be keeing everything crossed for you  and hope that your experiences over the next few weeks are a big improvement on this one.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, I guess that's some progress that at least your husband will definitely get a phone consultation next month. I really hope that then starts to move things forward for him so that he starts having a better quality of movement and life. 
Thank you for your support, I really did feel like I was going back to square one.  As per your experience (thank you for sharing), I feel a bit emotionally raw and overwhelmed with it all now. I will stick to my guns though, I realise that their agenda is totally different to mine and I keep telling myself that I have to live with what happens next. 
The BCN has said she'll make some enquiries and get back to me tomorrow evening - I do know she'll do her best. 
I'll keep you posted, thanks again Mickey xx  

Hi Mickey,

It is so disheartening when you have an experience such as you've had. It is awful when you feel that your life is being taken over by others, albeit in a well meaning way and you don't have any control of it. I found this very difficult and, had to change surgeons after 11 months, as I had absolutely no faith in my consultant. That was the best thing that I ever did. You are quite right that it is your body and you have to live with the consequences, so why shouldn't you have a say?  These were my thoughts too, but I didn't make myself popular by voicing them.

I hope that the BCN will get back to you tomorrow evening with some positive news. I am always here for you Mickey. If I miss a post don't hesitate to contact me again, as I tend to dot around the forum and can easily miss a post when I'm on another thread.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx