Hi there ..

I wouldn't worry too much, as they like to get as much info as possible .. it takes a couple of weeks as normal, as they have a weekly pow wow ... with all members of the oncology team .. they go through every result and decide between them the best way forward ..

Breast cancer has come a long way... I started on here, nearly 3 years ago , like you , and started chatting to 5 or 6 others with it .. all different stages and treatments... mine was a grade 3 her 2 neg oestrogen positive lump... and I had a total right masectomy,  as I wanted it out .. as I'm in my 60s it was an easy decision for me .. 

Well all those ladies that stared with me, are all still here, and gone back to their life post cancer... so hold on in there .. I'll send you a pair of pink vertual boxing gloves... then you get in the ring ready to kick it's ***... wer all there with you .. though it's o,k to feel scared too .. and to cuss at cancer .. get it all out, then jump back in the ring and go another round ... big vertual hug right back at ya ... Chrissie xx

I was diagnosed with lobular breast cancer last July, which was also grade 2. Lobular cancer forms differently to ductal cancer and doesn't tend to show up on a mammogram. I had to have an MRI scan too. It's so they can get a more accurate picture of how big the tumour is. On the ultra sound mine was 12mm but then the MRI showed it was quite a bit bigger at 35mm. Try not to worry - they just need a more accurate picture of the cancer.

caroline x

Thank you Chrissie & Caroline. 

Very kind of you to share your experiences.  It is good to know  you are both doing fine now. 

May I ask how long the lead time was from when you had the MRI scan, to the time you get to see the Consultant and have the surgery please?

Had my mammogram on 17 Jan, core biopsy 29 Jan, biopsy results on 10 Feb, MRI on 17/2 and next appointment is 2 March with the consultant (first meeting with her) ...  This is a long wait in my view.  And by the time surgery is scheduled it will probably be another 2 weeks' time....  all in ca 8 weeks!

It appears that some of you had the surgery within 4/5 weeks from mammogram date, which was quick.  I do understand that they have to follow up each case as it comes, but I also found out that although the MRI report may be ready, they will wait for the radiographer to present at the surgical results clinic (meeting, which is held on Monday at this hospital) with the consultant and team.  Guess I am impatient and expecting things to move a bit quicker...  (no doubt, NHS and the staff are doing a good job).

Thanks again for being the sounding board to me.  I appreciate it very much.

Best wishes x

Hello Caroline. 

Not sure if I am supposed to be writing to you on here? I don’t think I ’get’ how this site works yet. I tried to privatelymessage you but I had to be your ‘friend’ first. How does that work?! 

Anyway your story is identical to mine. Same situation.Same diagnosis. Only difference is you were diagnosed last July  and I was diagnosed last October. 

My tumour was also much bigger than I was originally told  but I didn’t need chemo either. Big relief actually  

Just wondering how you got on with the radiotherapy?  I am only 3 days in . So far so good. I expect it will have an adverse affect in time.  Irony is I haven’t  had a days illness yet apart from the breast  operation recovery time. 

Mentally of course it weighs on me at times. I mostly have good days but there are times I feel as if I am drowning. Do you?? I wonder if I will get  to be 75 ( I am 67 now)  though no one to date has indicated that I am likely to die anytime soon. It’s just the fear and thoughts that go through your head. 

Anyway it would be good to know how your journey is going. I will look forward to hearing from you  

Kebbs x x 

Hi,

My time line looked like this - mammogram and core biopsy done 28 June, cancer confirmed 12 July. MRI scan 2 weeks later. I then went on holiday - which I told the surgeon I wouldn't cancel!! My op was then done after my holiday, on the 15 August. I was warned that if the radiographer couldn't be there, then I would have to wait until Sept for my op. Luckily that didn't happen. The surgeon was the person who I met when my cancer was confirmed. Lovely lady. I should of had a mastectomy but my surgeon is a specialist in doing partial mastectomies with a reconstruction using back tissue, which is what I had. So all pretty quick, time wise but the weeks of waiting truly dragged!!!

Hi Kebbs,

I have sent you a friend request but like you, not sure how it works!! Wow! How bizarre that we travelled the same journey. I was 48 when I was diagnosed (was 49 in Oct). Like you, I've only had time off following my surgery - 2 weeks after initial op, mainly because I couldn't drive for 2 weeks. I then went back to work on the Monday, saw the surgeon for results on the Tuesday, had to go back for more surgery on the Friday!! as my margins weren't clear. Then had another week off - as not allowed to drive. Was signed off for 3 but went back early. I, like you worked through my radiotherapy. I found I was fine until I reached 7 sessions then felt exhausted!! I felt so tired but I was determined not to give in!! Even had a couple of girlie weekends away during the treatment!! Probably didn't help my tiredness :D My skin was also fine, but did actually start to change colour in the week after treatment. Took me a good 2/3 weeks after treatment finished to feel the tiredness lifting. 
Im now on tamoxifen which I battle with taking. I feel that the cancer is all done now and I want to move on but the tamoxifen is a reminder that I'm not finished. I was very adhoc about taking it - I started taking it a week after radio finished but would forget or just didn't bother some days. I even went away for a week over new year and didn't take it with me. I've got better now at taking it but worry if I'll manage 10 years. I'm a very positive person who is determined not to let cancer get the better of me but I do worry quite a lot about it coming back. I find I google aches and pains, I check my boobs constantly and look for any changes. My 6 month check up is in April and Im sure I'll be so nervous by then. My worry is that they will only do a mammogram and not see anything but it will still be there like before!!! But life does go on and it's going to take more than breast cancer to cut mine short!! I won't let it win.

Caroline xx

Hi I was diagnosed last August complete shock I was very upset when I found like every one else I was very tearful and upset but I have tried to be more positive now treatment is completed.ive gone back to work after my radium at first I was tired but that has passed after a month.Trying not to worry but I has a ridge on the affected breast and is waiting to see my surgeon.Best wishes to everyone out there 

Hi there ...

If I'm totally honest, it's all a bit of a blur .. I felt like I'd been put on a rollercoaster... not knowing when or even if I'd ever get off .. I do remember my surgeon got me on a list at the end of his busy operating day .. as I was a grade three .. but how long, I'm not sure ...

I do remember he gave me a week to make up my mind on a few options .. one being full masectomy or lumpectomy... I'm glad I had that week .. as I made the right decision for me ...

But I remember just going with flow, and when things and feelings became overwhelming,  I'd phone McMillan to chat with a nurse .. it always helped .. 

I found not looking ahead and living in the day really helped .. not doing the "what ifs" but dealing with things as and when they came up ..  Chrissie x

Thanks for your reply, Cazrosie.  You had ca 5 weeks from confirmation of diagnosis to surgery, which was pretty fast, considering you had a holiday inbetween!  

Lumpectomy or mastectomy...? Is partical mastecyomy different to lumpectormy?  How did  you decide?  I know from the threads that several decided mastectomy because of age.  Guess I will have to decide once the MRI report is out.

Cazrosie, Chrissie and Caroline and many others - you are God-send!

I trust many out there, like me, have been helped in one way or another, by reading your experiences and advice.    Many, many heartfelt thanks again for taking time to reach out to us.  

Best wishes x

Hi,

I wasn't given a choice with which type of surgery but because they had to take a large amount of breast tissue away, I had to have reconstruction done otherwise I would of been lopsided (I only have little boobs). I now have a scar which starts on my back and runs under my armpit and then under my boob. It's still a bit of an odd shape but should settle over the years. 
xx