Cancer Research UK main site

Intro - just got diagnosed today

TwinTwo
Offline

Hi all,

Not sure how this works but just wanted to say "hello".  I'm 41, identical twin, Scottish but live with my husband in Jersey.

Saw GP for a lump a couple of weeks ago. She wasn't concerned but referred me to start early screening due to possible family history. I thought the lump had gone but had breast clinic on Tuesday where I was referred for mammogram and biopsy, and he asked for a cancellation rather than wait 2 weeks to get seen. Hospital phoned this morning to say the oncologist had my referral but no cancellations, so could I go there asap prepared to wait all morning and he'd squeeze me in.

I twigged he was doing a second biopsy on my underarm. So he says I've got cancer and it's a case of waiting for the biopsy results to see if it's already spread. He also said they'll want to operate but that's all we know until the biopsy comes back. Apparently I'll get another breast clinic appointment for next week.

So that's about it.  Wasn't quite how I thought my week was going to go when I had my two days off at the start of the week but them's the breaks.

We've been through this twice now with my mum, and I'm a scientist (albeit Maths but I've studied a lot of biology and chemistry too) so my main concern really is my twin and how she's feeling.  Unfortunately we're about 500 miles apart.

That's all for now.

LJ

  • Offline

    Hi,

    I am new to this too and really don't know how to respond, but feel I should so you know someone has listened. I am hoping and praying for you. I am 43 and found a lump 2 weeks ago, my doctor put me on antibiotics  for matistis (I was unaware you could get that without breastfeeding, and the last time I breastfed was  over 8 years ago) but having 'googled' it is apparently possible and i also found out things I didn't want to read and it sent me into a spin..  I was told by my doctor to take the 7 day course of antibiotics and go back and see her regardless, my appointment is tomorrow and the lump is still there. 

    Wishing you well xx

    Have you told your twin? You need support and I am sure your sister would not be happy if you kept this from her, she will support you xx

  • Offline in reply to charlie43
    Hi Charlie, thanks for the reply. Sorry you're going through this too. Sounds like we kind of got hit at the same time and we're a similar age. I've had a case of mastitis before and I don't even have kids, it's just one of those things. Google is only your friend if you're careful what you look at, and even then it can just catch you out sometimes. I have told my twin, she's the first person to get to know anything, but I hate that I can't be there for her to see that I'm okay. All being well (surgery date dependent) I'm visiting her and my nephew the first week in June and I really don't want that to be put off as it's really hard to get from mine to hers so it can't happen very often. I'm missing the wee man growing up cause he's still at that age where it's really fast. Anyway, I'm going to go for an early night, think today has wiped me out more than I thought. Best wishes for tomorrow, I'll be thinking of you. I never respond well to antibiotics so I'm used to things dragging on longer than the GP claimed and I'm hoping that's what it is for you, for whatever reason the mastitis is being a bit more stubborn. And your GP will no doubt have taken other symptoms into account to come to the conclusion of mastitis so best to try and keep positive just now. Mind you I remember it all too well and it was very unpleasant. Fingers crossed for you, let me know how you get on. Thanks for the prayers and hopes, they are appreciated. LJx
  • Offline in reply to TwinTwo
    Hi. Twintwo I was diagnosed both bc in March following routine breast screening. I'm 48. I had two lumpectomys in the same breast and sentinel lymph node removal 3 weeks ago today. I got the results of the path on this earlier this week and they believe they got it all with only micrometastes in the node. The next step for me is oncology on 9th to plan my radiotherapy which will hopefully start in the next couple of weeks. When I was first diagnosed it felt like it was happening to someone else. I've had amazing support on here from other bc ladies...some who have completed treatment, some in the middle and some just starting out like yourself. Hopefully a few will pop along to say hi. It has certainly helped me get through.....and you do get through. You can do this. Charlie good luck at your gp appointment today. I know that for twintwo her lump has unfortunately been diagnosed as bc, but a vast majority of lumps are benign conditions and I just hope that this is the outcome for you. Waiting to find out is a horrible time and it's the subject of a lot of the posts on here. We are here if needed. Good luck to you both x
  • Offline in reply to Cornishpastie
    Thanks Cornish. And yes, I should have pointed out to Charlie that I've had a few lumps investigated before and they've all turned out to be nothing. The statistics are on your side Charlie :-) Sorry about your diagnosis Cornish but it's great that it sounds like your treatment is going really well. My mum's first bc they treated with lumpectomy and radiotherapy, I remember going along to the radiotherapy with her and she always seemed well during that time. I seem to be very like my mum chemically so I've always had this feeling in the background that I would go the same way as her and get bc quite young, I think that feeling over the years has helped prepare me in a way. I do want to have a good cry at some point as it feels weird that I haven't but maybe that will come with the biopsy results (i.e. when everything 'starts to move'). I'm not someone who cries much but I'm well aware that a good cry can be very cathartic so I might watch a sad film to get me going. Oddly I'm not that concerned in terms of prognosis, I think just being through this twice so closely with my mum (both times she was told it was likely to be unbeatable) I stopped seeing bc as a death sentence many years ago. I guess at the moment I'm angry at the timing, I'm in the last month of working my notice at my current job (pushed out by sexual harassment and discrimination, loved the job just not the manager) and start a new job in June. Obviously now I don't know how that's going to work, if at all, they might not want me now. I'm also newly married to a very sensitive Italian guy and I worry for him. There's the added complication if I end up on chemo (which I was told is highly likely) because I'm on drugs for Bipolar and also severe hypertension, so if I start vomiting such that the drugs aren't getting into my system I've got real problems with conditions I spent years getting on top of. But that's all hypothetical until I know more. And regardless of the specific diagnosis I know having it will be empowering for me as I can then act. Thanks for your kind words and best wishes for Wednesday! LJx This does seem like a great place for support.
  • Offline in reply to TwinTwo

    Good morning ladies, I had two lumps and margin removed yesterday as a day case. Feeling sore this morning but also relieved they have gone. My core biopsies came back inconclusive and the decision was made rather than wait and see to get rid. I now have to wait for results. The ladies on here have helped so much and really does make you feel that you are not alone 

    Julie x 

  • Offline in reply to Beachbabe

    Hi Julie,

    Thanks for the reply.  Great that they've moved quickly and been proactive, will keep my fingers crossed (except when typing obviously!) for the results to be good.  It really is helpful talking to people who are there at the same time, even though I know lots of people who have been through it in the past, there's just something about people currently feeling what you're feeling.

    Did they put your under for the removal?  Is there any option to have it done under local?  I am particularly good with pain (constant since I was 13 and also get hemiplegic migraines and ice pick headaches) but not good at all with general anaesthetic.  Last surgery I had was minor but they spent 8 hours trying to bring me back round as my blood pressure just wouldn't rise to a survivable level.  That problem has increased with every surgery I've had and my husband and I decided that would be my last surgery unless it was life or death.

    LJx

  • Offline in reply to TwinTwo

    Totallly agree with you talking to people going through it helps as although friends and family are being great they don’t understand how you are really feeling. 

    I was put to sleep but took 5 attempts to put cannula in. Wasn’t given a choice but don’t think I would have wanted to be awake. I also take a long time to come round. I went down about 2.30 and back in ward about 4.45 x 

  • Offline in reply to TwinTwo

    Hi there twin two ... 

    So sorry you've found yourself on this journey of ours ... I had no family history of breast cancer, even with large extended family .... And just had an auntie diagnosed and had masectomy and radiotherapy just compleated .... And we're doing good ... It's one of the hardest things you'll go through and feelings all over the place, but if you can squeeze in some light hearted times too, they will get you through ..

    It's about getting feelings in balance ... A little bit of everything ... Then when you feel ready, get a pair of vertual boxing gloves, and get in that ring, and give cancer punch for punch ... It doesn't want us to feel strong, it wants us to crumble and stay down ... So even when things feel hard, and you feel nothing's going well, close your eyes, imagine us all in that boxing ring with you, knocking cancers *** ... 

    We'll cournish is an amazing lass and she's the best one to help you through ... Even when she was having and strait after op she was on here helping others ...  She hasn't got a clue, just how wonderful she is ... Cancer doesn't want us holding each other up ... It's got a shock with us lot ... So sending you a vertual hug ... You can do this ...  Chrisie x

  • Offline in reply to Chriss

    Thanks Chriss,

    Sounds like there are lots of stars on here.  Sorry too that you're going through this, and your aunt as well!!!!  Rough time for the family.  Have a virtual hug back from me.

    I'm genuinely fine just now, I cannot help but go by statistics and they're on my side for the moment.  Just back from a shift at work and managed fine with that too.  Not keen on all the sympathy and worried faces but I get that people need to be that way and I suspect they maybe think I'm coping 'too well' or something.  Annoyingly the boss that sexually harassed me is being all nice and trying to seem supportive!!!!!  Grrrrrr, thankfully I've become an expert at not having to talk to him any more than absolutely necessary :-D

    The hardest part is going to be if it messes with my medication for Bipolar or hypertension but I'm sure I'll cope.

    I'm keen to meet with my new boss, explain the situation so he has the option to offer the job to someone else, but don't really feel it's wise to do that till I know what kind of treatment I'm going to be on, so hopefully next week I can arrange to see him.

    Anyway, it's been a long shift today, and on the way home I found a dying cat by the roadside and had to stay with it while the animal shelter sent someone out (sadly it died before they got to us).  So it hasn't exactly been the best evening, but some poor person or family is about to get bad news about their beloved cat so I can't complain.

    Take care and thanks for the positive and motivational words.

    LJx

  • Offline in reply to TwinTwo
    Hi Like you I don’t do sympathy, I don’t do ill either so this is really hard. After I had been to hospital and had biopsies I decided to turn it into something positive and put on my fb page about people checking themselves because if I hadn’t I wouldn’t have never found the first lump. The amount of people who then messaged me to say they don’t check but will now was scary. The support I have been given from work has been overwhelming to say the least. If my results do come back not good it better be ready for a fight because I love life and as someone else has put on here and it has stuck in my head the boxing gloves will be put on. Sending you a big hug Julie x

Speak to a nurse

Quick links

Follow us

Registered with Fundraising Regulator (logo)
Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F). Registered address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ.