Hi JulesF,

May I first of all offer a warm welcome to you on this your first visit to the Forum. I doubt that this will be of any consolation to you, but just wanted to let you know that your reaction is perfectly normal. When we hear the word cancer, our heads go into a spin and all kinds of strange emotions pass through our heads. It is perfectly normal to experience a whole raft of different emotions such as anger, denial, worry about children and partners, desolation, crying, coping with treatment, etc.

It is early days still and I presume that you have not had any results from your MRI, Ultrasound and biopsies yet. There are a number of different types and stages of breast cancer. Once you know exactly what you are dealing with it becomes a little easier to cope. At this stage you can plan your treatment and start to move forward.

It is a good idea to take a list of questions with you to your appointments and also to bring someone with you to all of your consultations.  I  see that your next appointment is 5th January, so not too long to wait now.

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

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi JulesF and welcome to our community.

There is no doubt that waiting for results is really hard. So many thoughts go through your mind, and you feel like you're on an emotional roller coaster.  However, we've all been through this same mill and we're here when you need to talk to someone.

You shouldn't pay too much attention to comments made by the radiographer; he or she will be more concerned with getting the best possible images. I'm not a doctor but I just did some checking and it appears that calcifications are fairly common in women of a certain age.

I agree with Jolamine that you need to take someone with you when you go to your appointment on January 5. If it is bad news you'll probably be in shock so you should tell that other person in advance to ask about the details of the cancer including the TNM staging, whether it has any particular receptors for certain drugs, whether more tests are needed, and what the suggested course of treatment should be. (As a cancer patient you'll soon get familiar with concepts like TNM and receptors). Ask for these to be written down so you don't forget.  Once you have these details, you'll be able to find people in this community with similar results and you can then share their experiences. 

Of course, we're all hoping that it won't come to that and everything will be clear. Please let us know how you get on. 

Hi jules hope your okay, im in a similar situation, im so so scared, my son is 3 years old and im so worried im not going to see him grow up x

Nothing but prayers and positive thoughts to you and your family.  I'm in the same situation....going mad with anxiety while I wait for further testing and then again for results.  Best of luck to you and please post the outcome.

Hi MamaK

Personally, I think it helps to tell your friends and family what you're going through. I think you should share with them what's happening.

My husband knows I am scared but he is pretty much always calm and just tells me things will be okay and not to dwell on it.  Easier said than done.  I cannot talk to my other family manners.... my mother passed away last year, my brother 5 years ago.... can’t put my father, aunts, uncles, grandparents through the worry.  I’m sill losing weight.... no appetite... not sure at this point if it’s from feeling ill or because I have myself so upset thinking about how my children need me and I’m so uncertain about what these tests will reveal.  I know so many on this forum understand the agony of waiting for news which is why I’m here.  Cancer is scary and I just wish treatment advances, cures, and new options would come faster so it wasn’t so terrifying to face.

Hi MamaK

When you're waiting for results, food turns into ashes in your mouth, and even swallowing is a chore. I find this neat little video helpful.  Watch it in full first time, but when you need it again, start it 2 minutes in:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6eFFCi12v8

Thank you.  That was a great video and it is practical.... I do work full time and have a family to care for on top of this worry so meditation would be a good idea.  I can’t stop looking at the results of my initial CT....it worries me that my nodes were abnormal.... I’m having pain in one lung on and off and a little bit of cough but not major.  My hip bone hurts a lot too but that just may be from lugging my son around on it. I had blood drawn on Friday and I’m scheduled to the repeat chest CT on January 12 and the doctor is supposed to call when I can schedule the abdominal CT.... that test requires prior authorization.  Seems like an eternity. 

You can play the video as often as you need.