Devastated and scared

Nursemom63

Hi. Just got second mammo and ultrasound with record of a "2cm spiculated mass highly suggestive for malignancy". First abnormal mammo in 22 years of going every year. I'm 62; an active night shift nurse with no positive cancer history other than I was adopted at birth so I don't know my family history. I've never smoked, drank, used birth control pills; breastfed by 2 babies for several months when they were born; also followed vegetarian diet for many many years. Have a vacuum biopsy scheduled for December 20. My emotions are a wreck. I'm scared beyond belief. How could a possibly malignant mass appear in one years' time

pupmom

I was diagnosed 10 days before my 62nd birthday, and I'm still here, 6+ years later, kicking hard! As a nurse you know this is scary news, but it is not a death sentence. I think mammos miss a lot of suspicious masses, until they don't. My mammo one year before dx did not catch it. Best wishes!

Georgia1

Hi Nursemom. I'm 59 and had the same shock with my diagnosis. Felt I was super healthy, all mammograms clean every year. But the truth is that just getting older increases your risk, and luckily breast cancer caught early is very treatable.

Your biopsy report will be definitive, and will give you the information you need to make a plan and move forward. We've all been there so please call on us for any help you need.

chronicpain

Nursemom63. I am so sorry to see you here. I very much understand your emotions, as health professionals are used to being on the other end of the suffering they see and think if they take care of themselves they are ok, .

It is a long time until your biopsy and your emotions are a mess. Do you feel you can work without compromising quality of patient care, i.e., find work is a good distraction? If not can you take sick leave starting now, plus perhaps get some sedatives from primary care and start doing a little research and mood calming work, and plan with family for what would happen if you need surgery, chemo, rads, just collect your thoughts.

Best wishes for a benign or low-grade result,

CP

Liryll

I feel your pain and frustration.  I was dx in October and had my lumpectomy on 12/6/17.  I will get my results tomorrow.  This can all seriously mess with your head.  I had no family history and clean mammos for my whole life.  I just started talking on here two weeks ago and have found all the women here to be so supportive and helpful.  Many suggestions are given for ways to cope and calm down and I follow them as best I can.  One just has to let go of all the stress in some way, whatever works for you.  Some go back to work soon and it keeps their mind off the craziness.  Some are not ready to do that but choose to do relaxing and mood altering work on themselves.  Whatever you do, it will be right for you.  I wish you the best on your results!!