Worried - wish I had asked this

hello all, and thank you for reading.

All of this just started for me, I have spent several days this week doing lots of testing, exams, consultations, etc.

I go in next week for a biopsy.

They found calcification in one breast that they want to watch. The other one - the one I was being seen for, they thought was Padget's. I have had something like 6-10 mammograms (lost count) and ultrasounds on that breast. They still want a biopsy, but my impression is that they didn't find anything in particular with the mammograms and ultrasounds.

I took that to mean that even if it IS Padget's it has not progressed to lymph nodes or anywhere else. Just about the time the office closed for the weekend, it hit me that I probably should have asked specifically and not assumed. So of course, now I've managed to worry myself, and I had been managing to stay pretty calm about all of it.

Is that a safe assumption, does anyone know? It seems like with multiple mammograms (all over, into the tissue under my arm, and magnification of the area around the nipple) if that has not shown anything, then it likely has not spread? I will feel better waiting on the biopsy if I can at least think this way.

Thank you.

There is no way of knowing that before surgery, regardless of what tests you have. So you may as well put it out of your mind for now - or at least off to the side and try to close the door.

The point you are at now is the hardest part. Most everyone agrees. Knowing that there's "something" there, but not knowing what exactly or what treatment you will need..... Waiting for test results..... So very stressful.

Definitely ask your doc for something for the anxiety, if that would help.

And chatting here with those who have been through the exact same thing, and totally understand..... Priceless.

Hi team (warning long message sorry!)

I can't tell you how many times I've been on this forum and read everyones posts in the last month. Countless. I feel silly joining up as this may all turn out to be a big nothing, however, I read so many encouraging comments and I see a lot of worried women on here just like me.

I am 29, live in New Zealand, solo Mum of 1 amazing 9 year old boy. I have just been referred to a breast specialist due to some changes and now a discovered lump.

It's interesting how it all started, looking back now I think its been a few months my right breast on the outer upper quadrant has been uncomfortable, and just felt weird. I remember at times if my son knocked me on that side, or my arm brushed it, it could be painful, or just feel like something was in there that shouldn't be.

I kept having dreams about a tumor in my right breast, but honestly just put it down to nightmares! I'm a believer in Jesus and I have had a few dreams from God that were spot on, but usually about something encouraging, or usually about something Ive had to do like apologise to a friend etc.

So I ignored the dreams. THEN I broke out in a staph skin infection under my right armpit. Of all places. As I was talking to my Mum on the phone about what a pain it was to have an infection in that area I mentioned my breast issues, which lead to the doctor visit.

Ultrasound was clear, it showed "prominent but normal looking fibrous tissue". I had it done when I was due for my period and my breast was sore, gigantic and super uncomfortable. You guessed it, they've put it down to possibly being fibrocystic disease.

Then I found the lump. And noticed my nipple getting whiter and flatter, and my aerola getting paler. Can't find ANYTHING online to help work out what that is. It also, at the time I was at the doctors, was super itchy, going red in places...but that has stopped?

Was put on a public waiting list and told it'd be a wait for 6 months, decided to go private.

I have an appointment with B Specialist in about 3 weeks time, I will be demanding a biopsy. I don't care if I have to do it myself! Ha!

You just know when something doesn't feel right don't you? And I honestly see it like this...IF this turns out to be cancer, Jesus was trying to tell me by my dreams...then when I didn't notice, I got the infection, which lead to pursuing answers.

The craziest thing is this....in 2013 I was listening to an amazing worship song (check it out! ) when I started to see a picture in my mind from God, I started to sketch it. I drew a woman stepping out onto the water towards Jesus...when it came to drawing her hair, I stopped, one I can't draw hair well, and 2, she looked perfect the way she was.

I knew in that moment this picture was one of hope for a woman who would have cancer. I even wondered if it could be me! But figured not. So I've held onto it thinking I would gift it to someone. But despite woman having cancer in our church, they didn't feel like the right person....if this turns out be cancer, then Jesus has pre warned me, and given me a message of hope and an amazing testimony of how He knows all things and is above all things!

In the picture the girl is side on, as I'm not the best artist...so she is showing her profile..meaning I only drew one breast...the right.

Dun dun dunnnnnn.

Have to admit if this turns out to be BC that's a pretty darn freaking cool story right there.

Wish me luck, and if you are the praying type, please just pray they won't look at me as a young one and brush me off, please pray they will listen to my worries and concerns and that I will get the answers I need!

I'm guessing no one has an answer for my last question?

Just changing the dressings, washing the area, and doing what I did before. I hope it's ok to wash it with stitches.

thank you, awb.

I've been washing it just by running water, as you mentioned. Gauze pads stick, and they told me to use something that doesn't stick. Telfa does too though. They put a gauze pad soaked with some kind of medication that made it not stick. I can't find them in the store, so I've been coating Telfa pads with antibiotic ointment since yesterday, and putting that over it. It seems to be working well. It's still bleeding a good bit, but it's been bleeding for a long time. I guess the extra pain is because of the biopsy itself, but it's slowly getting better. I think by tomorrow I will feel much better.

Thank you for replying.

Thanks AnnieMae! Doesn't sound like you're having much of a fun time at the moment!!!

I just discovered my breast is denting in where the lump is. Craptastic. Going to call specialist in the morning and see if they can bump my appointment to a closer date than 3 weeks away!

Praying for fast healing on your biopsy site, and good news x