Before you were diagnosed did you "know" already?

I knew the minute I found the lump that it was cancer. Something opened up within me, and it wasn't just fear, it was that I KNEW. It was like something pierced my heart, and I knew what I was facing. That night I had a dream about my beloved grandmother who had passed away 10 years previously. In the dream she told me, "You are not going to die from this." Then her voice got VERY STERN in the dream (in real life it never did) and she told me "Get to the doctor immediately!" That morning I called my doctor, and the rest is history!

Looking back, I had some symptoms that I overlooked. Body odor was a huge one that summer before diagnosis. I NEVER had extreme body odor before, but that summer I did. Only a mother could tell you so, and my mother did - LOL! I would have to change my bra two times per day as my bra would smell bad. Also, that same summer, my cat would sniff my breast and she had never done that previously.

It really isn't accurate at all. I've seen hundreds of women come through the not diagnosed boards convinced and sensing and intuiting and "trusting their guts" that something was wrong when it turned out there wasn't, and often it is the ones who are least likely to have anything seriously wrong based on various factors

Yep... And I "knew" all of the results along the way as well. I also felt like I shouldn't be specific when I was praying about things. Normally I would pray very specifically and directly to the situation, but I kept feeling like I needed to zip my lip. I didn't understand it and a lot of people were asking what I wanted them to pray for. Despite a whole lot of praying for my tests to be benign, everything was cancer. I was the exception to every rule, and it really shook my faith. Then I realized that if my prayers had been answered, then the invasive cancer would have never been found.

In talking with friends much wiser than me I cam e to realistic that for me it was the Holy Spirit revealing these things to me, as He is the revealer of Truth. He was trying to prepare me for what was to come.

-Keely

I didn't feel anything or notice anything out of the ordinary but when I think back now I had lost a lot of weight in a short period of time. I had cut out sugar so I assumed that was the reason. I didn't know for sure until I was called back in after I left the doctor's officeto have another mammo done. I was told the reason was one breast was bigger than the other. End of story. I had never been called back in before - ever. Ironically that day was 2 weeks since my mammo and I remember thinking I hadn't gotten my all clear card in the mail. I wasn't alarmed then.

Maybe some women do have that gut feeling. I have had that same feeling sometimes that something bad is going to happen and unfortunately it has.

Regardless we have been dealt the unlucky draw and have to play the hand we've been dealt.

Diane

No clue. Completely floored.

I knew. I'm in medicine so I've done a lot of breast exams besides my own, which probably was a factor. I was in the shower and felt it and thought, "Oh, that's cancer."

My urine had a weird sweet/fruity smell a few months before ( Jan) I thought I was eating too much sugar. Was going to ask my PCP but got busy and I felt fine. had my regularly scheduled mammogram (Apr) and was asked if I wanted to pay an extra $40 for a 3d since insurance wouldn't pay. I did and was called back for an ultrasound. I asked to see the images and could tell it was cancer even before the biopsy. I had two friends diagnosed with bc in the past 2 years and I thought if it ever happened to me, I would go for a BMX.

I knew immediately. Even though no less than nine doctors had examined me at the same time and had a conference about me. They were quite sure it couldn't possibly be cancer. Eight of them felt it was a fibroid tumor, one thought it was a silicone gel bleed granular tumor. All nine of them were WRONG! I insisted on a lumpectomy and having the silicone implants removed. Since they were certain it was benign, they put me on the surgical waiting list for 9 months while the tumor tripled in size. When I finally got to have surgery the anesthesia didn't work. I was paralyzed but heard and felt EVERYTHING.(pure torture) I will never forget the surgeon saying " oh sh*t!!!! it's cancer!!!! it's three different cancers!!! this is so bizarre!!!! I was laying there in agony thinking I tried to tell you but you all were so smug.

No.

The only thing was that we had been planning a trip for later this year, and I was always saying 'the plan is to go' not 'when we go', but it was a big trip we were planning and a lot had to fall in place to be able to go.

In the three weeks between finding the lump and getting the diagnosis I had logically deduced that the only thing it could be was cancer. I was just hoping there was something I had missed, because I didn't really think it would be.

I can't even begin to tell you how many women have come thru here "knowing" they had cancer, and then find out they didn't.

And by the same token, how many women thought things were ok, and found out they had cancer.

The ones that seem to "Know" and "know" accurately, are the ones when they get their radiologist report, and in with the input of the radiologist's assessment, have the "know" experience, but again, that is based on actual medical data in conjunction with their "gut"

I forgot to add when I went back in for the second mammo the tech said I would be going home and I could get dressed as in no worries so imagine my shock when the radiologist walked in and said "you arent going to like this it's cancer" and then proceeded to rattle off all these percentages, etc. I knew I shouldn't have put stock in what the tech said but I kind of did. Most of the time they have their game face on. Hadn't had the biopsy yet but I'm sure she had seen enough that she knew. I don't have a clue what she said even to this day. Given that happened it wasn't a surprise that I go THE call the following Tuesday night. The conversation went like this...good evening...by the way you have cancer.

Diane

No clue at all, however, ten years prior to diagnosis I had had a needle biopsy in the same breast that showed ALH. Still, nothing had ever shown up on subsequent screening mammograms until last year.

If everyone who came to these boards "knowing" they had either a new cancer (or a recurrence) before getting their test results actually did have it, the numbers would be much higher. Anyone with a suspicious symptom - especially something like a lump - will suspect cancer. Some will be right.

I knew 24 years ago, when I had a bad mammogram and it was cancer. I knew this time. I had a clear mammo just 7 months earlier, went to ob/gyn even she thought it was an infection, etc, I told her I think it's cancer. It was stage iii ibc and idc. So those that say most think they know and they are wrong, I say some peoples guts are accurate. Unfortunately mine has been.

I also feel, that self exam and being in tune with my body is what has saved me. If I had waited until my next mammo, I possibly would have been even further along.

Yes sweetie i knew also as i showered that mornin i felt the lump, and i Just Knew at the time i worked at a clinic before that 15yrs in Operating Room. i Just Knew but when i heard the diagnosis it still knocked me diwn i was 42 and planning Our 2nd wedding. But God i am now a 22yr Survivor i was nevwr meant to die but to INSPIRE. others with HOPE. GOD BLESS US ALL.😘 msphil idc stage 2 Lmast chemo and rads and 5 yrs on tamoxifen