Was just told that I have breast cancer

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waytooanxiousmommy
waytooanxiousmommy Member Posts: 144
edited November 2017 in Just Diagnosed

I am waiting for biopsy results but doctor said he is sure from ultrasound. He said lymph nodes don't look enlarged. How likely is it that it spread to lymph nodes? I know that they can't know for sure until they do the sentinel node thing. I am scared. I don't know what to do. He said he doesnt think its early stage from size of lump

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  • edwards750
    edwards750 Member Posts: 3,761
    edited November 2017

    I’m sure you are anxious. We can all relate to your fear and anxiety.

    Nothing is certain until the biopsy results come back but doctors have seen enough cases to give an educated guess. Having said that they have been surprised by the findings sometimes for the better/worse.

    Try not to stress about it. I know easier said than done. Stay busy if you can so you don’t dwell on it.

    If it is cancer it’s not the death sentence it was anymore.

    Keep the faith and keep us posted.

    Diane

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  • DancingElizabeth
    DancingElizabeth Member Posts: 415
    edited November 2017

    Hi there - please know this is the worst part!!! I was in your shoes in April of 2016 and remember it vividly.

    If it helps, mine was enormous, over 6 cm. Plus in my lymph nodes - too.

    BUT - I am still here!! Very much alive and kicking and my scans were good (knock on wood)...

    I'm sorry that you are here...but glad you found us...(((hugs))))

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  • Michelle_in_cornland
    Michelle_in_cornland Member Posts: 1,689
    edited November 2017

    Your nodes look good, and that is something to hang onto right now. The rest they won't know until biopsy and surgery. We have all been in your shoes and will be here for your journey.

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  • waytooanxiousmommy
    waytooanxiousmommy Member Posts: 144
    edited November 2017

    I guess I feel sure its cancer. I somehow knew that it was. I went to the doctor right away but the hospital where I had the imaging didnt even mark it as suspicious and no one called me. I made an appointment to see the Dr or else I never would have found out that I needed a biopsy. That makes me mad because the oncologist said it was cancer within 10 seconds. If he could tell right away then the radiologist should have known too.

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  • waytooanxiousmommy
    waytooanxiousmommy Member Posts: 144
    edited November 2017

    Thanks scared67. If you made it then I hope I will too

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  • waytooanxiousmommy
    waytooanxiousmommy Member Posts: 144
    edited November 2017

    Michelle. Do you know if nodes looking good means anything? I guess I cant have any certainity until they do more tests :(

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  • GrendelDog
    GrendelDog Member Posts: 22
    edited November 2017

    Hi Anxious -

    The lymph nodes looking good is a good thing. That means that, clinically, there is no indication of cancer having spread to the nodes. This doesn't mean that is hasn't spread, as you know, but if it has, it hasn't grown enough to be detectable by feel and imaging. This is good. How likely is it to have spread to the nodes?? Impossible to say at this point as we don't know anything about the features of the potential cancer (grade, size, etc). Do you have any info from the imaging reports that tells you how big it looks like it is?

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  • Michelle_in_cornland
    Michelle_in_cornland Member Posts: 1,689
    edited November 2017

    The fact that the radiologist told you your nodes look good, is a very, very positive start. The fact that your nodes are small, probably means they are not involved - which is great!! My friend is breast cancer diagnostic radiologist and I have learned a few hints from her. Try not to fret until you known what you are fretting about.

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  • waytooanxiousmommy
    waytooanxiousmommy Member Posts: 144
    edited November 2017

    I don't know if its accurate but US said lump was 1.6 cm. The doctor said it wasnt early stage. I am feeling frustrated. The radioalogist didn't call my doctor or say that it was highly suggestive of malignancy but this doctor did an ultrasound and right way he knew it was cancer. Also biopsy done today and results not until next Wednesday. They said dec 1st and I pushed back so they said next wed. I dont feel like they are taking care of me and will call other hospitals tomorrow

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  • lovepugs77
    lovepugs77 Member Posts: 296
    edited November 2017

    waytooanxiousmommy, I'm sorry you've had to join us here, but this is a great place for support. Everyone here has been where you are now.

    I can't speak for anyone else, but for me, the hardest time emotionally was the time between my first biopsy and my diagnosis. It is scary, and hard to find other things to focus on. Try to keep busy if you can.

    I hope this turns out to be a false alarm for you

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  • waytooanxiousmommy
    waytooanxiousmommy Member Posts: 144
    edited November 2017

    Thank you. I think I will feel better once I have a doctor I like and I know whats going on. I am anxious and very sad right now. I guess I have accepted that it is cancer

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  • lovepugs77
    lovepugs77 Member Posts: 296
    edited November 2017

    Sometimes it takes a little time to get all of the biopsy results back. Mine took about a week, but the hormone receptor results for one of my tumors took an extra week.

    Finding a doctor you like and are comfortable with is important

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  • waytooanxiousmommy
    waytooanxiousmommy Member Posts: 144
    edited November 2017

    Thanks lovepus77 The support is really helpful. My feelings are all over the place

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  • Luckynumber47
    Luckynumber47 Member Posts: 397
    edited November 2017

    Is it possible that your dr said it IS early stage? For a tumor under 2 cm with no positive nodes you should be stage 1, or if dcis thenstage 0 ( if the results aren’t benign) You’ll know the grade and hormone receptors when the biopsy results come in.

    Sounds like a good idea to start lining up second opinions. It’s important to advocate for yourself.

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  • waytooanxiousmommy
    waytooanxiousmommy Member Posts: 144
    edited November 2017

    It said 1.6 cm on the report from the mammogram department but the doctor was it was a medium sized lump so I am not sure if he thought it was bigger when he did the ultrasound. The radiology department didn't even flag it as suspicious so maybe they don't know what they are doing. I suppose this is making me sad and anxious that two different people looking at my ultrasound saw two different things. I think its cancer though. I think the doctor (oncology surgeon) is right

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  • Mamaoftwo2009
    Mamaoftwo2009 Member Posts: 3
    edited November 2017

    I’ve had two radiologists tell me after two biopsies that they were sure I had cancer based on my images and both of those turned out to be benign so you never know until the biopsy results come back. Before those I did have a biopsy that came back as DCIS. Hopefully if you do have cancer it is an early stage. Waiting is for sure the hardest part. Hugs

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  • waytooanxiousmommy
    waytooanxiousmommy Member Posts: 144
    edited November 2017

    Thanks Mamoftwo2009. I am freaking out and feel sure that I have cancer. It would be nice to be in the minority and have it not be that but I think the liklihood is very high or else he would not have told me in was cancer. I am freaking out, It seems like these appointments are taking so long.

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  • NoWhyToIt
    NoWhyToIt Member Posts: 87
    edited November 2017

    There are indicators but no certainty until a biopsy is done. Make one rule for yourself: don't suffer through what ifs. Only suffer what is a known fact. Also I want to second the view above that 1.6 cm and small nodes are not indicators of late stage disease. Stage 1-3 is early stage with Breast Cancer and so far...doesn't look like anything but early stage. Take a breath. Think positively and know that many of us have gotten through it and the odds are in your favor, too.

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  • waytooanxiousmommy
    waytooanxiousmommy Member Posts: 144
    edited November 2017

    I will try NoWhyToIt. Anxiety tends to get the better of me :(

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  • GreenEyes81
    GreenEyes81 Member Posts: 389
    edited November 2017

    When are yuo expecting your results? I am hoping your doctor is wrong. And if not, per a different thread you posted on consider a 2nd opionon. An over eager doctor is just as dangouras as an un expirenced one. Hugs! Waiting is for sure the worse....and there is a lot of it.


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  • waytooanxiousmommy
    waytooanxiousmommy Member Posts: 144
    edited November 2017

    Thanks GreenEyes81. I had the biopsy on Monday and will get the results next week Wednesday. I do have a second opinion on that day as well. I appreciate the good wishes. I have a question, after the biopsy I noticed that my palpable lump has become a lot smaller. Is that because he took a lot of tissue? I do not know exactly what kind of biopsy it was. It didn't hurt but I have bruising and bleeding. I am guessing it was a core needle biopsy

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  • GreenEyes81
    GreenEyes81 Member Posts: 389
    edited November 2017

    glad to hear you have a second opinion schedule, that is awesome. My three tumors were actually too small the feel no one ever felt them they were only found on imaging so I’m not sure on being smaller. However when I have my surgery my surgeon was not able to physically feel two of the lumps when removing my breast. He said that is most likely because of the biopsy they were so small they took most of the lump through the testing. Guessing it’s the same for you :-)

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  • waytooanxiousmommy
    waytooanxiousmommy Member Posts: 144
    edited November 2017

    Thanks Green Eyes. How are you feeling now? Seems like your diagnosis was not too long ago. My lump is medium sized but it feels a lot smaller now post biopsy.

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  • GreenEyes81
    GreenEyes81 Member Posts: 389
    edited November 2017

    I am doing well! I had surgry on August 9th. Started physical therapy last week to get full range of motion from the mastectomy, should have started sooner just didn't think I needed it. However, it is not painful at all just tight mussells.

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  • stephincanada
    stephincanada Member Posts: 228
    edited November 2017

    Hi there,

    I was told that because my ultrasound and MRI did not show enlarged lymph nodes, there was an 85% chance that my lymph nodes were clear. And my pathology revealed no mets to nodes. It’s agood statistic to hang on to during this stressful time...

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  • Georgia1
    Georgia1 Member Posts: 1,321
    edited November 2017

    Just chiming in that if your lymph nodes don't look or feel enlarged that is a good thing. Also if you are unsure about the care you're getting, insist, and then insist again, on getting copies of your last three mammography reports, the ultrasound report and imaging, and the complete biopsy report. They are your records so don't take no for an answer. And great that you're getting a second opinion.

    I had two tumors and when I went in for surgery they couldn't find the second! So assumed it was completely removed by the biopsy. I know this is all so confusing and strange but hang in there.

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  • waytooanxiousmommy
    waytooanxiousmommy Member Posts: 144
    edited November 2017

    Thank you Goergia1. Its nice to hear the encouraging comments. I am starting to feel like cancer isnt the problem, the issue is my anxiety. So much unknown. It sucks that they are taking so long to diagnose me.

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  • waytooanxiousmommy
    waytooanxiousmommy Member Posts: 144
    edited November 2017

    GreenEyes81, so glad to hear mastectomy wasnt too painful. It al sounds so hard to me but I know I'm not alone. You're all going through this too. Cancer sucks but the support makes it bearable

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  • TaRenee
    TaRenee Member Posts: 464
    edited November 2017

    First thing to do is breathe. These test result waiting periods are the worst and it’s not easy to not worry. I had one set of results after my surgery that took almost three weeks. Try to keep your head on the positives while you wait. Lymph nodes not being involved is great news. And remember, treatment for breast cancer has come a long way. This isn’t an end. Try to stay positive. Continue to advocate for yourself. The right team of doctors makes all the difference

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  • dtad
    dtad Member Posts: 2,323
    edited November 2017

    waytooanxiousmommy...so sorry you are going through this but to start try to remember they have to prove you have BC before you do. Also I don't understand how the doc can say its not early stage. The size of the tumor is within the stage 1 requirements. Hang in there. Good luck and keep us posted.

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