This is my first post, having worried myself with worse case scenarios after getting my recall letter yesterday.
It was my first mammogram and it hadn't even occured to me that I may be recalled. The appointment is for Monday.
Although I didn't think I had any symptoms/lumps/redness/dimpling etc before the recall letter I now seem to have convinced myself that the right breast is more painful/hot than the left. (I have always had painful breasts that come and go randomly during a monthly cycle, jumping up and down a cup size)
Is it normal to convince ourselves of all sorts of symptoms during the wait for an appointment?
I am completely terrified of what Monday may bring.
x
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mustardandgrey
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When I received my recall letter, like you after my first ever mammogram, I was the total opposite, the word cancer never occurred to me, like you no lumps/bumps or other symptoms, but it was in both breasts, this was September 2013, all subsequent mammograms have been clear, my advice to you would be keep busy over the weekend, don't look at Dr Google, the time to worry is IF you get the worst possible news on Monday, I'll be thinking of you over the coming days xxx
I had many follow-up ultrasounds and repeat mammograms over the years. They simply need better clarity than the initial mammogram provided. Of all the times I was called back, there were no findings of cancer.
It is a horrible time. Its almost impossible to put it out of your head. The leaflets they send with the recall appointment explain that very rarely does a recall mean cancer or something horrible. Try and focus on the good chances it will be nothing to worry about. Hugs Caroline xxxx. PS taking a friend to the appointment might help with the worry. Good luck for Monday
Hi mustard, no you're not silly for every recall I've had I worried. I would look at it as they are being very thorough. Sometimes things show up on mammograms and they have to check it's not anything sinister. I won't say don't worry as I know you will. Try and keep busy this weekend, make sure you don't hide away and dwell over it. My advice for Monday is get there a bit early, take a book/iPad/ kindle and make sure you have a drink and something to eat as I made myself feel sick as didn't eat or drink before mine.
Hopefully it's just them being over cautious but if it is something then it's been spotted and can now be dealt with!
Oh my goodness, just as I was reading "try and keep busy and don't hide away" I realised I am still under the duvet, putting off getting up and doing all the things I should be doing if I wasn't hiding away!!! So...I'm getting up AND going out later
Hi there. I have a lump in the same place in my right breast and have an appointment to check it out tomorrow. I’m sure it’s nothing and you will be ok just like I will be ok. 😎
Well, I've been up since silly-o-clock and have already polished a brown suitcase with black polish and been randomly pottering and pondering on things I shouldn't.
Goodness knows what the neighbours think of the lights on at all hours!
I'm just grateful that the appointment is this morning, and will update later x
Well, it could have been better but could also have been a lot worse.
I have calcifiation cells in one breast, so went straight from extra mammagrams to biopsy, and get he results on Friday.
Although I still have to wait for results I just feel so much better for being able to put a name to it, instead of the limbo bit of waiting and agonising.
They took 8 samples whilst clamped in the vice like grip of the mamo machine, so feeling slightly butchered now, but I'll sleep better tonight xx
Great attitude Mustard! Calcifications aren’t the best, but they may be pre/pre cancer cells... so fingers crossed nothing serious. When do you go back for the results? X
I think we panic and think all sorts. On Monday all was quiet and the journey to the hospital was the longest. It gave me time to think and I got to the point where I thought if it has come back then at least I know what I’m dealing with. Been there before and beat it. I’m sure you will be fine tomorrow. 💕🙏🏽
Well, it wasn't the good news I was hoping for, but I'm clinging on to the fact that it was caught early.
Most of the cell samples came back as pre cancerous and contained within the ducts, which is good, but one sample came back as invasive and breaking out of the duct, which terrifies me.
I'm having a lymph node ultrasound and possible biopsy next week, followed by an operation in four weeks time, three weeks of radio therapy plus 10 years of tamoxyn (spelt wrong!)
Poor you mustard, but you're right, hopefully it's been found early and is contained in the breast. I had similar signs of calcification from my mammogram but I also had a lesion show on the mri scan I had at the same time which was quite aggressive. The biopsy is uncomfortable but in my case was necessary as I had one node involved (I had a full node clearance with my mastectomy and only the one from the sentinel node op was infected thankfully.) After your ultrasound and biopsy you should have the whole picture which makes you feel surprisingly calm as you then know what's coming next.
Radiotherapy isn't too bad, much easier than chemo. And tamoxifen is a pain (literally - achy legs etc) but again is very doable.
It all sounds very early stages so looks treatable. Try not to google, search in here and Macmillan's site is also fab and full of info plus the community forum is very helpful. Keep posting and taking about it as imagine most of us here have been through similar.
You can deal with it, it might not feel like it now .. but you can do it.. just take it all one day at a time ❤️ Xx
Very sorry to hear the news. Its a lot to take in and a long journey. The next few months will be tough but you will get through it. I wish you as easy a treatment journey as it can possibly be - look after yourself, avoid anyone with a hint of a cold, rest as much as you can and grab all the help thats offered. Life really knows how to throw rubbish at us. GOOD LUCK xxx
Well, I've just got the date for the lymph node ultrasound and hopefully not a biopsy. It's for Wednesday morning, so only two days to wait.
I am terrified that somethingcwill be found in the lymph nodes and made the mistake of over googling lymph nodes and cancer, which just scared me more.
In the physica breastl examination the doctor checked everywhere and couldn't feel any lumps so I'm praying that's a good thing.
As so far every appointment has felt like a body blow.
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and the journey continues 
niece has DCIS, 3 lumpectomies and now needs mastectomy
Overwhelmed & tearful
Seroma after lumpectomy
Finished Breast Cancer Treatment
