As I have ovarian cancer 3C (diagnosed last year) and am BRCA2 positive I've been advised to have yearly mammograms. I had my first last year aged 50 and then had one last week. Today I've received a letter asking me to go back for further investigations as they've seen something on my left breast which has caused concern. I'm now petrified and feel sure that this is also going to be cancer. Has anybody else had similar findings?
thank you, sticky3006
Hi Sticky 3006,
Sorry you’re going through this and can understand you feeling worried...I don’t have any experience of the breast issue but my friend, whose mum currently has breast cancer, had the same issue recently, she was called back in after a mammogram showed an area of concern.
After a lumpectomy they told her it was a build up of calcium deposits in the breast, nothing malignant but she’ll need annual mammograms going forward.
I know you will be worried as it’s normal (and myself knowing the anxiety around scans/appointment times is so stressful) but try to remain hopeful that this will be nothing sinister and you’ll soon have reassurance and can put this behind you.
Sending you hugs hugs and do let us know how you get on,
Liz xx 💖
Thank you for the info. Just when I thought I was back on track this has happened and floored me. It’s one worry after another sadly. They’ve brought my repeat mammogram forward to next Monday so at least I’ll know soon what it is. Thanks again, sticky3006
Hi Sticky3006..
I too am Braca 2 pos. I was diagnosed with stage 3/4 OC mid 2012. NED from January 2013. Unfortunately recurrence mid 2018. i was not on any medication at all and stopped all scans as well end of 2014. After recurrence in 2018 I had a mammography which showed a small lump in breast . I had a biopsy done which showed it to be nothing cancerous. Sorry to hear about your anxiety...i know it's awful waiting for tests. I hope and pray it is is nothing. Are you currently on a PARP inhibitor?
Thank you so much. No I’m not on a parp inhibitor as on Avastin until May and finished frontline chemo last September. I asked for a parp inhibitor but as I was greater then 8 wks after frontline chemo I couldn’t start. Astra Zeneca will give under their compassionate access programme but I was too late. I’m definately keen to start a parp when (and if) I reoccur. Are you on a parp? X
Yes I am on Olaparib now . Started recently
Good. I hope the side effects are manageable. Have you had one recurrence?
I fortunately seem to be doing very well regarding side effects while on Olaparib. Have had blood tests done once since and everything was OK. Yes I only had the one recurrence since first diagnose in 2012. I am awaiting scan results on the 23rd April. X
Hello, this happened to me. I had a mammogram at the beginning of my diagnosis for OC, it showed an area which was cause for concern, so they sent me for an ultrasound, it turned out to be a shadow and I was told that it may have always been there and as no lumps were found, I was told to just make sure I had my regular mammograms. I do understand how terrifying it is, but try not to worry, anxiety is not good for us. Good Luck
Thank you. I'm praying that's the case with me. At least I'll know next week. I just feel its one thing after another. My lovely brother got his BRCA results last week and is positive too so these awful worries keep on coming at us. Thanks for your reply. x
A few of my friends have been brought back for further investigations after mammograms. None of them had anything serious wrong.
Thank you WoolyHat. I feel a bit more rational this evening (after a gin and tonic and Thai takeaway!) and will see what Monday brings when I return x
Hi, I was recalled after a routine mammogram a few years ago (before my OC diagnosis) but an ultrasound confirmed there was nothing to worry about. Best of luck for Monday and please keep us posted, Kerry xx
Thank you Kerry. I’ll report back on Monday 🤞🏼X
Hi there xx a year after my first treatment i had the same a recall on mammogram. It turned out to be harmless and due to the changes in the breast caused by the sudden change of hormones after the hysterectomy xx i just had another one this year and all clear xx
Fingers crossed for you
Diane
Xx
Thank you Diane, fingers crossed. Onwards we go with more challenges being thrown at us! My husband said last night ‘you’re so strong and resilient’ but really there’s no choice but to face these scary scenarios 😬 x
Thats true xx people say your so brave 🙄 i say am not brave soldiers are brave i just have to get on with it xx i saw your later comment about beach walking x its my favourite de stressor xx mine is at whitby where is yours?
Diane
Hi there
So sorry this has happened. I was recalled after my first mammogram , just as I thought I was getting over the ovarian surgeries. Frequently you are recalled after the first or second because they don’t have a lot of images to compare with. I had an ultrasound and a biopsy. This found fatty tissue. It was a terrifying time. Breast screening is controversial because of the high rates of recall that terrify people. But the people in the clinics are really nice and kind, fingers crossed you will be in the large majority of people who have nothing wrong with them.
Love n hugs xxx
Thank you so much. I think it’s just another shock to be recalled and highlights how fragile your health is and how we have no control over it. Anyway the sun is shining today and I’m going to walk on the beach with my daughter and dog. That’ll put a smile on my face hopefully! X
No problem, I forgot to say that I tried to stay calm with long walkies on the beach with my doggy...but am obviously speaking to the converted....have a good day xxxx
Hi, I understand exactly how your feeling. It’s great that they started doing the mammograms so quickly. It may well be a cyst, which they can drain whilst your there, but they will talk to you about your raised risks, and may advise surgery. Try to keep an open mind, and have someone with you so that they hear everything! My mind was in such a whirl, thinking how come this can happen after 6 rounds of chemo!! I was very angry.
I’m BRCA 1 positive, I found a lump in my breast 6 weeks after my last chemo for ovarian cancer. That was September 2017, I’ve been on a hormonal treatment, letrozol to try to slow the growths down. I’ve also had a double mastectomy. Unfortunately within 8 weeks of my surgery at the beginning of this year, the lump reappeared above my scar, as it’s so visible it’s easy to monitor. I’m still feeling well considering everything going on inside. My thoughts and prayers are with. X
Hi sticky 3006, sorry you are going through further worries re cancer, but this time possibly in your breast. Although this is traumatic for you, think positive that IF there is something there then it has been picked up early enough. I know that is not what you want to hear but I am trying to look for the positive in this for you.
Also they are saying they have seen something, not necessarily cancerous. Wait until you are seen and then review all your information.
Sending you lots of love 💕 hugs 🤗 and more positive thoughts your way xxx
Sorry to hear this but like other ladies I know quite a few ladies who’ve been called back in and it hasn’t been anything sinister. One friend had benign lumps, another a cyst and another a lump they called a mouse which is a hormonal lump that moves about in the breast so if there’s something wrong it’s not necessarily anything sinister but the problem is we’ve been there and had the bad news so we always jump straight to worse scenario and that’s not surprising after what we’ve been through but we’re not immune from all the ordinary stuff so hopefully that’s what this is for you!
I’m concerned being brca1 and 46 years I’ve never had a mammogram! I’m on a list and thank you for the reminder because I will be chasing this in clinic next week. Best of luck with everything. Try to distract yourself with nice things until you go back ❤️.Love Clare x
Thank you for all the replies. Really helpful. Have had a good walk this morning (walking is my saviour) and I'll wait for Monday and see what that brings. Sometimes I can't believe the c... that's been thrown at us in the last year. From ovarian cancer, BRCA positive results and the implications for my daughters, my brothers positive results and the implications for his daughter too. Then my lovely husband who at 53 plays squash every week, eats healthily and hardly drinks was found to have an 83% blocked coronary artery which needed a stent! All that was last October a week before we were due to go to Cyprus for a much needed holiday as two previous holidays were cancelled due to my cancer diagnosis.
Give us a break! x
I am BRCA 2 positive and at the end of my Avastin Treatment I mentioned to the oncologist that I would like to have more frequent mammograms.She said fine and I will refer you. However six weeks later I received a letter referring me to a Breast surgeon with an appointment on 24th April.I only asked if I could have a mammogram.I have no signs of any lumps and no one in my family has ever had breast cancer.Has any one experienced this situation? I am quite concerned.
Thanks Ann
Hello Ann. I’d go and see what the breast surgeon has to say as there is an increased risk of breast cancer in BRCA positive women. He may say yearly mammograms are your best bet which is what the genetics doctor told me. Perhaps your onc referred you more to get a specialist opinion. Good luck, sticky3006 x
Yes Sticky I think you are right.I am happy to go and have yearly mammograms and I guess a consultation with a specialist is the best way forward.I am waiting for an appointment with the genetics dept in Bristol to find out more about it.
Ann x
Ca-125 41 worried sick :(
My Ultrasound results are in!
Living with Olivia Crawford
New year new cancer part two
Update this is my 6th line of treatment Carbo/Caelyx
