Hi all. My story is a little different. I went for a mamogram just to do the right thing. I am 52yrs. I had a mamogram and ultrasound and the radiologist reported very specifically carcinoma and was so sure came in straight after ultrasound and told me to go to gp the next day. I did she sent me for ultrasound biopsy which came back benign. I went to a surgeon who was not happy with strong mixed findings who sought another opinion from a top radiologist. I was then sent for tomography mamogram (3d) and stereotactic biopsy ($1400) and had another 9 samples taken. Came back benign but really really odd and suspicious but still benign. Had surgery two weeks ago all low grade cancer. Had two tumours out. One cancerous one benign but nasty. I thought i was having the lump out which I could not feel and that was the end. Nope! Went to oncologist monday who said I need to go on hormone therapy as it was estrogen positive and go to another radio oncologist to start radiation. I feel like I have already been through the mill with so many tests. Now I read about the side effects of drugs and I dont like what I am in for. It has all come as a bit of a shock. As i was on hrt for 7 years and came off my menopause status is not known until I get blood tests results tonight. Just thought I would share as I am in this kinda void. People say your ok its out but to me that is only the start. I went in thinking it was benign to begin with now i have all this ahead of me. Its alot to take in emotionally. The support with my journey kit and bra and pillow etc has been amazing but never in my wildest dreams thought I would need any of it. So wrong! Thanks rant over xx

Glad that you feel supported, of course it's a shock. But it sounds like your medical team have been thorough and are taking the right actions. Reactions to drugs and treatment vary a lot, and it's hard to know how you will react until you start. Main thing is to ask questions (if you have someone to be with you in appointments and take notes, it's a help), try and take one step at a time as your imagination may take you places you may never need to go, and remember lots of us get through this. Very best wishes.

Hi @buster1 what a shock to be told one thing then another... Like Afraser said you sound like your team is very thorough which is a great thing .... Hate to imagine if they were not!!Do you have a breast Care Nurse https://www.mcgrathfoundation.com.au/OurMission/OurNurses/FindANurse.aspx I was 52 when diagnosed and I had bilateral mastectomy and chemo and rads and I am here NED (no evidence of Disease) 5 years later. Take a breathe and relax tonight they have the phone in line open until 9pm if you feel you need to chat to someone ...A reminder that the BCNA helpline is available this evening until 9 pm. We have a Cancer Nurse and Member services officer available to take your calls until 9 pm tonight EDST. If you have any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to call us. Our helpline provides free, confidential information, support and referral as required. Helpline hours are Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm and Tuesday & Thursday 9.00 am to 9.00 pm EDST.Sorry you have need to join us but we are a really supportive bunch who get it.... SoldierCrab

What a difficult time you've had and keep getting surprises.But amongst that is some fantastic news.Slow growing cancer not requiring chemo. :) Lumpectomy and radiotherapy...not fabulous but standard care.Hormone supressant...1 pill a day...easy peasy. Yes it can have side effects but it doesn't mean it will.So a shock yes to now be told it's cancer. But how fantastic you had it out and not left it.Its okay to feel overwhelmed and have tears. It's scary. Let the tears and fears flow. We are here to help as we can. Kath x

@buster1 im so sorry to hear your story. I went through similar in 2011 my 1st diagnosis. Mammo and ultrasound were suspicious, biopsy benign...then lumpectomy and dcis radiation and tamoxifen for 4 years. I have always found biopsies an absolute waste of time. They are never correct and half the time they dont get the spot. Only definitive pathology is from a lumpectomy. Its taken me 6yrs and 2 diagnosis biopsies, lumpectomies, radiation then 4yrs later chemo and Aromasin now as tamoxifen didnt work and doesn't in third of cases. I know what i will and wont do now but only through the experience. Hang in there it will get better. Hugs Melinda

Hi ladies. Thank you for all your help. Excellent advise all @melclarity what is aromasin? Is that a post menopause drug. My bloods came back and I am slap bang in the middle of menopause so onc is going to put me on Letrozole. Is that the same? I had a look at the side effects yucky! I skipped side effects with menopause because I was on HRT. Loved it! I asked the surgeon was the cancer caused by me taking HRT for 7 years and the pathology came back No! Lucky otherwise I would be blaming myself for the cancer. Like everyone else just unlucky. So next week radiation!

Benign then malignant | BCNA Online Network

20 Replies

buster
Member
8 years ago
Thanks @jennyss for your advice. I have just been for radiation and the nurse said very unusual to be hot so quick but if a face washer worked great. She said things could have been stirred up and by the 3rd treatment hopefully should settle down until nearer the end. Hope so. She gave me QV wash, QV moisturizer three times a day and intense cream for night. Thanks again.
jennyss
Member
8 years ago
Dear @buster , I have recently finished 25 sessions of radiotherapy. I was lucky and didn't have any skin burning until week 4. The nurses at my clinic advised me to use pure sorbolene, applied quite thickly. I also used a saline solution (2 teapoons salt to 1 litre of boiled water; cooled and put in a spray bottle). I would spray the whole breast and under arm area, and lay down on a towel in front of a fan once a day for about 20 minutes, spraying every few minutes - very cooling. I was also given little containers of 'intrasite gel' to put on areas of skin which had broken instead of sorbolene. Lucky again; my skin has healed, just the nipple looks like a dried up raisin!
Best wishes from jennyss
buster
Member
8 years ago
Thank you ladies. I just thought the heat would slowly build not bam after the first session. Yes cant wait to see the nurse tomorrow and will lay off the moo goo and use the qv if that's what she wants. @Zoffiel I had a chuckle I bought pork crackling today actually. You ladies are so funny it makes me feel more normal. It will be interesting to see what happens to my little booby (.) as the days go on. I shall keep you lovely ladies posted.
Zoffiel
Member
8 years ago
Buster, you might be fine. I'm a leathery old bird and I was fine right up until the end where my neck looked like pork crackling. That said, I was obsessed for the first week or so and was convinced I could smell myself cooking.
The burns have little to do with how dark or fair you are. The only difference is it is more obvious if you are fair and for me the pain wasn't so much the skin but the area under it. It passes. Marg xxx
Anonymous
8 years ago
The user and all related content has been deleted.
buster
Member
8 years ago
Thanks @Joannie for your advice. I am a bit shocked that it feels so warm so quick but a face washer is cooling. I got some moo goo following advice from the forum but my oncologist doesnt like it and wants me to use ego qv intensive stuff. I was surprised too and had a bit of a chuckle to myself when she examined me and the wound site and said you are very fair. Well i thought my boobs have never seen sunlight so i would think they would be fair. Unless you are of another nationality or bathed topless how would they be? So I thought great I will burn to a crisp. Time will tell.
Anonymous
8 years ago
The user and all related content has been deleted.
buster
Member
8 years ago
I had the radiation and came away feeling like a warm heat pack had been applied. That was 5hrs ago. Now it is still feeling the same so have applied a face washer on it. Can only think the days ahead will only get worse. I am seeing a nurse tomorrow to get creams etc going so maybe whilst I am sick leave I will come home and apply a face washer daily. Is that ok?
buster
Member
8 years ago
And so radiation begins. I am hoping that as I have a break xmas day and boxing day it will give me a 4 day break as the weekend is before hence help any side effects.
melclarity
Member
9 years ago
Hahaha! ohhh don't know how I'm laughing but thank goodness I really am now, its all a memory. I dont know how I did it either it was a very dark time in my life. Oh forgot to mention that I put on 6kg through Chemo and thanks to menopause and meds I still got it...hahahaha and laugh oh laugh I must because nothing works to shift it. Its the one remnant of the whole thing that shits me really ha! Yes I was induced with my first so I know how BAM it goes haha!! You will get through it all and give the pills a go theyre annoying more than anything. Always come here for a chat, so many lovely ladies with so much experience and support. Just ask anything and always an answer of sorts lol.

Hugs Melinda xo