Topic: The Waiting Is Making Me Crazy

Waiting sucks big time!  But, you sound like you have a very thorough doctor, which is great!  Hopefully you will find out that it's nothing, but if not, early detection is everything!! Try and keep busy while you are waiting, I know it's hard to do, but it does pass the time. I found reading these threads very theraputic and it made me feel better to know I wasn't alone.  Hang in there, I will be thinking about you!

((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))

Linda

Thank you Chrisbiz27, Linda and angiegfinch for your comments and encouragement.

Thanks Little Red...Had my MRI this morning. I happened to notice the top of my chart which showed the ultrasound result of bi-rads 5. I looked it up as soon as I got home and unfortunately it indicates a very high probablility of malignancy, so nothing feeling so great today.

I got my results Friday (2 cm mass was cancerous) and it helped me to be prepared.  I think the waiting is the hardest part. I am meeting with a surgeon (two surgeons) to discuss the biopsy results (Her-2, estrogen receptor, etc) and plan treatment.

Get all the recommendations you can for a good surgeon and then go visit at least two of them.

I'm 43, divorced one year and scared to death.  I hope you get good news but if you don't, go to your friends and circle the wagons, as they say. We will get through this, it may be six months of hell but it will pass. 

Being also a Canadian (who lived near Ottawa for most of my life) I had to post and tell you that I'm also in the same boat as you...waiting for further results and tests on my 3 cm cancerous beast inside me.  I am making myself sick with worry and now that I'm in Belgium, can't get hugs from close friends and family, except over the phone.  I'm glad I've found this site and glad to know I'm not alone--that there are all these wonderful and generous women here to give answers, suggest questions, provide support and encouragement. 

Stay posted, stay posting, post lots and stay positive!

Maggie14

oh Lord...still waiting!!! One week and still no biopsy results. Hope others who are playing the waiting game are doing ok.

Hi Anne - hoping you're not too sore today and that your final, final report is good news!!! Thanks for your message.

Got the call a few hours ago - "infiltrating carcinoma". Although I expected it, no fun getting confirmation. I have a tentative appt next Wed with a BS and want to make sure I have the right questions with me. My Dr couldn't answer many questions so I asked her to fax me the path report. It seems like a mixed bag of all sorts of stuff.  I've been googling for the past couple hours, but not much help. Here's what it says: " Sections of the breast show an infiltrating carcinoma. There are small nests, tubules and cords of tumor cells with a relatively low nuclear grade. There are some lobular features including signet ring cell appearance and intracytoplasmic mucin. Although E-cadherin immunostain is positive, an associated lobular component cannot be completely ruled out. There is atypical lobular hyperplasia and pagetoid spread of atypical lobular cells into the duct. There is focal atypical ductal hyperplasia and possible LCIS. P63 confirms the absence of myoepithelial layer in the invasive component. Diagnosis: Infiltrating carcinoma".

 Any info/advice you can provide would be very much appreciated.

 Thanks for your time ladies....hope you're doing OK.

Mich

Thanks for your support Shabby and your PMs. It's made a difference. I agree...I do well with information, more calming. Stay well.

Dear Mich_M I just wanted to stop in and let you know how sorry I am to hear about your dx.  Good luck with your visit to see the surgeon.  I hope and pray that everything goes smoothly and quickly for you.  Sending you many prayers and Blessings.

Renee

Hi mich--you were asking about the medical system in Belgium.  It is far superior to both the Canadian and (from what I understand) the UK system.  It is a social medicare system like the other two but the waits are far less and the costs much more reasonable.  The one drawback is that I have to pay up front for GP apointments (but not too much, the most has been 35 euro) and then I get it back through my mutuele or group insurance company. Doctors don't go into the business to get rich in this country--they all live modestly and have their practices within a private room of their house without a receptionist and only an afterhours answering call service.  

 I found the lump on a Tuesday, had a GP apt on the Thursday, the mammogram and biopsy on the following Tuesday and the results the following Friday.  The worst has been waiting for the specialist BC clinic to get me in for a new patient appointment--two weeks.  If I was in Canada (particularly in the less urban settings) I would have had to wait probably 3 months for that entire process.  Plus here I'm in the capital of Europe and as such, world class medical centres are situated here one of which is a BC clinic, called the Jules Bordet Clinic.  Their reputation is pretty impressive from what I can gather online.

 I finally get to meet the ONC on Wednesday, and this day can't come soon enough.  I was able to interpret my pathology report and things look okay but the sooner this beast is outa me, the better.

 Good luck to the rest of you still waiting.  As I understand it, the next year of my life will be situated around waiting!

Mich

Are you in Michigan? I am in Lansing

Oh ladies, do I understand every single letter of agonizing grief in each word.  Waiting for each and every test result was murder !  I actually went on anti-depressants for the first time in my life because the stress was not allowing me to function or sleep.  I live in Canada as well and was DX on July 23rd, since then I have had all of the tests, a mastectomy, ANLD and after chemo (6 rounds of FEC-D) I will have a hysterectomy.  Tests are a constant; as is the waiting for results, but absolutely nothing compares to the waiting of those initial reports....Is it there? What is it? How bad is it? Has / Is it traveling?  Perhaps this is one of life's sick ideas of teaching us all a lesson in patience !!  Thank goodness that within all of our variances and differences that the thread of commonality with stressers is alike and that we are able to help, guide and support each other.  In the beginning I remember thinking, o.k. so I have cancer, time to do a bit of research......I sincerely had no idea.  This 'beast' as so well called; has a personality and total gene pool all of its own. I have read threads of 'how bad' is it.....DCIS not being anything to worry about, I clearly remember the word 'cancer' as being devastating, and hearing that I was DCIS would not have elevated that crushing realization.  I am stage 3 and to me, it all is bad....yes; certainly many worse off, but all bad.  I have run the gambit of rash decisions, confusion, illusion, disillusion, tension, anger, sorrow.....you name it, but patience, yes very high on the list of "to-do-better" and perhaps a little bit more grace.  I have been guilty of mouthing the words, I wonder what would happen or how long the wait would be if it was his wife, or her mother; friend.....suppose when the chips are down, we are all afloat on the same dingy.  ((Hugs)) to you all and better days ahead.    All the best, Debra