frustrated 44 year old
I am posting this in the hope that someone will be able to maybe to give me some advice. The story so far in the past fifteen months I have had three mammograms four ultrasounds a sterotatic biopsy on both breasts, 2 core needle biopsies on my left breast and a wide local excision on my left breast. Even with all of this I have thankfully never gotten any bad news. Now the wide local excision biopsy removed a fibroidenoma and an area of microcalcification that turned out to be ADH, I was told that they sucessfully had goten all of the ADH and the margins were clear. In the last couple of moths i have been experiencing alot of pain in my left breast which at one point got so bad that i rang the doctor in the breast clinic she saw me straight away examined me could find nothing worriesome and basically put it down pre-menapausal hormone changes. I suppose my question is has anybody had my experience which lead to a bad outcome, am i a complete lunatic with this fear i have if that they keep taking a little piece of me and eventually my luck will run out, should i go and get a second opinion and where would i go for a second opinion. I suppose as far as the breast pain goes that does really worry me because i never get it in the right breast and surely if it was hormonal both breasts would be affected. Sorry for going on so long i would appreciate any help or advice
shelly1
Comments
Thanks for your words of encouragment Ro I really appreciate them and you are right peace of mind is what im looking for, i think half of my problem is lack of faith in the hospital, I have experienced a few blunders along my path which has definately a bearing on the way I feel , this was the reason I was thinking of getting a second opinion. Thanks again take care
Shelly
Hi Shelly,
Sorry to hear you have had so many biopsies and tests in the past year+. You must've been driven demented with worry while waiting for results each time. Good to hear things came back clear.
If you are having pain in the side of the wide local excision, it could be caused by tissue healing, nerves knitting back together, etc, post surgery. I had my BC operation over 3 years ago now and still have pain quite frequently. Thankfully, all tests show I am clear of cancer.
I second what RoxAnn says about your body, your instincts and your peace of mind. I would just be honest with your consultant and say that you are very uneasy and still worried (which is perfectly understandable and only natural given all the scares you have had). Ask if they could do any other tests to confirm you are cancer free and ease your anxiety.
If you are still not happy with your treatment or hospital, maybe it would help to get a second opinion. Perhaps you could call the Action Breast Cancer helpline and ask for advice as to what is available in your area of the country, and how you go about getting a referral to a new consultant or hospital??
Regards,
Flo.
Hi Flo, driven demented is right as you know only too well the waiting is the hardest part, I know that Im very lucky that they always come back ok and the fact that they are keeping such a close eye on me is brilliant but really in the back of my mind I can't help feeling that somethings not right. Now after my last biopsy in July they have asked to see me agian in the middle of aug which is unusual as i have never been called back so soon its nearly always six months, in a way its an answer to prayers cause it will give me a chance to have a proper chat with the doctor and get the million questions I have answered. If I am still not happy after that I will be definately get on to Action Breast Cancer helpline for some advice on where to go for a second opinion.
God Bless
Shelly
Hi Shelley,
I'm not a doctor or nurse - I'm just a very lucky breast cancer survivor...... my advice to you is to keep up the examinations as often as YOU deem necessary.... its YOUR body and YOUR instincts - peace of mind is what you need to be at. Obviously, you don't have peace of mind at the moment so my suggesion is that you call the shots on how often you want to be examined by ultrasound etc. - just insist.
take care
ro