Good News Stories about Breast Checks

ConsieMe

Hi all,

I've recently been through this experience and I read the thread 'Waiting for breastcheck - how to not worry?' end to end. I found comfort that there were many women like me going through this and like every woman who has gone through this experience, I was absolutely terrified and stressed about what was possibly ahead.

But when I confided in a very good friend, she told me something that has stayed with me that I cannot shake. She said we tend to only hear the scary stories, the bad outcomes when the statistics tell us that 9 out of 10 women who are referred to a Breast Clinic for a check are fine. I am one of those women albeit, mammogram, ultrasound and two biopsies later. I am 100% benign.

I know we are not supposed to use Doctor Google when facing something like this but even searching for a title like above 'Good news....etc' came up empty.

Once I shared my story with friends and extended family, I would hear more and more METOOs with good outcomes. Why are we not talking about this more? We need try to take some of the fear out of breast clinics, breast checks by talking about it.

I know not everyone wants to share personal stories but for those women out there who are terrified who would like to know what happens, can we not share the stories of the 9 out of 10?

Ladies - what do you think?

Cx

sunbeam

That was me this time last year: terrified waiting for an appointment in January that took three months to come through.

I had a stupid accident in the summer that involved me tripping, grabbing onto a coffee table and walloping myself in the chest with it, a table lamp and a heavy glass vase. When the swelling and bruising went down I was left with a hard lump that did not decrease in size. I knew that this was mostly likely fat necrosis, but was absolutely terrified that it was something more sinister that I had missed.

My appointment was in Galway. The letter told me not to come before my allocated time, but as we had set off early due to bad weather I arrived an hour ahead of schedule. I decided to go in and wait and was seen within 20 minutes. After a short chat with the doctor, I was shown to a smaller waiting area and had a mammogram. This was fine, although I did get a bit nervous when the radiographer decided she wanted to take a couple of more images. Then I went back to the small waiting room and shortly afterwards was called for an ultrasound. I was told immediately that it was indeed fat necrosis and there was also some scarring. After another short wait I spoke to the original doctor who told me the lump would probably be there for years and might calcify and become hard over time.

The clinic was busy but I was in and out in under two hours. All of the staff were lovely. The most annoying thing was being asked my religion, but I suppose they had to do that.

I was so relieved, I literally wanted to jump up and down with joy, but remembered some of the advice here on boards and managed to contain myself until I left the clinic. As I left, a young women who had gone in before me came out in floods of tears.

I will always remember walking through the car park as the first flakes of snow began to fall and the overwhelming sense of utter relief I felt.

A month ago I noticed that the lump finally had disappeared.

ConsieMe

Thanks Sunbeam. Its amazing that even though we know we are probably fine, there is a part that goes 'there'.

I found a lump beginning of October this year. I'm mid 40s and my blood ran cold. I googled and found that fibroids and cysts are extremely common. I could feel the lump and it seemed to have the characteristics of a cyst.
I went to my GP and she examined me and said it wasn't the most suspicious but to get checked to be sure.
Lesson #1. If your doctor has a sense of urgency for you to be seen, it doesn't mean you have breast cancer.
I finally got an appointment with the Bons in Cork.
Lesson #2. If you can get a morning appointment go for it. I was nearly sick waiting for my 2.30 appointment.
I was examined first and the doctor said it was likely a cyst and the ultrasound will confirm it. I burst into tears with relief
Lesson #3 Women crying doesn't always mean its bad news. I think I freaked out the ladies in the waiting room.

The ultrasound did show that I had a large cyst which was drained there and then and turns out, I have a lot of cysts. They are common in women and nothing to worry about.
My mammogram did show up calcifications. Something I hadn't heard about previously as all the talk was about lumps.
Calcifications are calcium deposits and can be anywhere. In the breast, they are generally benign but in 2 out of 10 instances they can be an indicator of pre cancer. They range from benign, indeterminate to suspicious. Mine were indeterminate to benign but they needed to biopsy to be sure.
Lesson#4: Suspicious calcifications can turn out to be benign
Both the doctor and consultant radiologist assured me that my risk was low but they have very strict criteria.
Lesson #5 No chances are taken in any make shape or form which in of itself is assuring.
I had a sterotactic biopsy. I am the biggest baby and squeamish.
Lesson #6 If you are like me, talk to your GP. Mine gave me a light sedative which calmed me and I also told the nurses that day and they were absolutely brilliant.
I had to have it twice as the first time they didn't get enough of a sample.
Lesson #7 Do not be afraid to ask questions and challenge if you do not understand what you are being told.

I got the call that my biopsy was benign and I cried with relief. I knew it would be but getting the confirmation still had an impact. I am going to get screened every 2 years now. The amount of women my age and younger that were waiting to be screened threw me but I smiled when I consistently heard women at reception being told 'You're all done now for another 2 years'.

I am thinking of all the women who are going through this right now and I am there with you. Its scary I know but once you know the details and the facts, I hope the fear goes.

_Dara_

I'm a bit confused as to how this differs from the other breastcheck thread? Isn't that one also to provide reassurance?

Unfortunately there will always be some worry attached to getting your breasts checked. I think it's unavoidable really. But if you do have cancer, it's better to just know as early as possible so you don't get diagnosed when already metastatic like me. Yes, it's scary to get checked but I take a bit of fear and an all-clear or early-stage diagnosis any day over the death sentence I was handed two years ago.

I'm sorry if I sound unsympathetic!

ConsieMe

Hi Dara,

The reason I created the thread is possibly (and maybe naively) that if anyone googled good news stories about breast checks they'd find something that could provide reassurance.
Perhaps its no different to the other thread and that's for the mods to decide.

I am so sorry about your diagnosis and believe me, not for one second did I not think of all the women who would have loved to have received the news I got. I think about the women sitting in clinics, hospitals, doctors offices who are going through the anxiety and the stress of not knowing what's ahead.

Its not something that is spoken about among my friends and relatives and it needs to be spoken about more. But in the few instances when it was spoken about, it was when the news was bad which I saw had a knock on effect of people putting heads in the sand. So, I wanted to open up the conversation to say that you know what 9 times out of 10 its fine and to your very valid point, a bit of fear or nerves is temporary over finding out the worst. So go and get checked and try not to worry.

I was stunned at the number of women who were waiting, sitting in their gowns and how young they were. If someone had told me all this before maybe, just maybe I wouldn't have felt as isolated and terrified as I was.

Its the different perspectives on this based on experiences and I'm just articulating mine but in no way its it to negate or minimise what you are facing. You are very brave. I would be doing you a diservice by saying I know but by God I haven't a clue what its like.

All the best!

_Dara_

I think it might be a good idea to publicise that 9 out of 10 breastchecks reveal something benign or nothing at all. That will encourage more women to get changes in their breast checked out and to reduce their fears of doing so. That will mean that 1 out of 10 won't get good news but it's news that needs to be found out anyway and the sooner the better.