Getting nervous

[lily1]

I've got my appointment Tuesday to see my breast specialist about a lump.
I'm really scared now it's soon and convinced he is going to tell me bad news.


On top of this he is going to suggest another mammogram and this will be my fourth! I'm scared all these mammos have finally caught up with me and the radiation is what's caused any bad news.

I just want to enjoy my life but it's impossible with this over my head all the time!

The thing is even IF I get the all clear, I'll be back to prodding and finding more things and then face more tests in the future as always..

I'm tired now :(

[NancyW]

I'm sorry you're feeling nervous.

Not knowing your story, were all these mmammograms recent or over your lifetime? I'd be afraid of repeating them too. Would ultrasound be safer?

[Fishmanpa]

I see this fear often on the boards. There is no "documented" case where the radiation used in medical testing has caused cancer. Think about this.. My cancer as well as many other cancers are treated with ... yep.. RADIATION! ...and in high enough doses to burn the skin! I had rad treatments 5 days a week for 6 weeks. 30 total. It help kill the cancer and tore my throat and neck to pieces! April will be 4 years cancer free.

So no... get that thought out of your mind. Looking forward to hearing the "good" news :)

Positive thoughts

[lily1]

I'm sorry you're feeling nervous.

Not knowing your story, were all these mmammograms recent or over your lifetime? I'd be afraid of repeating them too. Would ultrasound be safer?

They were done every year for three years..

Yes ultrasound as well I had and they are safer but not used for women alone over 35 they use mammograms as well.

---------- Post added at 15:32 ---------- Previous post was at 15:29 ----------


I see this fear often on the boards. There is no "documented" case where the radiation used in medical testing has caused cancer. Think about this.. My cancer as well as many other cancers are treated with ... yep.. RADIATION! ...and in high enough doses to burn the skin! I had rad treatments 5 days a week for 6 weeks. 30 total. It help kill the cancer and tore my throat and neck to pieces! April will be 4 years cancer free.

So no... get that thought out of your mind. Looking forward to hearing the "good" news :)

Positive thoughts

Your right Fishmanpa there isn't any real proof of this, it's just a theory. As you say high doses kill cancer cells and cells but my fear is low doses damage cells making them more prone to changing.

Wishing you many more years of remission xx

[Fishmanpa]

my fear is low doses damage cells making them more prone to changing.

You can say the same thing about sun exposure, artificial sweeteners, preservatives and other food additives etc. and a plethora of everyday things we do or eat.

Positive thoughts

[AndiRoux]

Sending positive thoughts, vibes and PRAYERS that you get all the answers to your worries. I wish you the best. Please keep us updated! XO

[GlassPinata]

How old are you?
Breast cancer is uncommon in women of reproductive age.
However, breast lumps are not uncommon.
When i was young (early 20s) I found several, and was eventually diagnosed with "fibrocystic breasts".... in other words, my breasts are composed of a lot of dense, fibrous tissue, and not much fat. At various points, they have felt like sacks of marbles, they are so lumpy.
But this isn't cancer, nor does it have malignant potential.
I am told that after menopause, the condition abets.
As I mentioned in another post, I haven't touched my own breasts in years now. I KNOW I will feel lumps, and I just refuse to be sucked down that rabbit hole.
My aunt had the same condition as a young woman (fibrocystic breasts) and they actually biopsied many of her lumps, back in the 1960s when she was young (they never biopsied mine). She is left with chopped-up looking boobs, from all the biopsies. Yet, she's in her 70s now, and still has never had breast cancer, or any sort of cancer. It was all down to benign fibroid cysts.
I wish you luck. <3

[lily1]

How old are you?
Breast cancer is uncommon in women of reproductive age.
However, breast lumps are not uncommon.
When i was young (early 20s) I found several, and was eventually diagnosed with "fibrocystic breasts".... in other words, my breasts are composed of a lot of dense, fibrous tissue, and not much fat. At various points, they have felt like sacks of marbles, they are so lumpy.
But this isn't cancer, nor does it have malignant potential.
I am told that after menopause, the condition abets.
As I mentioned in another post, I haven't touched my own breasts in years now. I KNOW I will feel lumps, and I just refuse to be sucked down that rabbit hole.
My aunt had the same condition as a young woman (fibrocystic breasts) and they actually biopsied many of her lumps, back in the 1960s when she was young (they never biopsied mine). She is left with chopped-up looking boobs, from all the biopsies. Yet, she's in her 70s now, and still has never had breast cancer, or any sort of cancer. It was all down to benign fibroid cysts.
I wish you luck. <3

I am 42 and have been diagnosed with fibrocystic breasts. This lump feels firmer so I'm worried that's all.
Did your aunt have any mammograms too?

---------- Post added at 00:05 ---------- Previous post was at 00:04 ----------


You can say the same thing about sun exposure, artificial sweeteners, preservatives and other food additives etc. and a plethora of everyday things we do or eat.

Positive thoughts

That's true... Thanks I always feel more positive when you give advice!

[lily1]

Just bumping this up in case anyone has any lasting words of positive thinking as I'm close to tears about tomorrow and don't want to appear depressed in front of my partner.

It's the mammogram and more radiation that's really scaring me :(((

Hearing stories from other women who have had mammos from late 30's for years and still ok makes me feel calmer and more positive x

[NancyW]

Hi Lilly, how did your appointment go today?

[Lily777]

Hi Lily1,

Here is a post I made quite a bit ago that links to a study showing that there is no strong evidence that radiation from medical equipment is directly linked to cancer.

http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=188348

I hope that gives you some peace of mind about that, because it did help me. Please let us know how everything goes. Positive vibes your way. :hugs:

[lily1]

Just an update, I've got to have a Mammo and ultrasound again! Consultant says he thinks it's a cyst I hope so..
He knows how anxious I am so I'm not sure if he is just trying to reassure me or not by saying he thinks it's a cyst.

---------- Post added at 14:01 ---------- Previous post was at 13:56 ----------


Hi Lily1,

Here is a post I made quite a bit ago that links to a study showing that there is no strong evidence that radiation from medical equipment is directly linked to cancer.

http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=188348

I hope that gives you some peace of mind about that, because it did help me. Please let us know how everything goes. Positive vibes your way. :hugs:

Thank you I appreciate that. X

[Fishmanpa]

Doctors and consultants choose their words carefully so I would take "cyst" as a positive.

My wife had surgery to remove her thymus gland and the associated "mass" that was on it. After the surgery, the doctor came to talk to me and he said it looked like a "cyst". He said that's his opinion and we'll know for certain once it's been checked by the lab. We go today to find out the results. The PET scan showed no uptake on the "mass" so that's a positive as well. There's definitely a niggle of doubt but that's natural. We won't know until we actually see the results but I'm trying to keep a positive attitude.

That being said, I'll take the word "cyst" over tumor, mass or cancer any day ;)

Positive thoughts

[lily1]

Hi Lilly, how did your appointment go today?

I have to have more tests but he says he thinks it's a cyst..Hope he is right! X
Thanks for your concern.

[Double_Rainbow]

The thing is even IF I get the all clear, I'll be back to prodding and finding more things and then face more tests in the future as always..

Bingo! This is your real problem. Not radiation, not breast cancer, not even the lumps. How about a challenge of letting go of poking and checking? Let the fear fill you to the top, let it boil in you, let it burn. If you can take it, the result is quite liberating. Otherwise you can helplessly witness your anxiety turning you into a lab rat with all the unnecessary testing. The choice is yours. Yes, yours. Even if it doesn't seem like it is.