New here, architectural distorotion, scared

Hello @laurakwalker1980 this is the scariest time, in my opinion. The waiting for more testing and then waiting for results from said testing are anxiety inducing at best. I believe this to be true in any major medical issue, but I am a 21 years survivor of breast cancer.
I could tell you to try and distract yourself, but I find that isn’t very effective for me. I do hack my own brain by saying I can only worry for 30 minutes in the morning. Then if I start to worry about it, I can tell myself “nope you have to push that worry to the worry time. This allows me to focus a bit better knowing I can think about it later.
Try to breathe and wait for the information. You might be very happy with the results. If you do get bad news we will be here to help talk you off the ledge.
As for the husband, my husband could not even think I had anything wrong because he couldn’t face the thought of losing me. It wasn’t until he got cancer that he really understood how scary that was for me.
I know that none of this will make it less scary while you wait for all the information, but maybe it can give you some space for peace.💕
Have you had any biopsies in the past?

Thank you for your reply. It means a lot to me.

Hi Laura,
I'm sorry to hear about your situation. That's hard to deal with. My husband had lung cancer and I know how hard it is to wait for results. The one thing that helped us besides eating healthy was prayer. We both prayed everyday and asked God to keep my husband healthy. It made us feel better and my husband lived 14 years with lung cancer. He died a year ago. Just take all your concerns and give them over to God. He will be there for you. Talk to him like he's your best friend and he is! After all, God made you so he can fix you. I'll say a prayer for you also.
I wish you the best.
PML

Hi Laura, my story somewhat similar to yours.
I am 70. My entire life my mammogram always showed dense breasts and microcalcifications. I always had to have a follow up breast ultrasound, both breasts and all would be fine.
In December 2023, this situation was repeated. No breast worries.
December 2024 - my annual mammogram. Again, bilateral sonogram done. Called back for a MRI. The radiologist informed me of a new "architectural distortion". In fact, my breasts had several areas of "concern" in both breasts and 4 biopsies advised. I also had to wait...my 4 biopsies were done on February 6th. On Feb. 12th, my 70th birthday, I got a call from the breast center physician informing me I had breast cancer. What???
2 areas of in-situ plus 1 area of invasive cancer, plus 2 areas of "atypical ductal hyperplasia" (abnormal cells ready to turn cancerous). Surgery certainly indicated. I went for a 2nd opinion to a top rated cancer center...made some tough (but necessary choices) & had a bilateral mastectomy May 12th. Final pathology report indicated I had invasive cancer in both breasts. Out of 12 lymph nodes tested, one was positive. Oncotype tumor testing done and revealed a low score (good news), chemo would not be indicated for me. And since I had the bilateral mastectomy, no radiation either. Which was a concern as I have heart disease also and radiation can scar the heart (like a heart attack) and the lungs. I opted for no implants. I didn't need potentially more problems down the road plus at my age...if younger "maybe".
First, don't worry about the wait...6 weeks is not bad, but try to get on a waiting list for an earlier appointment.
Look at my timeline. Pay no attention to your husband. Everyone has their own coping mechanism in this situation. Mine did. And I did too! I was in denial right up to the point being wheeled in the OR room. I was commenting on the OR table being so comfortable with heated blankets and a nice pillow! This denial helped me coped right from the get go being told I had cancer, the biopsies and the wait for surgery. My journey was December to the May surgery. I have no regrets at all. Post surgery I am now on Anastrozole daily and must take for 5 years to prevent reoccurrence. Lots of side effects with this "aromatase inhibitor" but between a rock and a hard place. I will give it my best shot. I am still in denial, but only somewhat...absolutely no cancer in both sides of my family at all! Post recovery is no walk in the park, but certainly doable.
It's so easy to say don't be afraid but of course we all are when faced when the possibility of breast cancer.
Yes, the waiting is the worse part. Knowledge is power. Do all you can now to try to educate yourself. I had a nurse advocate in the beginning who was a terrific help. Make notes...I even made a binder up, my paperwork was like a book. I wrote everything down. I am a retired RN and I felt I was helping "my patient" and I was the patient! As you wait for your biopsies, reach out to your beast cancer center. They will have tons of literature you can read. During your 6 weeks wait, IF you do have breast cancer, the cells won't multiple fast...so it's not like "things" are going to get "so much worse". Put your stress into positive steps. Exercise, meditation, prayers, social connections, being in nature, music...whatever will help quiet your mind.
One step at a time. Live it. That's all anyone can do anyway. You WILL get through this.
You will discover courage you thought you never had!
You are in my prayers, please keep us updated. You are new here...but you will surely have lots of support. You'll see!
Hang tight, keep the faith.

Waiting is truly a hard thing to do. Even now, a year since my last chemo, I seem to find something to worry about regarding my breast cancer journey.Distraction works pretty well for me. I am pretty active and involved where I live and am a widow. It is in the evening when activities are all over that I find my mind going to breast cancer and I start the "what if's". I turn on the TV to something calm like a Hallmark movie and work a jigsaw puzzle at the same time. I become totally engrossed in that puzzle. I have worked literally hundreds and still have a closet full of more to do. Just before I go to sleep, I read a book. I find it useful to write down the things I worry about or have to accomplish on paper. Gets them out of your mind. I hope you will find your answers soon and know that you aren't alone on your journey. There is a giant club of women who are on similar paths. Nobody can understand like someone else on a similar path.

@ksue3
Hi,
I just came across your comment that mentioned doing jigsaw puzzles. I do jigsaw puzzles also. I just love them! They do take your mind off of your problems and you can become very involved in them which is relaxing. I like the 1000 piece old puzzles that were mostly photographs. I don't care for the new ones. They aren't made as well as the old ones. It was nice to find someone who still does puzzles! I didn't think anyone did them anymore except me!
Enjoy your puzzles!
PML

@pml
I just started doing jigsaw puzzle while on a cruise ship. It was pretty addictive and so fun that quite a few people worked together and talked. Would that be considered a brain exercise? I don’t know, but it certainly improves the length of concentration. I’m going to buy some to do at home.

there are also online jigsaw puzzles. A great site for various games is
cardgames.io not just card games. I like Tri Peaks. Games, reading, coffee with friends, family, good t.v. shows are great ways to keep our minds occupied and off our worries about cancer.

@myoga
Good for you doing jigsaw puzzles! They are so relaxing and frankly just plain fun! I've been doing them for over 50 years and my husband also did them when he was alive. He even built a special puzzle table for us to do them on with an edge so the pieces wouldn't fall off. I don't know if they are a brain exercise or not but my husband was 83 when he died of lung cancer and I"m 79 and neither of us had any brain problems. Since you are going to buy some new puzzles to do, I've found Ravensburger puzzles are the best ones in that they are very well made. Many of the new puzzles aren't that well made. The pieces are cheaply made and don't stay together. If you can find any really old ones that were made in the 1960's they are made very good and you can find them mostly in second hand stores.
Enjoy your puzzles!
PML

I’m so sorry for your diagnosis. My mother had breast cancer and then ovarian cancer. I am 62 and was diagnosed in December as well. I think because my mother went through so much and I was married to a surgeon I have a different view. I guess I’m just used to being around people with medical problems or cancer. Sometimes I have a more clinical view and that makes it easier for me. I do see a psychologist once a week and have found that to be very helpful. I also have a good outlook, but it’s very important to have a good support system. Especially if your husband is having a difficult time dealing with the diagnosis. Get as informed as you can. Knowledge is power!! The more you know the less anxiety you will have. But I know for myself that it will be a difficult road. I am having 12 weeks of chemotherapy to start and may need another 12 weeks before I have surgery. Then radiation. Just know too that some people have a difficult time facing a cancer diagnosis, including friends and family members. It’s not a reflection on you and doesn’t mean they love you less!! Stay strong and as healthy as you can. Try to get some exercise if you can. The Susan B Komen foundation has been helpful as well as the American Cancer Society. They have numbers that you can call for support.
I hope this helps you. I found that reading about my cancer is helpful and may be useful for you as well. It puts you in control. You can google the questions that you want to ask your Oncologist and team members.
Or ask the people here. I hope I haven’t overwhelmed you, this is my first post on this site. If anyone has any advice please let me know.
Anne
Best wishes to you!