Hello everyone reading this.
First off, a tiny bit about myself. I’m 51 yo & I’d classify myself as an introvert. I have held so much in for so long, I finally decided to write my feelings out and thought this was a very supportive place to post it. I’m also writing this in hopes someone who might be searching for something similar on this sight might be helped in some way by reading my post. To sum up a bit of my journey. I had a 5.5 cm invasive lobular carcinoma. I had a central lumpectomy performed which means I had the aerola and nipple removed due to the tumor being at the base of it. My classification was T3N0M0….the larger size tumor was more likely due to my Von Willebrand Disease (VWD). It’s a bleeding disorder and it tends to make the tumor progress faster than normal. Oddly before discovering my lump, I had a severe eye twitch (all day long) for over 6 months. After the surgeries were done, my iron levels starting to increase to a normal range again and the twitch finally disappeared.
In addition, following the month of radiation, I broke out with the shingles two weeks later. It makes sense I suppose with the immune system being compromised…but I wasn’t told it could happen…so just know it probably won’t happen but there’s still a small chance it can.
I’m obviously still on the long ride, currently in the endocrine therapy phase (Lupron and Exemestane) but I’ve learned many things during the last 6 months but mostly that if I were to have to do this all over, I would have physically talked to people that have breast cancer, or some type of in person support group from the beginning. It’s very hard to describe what you’re feeling with people that haven’t experienced the devastation when you find out you have breast cancer.
If you are reading this and just found out that you have breast cancer….I’m so very sorry. My hope and prayer for you is that you take comfort in knowing YOU WILL be stronger in this journey than you ever thought you could be. You’ll learn to say “I have breast cancer” out loud without it feeling weird and wanting to ball your head off. You will discover at some point that you feel like a warrior and you have earned the right to call yourself one. You will also look at the breast cancer symbol in an entirety different way now. It represents strength, love, courage, hope and so much more.
May God Bless you and may He forever be with you every step of the way.
Love to all.
Thank you for sharing your story so bravely @Hello2u, and for offering advice for those going through something similar. It sounds like you’ve been through a very difficult experience.
Please know that our nurses are here for you any time if you’d like to chat on 0808 800 6000.
I’m wishing you all the best for the rest of your treatment and therapy.
Sending love,
Alice 
Hi Hello2you I am now 11 months after my mastectomy. I found a support group 6 months after the operation. I wish I had found it 8 months before. Probably what would have been useful before the procedures would have been to see that everyone looked so normal. OK there was some with very short hair, or no hair at all but you watched it grow back over the weeks and you realize that phase is only temporary. No we don’t sit around and talk about cancer, we talk about our holidays, or recipes or grandchildren, or not talk at all if that is what you want. But there is always someone to talk to if you are about to go through another procedure someone who had been there, done that got the tee shirt. Family are there to give support but they are often too close and going through there own torments with your diagnosis. I was in such a dark place but now feel quite calm about it - most of the time! Best wishes in your recovery. Ginny K