Just a brief bit of info. I was diagnosed with grade 1 cancer Monday, but had been told two days before Xmas that it was definately cancer by Mr S at the Chelmsford & Essex clinic. Am now waiting to go into Broomfield on 21st for radio active dye to be injected, then into theatre the following day.
My Mum had breast cancer at 40, so I have had yearly mammograms since the age of 30. (I am 39). The last one I had in Aug was clear, so you can imagine the shock of finding a lump in Nov. Even on the day of diagnosis it still wasn’t showing up!
Have gone through the ‘OH MY GOD’ stage and am now ready just to get it over and done with. So, if anyone is nearby (or far away) and wants a chat please get in touch. I am off work at the moment trying to stay flu and germ free and am going out of my mind. I may even sort the sock drawer tomorrow!
This site is fantastic and I applaud all of you for your bravery and honesty. It’s nice to hear things as they actually are from people who know what they are talking about, rather than reading endless leaflets.
Can I be from Far Far Away then? Good on you for attending to chores that would otherwise go undone. The sock drawer is an eminently good starting point. Be prepared for that radio active dye. If it’s that blue dye stuff, it doesn’t half stick! I had mine injected at the start of surgery two weeks ago roughly, and I still look like I’m the result of some strange tribal ritual.
Echinacea. It gets mocked in some quarters, but I’ve been taking it as required for years, and it works for me. You could try taking it now for a couple of weeks as an immune booster, but remember to ask your doc first in case it conflicts with anything he/she wants to give you. I’m taking all my herbals to my oncologist appointment to make sure they don’t interfere with the chemo.
Not sure if you know there is an Essex thread. There are a number of us who live in and around Chelmsford and I am sure some of them will post. I was diagnosed in Dec 2007 but am happy to discuss my experiences. There is also a support group that meets monthly in Chelmsford. If you send a private message I would be happy to give you more details and chat if you want.
You may find BCC’s resource pack helpful, it has been designed for those newly diagnosed. If you would like a copy just follow the link below to order a copy:
In addition to the support you will receive here, if you feel it would help to talk to someone in confidence about your upcoming surgery or any other concerns you may have, then please give the helpline a call, the staff here are all either breast care nurses or people who have personal experience of breast care issues. They can offer you a listening ear, support and information about other services we can offer you to help you through this difficult time. The number to call is 0808 800 6000 the lines open Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm and Saturdays 9am - 2pm.
I’m not too far away - in Bury St Edmunds in West Suffolk. You have been diagnosed really early and that’s got to be a good thing. I’m very impressed with the sock drawer plans. I was diagnosed on 17th Dec and my socks are as disordered now as they were that day. I’m off work after surgery at the moment (not dyed blue though) and I’d go with the cup of tea and a good book option every time!.
I’m with Carole on the echinacea. I know it’s been debunked for its immune boosting properties, but I still favour it in cold season.
Hi Sharon,
Nice to meet a fellow sorter! I am not local I’m afraid, but still up for a chat. I was diagnosed 2 years ago, stage 3 even though I had a mammogram just a year earlier, so bit of a shock. Spread to most of my lymph nodes too. I often resort to sorting as a kind of ‘therapy’. Yes, I know, I’m quite sad! Oh, and shopping. Does anyone else have that problem? I never had it before diagnosis, but now, whenever I get fed up, I just think ‘When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping’. And it has to be clothes shopping. Food doesn’t do it for me, or household goods. And, no, I can’t afford it, but what the hell!!
Since christmas I have organised YEARS of photos, files and paperwork. Now I’m too worn out to do anything else for the rest of the year, so talking with you will be easy therapy. Hope all progresses well with your treatment,
Best wishes
Jax
lol! Shopping does it for me Jax! Shoes. I am desperately trying to get a perspective on it. Just 'cos I got cancer doesn’t mean I grew another 10 pairs of feet.
Love the blue ink comments! I was hoping I would be so radio active I would glow in the dark and save me buying those expensive energy saving light bulbs! ha ha
On a very different note, does anyone else sit at the traffic lights and find themselves fiddling with their lump or is it just me being errr…odd? It even makes my husband chuckle. By the time I get through the 20 layers of clothing the lights have changed!
Many, many thanks for the comments, and if I can suss how to send a PM to you Flora55, I would love details of the local group.
I just find myself sitting in car and throwing my prosthesis on the passenger seat, cos I get fed up with it…if a policeman looked in I could just say it was a BIG stress ball!!
Hi Sharon,
so sorry you are on here with this as well. I live in Chelmsford area too and a number of us meet up regularly in fact probably next week if you are up to it. We are a very casual group of people with Bc in common who meet and stuff our faces as often as possible!!!LOL. You are so welcome to meet up to if you would like. We often meet in the Fox and Raven at Chelmer Village or Debenhams if in the morning. We are all on the ’ undergoing treatment’ section Essex girls if you want to join in but it is a bit quiet at the moment on there. Flora meets us too.
2 of the ladies see the same surgeon as you and we all have the same oncologist. We did not all know each other before and new people pop in all the time, so sometimes there are just 4 of us and other times about 8.
I have had 3 ops, 7 months of chemo and recently finished radiotherapy. The others are all at different points.
Just shout if you would like to meet up.
Lots of luck to you
Lily x
Good on you for attending to chores that would otherwise go undone. The sock drawer is an eminently good starting point. Be prepared for that radio active dye. If it’s that blue dye stuff, it doesn’t half stick! I had mine injected at the start of surgery two weeks ago roughly, and I still look like I’m the result of some strange tribal ritual. 