I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER I HAD SURGERY ON THE 20TH MAY MY NYMPH NODES WERE REMOVED OUT OF 19 FOUR HAD CANCER THEY REMOVED THE TUMOUR FROM MY BREAST I RECENTLY WENT BACK FOR MY RESULTS AND THEY SAID IT GONE PASS THE BREAST TISSUES AND HAVE TOLD ME I NEED A MASTECTOMY WHAT A SHOCK AFTER SURGERY I WILL NEED CHEMO AND RADIO IM TRYING TO STAY POSITIVE BUT HAVE SOME BAD DAYS WHEN I THINK OF MY FOUR GIRLS AND THINKING THE WORST MY SCANS WERE ALL GOOD NEWS SO I SUPPOSE THATS SOMETHING BUT I CANT DENY I STILL FEEL FRIGHTENED ANYONE ELSE HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE
HOPE SOME ONE CAN REASSURE ME SLIGHTLY WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL TO SHARE SOME SIMILAR EXPERIENCES
Hi Tracey36
I am sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis, but would like to welcome you to the Forums. I am sure you will receive lots of helpful advice and support from our users.
Below is a link to a Breast Cancer Care publication Resources Pack which can be ordered on line, it is filled with information to help you better understand your diagnosis, test results and the various treatments available.
breastcancercare.org.uk//content.php?page_id=7514
I do hope you find this publication useful.
Kind Regards.
Emma
Moderator
Breast Cancer Care
Hi Tracey36 - I was diagnosed last year in July, although I needed a lumpectomy instead of mastectomy I needed chemo and radiotherapy also. I have 3 sons and the thoughts that were racing through my mind were frightening. Please stay positive, your children will be an amazing source of comfort to you and they (like my boys) will bring you through on the bad days. My children were 15, 13 and 11 when I was diagnosed - my youngest took it the hardest because of loosing my hair during chemo and being generally ‘not like his mum’ - my eldest was just starting his GCSE year and my middle lad was becoming a teenager! Having the children got me through and yours will too. The best advice I was given from a friend who herself had breast cancer years ago was ‘take a day at a time’. You will get through it.
THANK TOU FOR YOUR KIND WORDS AND YES YOUR RIGHT MY GIRLS KEEP ME ON MY TOES UNFORTUNATELY THOUGH ALL MY SURGEY IS BEING DONE IN THE SIX WEEKS SUMMER HOLIDAY SO NOT MUCH REST FOR ME HOPEFULLY MY FAMILY WILL RALLY ROUND MY MUM HAD BREAST CANCER FOUR YEARS AGO AND IS ON HER WAY TO RECOVERY BUT SHE WAS LUCKY SHE DIDNT NEED A MASTECTOMY SO SUPPOSE I WAS THINKING MY WOULD END UP LIKE HERS BUT EVERONE IS DIFFERENT AND I FIND IT HARD TO TALK TO HER AS SHE KIND OF BLAMES HERSELF EVEN THOUGH THE DOCTOR TOLD HER ITS NOT ALWAYS HEREDITRY SORRY IM GOING ON BUT THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY I DO APPRECIATE IT
Hi Tracey
I am starting my chemo tomorrow to shrink my tumour b4 a mastectomy. Yes it is very very scary and I am 34 with a 5yr old and a 1yr old - you can’t help but panic about them. I am a bit concerned that my treatment coincides with the summer hols, but just take all the offers you can - even if you don’t feel too bad, that way you won’t exhaust yourself. Look after yourself and keep coming on this forum as it really helps when you feeling pants!!!
Take care
Ali
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Hi Tracey
I start my chemo tomorrow. I had a mastectomy and recon in June and am anxious but there is no way back with this thing. You have to stay positive and focused on getting well. I am 37 with two boys 11 and 8 and they have kept me strong but still so worried about what happens if it all goes wrong. Good Luck
Muddy
I GOT MY RESULTS ON THE 4TH OF JULY AND I WAS TOLD THE CANCER HAD JUST GONE OVER THE TISSUE THEY REMOVED SO WOULD NEED A MASTECTOMY BUT I ASKED IF I COULD HAVE IT DONE AFTER MY HOLIDAY WHICH IS THE END OF JULY THEY OKED IT BUT IM WORRIED IN CASE THE TIME GAP IS TO LONG BEFORE THE OP MY HUBBY SAID NOT TO WORRY BECAUSE IF IT WAS GOING TO MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE THEY WOULD HAVE ADVISED ME TO CANCEL THE HOLIDAY STILL CANT HELP WORRYING
Yeah I know what you mean, I have been 4 wks since dx and just starting chemo - had to have so many scans and tests then wait for results that we are only just getting going now. We managed to sneak a holiday to Majorca the week b4 last - and boy did we need it. The waiting is worse than anything, once you get going I’m sure you’ll feel a bit better. Your hubby is right if they were concerned they would have said not to go.
Ali
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THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY IM GLAD IM NOT ON MY OWN I TEND TO WORRY A BIT TO MUCH HOPE ALL GOES WELL FOR YOU GOOD LUCK
just got home from having a mastectomy feel completely drained looks really ugly stitches and bad bruising feel absolutely gutted so tearful is this natural to feel like this. and got to go back on tuesday for the results can they find anything else already had lumps removed from the breast all my nymph glands taken out and now a full mastectomy fed up all ready havent even started chemo yet im only 36 and finding it hard also with the four girls.
huband and family have been great but no one really knows how im feeling i bet your thinking what a moaner but my head is doing overtime
Hi Tracey,
you are not a moaner at all!! It is quite natural to feel how you are feeling right now and we all totally understand where you are coming from. I had a mastectomy and total axillary clearance in March, I was 34.
It is a lonnnnnnggggggg road for all of us, and one that often seems never ending, but it is! You have taken the first step in your treatment process now, and its prob the hardest. I too had my op before chemo. I started chemo in May and am due to finish in Oct. After that I’ve got rads, hormones and Herceptin. Phew!!!
I wish you well as you recover from your op. It is tough but I know you will be back on your feet before you know it! I know its difficult for you as you have children but please do try to take things really easy and not expect too much of yourself. Keep going with your post-op exercises, I really believe they aided my speedy recovery no end.
We all get fed up at times, I get very tearful and have real lows on the chemo. It just feels like there is no light at the end of the tunnel, but I know there is, and I’m sure you do too. You will have many ups and downs as treatment progresses, but I guarantee you the ups will defo outweigh the downs!!!
Take care of yourself. Allow your friends and family to fuss over you and pamper you!! Best of luck for your results on tues, be sure to let us know how you get on,
Kelly
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Hi
I am sorry to see you on here but hopefully you will gets loads of morale support & advice. I certainly have - it has helped me cope in so many ways knowing that I am not alone. It is a whirlwind of emotions, ups & downs.
I have an 8cm invasive breast cancer diagnosed 18th july. I am on 6 x FEC chemo then I will have the op. Which I am finding harder to deal with than anything else - knowing that the op will happen.
I am sure no one thinks your a moaner - it is good to talk to others who are feeling the same. I am 34yrs with two kids (7 & 9) telling them was the hardest thing I have ever had to do! But I got through it & I had some great advice from some wonderful kind hearted people on this site.
Dont be afraid to show yr emotions, dont worry what people think, let people help you and most important you ARE still YOU!
Fingers crossed for your results Tues. let us know how ypu get on!
TC
Mel
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oh tracey i,m so sorry about your news but the girls on here are guiding you well, so go and have a wonderful holiday
thinking of you
hugs
cee
Hi Tracey
Have only just seen your first message, so apologies for not sending you a message sooner . Welcome to the site though - I’m sure you will find it invaluable, as I have done. The girls on here all understand what you’re going through, and never apologise for having a moan - we’ve all done that at times, and considering what we’re going through, I think we’re all allowed to !
I was diagnosed with bc on 4th April and as my tumour was quite large, am having chemo first followed by a mastectomy and node clearance, rads, then herceptin. To start with I never thought I would be able to deal with it, and was so scared. Today I had my seventh chemo out of eight, and am so much more positive - everyone has noticed the difference in me. Luckily I have an amazing support network - my husband and kids (I have two girls 14 and 10) have been wonderful, and I’ve certainly found out who are my friends are, and they’ve been fantastic too.
Tracey, I know its early days and it seems a hell of a long road ahead of you but you WILL get there and eventually the good days will outnumber the bad. The chemo is do-able, and it does work (my tumour has amost disappeared now). Overall, we’re all here for you whenever you need us.
Take care
Lots of love and a big hug
Julie xxx
Hi Tracey
Don’t apologise for moaning, we all do it and have done it and feel free to do it whenever you need to. You will find a fabulous amount of suupport on here, as I have done, and it does help you to get through it. I was dx on 16 July with bc and then 10 days later told it had spread to my liver, hence no surgery and straight onto chemo, although had got myself as prepared as I could for double mascectomy until got the second dx. And chemo is not half as bad as I feared although only had one session so far. I am 39 so not much older and have two children under 4. I am sure your 4 children will help you through this and keep you focused on getting better.
I hope your results on Tuesday are good - gonna keep all fingers and toes crossed for you.
Let us know how you get on and remember you (and all of us) will get through this and keep smiling. Some days will be hard and I have had a fair few emotional ones believe me, but now started my treatment seem to be dealing with it all a lot better.
Take care of yourself and rest as much as you can.
Love
Dawn
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Just read your post and just wanted to send you a big hug. I was diagnosed in June and had lumpectomy and lymph node surgery. I’m 40 with 2 children, 13 and 12. Its hard but it gets better with time.
Sending you lots of love
Julie XXX
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR TAKING TIME TO REPLY AND AM VERY GRATEFUL HAVENT STOPPED CRYING ALL EVENING BUT HOPEFULLY TOMORROW WILL BE BETTER THANKS EVERYONE AGAIN I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR REPLIES PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH
Hi Tracey…
Yes I am boohooing all week too. It has been just 9 days with me so all of it is very new. I met with my drs thurs and they decided chemo then surgery. I didn’t realize that was the order…thought it opposite but then thru further investigation i have found that quite common.
As an eary diagnosed person, I am not delving too much into anything that doesn’t apply to me…such as the surgery, the stages, etc. I try to just read early diagnosed, the support, etc or I find I get too much and somewhat nervous. There are alot of ppl posting on newly diagnosed so I think we have found a wonderful place for info and support.
Best wishes Tracey… we can kick this cancer’s butt!
Hi Tracey,
I hope you are doing ok today.
LeeUK - sorry you’ve had to join us but ‘welcome’ to this most wonderful site,
Take care ladies,
Kelly
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