Diagnosed on Monday

Diagnosed on Monday

Diagnosed on Monday I have started this topic on behalf of new user Maggie6

Kind Regards
Forum Host
Breast Cancer Care

Hi All

I was referred after a routine mammogram and was told on Monday that I will need a mastectomy. To go from thinking nothing was wrong to this news was so shocking and I’m finding it very hard to cope. I feel sort of enfeebled and as hard as I try I can’t seem to get on with everyday life. Did anyone else feel the same and does it start to lift after a while? I feel a complete wimp but can’t shake myself out of it. I’m so glad I found this site.

Resources Pack Dear Maggie6

I am sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis. I am sure you will receive lots of helpful advice and support from the other forum users.

Breast Cancer Care have recently published a Resources Pack which you may find helpful to read, it is filled with information to help you better understand your diagnosis, test results and the various treatments available. You can download it from the following link or you can ask for a copy to be sent to you via the helpline:

breastcancercare.org.uk//content.php?page_id=7514

Kind Regards
Forum Host
Breast Cancer Care

you are not alone Welcome maggie though obviously we would rather you didn’t need us! This is an amazing site and you will get heaps of support from people who will become your friends.

I felt just like you, I think we mostly do. I cried for weeks, every day and thought I was going to die, there and then. I felt so insecure thinking I now knew my future and it was black.

It isn’t all bad. You will find strength you didn’t know you had. You will amaze yourself and those around you, you are NOT a whimp!

I wish you all the luck possible and hope you feel more like your old self soon

Love Irene

Thankyou so much Hi Irene

Thank you so much for your reply, it is so nice to feel there are people I can talk to. This site is so wonderful, I’m so grateful to have found it. I really appreciate your supportive message. You’ve obviously gone through this experience and it is a real comfort to know that one day I may be able to say the same.

love Maggie

You are normal H Maggie,

Sorry you have had to find this site, but welcome and I am sure you will find all the support and info you need.

The feelings you are having are all normal. Of course we are angry about getting this disease, why us??? My attitiude was well I have it so I had better get on with it, there was nothing I could do to change the situation except my mind set and how I dealt with it, and it wasn’t going to beat me and get me down. That doesn’t mean to say that I didn’t have low points during my journey cos I did, you have to let all the frustration and tears out, better out than in as they say.

I was diagnosed last June after a routine mammogram and after 2 ops ended up having a masectomy followed by chemo and rads, so I can relate to how you are feeling. It’s quite a shock to find that although you felt quite well you are not. I am hoping to go back to work in August and although it may take time the journey is doable.

The whole experience makes you look at your life differently and in my case made me put myself first.

Please listen to your body and rest when it tells you. You will be given exercises to do after your masectomy, please do them they do help. Ask your bcn about local support groups, they can hep as you can talk to people who have been through a similiar expereince.

Take care & best wishes

Jan

Maggie

I am sorry that you have had to join us on this site, but it is good that you have found it as the members are so supportive and kind.

I was also diagnosed after routine screening so didn’t know there was anything wrong. I was actually told it was cancer when recalled and a few days later given the full details after the biopsy was analysed. I certainly didn’t expect that news on the day of recall and it hit me very hard. I had the lump removed rather than a mastectomy so the surgery was less drastic than you have to have, so I can only imagine how you must feel about that.

It is a shock and the treatment is aggressive and long so we are all bound to feel very low and sorry for ouselves at times and that is natural. But you will get lots of support from this site and you will get through this. I had my first chemo on Tuesday and had lots of lovely replies from members on this site, from people who know what it is like which makes a big difference.

From time to time, I still feel down and sorry for myself, but most of the time I’m ok and I hope that you will find this happens as time goes by.

I have found that talking to people about it has helped me. Not everyone wants to do this but personally I do, so I told family, friends, people at work etc and most are very kind. Some don’t know what to say but that’s their problem!

All the very best to you.

Anne

reply Hi Maggie6

So sorry you had to join our club but you will find a wealth of help and information here.

Like you I was referred after a routine mammogram. The initial shock was to say the least devastating.
The worst part was that I felt as if control of my life had been totally taken away all of a sudden and given to someone else.

I also needed a mastectomy and had that in August 2006 with an immediate LD reconstruction.
I then had chemotherapy and radiotherapy which I finished in May. I went for my first check up on 19 June and so far everything appears fine. I hope to return to work next month so I feel as if I am becoming me again!

Your emotions will be all over the place just now. Please do not feel like a wimp. I found the worst part at the beginning was telling people and once I got over that and had the date for my operation I felt as if I was at least moving forward. I looked on part of my treatment as a step forward in the right direction.

I felt as if I was starting out on a very long road but am amazed at how quickly the time has gone and find it hard to believe it is nearly a year since I was diagnosed. I also found that fear of the unknown was a big factor but once everything started to move forward I found things a lot easier to deal with.

Please take all the support that people offer as that really helps a lot. I am quite an independent person (too much for my own good sometimes) but I found that I was really grateful for all the support and help I received.

Above all, please do not be too hard on yourself. You have had a huge emotional shock and it takes some coming to terms with, but it does get better.

Take care, and love
Thistle

Hi Maggie I felt just the same I remember spending a few weeks in bleak despair. I never thought it would be me. Heart disease seems to run in our family and cancer figured very rarely. I ticked all the right boxes as well. I couldn’t stop blaming myself for not findin the big lump sooner. I was totally convinced I would die. I am usually a happy giddy sort who usually finds humour in most situations. I lost that for about three months. I began to laugh again then I’d think what are you laughing for you have cancer. My family were so happy that I had learned to laugh again. That is not to say that I don’t delve into the darkness of morbid thoughts every so often. You will deal with it, though that is hard to believe now. This site has enabled me to offload to others in the same situation. I would not want to burden my family with my fear. I don’t think an hour goes by when it doesn’t flash through my mind. Once your treatment starts things will change I think you feel a little empowered. Keep posting on this site, it helped me through the darkest days and still does. Love Eileen

Welcome Maggie Hi Maggie,

welcome. I’m so sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis but am very glad that you have found this site. There’s an awful lot to take in right now isn’t there?! I must admit, my knowledge of breast cancer was fairly limited before I was diagnosed in march. It has been a very steep learning curve!

I was 34 when diagnosed in March and foolishly didn’t really believe that it could be a younger womans disease too (although obviously I knew that kylie had it). I thought I had a cyst, so told be told that I had cancer and needed a mastectomy the very next week came as a total shock (to say the least, as thats putting it mildly!!).

I found the first few days after diagnosis to be the absolute worst. They were dark days where me and my loved ones experienced the full range of emotions. You are certainly NOT a whimp maggie, anyone would find this terribly hard to come to terms with.

As soon as I started treatment I began to feel much more empowered and positive. Don’t get me wrong, I still have my down days, but these are no longer every day. I am now having chemo til oct, then shall be having rads and hormones. I am finding that some days I struggle physically whereas others I struggle mentally. At times it all still seems very surreal, and I’m sure it will for some time to come.

I wish you well as you start your treatment. Please do let us know how you are getting on,

Take care,

Kelly
-x-

Hello Maggie

So sorry to hear of your diagnosis. You absolutely are not a wimp. We’ve all been through this and understand exactly how you feel. Like you I didn’t expect to get cancer - I’ve had benign breast problems for years and I thought my lump was just another cyst so my diagnosis was a terrible shock.
I would echo what others have said - the days just after diagnosis are the worst and once you start treatment you do feel better.

In the meantime its’s good that you’ve discovered this site - it’s been a tremendous help to me.

Take care of yourself - thinking of you.

Love Anthi

Maggie - welcome and so sorry to hear of your diagnosis but just wanted to say there is life and good quality life after BC. I was first diagnosed 17 years ago and after the initial shock and treatment life returned to normal and I made certain I looked after myself and did all the things I really wanted to do wherever this was possible. It returned in April this year but I am still maintaining my positive attitude and sense of humour and commitment to beating this horrible disease. Good Luck and do please keep us informed.

Support Hi

I would just like to thank everyone who has replied and given such wonderful support. It has been such tremendous help to both me and my husband. I can’t thank you enough for your words of encouragement.

Love Maggie

You are not alone Dear Maggie
I am new to this site and dont really think my diagnosis has sunk in yet, one minute im laughing then im crying its such an emotional rollercoaster, i was diagnosed on tuesday and i cant believe its friday already i dont really know what i have been doing!! i am so glad i posted on this site there is so much support , i felt so overwhelmed to read my messages from such lovely people, please dont feel a whimp , keep talking, and get support, look after yourself and just take small steps at a time .
love galen x

For Galen and Maggie6 Sorry you have joined us, but there are so many lovely people here to give you support. I remember just being in shock the first few days/weeks after diagnosis so you are not alone.

I have had WLE and re-excision, rather than mastectomy so can’t imagine how that might feel but there is a lot of support out there. I start chemo next Thurs and feel very nervous, but the good news is that it is being ‘sorted’ and I am getting closer to the end of treatment.

Big hugs to both of you… xxxx

Sunny

I understand those feelings too Hi Maggie6 & Galem

I was diagnosed 4 weeks ago and initially was in a very dark place, Ihad my first Chemo yesterday and found it much less frightening that I expected mainly due to the support I have had from the people on this site and others.

I couldn’t agree more with everything that has been said so far but for me I have decided now I’m not going anywhere without a fight and actually feel by having the Chemo I’m fighting back and so will you.

Keep posting the support is amazing.

Regards, Helen