Sorry that so many of you have had to join us recently… you will find a lot of support on here…
I am quite a bit further along the journey now - I was diagnosed late May 2008 and had 6 months chemo before my mastectomy and radiotherapy… It is very scarey in those early weeks - i found that bach rescue remedy was useful to help calm you down etc.
For those that get told you now need chemo - it isn’t nice… but it is doable…
I don’t know how many of you have been told - you are now entitled to free presecriptions if you live in England and have cancer - you can get the form from your GP (they need to sign it) and the card is valid for 5 years… So take advantage of any medicines you need over the next few months (there are various things you can get prescribed to help with chemo side effects like dry mouth etc…)
Hi to the Newbies - so sorry you’re had to join our club. Those first days are horrible - I kept looking at the sell-by date on the milk in my fridge, wondering which of us would last longer. But that feeling of unreality does gradually settle, as you find out more about what you’re dealing with, and get started on your treatment. The feeling that you’re fighting back, even though it’s all quite unpleasant, is very empowering.
And we know that all these treatments they throw at us these days give us a very good chance of survival - and new treatments are being discovered all the time. So it isn’t all dark clouds ahead, even though life will never be quite the same again - you will always have this lingering paranoia with every little twinge.
Wish I had found this site weeks ago.
I was diagnosed on 9 May with ‘early stage BC’ treatment details given following week after biopsy results. Had lumpectomy aand reduction mammoplasty to rhb on 26th May. Due to longer healing period I am not due to have Radiotherapy till 20 July at Addenbrooks 1.5 hour plus drive and dreading it - to the extent I was on the verge of refusing it when I saw/chated to others at the Oncology unit while waiting for scan they had to have chemo etc and realised I am lucky with only a 8mm lump, clear margins & snb clear so only Arimidex for five years.
As the cosmetic side has bothered me I am going in the IMPORT LOW TRIAL is any one else involved in this?
Hi everyone,
Returned home from Glenfield on saturday after having masectomy on wednesday.All went ok,i think they took a couple of lymph nodes but can’t be sure.I’m feeling fine,get bit tired in afternoon but just sit with feet up and read(my sister gave me UPLIFT by Barbara Delinsky) I wish she had given it too me before surgery it is so UPLIFTING,helpful and useful tips.My daughter has been a tower of strength to both of us and left Dawn French’s book “Dear Fatty” on my bed,I laughed till it hurt too much.Keeping positive and friends and family very supportive,which helps!
How are you getting on divipops?
I hope all “Newbies” find strength from this site.
bye for noe
love boatgirl xx
Hi to the newbies on here,just want to let you know you are in this mad club now and you are not alone,there will always be someone to help and support you whether you want to laugh or cry,there is no right or wrong way of handling this but we are all in the same boat.
Im coming up for six months since diagnosis and was “lucky” to get away with a WLE and SNB ,only rads and on tamoxifen now,so here I am out the other end wondering how the hell did I get through that as I really felt like it was happening to someone else at the time.Am just glad that I can move on now and enjoy the sun albeit slathered in factor 50 ! Good luck all and keep chatting.
Hi everyone who’s newly diagnosed,
I was dx in jan 04, grade 3, 12mm tumour, no nodes involved…had WLE, chmo, rads and just finished 5years on Tamoxifen.
I can remember vividly being where you are now, the day I was dx my world collapsed, I was so scared…I suffered terrible anxiety attcks and ended up on tranquilisers and sleeping tablets to help get me through.
WLE…I was only in hospital for 24hours…and fortunately recovered well.
Went back for post-surgery results and was devestated when told grade 3 and chemo was being recommended.
How I got through chemo I do not know, I was not worried about losing my hair…didn’t want a wig …wore scarves instead…fortunately I did not suffer any severe side-effects…though did suffer severe panic attacks towards end of
chemo…hence oncologist agreed to me stopping after 4.
Radiotherapy was a walk in the park after chemo…didn’t suffer any burns.
Tamoxifen…suffered the hot flushes, bloated feeling caused by menopausal symptoms…but they were durable…just!!
At the beginning of my journey I couldn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel…I’ve met some wonderful friends…some I’ve lost since to this disease…and some I’m still in contact with.
Some how I got through the treatment…it wasn’t easy…and emotions were up and down.
You WILL all get through this…although at this time it might not feel like it…your lives have been turned upside down, and the lives of your families too…there are tough times ahead…but one day you will see that light at the end of the tunnel.
This site is a wonderful source of support and friendship.
Hope you don’t mind me writing…sometimes I think its helpful to hear from someone whos been there and understands.
Just wanted to wish you all well and to say sorry you have had to join us. I am a year down the line and I do not have much good advice except perhaps to guard your privacy. Not everyone will be supportive and it may be better to only tell a few people you trust to give support as the others interest can become intusive and everyone feels they have a right to know all about you. Also, this site is useful, the other women have all been there. Lastly,try to get as mch info as you can bear, accept you will be really shocked and sad, it is probably normal. Try to ignore people who say stupid and insensitive stuff or who insist on you pretending to be okay when you are not,
And maybe try to have some nice times, if you can. It reminds you what you are strugglig to survive for.
Hi Leucite- hope you are a bit further on with your treatment plan now. i was in your situation this time last year; the cancer was picked up by routine mammo completely out of the blue. I had no lump or any visible signs etc but it turned out to be aggressive. From the outset I kept my own council about my BCr except within my family and with good friends who I’d known a long time - most of whom did not live near me as we had moved fairly recently.
I live in a large village and am quite involved with my local church - but only the priest and 3 or 4 people know my diagnosis (I have worn a wig now for 9 months and everyone think’s it’s my hair)
This isn’t the way for everyone but some of really resist being defined by our cancer- and a lot of us are not so keen on waving the ‘pink ribbon’ either.
I have had wonderful support - and feel sure you will have too. It is a real bummer when you are first diagnosed- overnight your nice little world disappears as the NHS takes over your life You know you should be grateful form prompt treatment etc . but all you feel is shock and anger (in my case anyway!) It seems like things will never be the same again- and they won’t - but that doesn’t mean that you won’t get thro’ all this & come out the other side- and get back your life.
A less than helpful BC Nurse, when I made a somewhat resentful remark, retorted sharply - ‘it’s 9 month out of your life: get your head round it.’ I thought then that she was a c…w- and still do- but I think it actually made me determined to prove to myself that I could get my head round it. I feel really good now and am determined to give every new day as much welly as I can. 'We pass this way but once…" Good luck Leucite.
I’m just back from my second surgery - WLE (re-excision) and SNB and waiting for results next week to determine further surgery and treatment plan.
It’s been a bit of a roller coaster - I feel very much as though I am on the ‘cancer conveyorbelt’ with my life being taken over by doctors etc. and it was only when I delayed this op by 5 days in order to sing in a concert when I felt a bit more in control of things and like I was taking a bit more of a grip myself.
I don’t have a huge problem with the treatment I am likely to have although if they suggest a mastectomy then I may struggle but I am finding it hard to accept that this is a diagnosis for life - I will always now have breast cancer hanging over me. And tamoxifen scares the hell out of me - early menopause is not my idea of a fun way to spend the next 5 years of my life. Having said that, there are worse things out there - type 1 diabetes, bad stroke, lung cancer etc. At least this is treatable and the support networks seem to be very good.
As I am just about to be made redundant (great timing!) I am going to set up my own business - I must be mad! At least it will give me something to focus my life on rather than being sucked into the world of cancer victims - I feel it’s very important to keep a positive attitude, hard as it may be at times, particularly in the beginning, when I am still waiting for full diagnosis and results.