Not only am I like so many on here very frightened of what lies ahead. To be specific in my case treating Invasive lobular Her2 neg, and won’t know until I have had RMI scan. This is needed as despite 2 sets of different mammograms and an ultra scan the size of affected tissue cannot be determined. Seems huge to me but then it would wouldn’t it. I did understand from my one appointment so far with the surgeon that a masectomy was fairly definate but wether that will be after hormone drugs have had a go at shrinking it or straight away I don’t know. (Really don’t envy them having to give peeps such bad news).
I have 2 sons who now both live and work far away. I have regular 'phone and email contact with both and I don’t know how to/if I should tell them. Should I wait until I know exactly what I am dealing with, which sounds rather like saying how long a piece of string is: ? Should I tell them now by phone ? My instinct is not to worry then, but then I know if it was someone I loved in this position I would be upset if I wasn’t told.
I would like to take this opportunity of saying what a supportive group of women you are, and that I very much hope once I have got to grips with this situation I can be as supportive to newbies.
Hi
Telling close family is the hardest thing. As you said, you would want to know so my reaction would be to tell them. I realise its a different situation but I told my 3 children (16,7 and2) each in a different way but I wanted them to all know I was hiding nothing from them so they could trust what I said.
Your sons will understand you don’t have the full picture yet but if you wait for that it may upset them more that you haven’t told them up to that point. In terms of how to tell them, it’s probably best to just go through it as the surgeon has with you, so they are informed.
Whatever you decide to do, look after yourself and I ll be thinking of you
Caroline xxx
I was diagnosed on Christmas Eve and faced the dilemma of whether to tell family or not. My daughter was home from uni for Christmas and my son is in Australia with his girlfriend on a working holiday. BIG dilemma! I held off telling anyone over the holiday period but told my daughter before she left to return to uni. It was hard, but I tried to remain positive and just explain the facts (as much as I know them). I still wasn’t sure what to tell my 26 year old son as he is so far away and the last thing I wanted was to worry him so much he felt he would need to come home. I discussed at length with my daughter and she was certain it was right to tell him and that is what I did via ‘FaceTime’ . It was not the easiest conversation but I am really pleased I decided to.
I am still not sure what the future holds as I had to have further surgery to remove an area of DCIS but final results and treatment plan tomorrow (I hope!) I am expecting to be advised to have chemo as despite being stage 1 I am triple negative so there are no other options. I know both my son and daughter are anxious about the future and will be awaiting the results and my decision re treatment. I am so glad I told them both at the start as they have now had a little time to come to terms with everything - as I have.
The whole thing is a nightmare - the scariest time of my life with no doubt but it does help knowing that we are not alone !
Tell your boys. Family support is very important. If you keep it to yourself and they find out later they may feel deceived and may think the prognosis is worst that what you are telling them.
What can I say but thank you all for your very helpful replies. Took the plunge and told eldest son when he phoned as does regularly ( having seen surgeon after MRI). He said wd give his brother who is abroad a nudge to ring me ( somehow we have developed a pattern of his ringing us and I thought alarm bells wd go off if I suddenly rang him). The second conversaion was harder as he sounded so happy and Was just getting into Munich station!!! Admit to putting a more positive slant on it to both of them than I felt.
I asked both if they had any questions - only one came up - and yes it was “How long had I known?”
One of you made the very good point that Cancer isn’t such a scary word to the younger gerneration as it is to us.
I would really have liked to reply and thank you all individually but had a hand op on Monday which makes typing tricky… my very best wishes.