Hi, I’m 33 and I’ve just been diagnosed with BC. Had a WLE, sentinel node biopsy and a lumpectomy last week so feeling a little sore. To find out that i had BC was a bit of a shock to say the least as had no family history of it. However i’m trying to remain positive, keep smiling and take each day as it comes. My fiance, family and friends have been fantastic with their love and support. However i sometimes get the feeling that maybe i should be curled up in the corner wailing why me!! Don’t get me wrong there are days when i do feel like that and i do have a bloody good cry but most of the time i try to stay positive. I suppose how i feel is perfectly natural but at times a little confusing. I just wanted to know if anyone else felt the same way. I would love to hear from you. Also i’m new to this computer malarky as well. It’s taken me a good half hour to write this. Another new experience i guess. Hope to hear from you soon. Sunbeam xx
Hi Sunbeam (great name!)
I’m really sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I do know exactly how you feel though. I was diagnosed last August, aged 28. There was no history of it in my family either. I too had a WLE, sentinel node biopsy and lumpectomy. This was followed by 6 x chemo and 20 x rads. Now I am on Tamoxifen for five years.
I think initially I just went into a state of shock. I found that I was the one comforting those around me! I did have a good cry every now and again but, generally, I stayed pretty strong. Some people are just made that way. There is no wrong or right way to react. Everyone kept telling me that one day I would just break down - but I didn’t. My way of coping was to get as much information as I could about what was happening to me and to face it head on. I personally think that if you keep smiling and have a ‘glass half full’ mentality then it will help you so much when you start any treatment. It is good to stay positive but it also does you good to scream at someone every now and again. You will have good days and dark ones too, but I think you are right to take every day as it comes.
I am a year down the line now. I finished treatment in April and now have hair and eyerows! My energy is coming back too. It seems like such a massive mountain to climb when you are standing at the other side but you really can do it. Just be really good to yourself and listen to your body when you need a rest. Do you know what your treatment plan will be yet?
I really will be thinking of you and sending lots of cyber hug to you. Jo x
Hi Sunbeam
Welcome to the Breast Cancer Care forums. I am sure you will get lots of help and advice from the many informed users of this site.
You may find BCC’s resource pack helpful which has been designed for those newly diagnosed. The pack is free of charge as are all our publications. If you would like a copy just follow the link below:
breastcancercare.org.uk//content.php?page_id=7514
If you feel you need to talk to someone in confidence 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. The number to call is 0808 800 6000 the lines open Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm and Saturdays 9am - 2pm.
I hope this is of some help to you.
Kind regards
Sam
BCC Facilitator
Hey Sunbeam
I’m also 33, people keep telling me that I’m remarkably positive. I guess that is true, certainly a glass half full person most of the time. I don’t think I’ve really thought why me at and stage yet either. Today is my 6 month check up which I confess I’m a little nervous about but only a little, what a roller coaster the last 6 months has been. Had a bilateral mastectomy, got all the cancer (had 2 tumours, 1 in each breast, both different, ie not related to each other at all) lymph nodes were clear so that was great. Started chemo about a month ago which I’m coping with fine and will have rads after that sometimes feels like a lot of treatment but it’s all spread out and it’d fine when you’re doing it.
On the plus side I’ve made the most of things this year and started travelling a bit more, putting my foot down with people who’e demanded too much from me in the past (mostly clients and bank managers LOL), now go for a good walk every day in the beautiful village I live in so my advice to you now that I’m 6 months in would be do the treatments they suggest and live your life to the fullest in between everything and enjoy every little thing you can.
I won’t say be positive because that really winds some people up on this forum and to be honest I’m not sure it really means anything now that I think about it… I will say wring every bit of joy out of everything, but I think everyone should do that breast cancer or not.
Hi Sunbeam,
i too was dx at 34 and felt the world was falling in on me. I too had a good cry and still do sometimes as the fear is always there. As Vertangie says i too have started to live a little more and make the most of every day. i am positive now but initially i was like a rocking horse and prescribed diaxapm for anxiety and shock. There is no history of BC in the family so it was a shock to everyone. I have 3 beautiful kids aged 2 to 8 and appreciate what i have got to what i haven;t.
It is good to remain positive as it helps in many ways. There are many ladies who have survived BC so i always so there is no reason why i shouldn’t.
Be strong and take care
sukes
Hey sunbeam
I know exactly how you feel, was diagnosed last Sept, had mx, chem and rads and now on tamoxifen and zoladex. When I was told I had Bc there was the obvious shock like you I had no family history and was 32 years of age. I did break down intially but i quickly pulled myself together (never knew I had it in me) and was like right what do we need to do to get rid of this … I then corncetrated on getting through each treatment , put my head down and decided this was the only way I could draw strength. I did have moments where I broke down but this was usually when I was on my own. It felt like like I was living somebody’s else’s life.
I attended information days with Breast Cancer Care and met an amazing bunch of women, where we kept in touch and encouraged each other. It made me cope btter talking to people who had the same fears that I had. Don’t get me wrong, my friends and family were Godsend but I felt more comforted talking to someone who was exactly in the same boat as me.
Don’t beat yourself up about being positive, if it works for you like it did for me go with it. You need every ounce of strenght and anything else you can get to get through this - and you will get through it - and you will look back in a year’s time and not believe how far you have come.
Hugs and best wishes
Heather
Hi thank you to you all for replying to my message. I felt so uplifted by your replies. Had a bad day on Saturday. The OH didn,t know what had hit him. I was quite chirpy then totally down the next. He was totally unphased by it all, though i did eat a little humble pie. On Sunday watched my mum and several good friends participate in the Race for Life. Ironically had entered myself earlier on in the year to take part but didn,t feel well enough after op. The whole atmosphere was very moving. Big hugs to you all and thank you once again
sunbeam xxx