I had a routine breast scan on 2 Jan, follow-up appointment on 9 Jan that, results appointment was today and I’m reeling.
Dear Cryst
I am sorry to read of your recent diagnosis. You may find our helpline useful to call, it is run by specialist breast care nurses who can help you through this difficult time, listen to your concerns and offer information, advice and support. They are on 0808 800 6000 and open Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm, Saturday, 9am - 2pm.
In addition, Breast Cancer Care have published a Resource Pack, it has been designed for anyone newly diagnosed with information to help you better understand your diagnosis, test results and various treatments, it is available via the following link or by contating the helpline:
breastcancercare.org.uk//content.php?page_id=7514
I do hope you find this information of some help.
Best wishes
Lucy
Hi Chryst
So sorry to hear you have joined us, for me the dx (diagnosis) day was probably the worst. I hope you are feeling a little better by the time you read this. What is your dx? I know that everything is crashing in around you right now, so many things to get your head round and emotions all over the place. Hope you are managing to get some sleep. I wish you well with your treatment.
Just so you know, my dx was on 23 Oct 2007, DCIS widespread, had mastectomy on 1 Dec 2007 with back flap reconstruction, they found 2 micro invasions so it was the right thing to do. I am lucky that they got clear margins and I don’t need chemo or radiotherapy.
Please let me know how you are, all the best.
luvnhugsCarolexxx
Hi Chryst
As Carole as said sorry that you have joined us but this site is fabulous at picking you up dusting you down and setting you back on track.
When I was dx I think I could only see the word cancer once I had calmed down a bit I discovered that its not so black and white and once you have a clear dx you can ask questions relevant to you and break it down into much more manageable chunks of info.
Anything you need to ask just fire away there will always be someone on here to offer advice and support.
Sending you hugs
Karen
XX
Thanks Lucy, I have just ordered the pack.
Mine sounds a bit like yours, Curclycat. DCIS throughout the breast. They are going to do a mastectomy - I don’t yet know when. I’m seeing her again to talk about reconstruction options, but she seemed to think I had enough stuff on my back or on my tummy. It sounds as if it is the right decision to go for the reconstruction straight away? Although it feels a bit weird even thinking about it until they know what they will find.
Two things exercising my mind at the moment - how can this happen in just one of the breasts, and it’s my own fault for staying on HRT for too long.
Nice to know there are lots of people to talk too.
Hi Cryst,
So sorry you have had to join us but I’m sure you will get lots of support and many questions answered on this site.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel, I was diagnosed in Aug 06, had lumptectomy followed by wle, then had to go for a bilateral mastectomy (found that really hard to cope with) they couldn’t do immediate reconstruction as at that stage they were not sure whether I would need chemo or rads. As it turned out they got sufficient clear margins and so didn’t need chemo or rads, now on tamoxifen for 5 years and monthly zoladex injections in the tummy for 2 years. I then had to wait what seemed a very long 9 months for bilateral reconstruction which I had in May 07 using the muscle and skin from the back (LD flap), and I’m well happy with the results still some more to be done ie, nipple recon and tatoo but I have to say I feel so much better in myself.
I am now back at work and getting on with my life, one thing you must do is stay positive and accept any help offered, you can beat this as many women on this site have and are many years down the road.
Sending you lots of love
Stay strong
Kaz
xx
I am now
Hi again everyone. My surgery is in a week’s time. I’m still trying to get my head round it and stay positive.
I’m wondering just what to do with myself between now and then. Should I just carry on going to work as normal as possible? Or have as much time off as I can and try to do nice things? (What?) The leaflets talk about buying pjs and bras to wear afterwards, so I suppose I’d better do that. And let everyone know, make arrangements etc. But aside from that? Any tips? Things you were glad you did in this period or wish now that you’d done?
Cryst
Everyone deals with this time in different ways, I continued to work right up to the day before my lumpectomy as work was my escape route some kind of normality in my life when everything else was in other peoples hands.
I have to say that a couple of good bra’s with no underwire is essential I have worn my sports bra both day and night since my op on the 10 January, Asda do very cheap sports bras at £4 the sizes are limited and only go up to a DD cup, I don’t normally wear slippers but I was advised to take a pair as the floors in the hospital can be a little slippery when you have your sexy little socks on that they make you were.
Good luck for your op
Debra
Hi Chryst
I worked until the day before the op (WLE) as I found it helpful to keep busy. I also got those jobs done that I had been meaning to do but not done as I wasnt sleeping very well.
I am back on 31 Jan for mast and thinking of buying one of those stress pillows because when I came home after wle I found I slept on a pillow to give me some support but I thought one of those would just mould to your body shape dunno keep talking myself in and out of it.
Good luck
Karen
XXX
Having to tell people about this is just awful.
I’m a bit of a list sort of person, so I now have this list of people I really should tell before I go into hospital. It’s easier with some people than others, isn’t it? Also, how much do you tell them? I’m finding that I’m inflicting too much detail on some people, but it’s just the “I’ve got to have an operation” version for others. I’'m trying to be really grown up about it, but really I just want to curl up in a corner and howl.
Hi Cryst
I know how you feel, I had a routine Mammogram on 29th Nov got recalled and was diagnosed on 12th Dec, I know what you mean about reeling, to be honest I cannot remember the 2 weeks before Christmas in Dec, I had my operation on 31st Dec, SNB and WLE. I had a holiday booked and I went away, it was really surreal, but I do think keeping busy and resting is important.
As for who you tell this is really up to you, I told very few people before my op, (4 friends, immediate family and a few coleagues at work), but then I am a private person and as it was Christmas I was trying to protect people and not spoil their fun.
I have only just found this site, after my operation, I think if I had found it before it would have helped me emotionally, as I did feel like I was on a roller coaster or having a nightmare that I could not stop.
As for curling up and howling let it out I never knew I had so many tears in me.
Good luck
I will be thinking about you
x