I thought of this site today. This is the first site I visited after being diagnosed back in Jan. I was diagnosed at 34 with HER2 5 weeks after giving birth to my first and only child. I was scared, depressed and so so sad. I never in a million years thought that I would be in the mental place I am today. I’m here to tell the newly diagnosed that I am sorry you are in this club … HOWEVER… trust me when I say we have the power to change how we choose to fight this illness. After many tears and anxious sleepless nights and therapy I realized being sad, anxious and depressed WONT do anything for your health other than potentially hurt it more. Being anxious about a scan won’t change the outcome so just breathe and enjoy the fact that you are still here. Don’t let cancer still your happiness. I was diagnosed with a very aggressive type of cancer and after a very harsh treatment and surgery I am cancer free. Would it come back ??? I don’t know… maybe?! But I’m not going to live whatever time I have left worrying about what COULD happen. Trust me when I say, it gets better. Breast Cancer is one of the most treatable/curable cancers out there and we are fortunate to live in an era with all these treatment available to us.
What a lovely, positive post to read when you have been through so much, WELL DONE for putting your thoughts down on paper this will help so many sitting think of what’s ahead.
Wishing you well, going forward with health and happiness.
So wonderful to read! Support groups are understandably overwhelmingly full of posts and replies about the trauma, worries and fears surrounding breast cancer. Although it can be massively helpful to learn from others about what may lie ahead and how to deal with things, it can also be frightening to someone newly diagnosed (at least it was for me) so it’s great to hear another perspective which shows there can be a life after cancer. I was diagnosed in February, have had surgery and awaiting radiotherapy and hormone treatment, and feel great! Four months ago I thought my entire world had collapsed and genuinely believed I’d never be the same again. But, I’ve got through that difficult time with love and support, am confident in my treatment and now don’t even think about cancer that much any more while I’m enjoying life. I’ve worried about saying that before as don’t want to appear insensitive or seem not to have empathy for those having a really tough time (which I absolutely do), but I agree with you. I will not allow cancer to steal any more happiness, it’s had all it’s having from me, and it has got better.
Thank you for sharing your story and I wish you all the happiness. x
@aroja086 you are so right, it does get better and it does get easier. After being diagnosed in November 2023 and finishing treatment last month I now find even reading posts on here I forget that yes I’ve had cancer. Your post brings hope when others are probably at their lowest, keep smiling and enjoy your baby xxxx
Hi I was dingonsed in October 2022 at age 35 I started treatment in the December chemo then surgery in the June then radiotherapy I’m now 37 I had just had my 7th baby he was 3 weeks old. All my scans and surgery went well no cancer found. I had an aggressive cancer also I had tripple negative and 8 lymph nodes removed under my arm. Definitely think positive it really does help. Wish everyone luck that has been threw and going threw this xx
Just wanted to say what an excellent post and how it mirrors my thoughts exactly. Of course we ladies worry about diagnosis and recurrence but, as you say, there is absolutely nothing to be gained and a hell of a lot of life to be missing if you spend your days curled in a ball imagining worst case scenarios. I, too, had an aggressive cancer and being diagnosed in 2020 when all the NHS wanted to do was bury itself in Covid, I had to fight for all my treatment or be left to die. Four years on I am fit, healthy and enjoying every minute of my life. I did all the treatments prescribed (although I gave up on Letrozole after 6 mths) so have given it my best shot. If it comes back, we’ll just have to go through it again but I absolutely refuse to let gloomy thoughts ruin the extra years that medicine has allowed me. Best foot forward, ladies, get out in the sun and smell the coffee and all the other cliches out there.
Thank you for this post. I only found out in the last 2 weeks that I had breast cancer and had a lumpectomy and node Clarence yesterday . All happening so quick which I have to be thankful for but still very worried and your post gives me hope. Bless you xx
Thank you so much for posting this!
I’m trying everyday to improve my mindset, I’m not there yet but hope to get to your level of positivity soon. Maybe once I’m through and cancer free I will get there, but it’s so lovely to read while I’m still on my journey
You will be fine❤️ Don’t google anything because most literature is based on old research. I personally know several survivors with 25 years post treatment and no recurrence (cured) and even a close friend of mine who was stage 4 when she was first diagnosed and 7 years later she still cancer free and living her best life.
That’s amazing congrats. I got cancer while being pregnant and even though my cancer was hormone negative I’m so afraid of getting pregnant again and triggering a recurrence . I hope I can overcome this fear one day because I do want another child.
Have to disagree about not googling. Knowlege is power and doctor does not always know best. I think treatment these days should be collaborative and we owe it to ourselves and our medical team to be well-informed.
Agree with you, @teddy271. I have Googled absolutely everything as I like to know the facts, figures and anything else I can lay my hands on. Could probably do Predict blindfolded! My only caveat is to only read genuine medical research and information from reputable sources.
I loved your post, thank you. It was exactly a year ago today when I got my diagnosis, also HER2. Joined the club that you never think you’re going to be a part of until… puts life into perspective in a way that you can’t describe. Am forever grateful to the NHS for getting me thru this year and it’s so nice to read posts of positivity. We’re are so lucky to have the treatments available to us. Enjoy the sunshine and live your life❤️
Thank you so much for sharing this
I’m very newly diagnosed after being told in March that I had a ‘bog standard breast cancer’… positive stories like yours are helping me to slowly scrape myself up
Sending all the love in the world
Hello.
This is the first post I’ve replied to on here and I just wanted to say thank you for your honesty. I’m newly diagnosed and I struggle at the moment to see how to get to where you are now(the other side). I was diagnosed late April, aggressive/invasive breast cancer and had a mascetomy and lymph nodes removed last week. Still in recovery from operation and not in the most positive place.
I still not sleeping hence 5am post ha.
It’s great to hear positive stories as it is hard to fight it.
For me it’s my kids that are getting me through it. I’ll fight till I can’t anymore to be here to see them grow up
Hi @natalie87 I’m sorry to hear you are struggling and let me tell you it’s completely natural! None of us wanted or probably ever imagined that we would spend our days on this forum and message board.
I was diagnosed on the 28th December. I had surgery in February and I’m currently going through chemo.
Right now the way I look at things is that I’m lucky that we have all the treatments and advancements for breast cancer that we do, sometimes I have a few dark days and worry about reccurance and the future and then I try to shake it off and think well imagine what the technology and medical advancements there will be in the future so I try not to think too far ahead.
However it’s completely OK for you to feel that this whole situation is unfair and not the year that you had planned, this forum is great for talking to people in similar situations and also asking questions or advice.
I hope that you are not in too much discomfort, keep up with the exercises they give you as this really will help your recovery.
Focus on your family and friends,
Sending you a big hug, You can do this!
Helen x
My daughter was diagnosed three years ago aged 39 and her son was 9 months old our first grandchild.She was her2 positive.A fit healthy young lady to say her diagnosis was a shock was an understatement.
I will always remember her saying to me “Will I ever be happy or will I ever smile again”
After chemo,surgery,radiotherapy,targeted therapy which at the time seemed never ending ,yes she is happy and yes she is smiling once again just as she always did.
To all you amazing ladies out there reading some of your comments and personal stories also with such positivity,as hard and difficult as your life may seem at this very moment I’m sure you too will be happy and smile again.
. I hope I can overcome this fear one day because I do want another child.
