Hi All,
Just discovered I have breast cancer on Wednesday… wasn’t expecting it! I’ve heard lots of good thigs about this place so I thought I’d join 
Jx
Hi pinkjeni
Warm welcomes, though I wish I had no cause to offer them. Wander round the forums and browse, pop in wherever, let off steam, share the fun times, the silly stuff, the serious questions and the information sharing. This site and the lovely women and men on here have been a complete lifeline for me and I don’t know how I would have stayed sane without it and them.
You can share anything, because someone on here will have had personal experience of it, so don’t feel that you’re asking anything silly if you have questions, there are NO silly questions just worried people looking for answers and reassurance and you’ll get both by the bucket-load.
The Helpline (number at the top of the page) is also really good, as well as the Publications section (click on Home at the top left, then Publications, then whatever section you’re interested - probably the Recently Diagnosed section for you). Those leaflets are informative without being sensationalist, so are “safe” reading, as if you google too much you could end up on all sorts of sites that are sensationalist, single-issue, inaccurate, and downright wrong.
Anyway, others will be along soon to say hello.
CM
x
Hi pinkjeni,
I’m due to start chemo on Monday and just joined here recently as well. I’ve found it more helpful than I can say!
You must remember not everyone has the same cancer or grade and treatment can vary quite a bit. I’m sure if you browse you’ll find a lot of things become clearer.
Not everyone gets the same treatment and not everyone reacts in the same way from the same drugs is what I’ve picked up and also how positive and friendly the people who come on here are.Look on the dark woods thread which looks at many of the scary bits with a sense of humour.x x x
Thanks for the welcome wish I wasn’t here but hey ho they say things happen for a reason. It’s great to hear that there’s a lot of humor around especially when everything seems so scarey right now.
Jx
And don’t be too worried at the proportion of posters who have unpleasant side-effects. By the very nature of a forum like this, the people who post are often those who are looking for support or answers to questions while those who are just getting through their treatment with manageable side-effects tend to just get on with it and not post.
Hi pinkjeni
Firstly, welcome to the forums, I am sure you will find it a great source of information and support.
I’m sorry to read of your diagnosis, the first few days and weeks are always difficult when coming to terms with things and getting to grips with your treatment plans, etc.
I’ve given here the link to our Resource Pack for those people newly diagnosed. The pack is essential for anyone with a primary diagnosis of breast cancer. Filled with information to help you better understand your diagnosis, test results and the various treatments available.
breastcancercare.org.uk/heal … tionId/82/
Also, as ChoccieMuffin has mentioned do give the helpline a ring if you need any further support or information. They’re on 0808 800 6000. Open 9-5 Monday to Friday and 9-2 Saturday.
I hope this is helpful.
Best wishes Sam, BCC facilitator
Hi Pinkjeni, sorry you have had to join us but hoping that you find this forum as much of a lifeline as I do xx
Hi Pinkjeni
Sorry to hear you have had to join us. I too, like many others on here, have been standing in the same place as you are now. I wish you luck on this journey and as said before - winge, moan and ask away. We are all here for you. xxx
Hi Pinkjeni
So sorry you find yourself here but, as others have said, it is a good source of support at a difficult time for you.
While you are waiting for further results appointments and the treatment treadmill do ring the helpline as they are so very helpful They were a godsend to me and gave me lots of really good advice and literature back in October.
Sending you lots of love,
Sue
HI
sorry you are here but welcome
This forum is fabulous for help, support, advice, somewhere to rant & also to have a bloody good laugh (usually about strange smells, wind, eating habits & wigs I have to say)
seriously I would not have got throguh to where I am (half way through chemo) in such high spirits of it wasn’t for this place so make use & you will see for yourself.
I hope all goes as well as it can for you
hugs XXXXXXX joXXXXXX
Hi,
I was diagnosed on Tues. 39 complete shock. MX on Fri. Looking forward to having an excuse to take life easy for a while.
xxx
Hi, i too have just found out myself (Tues, 1st Feb) that i have b.c, i had a further ultrasound on my breast & a biopsy on my lymph nodes the same day & on Friday the breast care nurse rang me to say that the lymph nodes seem to be clear but they’d probably take some of them away anyway. She said that it’s oestrogen receptor positive & grade 2. I’m having an MRI on Tuesday then get my results on the 15th. I’m trying to process all of this & the waiting for the results is gonna be torture. They’ve also said they’re ‘gonna throw the book at me’ treatment wise cos am only 38. My head is spinning & i could really do with someone interpreting the jargon for me…even if i’ve only got half the story at the mo…xxx
Hi Pinkjeni, I too welcome you here but wish I wasnt. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in December and this website was a godsend for me cos though you gain support from various sectors I do believe support from others going through the same a true inspiration and makes you feel less alone. Everyones cancer grade stage etc is different but there are similar fears, emotions and treatments which may touch you in some way and there is always someone to help guide and just be there for you, so ask away at any of the posts, any questions please never hesitate to ask, lots of love Shar xx
HI Pinkjeni
You are in the very worst bit, where we have all been and where we were all told was the worst bit by previous people. It will, without doubt, get better.
This is a great place to offload and find out so much info, i’m sur you’ll find it useful.
I feel a bit concerned now as I don’t even know what grade I am or anything. Got appointment with breast care nurse tomorrow. As I’m having MX, chemo, rads & tamoxifen I almost don’t want to know how bad it is as there’s not much more they can do than that is there?
Hi. I am 43 and was diagnosed two weeks ago and it’s been a rollercoaster since then. I go from feeling really positive to completely panicked and then back to focused and positive again. First went to hospital in July and they mis-diagnosed me, so in meantime the tumor has grown to 5 cm…trying to put my anger away, not really useful…have appointment at different hospital tomorrow because my confidence is very low where I am. The consultants contradict each other. Ultrasound on armpit shows lymph glands looking normal, they gave me a bone scan and CT too which came back clear so guess there’s lots to feel positive about. Feel a tugging sensation in my armpit though and not sure if it’s my mind playing tricks on me! Have to have chemo before they remove the tumor, to shrink it, and feeling like it’s spreading as I sit here. Reading about other people’s experiences of chemo is already making me feel calmer, fear of the unknown is a powerful thing. Determined to get myself in a positive mindset and beat this thing…love and positive energy to all of you, Harriet x
Hi Secret. Small comfort, but it looks like you’ve escaped Herceptin, so that’s got to be a good thing!
Write down any questions you might want to know the answers to, however silly they seem. There is NO SUCH THING AS A SILLY QUESTION. Ask anything that is bothering you, and write down the answers too, as you might forget what you were told, and the time you need to write them down can help to keep the meeting at a pace you can keep up with. I’m sure you’ll find your BCN a great source of information and help.
Hi Secret, sorry you have to join us here. There is no right way to handle bc. Some people - like me - want to know all the details and feel like they are discussing options, others want to avoid looking at things and talking about things which might scare them. Whichever works best for you. The most important thing is that you just keep on moving forwards through your various types of treatment along the road to recovery.
Harriet, sorry to hear about your dx but really good news that the lymph looks clear. Just a little thing on the tugging sensation in your armpit. I did not know I had a lump and felt nothing until dx. After the biopsy even and certainly after dx, my underarm felt sore and where the lump was hurt. I’m sure it is because I knew it was there and knew what it was. When I talked about it on here, several people said that they had had the same thing with lumps hurting and underarm lymph being enlarged and it was suggested this was to do with the poking around during the biopsy. Despite this, it was confirmed by SNB that it is not in my lymph and hopefully this will be exactly the same for you. It is horrible waiting though and the mind does play nasty tricks.
All my love to both of you and let us know if there is anything we virtual friends can do to help xx
Hi Secret & Pinkjeni,
Welcome to the forums, I know you really don’t want to be here but everyone is very friendly, helpful & supportive.
One thing you may find useful is to have someone with you at appointments to take notes & I found it a good idea to go through my written questions with them beforehand too.
The BCN are fab at my local hospital and I’m sure they will be at yours too. They don’t mind all sorts of questions, some not even related to BC.
I will be thinking of you.
Lots of hugs and good vibes to you,
Helen xxx
Hi everyone,
Thanks for support. It seems there are varying forms of diagnosis. I’ve been told I won’t know much more until results of lymph node biopsy which they’ll do at same time as MX. However, I am relieved to be having op so soon as I understand how you feel having this thing just growing inside you - I want it out! I feel strangely calm about the process as currently managing to just see it as an illness that I WILL be cured from, as will all of you. Name’s Terri, I put Secret as username as just ordered the book, The Secret - people swear by it for positive thinking and getting what you want. Will let you know if it’s worth it or just a load of old tosh.
Have asked for an expander to be fitted after MX as I can’t have recon until after treatment, anyone got any experience of them. My boobs are tiny so I’m not particularly bothered about them although husband keeps on banging on about me getting DDs! 
xxx