Hi
i was diagnosed 10 days ago…very tearful and absolutely terrified. Have an appointment with the consultant on Thursday and understand it all moves very fast from then. Imagination running riot! Husband’s been great but dread telling family and friends. Never been in an NHS hospital and worried about lack of privacy at such a personal time. How do you get through all this???
angela
Hi alaval
I must have been diagnosed about the same time as you as I was told on 16 July. Yes, it does all move fast. I have already seen my consultant and have been booked in for my lumpectomy on 30 August. I have concluded that you can’t really be sure how it’s going to pan out and what treatment you will receive until after the op when they look at your lump and sentinel nodes.
Initially I was told I would probably be getting radiotherapy and Tamoxifen after the surgery, but now it seems I am ERPR negative and so won’t be getting the hormones. The consultant also mentioned chemotherapy. So yes, things do change all the time. Only when you have your treatment plan will you know for sure.
I find it helps to be open and talk to people about it, but others feel differently. My biggest problem is not being able to think about anything else. I can’t get this monster out of my head. I am going on holiday tomorrow and I really hope I can push it to the side, but I don’t know how I will.
I think the answer is to keep busy as much as possible with things that occupy your mind, like reading or watching a film. I did get a bit of a break yesterday when I played table tennis at my table tennis club but it all came back afterwards and it made me sad to think I will probably have to stop playing for a while.
Sorry I’m not being too helpful am I?!
Good luck.
Anne
Hi You will get through it although it seems a long journey to start with. I first found the lump july 2012 had surgery then unfortunately had to have a mastectomy and node clearance which came as quite a shock, followed by chemo radiotheraphy and hormone tablet for 5yrs.
It hard to think of other things and try to put it out of your head,but it really helps to talk on here as can say what ever your feeling and dont have to put a brave face on as we tend to do with family and friends. Try to enjoy your holiday apandy and good luck for thursday alaval100 keep posting will be thinking off you both xxxx
Hi Alaval, sorry you’ve had to join the club nobody wants to be in, however be assured we are a very friendly lot who’ll do our best to support you. I was diagnosed in Jan this year and have gone on to have a lumpectomy (WLE) a sentinal node biopsy(SNB)’ where they check to see if any of the lymph nodes are cancerous, mine were clear so no need for chemo, 15 sessions of rads and am now on Anastrozole (hormone therapy) for 5 years. Yes things do move quickly, I was just over 3 weeks between going to see the GP and getting my results from surgery and treatment plan from the consultant, but that’s a good thing as you’ve less time to worry. Please resist the urge to google, you’ll get out of date or plain inaccurate information and scare yourself witless, stay on this site or Macmillan. As Apandy says keeping yourself busy is the best way forward, have days out, meet friends for coffee and cake and have lots of chocolate! My treatment on the NHS has been brilliant. Depending on the type of op you need you may only be in for day surgery - I went in at 11.30 am and was on my way home just before 7pm. The BC journey is a bit of a roller coaster with it’s ups and downs but it is definitely doable especially with the support of the wonderful people on this forum. I’m not the same as I was last year but I’ m happy with the ‘new’ me. Do keep us posted as to how you are doing, ask any questions ( none will be silly or too trivial)’ cry, scream or have a rant and we’ll do our best to help and support you. Sending you ((hugs))) and best wishes Pat x
Thank you all for your support. Had to tell one of my colleagues today and she was great. Think I’ll buy shares in Kleenex! Boss is being great but we are a very small company so financial impact is massive and she can’t afford to party long term sick pay. Telling the rest of the team tomorrow but won’t tell the family etc until we’ve seen the consultant on Thursday.
Apandy, have a great holiday. We went away for the weekend for our wedding anniversary. Wasn’t the wild time we planned but it did take my mind off the monster a bit.
Somehow managed to create 2 posts - what a muppet!
Angela xxx