Hi
I’m new here and I’ve been diagnosed with high grade DCIS behind my nipple, so will be losing that. Waiting for lumpectomy and then radiotherapy. Just finding it hard as my thoughts are all consuming! I know I’m lucky that it’s been caught early and so hopefully very treatable, but also guilty because of that. I also have to stop HRT which is causing problems with my brain fog! Any advice of things that may help my mood will be gratefully received. Thanks for listening x
Hi @profmagwold welcome to the forum. It is quite common to have the conflict of emotions that you describe - I had a stage 1, grade 1 IDC with some low level DCIS so have often felt like I “got away with it” by comparison to many other women. It isn’t useful, though, to compare your situation with anyone else’s in the long run. You still have to have surgery and may have to have some further treatment depending on your lump’s histology, once it has been taken out and tested, so no-one can consider themselves “lucky” to have to go through that.
My advice is simple, at this stage, talking to people who know what you are going through is the best help that you can get at the moment. So I recommend calling the BC Now nurses on 0808 800 6000 from 9am. You can talk through how you’re feeling, ask questions or just touch base with them, you won’t be hurried and I’m sure you’d feel better for it. Another great resource is a Maggie’s Centre and you can find out if there is one near you by putting your postcode in here https://www.maggies.org/our-centres/?postcode=W13+8EA&sort_by=sort_by_distance. They have drop in centres where you can have a tea or coffee and a face-to-face chat. So far I’ve not met anyone who doesn’t walk through the door and have a little cry at the relief of being there (myself included). Good luck.