Next steps

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I am not sure this is the right board as I no longer really count as recently diagnosed.  I found my lump in March and was also told it had spread to lymph nodes.  Multi focal with one timour around 5cm. After various discussions decided to have chemo first.  Had 4 EC and 4 Taxotere but actually coped pretty well and managed to work through out most of the treatment.  I had my surgery on 8th November, theraputic mammoplasty and lymph node removal.  The great news is that he got clear margins and the lymph nodes were minimally affected (3 out of 15). 

 

I have had the most awful 18 mths with my marriage breaking up completely out of the blue, my step dad having a bad stroke and my dad dying of cancer in April.  Although I dealt with the chemo well I think I was living in complete denial and the prospect of surgery caused me to have a mini meltdown.  I was not even sure I would go through with it as I was so scared about it. 

 

I have had most of my treatment privately and have not met one other person with breast cancer, I am not sure this has been sensible but its how its turned out.  

 

So here i am today, just waiting to recover so they can start radiotherapy and I feel so flat, I should be ecstatic, I no longer have any cancer in me and the next steps should be easier than what I have been through. 

 

I think the word I would use would be isolated, I sort of feel so much has happened that I simply can’t process anymore .  

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Hi Kipper

 

You have had a really tough time of it all things considered. So the way you feel is perfectly normal. You have had a battle to fight, and now the battle is almost over. All that adrenalin and now it’s a bit like an anti-climax. I felt the same after my chemo had finished - and I didn’t have the other things to deal with that you had. I even had to stop coming on here for a while as my brain had gone into a cancer overload. 

 

On suggestion I can offer. If you have a Maggies Centre close to where you live, or where you will be having your radiotherapy, pop in for a chat with the staff there. To find if you do have a local centre visit:

 

maggiescentres.org/centres/ukmap.html

 

If not, the online community can also offer support. I think having a good long chat with someone experienced would help. The free helpline on this site might also be helpful. 0808 800 6000.

 

Make time for yourself, and do things that you enjoy, to clear your head of all things cancer.

 

Wishing you well and sending hugs.

 

poemsgalore xx

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Hi kipper

You might find you get more relevant support in  the living with breast cancer forum rather than the I am recently diagnosed forum.

Best wishes,

Jo, Moderator