I found a lump on the 14th Jan went to docs and now going for a mastectomy this Fri the 5th Feb. Everything has happened so fast! I don’t know anything about types/stages or anything. Had a bone scan on the 22nd and not heard results yet. Got CT Scan on 25th which seems favourable. I have 3 lumps, but don’t seem to be more than 1.5cm. I’ve been told that I will have Radiotherepy and Chemotherepy but don’t know anything about what kind or have I been given any options. Chances are I have been told but not taken anything in.
I wanted reconstruction right off but was advised against it because of damage Rad can do and would get better results later, I’m accepting this but not liking it. I am very attached to my breasts and am having a really hard time about thinking of loss.
I have told my family and they have been great but I am struggling with when and how to tell friends and colleges. I suppose if I’m having chemo then I’ll have to say as I’m most likely to lose my hair including my eyebrows?.
I feel so overwelmed by it all, I thought I was a strong person but I’m discovering that I’m not.
So sorry you’ve had to join us.I found my lump on Jan 14th too but last year.I finished my treatment middle of Sept.
It’s good that they want to get on with things but it doesn’t help when there’s so many questions in your head.I found it useful to write down anything & everything I wanted to ask & I did ask my BC Nurse things as she seemed to have more time to discuss things with me than the Oncologist & Surgeon.
Try to take one step at a time,it does all fall into place. If you can have someone else with you when you have any consultations it helps.I found that I’d take it all in when they were telling me stuff then as soon as I left the room it’d gone.So another pair of ears is useful.
This site is great for any questions,concerns & all those questions that you think are too daft to ask your Doc.
Good luck on Friday,take good care of yourself & let us know how you’re getting on.
Hi Frances, welcome to the site.
Everything does seem to happen fast once you are diagnosed, which is a good thing, but it can leave you feeling really overwhelmed.
I was diagnosed the beginning of August and had my mastectomy at the beginning of September.
I feel I have recovered well from the op and at this moment in time do not particularly want a reconstruction.
I have my last chemo on the 11th of February and can’t believe how quickly the time has gone. I have 3 weeks of rads following chemo.
I am going back to work tomorrow on a staged return as I desperately need the money. Work have been brilliant and have combined short shifts with annual leave over the next 10 weeks.
Although it all seems very daunting at the moment, it is very doable. Chemo is different for everyone. I expected the worst and was pleasantly suprised.
Take care and any questions just ask as I am sure there will be someone on here who can help.
Love and hugs. Debbie. xxx
Thank you both so much, writing things down is like talking about it, hopefully making it less touchy to talk about, prehaps taking the fear out of it.
I’m of the understanding that Rad would happen pretty much right away and that chemo would follow, have I got it the wrong way round?
I think I’ll be using this site for contact and support if that’s ok I am finding it difficult to discuss with people that are close to me as I am still very much ‘tender’
I had to pay a visit to the Dentist this morning for toothache and I knew he would want to take it out. My last extraction left me with dry socket which was very painful and long time recovery. I told him that I was booked for surgery and didn’t want to run the risk of having to deal with the dry socket pain at this time… I thought that telling him ‘surgery’ would have been enough but he asked what kind… I feel to pieces and sobbed. I now know why he asked, the Rad will have an effect on any treatment that he intends to give during that time. He was very kind and understanding, He has given me a filling but warned me that if it needs to be taken out it would be best before Rad. started.
Hi
I’m new to this site and I wish I knew about it when I was first diagnosed, which was nearly 12 months ago 10th Feb 2009, as it would have been nice to talk to someone who knows what you are going thru.
I/ve had a mastectomy, chemo and radio. I have started back to work and found my colleagues and friends very supportive, throughout really.
I’m sure you’ll feel strong again, you are probably just bewildered with everything that is going on and probably feel youve been hit by a train. Just take baby steps and youll get there, everyone reacts different to treatment but I got thru it and hey,I am proud to say i’ve got some hair, ok its on my legs, no only joking. But lots of luck for Friday luv
kris xxxxxxxxx
Hi Frances
Sorry you’re in this situation. I was diagnosed at the end of November and had first lumpectomy middle of December but what with Christmas & New Year I didn’t get all the results I really wanted to know about until Jan 8th. I needed another op which I had middle of Jan and I am still waiting for the results of that since they have been sent off for a second opinion. I really feel for you - its just so frustrating wanting to sort things out and understand about all this scary stuff and what life is going to look like, when you can’t, because you don’t know the grade/stage/hormone receptor status etc etc. The days will pass - this time next month you’ll know so much more…
Hope it goes well
Cheers
Maggy
Maggy is right,it’s surprising how quickly you become a medical encyclopedia!
As far as I know it’s chemo first, then rads as a sort of final mopping up if any of the cells missed out…I’m sure someone will explain that better than me.
It’s best to get any dental work sorted out before you start chemo,unless it’s something you could leave. Because chemo affects your immune system & you’re more prone to infections it’s not wise to have anything invasive done. Plus the fact you’ve got enough on your plate of course.
Hi Francis - I know exactly how you are feeling, every bit of it.Good luck for the op. I had it a week ago tomorrow (28th ) happy to discuss the details if it would help in any way at all - send me a personal message if you wish ( like an e mail just not quite so public as the forum - if you haven’t got the site sussed yet )
I wouldn’t have described myself as a control freak before but I’m quickly realising once you have been diagnosed with this - nothing will ever quite be the same again - that in itself makes the lack of control such a deal.
Hi Frances
Sorry you had to join us here. I was dx in Dec and it does seem confusing when you go to appointments. The ladies on here told me that once I had all the results and a treatment plan I would feel much better. They were right although at the time I didnt see how I could feel better. You just have to takes tiny steps at a time and keep asking question to anyone and everyone that will listen! Good luck with your op and let us no how you get on. Sending you a (((hug)))
Hi Frances, When I was diagnosed with BC many years ago there was no site like this on offer. I only found it by chance a few months ago and have been hooked ever since and not a day goes by without me looking in! I think it is great that you can come on here and ask as many questions that you like…someone will give you an answer or point you in the right direction.
I have recently finished chemo, but I had a mastectomy when I was 39. Just wanted to let you know that I am still here and it will be 21 years since I was first diagnosed! I will look out for your posts to see how you are doing. It is very overwhelming at first. My advice is take one day at a time and I agree that it is good if you write things down, questions to ask your surgeon etc,and if you can take someone with you please do, as an extra pair of ears is a usful thing…it is hard to take all the details in. Much love and support coming your way, love Val
This is a club no one ever wants to join I think. Just wanted to add to the lovely advice you have had from others re coping with your diagnosis and telling friends and colleagues. I know that we are all different but right from the start I made a point of being upfront and honest with people about the diagnosis and I have found that this really helps-no secrets,and all out in the open. I also think that my open attitude has helped family/friends/workmates to deal better with it all and we don’t have those ‘awkward’ moments when people don’t know what to say which can be dreadful especially if you meet someone who doesn’t know about what’s happening to you. Give folk a chance to help-I never ever turn down an offer of help any more-a cake, some ironing, a casserole left on the doorstep-it all adds up and makes you feel valued.
I wish you the very best of luck-I was diagnosed last sept and have 2 lots of chemo left to go (6 done) and then its on to radiotherapy.
Keep in touch, big hugs,
To anser your question, it’s usually op-chemo-radio, and sometimes chemo-op-radio, I have not heard of having radio first, but I could be wrong.
Like many others, for me chemo wasn’t nearly as bad as I had expected and I continued working throughout (helped me not to get overwhelmed by the whole thing), with the occasional day or two off to rest. It’s probably better to tell people at work, and I am sure you will find them very supportive. If telling everybody is daunting, why not tell one colleague and ask them to explain to the others.
On hair - I lost my hair first and then towards the end of chemo my eyelashes and eyebrows, but oddly they grew back first so I wasn’t without them for long. I wore a wig to work, but I great friend of mine never bothered and just wore hats or scarves, and later I wished I had done that. You become a lot less self conscious after the first week or two, and really there is no reason to be embarassed as there are so many people dealing with this illness.
Just dropping in before heading off to the hospital this morning.
Thank you all for the replies which I have read and re-read, so’s not to miss anything. thanks!
Can I say, please don’t take this the wrong way but I’m so releived to have you all share your experiences and to feel able to talk with those going through the same thing. I’ve spoken to my care nurse yesterday and am feeling a bit less anxious. Having said that at no time did I lose any sleep until last night! all my bad dreams came at once, silly things like the wrong boob being taken off and waking up during surgery etc, boy was I releived when I woke up.
I think one of the hardest things to come to terms with is that we feel great, look great and are very active but this ‘cancer’ is so invisable and will cause so much damage to ‘get rid’ of it. Being made unwell to get well seems so surreal.
Anyways, take care everyone and I’ll drop by again after the weekend.