Hi All
I used this forum A LOT when I was diagnosed last year and it gave me real strength and hope to get through it. 18 months on and I’m doing MUCH better and have written about my experience- this is what I would have loved to have read in January last year - mainly as it’s honest and most importantly it shows that you CAN get through this and move on with your life. So if you fancy a read here you go - hope it helps someone else rockuptocancer.weebly.com
If u want to follow my Facebook page for more updates and honest stories (a video of my hair, no hair, hair again journey will be uploaded soon and I’m working on some other stuff ?)
Hi Claire
I just read your story and wanted to saw thank you for sharing. I’ve just found out I have breast cancer and currently in limbo waiting for the appointment with the oncologist. Reading your experience has helped me understand more about what I could expect and the importance of having people around you. I’m currently freaking out as I’m a single mum to a 14, 3 and 2 year old and worrying about how I will cope, I’m already suffering with fatigue and not even started treatment yet. I do have a lot of amazing friends and family but still worry.
Love your choice of wig btw xx
Hi Kermie
I’m glad my story helped you and so sorry you have to go through this too - it’s just CRAP!
I found I was very tired even before treatment also - think it was mental exhaustion. The best advice I can give you is to tell your family and friends what you need and that’s practical help - school runs, someone to take them to parties or other things they need to go to, grocery shopping etc. Also, if you’re having chemo, have someone stay over with you for a night or two after each one - you may need a trip to the hospital, so you may need someone local who can come and mind the kids? It’s all very scary as it’s the unknown ahead, but once you start treatment, you just seem to get into it and your mind will settle a little. Can u ask, have u had surgery? And are you having chemo and/or radiotherapy? xx C
Thanks Claire, lots of amazing advice that I wouldn’t even have thought of! I’m used to doing it in my own but this is a whole new ballpark. Your story is an inspiration to read and does she light at the end of a very long tunnel! It’s all such a shock and not something I was expecting at 35! I don’t know my plan yet, I was told chemo and 2 other drugs with silly long names and then surgery. But until I see the oncologist I don’t know what, when or how. The most I know is there are 3 lumps, one being the lymph node, all with cancerous cells, grade 2 HER2 xx
Well 1st thing - Grade 2 is better than my diagnosis and I was also Triple Negative, which is harder to treat than HER2. I was worried about the node involvement too, but then I spoke to a girl who had 7 nodes involved, and she’s still flying 10 years on, so all I would say is don’t panic! Set up a rota for someone to take you to each treatment - for me it was a great way to keep in contact with everyone and let them help - they’ll want to, but just need to know what you need. Tell ur kids schools etc- I found B’s school brilliant - she would struggle with her literacy and once her teacher found out what was happening she did all the work with her that we should have been doing with her at home. People will help, you just have to let them. When do you meet Oncologist? xx
There’s so many kinds of breast cancer, I’ve stopped reading about it online and will wait for the oncologist, they said an appointment will come through the post in the next week or two, it’s such a horrible wait and worse without a date confirmed.
The rota is a great idea, my cousin’s are coming down once we know more to make a plan with my local friends.
The little one’s nursery are being fantastic, they’ve already got the forms sent off for additional support for the kids, my eldest and me and said there will always be room for them in case I need it for appointments xx