Just diagnosed

[Tra16]

Ann and Evs you have inspired me with your determination to enjoy and benefit from exercise during chemo. I too love running and so having read your posts also intend to at least get some good walks in, letting the warm spring /summer days lift our spirits x

[evs_71]

Thanks for your words of support Ann, and I'm glad you are doing well. My nurse said that if I am feeling up for it, to go for some runs, which I will try and do if I can. If I'm not up for it, I aim to at least go for a walk 🙂 I'm certainly going to do some runs before I start chemo, as I find the buzz great and it also helps to clear my head - it's my Me Time!!!

[Weeannie1]

Hello ladies.
Hope you don't mind me butting into your thread. I'm a bit of an "old hand" at this cancer malarkey having been diagnosed in November 2013 and had a WLE, chemo and rads. My treatment finished in July 2014 and I continue to do well. My reason for butting in is that I have noticed that some of you ladies like to keep fit and enjoy your exercise. If there is one little bit of advice I can give if you are facing chemo, it's to continue some sort of exercise as you go through treatment. Although never a runner, I have always been a walker and continued to walk all through my chemo. I took part in a couple of sponsored walks while on chemo, and I can truly say that the buzz when I crossed the finishing line was sooo exhilarating. My oncology team were very supportive and my side effects were really manageable. Not sure if it was the exercise and not sure it would work for everyone, but it certainly worked for me! I know that waiting for results etc is the hardest part of your journey, but all this is doable and you will get through it. I wish each and every one of you all the best during your treatment and a very healthy future. Ann x x x x

[Suzy5u]

Hi Evs
Thanks, yes the last week has been really tough and waiting now until after the MRI and ops on 19th. good luck with your scans

[evs_71]

I'm hoping I don't need to wait too long for my scans. I've tried to pull some strings at my work (I'm a nurse!!) but they will only be able to do the CT there. The MRI and bone scan will need to be done at my base hospital. Good luck for the 13th!

[evs_71]

Thanks. I am flattered that I am considered "young". Your website has been invaluable so far, and I have ordered some booklets to help explain things to my duaghter and explain a few other things to me 🙂

[evs_71]

Waiting is the worst. Last week was the longest week of my life. I'm sure your good health will help your recovery from this. I'm keeping my mind and body as active as I can for now 🙂

[Suzy5u]

Hi evs I am 47 with husband and 2 girls aged 11 & 13 and was diagnosed a week ago with invasive Grade 2, six weeks after first finding the lump. I am fit and healthy and regularly run 5k. My lump thought to be benign was removed, mammo was clear ultrasound U3, so an unexpected result. I now am having MRI scan and further ultrasound then op in 2 weeks to remove margin of tissue and sential node biopsy. Its been tough waiting and trying to take each day as it comes but after this next op I will know the full treatment plan. Also have strong family and support from friends so can then kick its ass too!!!

[Tra16]

Hi Evs , I felt the same- I run and live healthy lifestyle. Ive just had my body scan appt through- for Friday 13th! Like you I just want to get through this and get into a treatment plan so I can kick its ass!!!! X

[Lucy_BCC]

Hi evs and welcome to the BCC forum where I am sure you will find the support you are looking for, in addition, please feel free to call our helpliners for further practical and emotional support too. Lines are open 9-5 weekdays and 10-2 Saturdays on 0808 800 6000

Here's a link to further information about diagnosis and treatments along with further support ideas from BCC, you may find the 'Younger women together' events of interest:

https://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/younger-women

Take care
Lucy BCC

[evs_71]

I too have just been diagnosed - I'm 43 with a husband and a 7 year old daughter.  I found a lump and was referred right away to the clinic.  Had mammogram, scan and biopsies which showed 2 lumps with pre-cancerous cells between them, so feels like one big lump and have some lymph node involvement.  I had it in my head that they would offer surgery with reconstruction and whatever follow-up treatment afterwards and had researched and prepared myself for that.  Not to be!!!!  They want to blast the **bleep** out of me with chemo first and then proceed to surgery afterwards..  I am a fit and healthy person, and run regularly and swim (I ran a half marathon last year and had been hoping to do the same this year!!)  I am now looking at about a year off work.  I'm a nurse so they've said that during chemo, I can't risk catching any infections from my patients, so should avoid it, even if I feel ok, and obviosuly after surgery would need time to recuperate.  My nurse said that if I feel ok, I can get some runs in, but we'll see how I feel.

In the meantime, I've to get mri, ct and bone scans to exclude any spread and have appointment to see the oncologist in a couple of weeks, with a view to sarting chemo at the beginning of April.  My head is a bit full just now 😉 but once I have my plan, I can focus on that!  Lots of positive thoughts form a very supportive family and group of friends, so we'll get kick this cancer's ass!!!!!!!!!

[Fuffs123]

Sending hugs to all you ladies trying to cope with little ones as well as BC. Must be incredibly hard. No one who isn't going thro this horrible thing can really understand the emotional issues, especially in the period after diagnosis but before surgery etc. Then there's another set. waiting to get results of biopsies etc and , like me, to see an oncologist. I think BC warps the time zone personally! You have normal time and BC time, where a week of waiting feels like two weeks. Xx

[Tra16]

Sorry to hear of your day with hosp losing your referral letter, I do like the donut and G and T remedy ! X

[Tra16]

I have some diazapan too Molliana. Just to try and stay level to look after my 3 and 5 yr old. I agree looking at the big picture is too overwhelming but I hope to feel better when I have a treatment plan. Good luck with your surgery x

[Molliana]

I am 40 and have a four year old.. I have not coped with the waiting very well. In fact I have had to take diazepam to get through it. I started ocd really badly every time results were coming near. Everything had to be right even tiny details from what people said to me to what I wore, where I parked, how I put things down. It's horrible. I am now waiting for a mastectomy in ten days and am feeling better than I was. I think you start to learn to focus on each bit at a time. I am blocking out the chemo part at the moment. I know I will have to face it but right now I have to face surgery and i can't have it all in my head at the same time. Once step at a time. Hugs x

[Fuffs123]

You're welcome to the club! Feel free to have a good snivel when you feel like it. I did today, waiting for my oncology appt to discuss my treatment plan to be told they had lost my surgeon's referral letter. More waiting, drives you mad. Had to resort to a jam donut followed by a gin and tonic! Worked quite well but sent me to sleep for 2 hours. Not sleeping at night makes you so tired. Xx

[Tra16]

I'd love to join the club Fuffs123!

[Fuffs123]

Hi Tira. Just wanted to send you a cirtual hig and let you know you are not alone. We are all afes here (i'm 62) but we've all shared your feelings of disbelief, it just felt like it wasn't real to me (had they mixed up my results woth someon elses!) folloed by fear and sadness. I' must have cried for England and the nights, they're horrible, when it just goes round and round in your head and you can't sleep. You often see ladies posting at 3 in the morning and I know why! Having little ones to deal with as well must be so hatd. Mty other half (or OH as we tend to tefer to them hete) was in shock as was my grown up daughter and didn't really know what to say to me or how to treat me. The waiting is the worse thing I think, it's like slow torture. Somehow you manage to keep going,, allow yourself to have a good snivel when you can - (join our club, it's called 'I don't always feel positive, let me have a good snivel club'. ) and I'm the chairman, lol. It's because some of us ladies got a bit fed up being told to 'stay positive' when we actually didn't fee like that some of the time. Why would you? We all have a meltdown and a snivel on occasions (usually in very inappropriate places and over the stupidest things) and we can have a laugh over it on here. Keep posting on this thread and you'll see! The support you get from other ladies on here is amazing and will help you so much. The advice they can offer to about dealing with treatment and lots of other little but really useful things is so great to have. Sometimes you just need to offload to someone other than tour nearest and dearest And this is the place. X x

[Tra16]

Thank you. There's a comfort from knowing there's other people with my family set up and age group so they understand. X

[Sam_BCC]

Hi Tra

Firstly, welcome to the forums, I'm sorry to read of your diagnosis, as others have mentioned the first few days and weeks are always difficult when coming to terms with things and getting to grips with your treatment plans, etc.

As well as the support you are receiving on the forums you might find it helpful to order the BCC resources pack. It has been specifically designed for those newly diagnosed and contains information to help you better understand your diagnosis, test results and the various treatments available. If you would like to order a copy just follow the link bellow:-

http://www2.breastcancercare.org.uk/publications/diagnosed-breast-cancer/resource-pack-primary-early...

Also, do give the helpline a ring if you need any further support or information. They're on 0808 800 6000. Open 9-5 Monday to Friday and 10-2 Saturday.

Best wishes Sam, BCC Facilitator

[sentangelo]

Hi Tra! I'm so sorry you are here. But it is the greatest place to be in such situation as everybody here is very supportive. The beginning part is the most difficult as there is not much yet known, no plan and you have to wait and wait and wait. But it gets better! Just let yourself to be for a while and hand in to your feelings. It does help. Anything you feel is absolutely normal. Give yourself some time. I'm 36, single with a daughter. Found the lump myself, went to the doctor and the door to hell was open )))) I'm still in the waiting for treatment to start stage, 5 weeks already. It's driving me nuts sometimes but next week me treatment finally starts. I have bilateral mastectomy with direct reconstruction and then later on chemo and hormonal therapy. Pretty much hardcore route but I'm happy about it as aggressive way to deal with a problem suits me a lot and gives me comfort. It will get better! Xxx. Julia

[Herewego]

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis Tra16 but you couldn't be in any better company here. The ladies are amazing fountains of knowledge and support with the odd bits of dark humour thrown in.
I'm the same as you 40 with 2 kids (4yr and 1yr), found a lump thinking it was a cyst but ended up with BC which has spread to the nodes.
I had a lumpectomy which confirmed it to be grade 3 i.e. aggressive so I'm having everything being thrown at it - had my second chemo on Tuesday (only 2 more ECs to go + 12 Taxols) followed by radiotherapy.
You will go through the whole range of emotions with rants, raves, shell shock. meltdowns. sleepless nights and a lot tears but that's all part of the new normal now. The waiting is the by far the worst and you will find a way to get through it all that works for you. For me the kids have really helped me to focus on the good bits and kept me sane.
Chemo hasn't been as bad as I expected but then again everyone reacts to it differently. All I say it is doable and your medical team and we are all here for you to get you through.
Lots of hugs xx

[Tra16]

Hi, after finding a small smooth bump and doctors thinking just a cyst, I've had biopsy today and the news it's cancer and a few cells also in lymph under arm. I feel shocked, numb and like I'm back in no mans land whilst I wait for a routine MRI and Body scan, to check it's nowhere else Feel like I still don't know what I'm fighting . I'm 40 with two young children . How do ppl get through this waiting bit and the bigger picture of chemo etc that they went through but I couldn't take it all in. My family don't know what to say- think they all in shock. I feel alone.