Thank you both for your response. It is so inspirational that you have come out stronger following this experience. I am in total awe of your courage and attitude.
I am going to brave a visit to Maggie's this week and as I am not working until after treatment due to having Muscular Dystrophy which is a muscle wasting disease. I aim to go to Maggie 's through treatment after my second WLE.
Since diagnosis I have changed my diet to the Katogenic with no sugar or alchohol. I have lost a stone in weight.
I am going to cut my long hair before chemo and get my eyebrows done with semi perm tatoo ( I think that's right). and get a short wig so it's not such a shock whilst going through chemo.
i suppose I just need some friends that are going though treatment and understand this fear and everything else that goes with it?
Thank you for your tips and knowlegde
xxxxx
Hello - like Tralala i was also stage 3 (grade 2) and have completed treatment with no evidence of active disease currently. I am also 47. You are still low risk because your tumour is grade 1 and it looks like you only have one node affected. Also you are hormone receptor positive which really improves your chances. Have you seen the NHS’s Predict website which will allow you to input your diagnosis details and get current statistics for survival rates - bearing in mind that these are actually behind the curve because treatments are improving all the time. That said, we do all feel anxious of course. I understand completely how you feel. Some people find anti-anxiety medication helpful at this time. I would strongly recommend the integrative oncology approach, that is using complementary therapies, exercise and healthy eating to aid you through treatment and recovery (as well as, not instead of, conventional treatments of course). I found yoga really helpful. Some people like meditation or tai chi. Reflexology is very deeply relaxing and mood-balancing. Some people like acupuncture. I have also had counselling which helped. Is there a Breast Cancer Haven, Maggies Cancer Centre or other support centre near you? If you call the helpline here on BCC they can give you that information. These centres offer support groups and many complementary therapies and activities. Don’t worry about radiotherapy - for the vast majority of people it’s absolutely no big deal and only lasts 3 weeks. Chemo is a bit pants, but they have good drugs now for combatting side effects. I mainly felt jet lagged with poor concentration and low stamina, but I was never sick and was always up and about doing normal things. I hope your surgery is successful. Can you speak to your medical team about whether it might benefit you to have chemo first and then completion surgery (which is increasingly common)? Finally, I feel happier now than before I had BC (even with a mx, full lymph node clearance, scars etc) because i have found more balance in my life. This experience will change you, but not necessarily in a bad way. Sending you lots of happy wishes. Xx
I had Stage 3 BC and still made it through. Concentrate on the small comforts to ease the side effects. If you look at it like a journey when you will learn things along the way it helps. Stage 2 is not wonderful but it beats Stage 3 anyday. I had Chemo at the start and the breast surgery later but you see each case in cancer is different Good luck
I don't think there are any easy answers for coping - we all react differently. I'm coping by obsessing about learning everything I can and reading up and planning for treatments. I haven't done so much reading since I was in full time education!!! Part of the issue for me is the lack of control and I feel that the more I understand and whatever tips I can get on chemo or RT or anything BC related then I pull back a tiny, tiny bit of control back to me. I've got lists for everything - Onc questions, surgeon questions, lists for chemo. Completely barmy - but it also keeps me very busy!
One thing that cheered me up today was looking at some very old posts (2010) on an American forum - talking about different chemo regimens and trials. The comforting thing was that what was being tested in 2010 is mainstream in 2017! Treatments are improving and your prognosis on Tamoxifen must be good?
I've also set myself small health goals - given up smoking, trying to improve my diet, bit of excercise - nothing fancy and all achieveable and all ways I can try and do the best I can to help myself. Trying to get back some control.
This is the time to put yourself first and do whatever you need to do to get through it. And you will get through it!
My margins weren't clear enough and I've just had my re-excision and get results tomorrow. 2nd surgery was much much easier and I got a little to cocky and went back to work 6 days after surgery and regretted it... didn't take my own advice and I didn't put me first!
Remember you are still stage 2 (and I think this is still classed as Early BC - the BCN will advise) - so although it isn't what you hoped to hear - it isn't the worst. I felt much the same when I had my full Path report - TNBC and not clear margins. I have now accepted it for what it is... still have the occassional session of balling my eyes out at 3am when I won't disturb anyone, but I do get up the next day and carry on... the dog needs me if everyone else is fed up with my obsessing!
Final tip - if you can't find someone to talk to when needed or your BCN is not avilable - use the helplines - I've always had a good experience.
best wishes and don't despair xxx
Hello,
After my pathology results with three bits of bad news I am finding it hard to cope and come to terms with the new information. I am now Stage 2 Grade 1 because one node from the SNB turned out to be positive with a macro, even though I am Grade 1. The tumour which was 17mm had gone vascular and there was not clear margins.
I have been advised that I will probably need Chemo and not Auxillary clearance. Radiotheraphy to the breast and armpit and then Tamoxifen for 10 years as I am 47 and premenopausal.
I am dreading the second surgery which is possibly 3 weeks away and also feel like I'm in limbo still as clear margins still have to be achieved.
Chemo won't probably start until after Christmas now and I am petrified of spread around the body due to my lymph node involvment and the time delay.
My question is.... How do you manage this fear. What coping mechanisms do you use? I am a natural worrier and am finding it impossible to switch off. I am trying walking and meditation but feel I need a total change of personality. Thank you xx