Breast Cancer Now Forum

(Re- posting from another thread) I was diagnosed a year ago today with breast cancer - to say it was a shock gets nowhere near how devastated I felt . The prognosis was not good. I was in my early 60s, still in stimulating work, had always been a normal / slim weight, drank little alcohol, kept to a very healthy diet, did lots of sports and had no family history of breast cancer. If it could happen to me, it could happen to anyone. Your breast cancer is not your fault. I was greatly encouraged by those from this forum who popped back here years later to report on progress . So my message to all you newly diagnosed ladies is that it will probably be tough but doable . Make the most of the support you have - be prepared for close friends and even family to be unable to deal with your diagnosis and to be distant. Keep up a healthy diet (don't get obsessed about particular foods), drink loads of water, maintain exercise (see below) and ignore the endless miracle cures reported in the press (most are at a very early stage). I had an elective mastectomy (no prob)- wandered round the local M and S next day with the drains hidden under a coat; then 5 months of the maximum dose of chemo (my tumour was small but an 'aggressive' grade 3). I walked / ran an hour a day all through chemo despite my oncologist telling me that this would be impossible. My VERY low immunity caused by the chemo meant that I stopped almost all social things . Early afternoon cinema showings - virtually empty- were a welcome break with my long suffering partner. Hair loss was immediate and still something I find hard to deal with as it is the outward sign of the cancer treatment. After chemo I had three weeks of rads when I took short afternoon naps from time to time but was otherwise fine. Now on 5-10 years (!) of hormone tablets - four months in and no probs with these. The psychological loneliness and inevitable anxieties are the hardest parts of the whole process. This forum and the private Facebook spinoff of the group of ladies diagnosed at the same time as myself has been an indescribably MASSIVE support and source of laughter . Think positively , go with how you feel and know that you will come out the other side with - very probably - like myself - more genuine friends (I find I have little time now for token friendships), a sense of the power of good above and beyond yourself, and recognition of your own strength and resilience. ... View more

Hi fellow January gems - reminder about self assessment tax forms due end of January (no I don't work for inland rev!) - easier to get them out of the way pre chemo ! Annie x ... View more