Hi Jem,

A very warm welcome to the forum that nobody really wants to join. I am so sorry to hear about your diagnosis and know just what a shock this is. You will find all sorts of thoughts go through your mind from one minute to the next. First of all you will be in shock, then you'll reach the "why me" stage, then you will possibly experience anger. Try to remind yourself that you're in good hands. You are fortunate that you have found this and can now start to treat it. Put your faith in your care team. I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer in the past 12 years and was terrified at first that I wouldn't see my children grow up.

Since then I have seen them leave school, go to university, graduate, find gainful employment, marry and have children of their own. I still lead a busy and fulfilled life. Breast cancer is one of the most treatable types of cancer today. Have you been told what type of breast cacer you have, or how advanced it is?

Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Morning Jolamine

many thanks for your reply much appreciated. Yes the shock was and is still huge but I'm wel supported at home and I'm seeing the surgeon on Tuesday.

I've had a biopsy and will be having a lumpectomy which the will send to histology which will tell us what type of cancer it is.

Fingers crossed and everything else.

Joanne

Hi Jenny

Thank you so much for your reply. Yes, I understand about googling and have just listened and read the booklets that the cancer team at the hospital gave me, otherwise I agree you can get oneself in a worse emotional turmoil than ever!

Hopefully next week after seeing the surgeon I will feel much more stable. My sister Is a midwife so she's booked me to see a nutritionist so I can get as good a diet going before surgery and I have dogs etc so hopefully fairly fit, but I'm planning on doing extra so I can be as well as possible before surgery..

Many thanks

Joanne x

Hi,

I remember coming to this group with words exactly like yours. The fear and the waiting is awful. I'm 41 and was diagnosed in April, I've had chemo, surgery and feeling good and positive whilst I wait for my radiotherapy to start. Every body is different and every treatment is different too so my main advice would be don't panic about what you hear other people are going through and also don't google!! I set my mind in to overdrive with constant googling and it did me no favours. The treatment they have for breast cancer is amazing compared to what it used to be and they have found it and will sort it! Sending hugs and positive thoughts. Here if you need anything x

Hi, many thanks for replying and your wise words. Very much appreciated. X x

Hi Jem.

Try to keep active. Talk to trusted people about your fears and feelings. Spoil yourself and don't be afraid to 'enjoy' a good cry or rant. Praying for you now

Hello Jem - I'm sorry to hear you've joined the club. I hope I can give you some hope from the other side. I finished radiotherapy yesterday having had a bilateral mastechtomy and reconstruction in October. I would say I'm back-to-normal in the sense that I can do everything again that I could before diagnosis... and I feel 100 times "better". I didn't know there was anything wrong with me before, but comparing how I feel now to how I felt a year ago, there was definitely something wrong.... I'm 47 and, like you, was floored by my diagnosis - then came anxiety all the what ifs and I panicked at every twinge or new pain... looking back, I'd agree with other comments that the bit before you get your surgery date is by far the worst part, and waiting on the results of the pre-tests - as JJ73 says it gets better after that and you do find the capacity to cope - just take it one day at a time and don't put any pressure on yourself to feel or behave a certain way - everyone has their own way of coping. The one piece of invaluable advice I was given at the start was don't Google... I didn't until after my op and I'm very glad I didn't - I would have been terrified and nothing was as bad as I read 

Hi 

many many thanks for your reply and all the ladies it is such an incentive to stay strong and try to stay positive when I hear the feedback from you all.

I haven't googled, think I already knew that it would mess my head up even more.

I've got an appointment with the surgeon on Tuesday.

many thanks once again.

Jo

Hi Jamoza

many thanks for your reply, I'm keeping active as walking the dogs, golf and going to the gym has been part of my routine and the nurse said to try to keep my routine and keep busy. Nothing shuts my brain being in overload, I've been doing some mindfulness but I have to admit I've asked the GP for some anti anxiety meds!

I'm seeing the surgeon on Tuesday so fingers crossed.

Jo x