Shock - newly diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer

Hi, I found out Christmas Eve I have invasive ductal breast cancer I am terrified and in complete shock. I’m stage 2 and will receive the HER2 test results when I meet with the team in the new year. Just felt I need to reach out and maybe get some advice on others experiences and what I can expect when I meet with team.

  • Hello Helarny and welcome to the club that no-one ever wants to join.   I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer 5 years ago, and as you say, it is a total shock to receive such news.  When you meet your medical team in the new year, write a list of the questions you wish to ask them.  You will probably find that your mind will go blank and when you come out of the meeting you will remember all of the things that you meant to ask them, so a list is a really good idea.   Also, you might want to take someone with you to the meeting......a family member or a friend.  These things can be extremely daunting and you might find comfort if you take a loved one with you.  I expect that your medical team will want to discuss the way forward with your treatment, and this is another reason why it is a good idea to take someone with you, so that they will remember the things that perhaps you have been unable to mentally absorb.  I would also like to say that whilst you are naturally terrified about your diagnosis, at stage 2, it is still within the curable stage.  I wish you all the luck in the world. 

  • Hi, thank you so much for this lovely positive reply. I will definitely make a list of questions and my husband will by my side. Wishing you all the best in your journey. 

  • Hi Helarny. Stage 2 or grade 2 ? I ask because they tend not to stage much these days. I was also idc, grade 2, 22mm no node involvement. It is terrifying, don't think I've ever been so petrified in my life. It was all very straight forward though, had a lumpectomy and sentinel node removal. Oncotype score sent off and came back at 12 so no chemo. 5 days of radiotherapy and 5 years of anastrozole as mine was oestrogen fed. Take someone with you, they will hear what you won't. Fear and shock makes us deaf ! The waiting is the worst, we think it's running riot all over our bodies.... its not. When the panic gets too bad, try audio books or something else that you have to concentrate on. Don't google, it's full of outdated rubbish and more for the U.S. than us. When you meet with the team, they will probably have your pathology results and a plan in place for treatment. I never asked questions as I simply didn't have a clue what to ask. I just went with the flow. Good luck on this journey x

  • Hi helarny, that’s the same diagnosis that I had  Christmas 2022, I had 6 lots of chemo over a 6 month period, a lumpectomy to remove 2 tumours and 5days of radiotherapy, I’ve since got the all clear, I do have to take letrozole for 5/10 years and have besophanate injections every 6 months for 3 years to strengthen my bones, the chemo was the worse for me but not every one is the same, radiotherapy is fine and so are the injections, stay positive I say, that’s how I approached my journey, my surgeon said it would be a 12-18 month journey and wouldn’t be a walk in the park but being positive and go with the flow will help, so I did, good luck and I’m sure you will be fine xx