Hi Pollypwrks,

A very warm welcome to our forum.

I am so sorry to hear of the situation you find yourself in and I understand your anxiety. Most of us get very tearful at this stage. Don't worry about this, this is a great stress reliever. You will find that irrespective of the outcome, you will feel better once you know the results of your tests. I had 2 bouts of breast cancer, within a year of each other and was told at my first visit, each time, that I had it. The surgeons don't mince their words with you. If they think that it might be cancer, they will tell you this. If they thought that it was widespread, they would also have told you this. Even your care team cannot always tell the extent of your cancer, until they see your results, but it is perfectly normal to fear the worst and give reign to our overactive imaginations, which can lead us to some very dark places. Fortunately, this seldom happens.

I lost my mum to secondary cancer, after a 12 year battle with primary cancer and was an absolute mess after my consultation. My first thoughts went to my children and hubby, which is only natural. Fortunately, diagnosis, treatments and after care have all improved tremendously in the intervening years and there was just no comparison, between what we both experienced. It is now 15 years since I got this news and I still lead a busy and fulfilling life. I have also seen my children leave school, go to university, graduate, find gainful employment, fall in love, marry and provide me with 2 beautiful granddaughters.

The one piece of advice I can give you is to steer clear of consulting "Dr Google". Much of this information is out of date, poorly researched and aimed at the more spectacular cases. This won't give you any answers and will only serve to scare you even further. Try not to look too far to the future until you know what you are dealing with. Take things day by day, or even hour by hour, if need be.

I sincerely hope that things go well on Friday. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi it’s so good to hear positive journeys and gives me hope sorry you lost your mum to breast cancer I did too but from diagnosis until she passed was only 5 weeks she never spoke about it we weren’t aloud that was 13 years ago so all I’ve got in my head is what happened to my mum … I haven’t stopped crying and drowning in my emotions . Will definitely let you know how I get on xx

Hi Pollypwrks,

I was in one of the professions associated to medicine and I don't think that this helped my mindset. You are probably the same, being a nurse. My Mum had a very hard time from diagnosis to her final days and as soon as I was diagnosed, pictures of this kept  running through my mind.

How did you get on today? I hope that things are better than you feared.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Morning yes feeling better now I know it’s stage 2 breast cancer with a single lymph node too but the pet scan showed it’s not gone anywhere else which is brilliant and easier for me to mentally get my head around and I know it can be cured , all I had in my mind was my mums diagnoses and how little time we had with her and I keep playing that in my mind thinking I wouldn’t see summer or Christmas it was brutal thinking I know there’s along way to go but I keep thinking they can cure me hope your ok … polly x

Hi Polly,

Sorry I've taken so long to reply. I've been on holiday in Ireland, with no internet connection. I am delighted to hear the results of your Pet scan. It is great to know that it hasn't spread elsewhere. Like you, I kept comparing myself to my Mum's experience, but so much had changed in the interim. I am now 15 years post-diagnosis and I still lead a busy and contented life. 

Have you been told of your treatment plan yet? The more positive you can be about the outcome, the better you'll cope.

Jolamine xx

Hi hope you had a loverly break away yes so happy it’s not spread .. they are having a MDT on Friday should have been yesterday but because the Easter holidays .. they may give chemo first try to shrink the tumour then do lumpectomy or mastectomy then chemo , the tumour is quite big it’s 6/7 cm … it’s being fed by estrogen, I’m really worried about how the chemo will effect me but I just want to get through it … I had a stroke 4 years ago so they have to think about a good plan … the stroke was 10 days after my Covid vacine .. I work in the hospital and we were told we had to have the vacine or we could loose our jobs , I so wish I never had it .. Polly x

Hi Polly,

I know a few people who have had problems following their Covid vaccination. My receptionist was one of them, as we had to have the vaccine too. However, nobody has admitted that the problems may have arisen as a result of this - I can fully appreciate how you regret ever having it. How are you now after your stroke? They will probably check your heart prior to chemo anyway. Most people dread the thought of going through chemo. Some people sail through it, while others don't, but the end justifies the means.

What a pity that the MDT was delayed due to the Easter holiday, but it sounds as if you'll soon have a more definite plan. Do please keep in touch and let us know how you get on.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Morning I had a poci stroke but got myself walking and back to work after 5 months it left me a bit off balance fatigue and memory problems but was still working upto the diagnosis of breast cancer , I work on a busy cardiac unit, I am really dreading chemo as it also let me with PTSD and health anxiety I had to have lots of councelling and was just getting myself manageable then this … just need a plan which will become apparent on Friday hope your ok .. Polly x

EMDR has been highly recommended to me .  Both for dealing with trauma from past evens but also for developing positive templates for future events.  I think it's available on the NHS (but don't know how long the waiting lists are) but also privately of course.  Worth a go?

Hi I'm sorry that you find yourself in this position both with the stroke and now with cancer ,to be honest I know so many people who have been affected by the covid vaccine its unreal ,I have a cousin who had a heart attack not long after having it ,my friends 18 year old niece died after having it and whilst this can't be proved that it was the reason many would say that it was to blame ,I sincerely hope you make a full recovery I'm sure you will Best Wishes .

Hey yeah will not have any more vaccines they will never admit my stroke was caused by the vacine but I’m sure Polly x

Hey yeah will not have any more vaccines they will never admit my stroke was caused by the vacine but I’m sure Polly x