A very warm welcome to the forum. I am so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Is this recent and is treatment/maintenance still a viable option? This must be very hard for you to cope with 4 young daughters - what ages are they and do you have any support from family members or friends? I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer and 1 of pre-cancer within a year of each other. I also lost my mum to secondary breast cancer, after a 12 year battle with primary cancer. My mum died in 1997 and I was first diagnosed 16 years ago. Fortunately diagnosis, treatment and aftercare have all shown tremendous advancements in recent years.
Please keep in touch and I am sure that you'll find this forum a great support on your cancer journey. We are always here for you.
Iam going through tablets chemo at the moment thankfully. First breast 2015 with full right side mastectomy and chemo&radiotherapy. Came back 2 years ago so been on various chemo medications and hormone blockers. My children are 23,20,17&13. My sister lives 40mins away mum lives 3 hours away so no real support.
I am glad to hear that treatment is still an option. It is also good to hear that your children are all old enough to understand what is happening and they should be able to support you. It is a pity that your mum and sister both live so far away. Have you ever attended any of the cancer charities for support? Many people find it easier to talk to strangers who understand this disease instead of talking to family. This can be by talking to others who are dealing with a cancer diagnosis or by talking to a counsellor at one of the many cancer centres.
I don't know what part of the country you live in, but these centres are dotted all around the country. Maggie's and Macmillan are two of the biggest, but there are several other smaller charities throughout the country, which are under different names. You will find some of these online or your care team should be able to point you in the right direction, as could your local library, health centre or Citizens Advice Bureau {CAB). Most of these will welcome you any time you care to drop in for a cuppa and a chat or just a listening ear. However, if you want a consultation with a counsellor, you are likely to have to make an appointment.
I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer and 1 of pre-cancer all within a year of diagnosis. I had previously lost my mum to secondary breast cancer after a 12 year battle with the disease. I certainly found it very helpful to speak to a counsellor at Maggie's, although I was very reluctant to do so at first. All of their services are free and are helpful for those dealing with cancer.
Do please consider giving one of these charities a try and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.
