Hi Chels97,

There is no easy way to deal with a cancer diagnosis and we all react differently. Try to take things day by day, or even hour by hour if needs be. I am glad to hear that your care team are confident about treatment. Can I ask what treatment is planned for you?

What ages are your kids and have you told them yet? The information given at this time can indeed be overwhelming, but it helps to make sure that you fully understand everything that you're told. Don't be afraid to ask questions - no question is too small or insignificant!  Do you have good support from friends and family? This can be a great help, as you will find that the more informed and positive you can be about your journey, the better you'll usually cope.

Try to stick to the more respected websites rather than referring to "Dr Google". Much of the information here is poorly researched, out of date and aimed at the more spectacular cases. This won't give you any answers and can only scare you even further. This site, Breast Cancer Now and Macmillan are all good sites to start with. There are a number of booklets available on how to break the news to children. There are also a number of booklets available on all types of cancer and matters associated with this disease. You will probably find some of these in your local hospital. Most hospitals have a Cancer information centre which is run by Macmillan. These  three groups also have moderated forum support.

With regard to the welfare of your kids, it will depend upon your treatment regimes and how you react to them. Some can leave you feeling quite tired, nauseous and debilitated and it can be helpful to have someone who can step in with child care if you have any of these reactions, or if you need time to attend appointments, etc.

There are also a number of different cancer charities offering individual and group support. These all have different names, but your breast cancer nurse or GP should be able to tell you what is in your local area. Do you have a Maggie's Centre anywhere near you? This is one of the larger charities. They have Centres dotted all over the UK and offer a number of supportive services which are all free of charge. Many of these centres offer support to family and friends too. They will help with finances, benefits, teach you how to carry out manual lymphatic drainage (MLD), they offer counselling, psychology, nursing, walking groups for people of different abilities, seated yoga classes, a choice of alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, Indian head massage, Reiki, Reflexology, Massage is also on offer. There is always a warm welcome in these centres and you can pop in at any time for a welcome cuppa and a chat - you may need to book in advance for some of the other services.

There are lots of other services, but this is probably enough for now

I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer and 1 of pre-cancer all within a year. I had a lumpectomy first, followed by a double mastectomy for the second bout. Treatment was "challenging", but perfectly "doable". I had 2 young teenage children at the time and ran a business full-time. I was fortunate that my husband was my rock. That was all 16 years ago now and I still lead a busy and fulfilling life. I sincerely hope that all goes well for you too.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx