Hi I'm 45 and just found out that a lump I had on my breast is cancerous, I had lump and lymph nodes removed last tues, so I'm now waiting to hear what treatment I'm going to need, My consultant has said most likely 8 sessions of chemo every 3 weeks, so 6 months in total and then radiotherapy mon-fri for a month, so i'm kinda in the unknown zone at the moment. Not looking forward to the hair loss, terribly vain i know, but my hair is very important to me like most women, I colour it blonde which will obviously have to stop. As far as I know my chemo will be given intrevenously, so my hair will most probably fall out. I am going to look into getting a real hair wig as I dont think i've got the guts to go au natural, I've also picked up a couple of bandanas to wear about the house. My partner says it doesnt matter if my hair falls out, as long as i'm here. Luckily I've found the lump very early by self examination whilst on holiday and my consultant is very positive about me getting better. I'm very wary about the next 9 months but feel quite determinded that chemo is a wonder drug and will make me better. My girls are 22 and 20 and are amazing, they have read stories in magazines about Kylie, sally from corrie etc and are determined I will just do what the doc says and get better, my partner who ive only been with for 2 years is the most wonderful guy ever, dunno what I'd do without him, he's been with me every step of the way. I was worried about losing my breast, but fortunately I had a lumpectomy which looks amazing. my consultant says put your life on hold for the next 6-9 months get better and you'll never look back, oh yeah sounds easy, but im trying really hard. I hope I'm still this positive whilst I go through my treatment (def not I hear you say) lol, but I'm a determined ***!

Hope to chat to others in the same situation xx

Hi Colly im 44 and was diagnosed with breast cancer in February, i had a lumpectomy also and lymph nodes removed 1 of which had cancer in, i started my chemo 2 weeks ago, im having sessions every 3 weeks for 9 weeks then once a week for 9 weeks, i dont feel to bad but i guess iti will get worse. I was worried about hair loss, not because of vanity but because of what others thought, i dont want to be seen as a cancer victim !! I went for a wig fitting, it looks amazing, i flung my head around like a maniac just to make sure that it didnt fly off lol. it cost around £250.00 and is not real hair, they started at £300.00 upwards, im not rich. however i got a voucher off the nhs for £95.00 towards it. I am on day 11 after my first chemo and i keep tugging my hair to see if it is still sturdy, no signs yet but pubic hair looking a bit thin, wont be needing the veet their anymore !! I  have 2 daughters 24 & 22, they have been a godsend, i find that keeping positive really does make a difference, sitting their and crying is not an option, i cannot change things so i am going at it full pelt. I have to have all my lymph nodes removed after the chem then i have radiation to look forward to. so i am saving for a holiday next year, it gives me a bit of light at the end of this long tunnel, would love to chat and compare chemo notes and moans in general lol. love to you. Caryn xx

Hi Caryn, hope you are well, Ive just read your post and it is very similar to my own journey, I had lumpectomy removed from my right breast and all lymph nodes removed in 2010, I had 6 sessions of cheme FEC-T and 7 weeks of Radiotherapy every day mon-fri, my estrogen levels were low so didnt need herceptin, I was on Tamoxifen for a couple of months but wasnt really needed because of the low estrogen, plus the chemo put me into an early menopause and had very bad sweats and the Tamoxifen can make them worse, I also have 2 daughters who are now 22 and 24. I had an amazing partner when I was going through my trreatment, he stood by me every step of the way of my journey, but unfortunately I think with everything all the stress and worry, our relationship came to an end last year, which is very sad, but life goes on and Cancer def changed me as a person.

We had a great forum of girls and men on here 2 years ago, but luckily most of us are doing well and are back at work, some not so lucky and we have lost a couple of our friends, plus a couple of people are still on treatment and fighting their battle with this horrible disease, I try to pop on here now and then but with being back at work and trying to get fit again (going to the gym 2/3 times per week) I dont have the same time as I did then, this forum was a godsend for a lot of us who were off work going through treatment.

Any questions please ask.

Colly xxx

Hi Caryn, hope you are well, Ive just read your post and it is very similar to my own journey, I had lumpectomy removed from my right breast and all lymph nodes removed in 2010, I had 6 sessions of cheme FEC-T and 7 weeks of Radiotherapy every day mon-fri, my estrogen levels were low so didnt need herceptin, I was on Tamoxifen for a couple of months but wasnt really needed because of the low estrogen, plus the chemo put me into an early menopause and had very bad sweats and the Tamoxifen can make them worse, I also have 2 daughters who are now 22 and 24. I had an amazing partner when I was going through my trreatment, he stood by me every step of the way of my journey, but unfortunately I think with everything all the stress and worry, our relationship came to an end last year, which is very sad, but life goes on and Cancer def changed me as a person.

We had a great forum of girls and men on here 2 years ago, but luckily most of us are doing well and are back at work, some not so lucky and we have lost a couple of our friends, plus a couple of people are still on treatment and fighting their battle with this horrible disease, I try to pop on here now and then but with being back at work and trying to get fit again (going to the gym 2/3 times per week) I dont have the same time as I did then, this forum was a godsend for a lot of us who were off work going through treatment.

Any questions please ask.

Colly xxx