Welcome to Cancer Chat, Watermelon. 

I'm sorry to hear about your breast cancer diagnosis, but I'm glad you've found us here.

If you use the search function near the top of the forum and type in 'breast cancer', you'll see quite a few people having discussions about this. 

Do you mind me asking what line of work you're in? When you enjoy your job it must be so tough hearing that you have to give it up. 

We're here to listen if you need us; I do hope you find the forum helpful, please post whenever you feel you'd like or need to.

Wishing you all the best,

Helen 

Cancer Chat Moderator

I was a nursing attendant in the hospital for 10 years I loved helping people it was fullfilling. My Dr advises against working as i have bad neuropathy in hands and feet and sometimes in my legs and muscle weakness in my legs from the knees down when i go on the floor to pick something up or kneel down I have a very hard time getting up again. I am as active as i can be. She said i would not do well working. And the unknown for time is getting to me now too although I am stable because of the herceptin I can never come off treatment. Feels like a ticking time bomb sometimes i just want to scream

Thankyou. I am doing well just frustrated with being unable to work. I do keep busy and care for my family. And having to deal with insurance companies even though they told me 2 years ago that they would continue to pay me until i am 65. Having my income being conditioned and someone else's opinion of my health I would rather be working and doing it on my own terms. I havent heard from them for 2 years then all of a sudden  i get a request for updated information which i understand that that is expected. Waiting to see what they will decide. Thankyou for your support and i also hope you are doing well

Hi there,

I, too, have the same diagnosis and can no longer work. However, it can be an opportunity to do all the things we said we would do "if we had the time." It's hard because we often define ourselves by what we do for a living and how useful we are to others but we are defined by so many more things and we are useful to others in so many ways. I am able to spend more time with my little granddaughter which is great for both of us and helpful for my daughter. I've started to knit a cover for my moblie phone -doesn't look that neat but it's very theraputic! I want to learn to play the keyboard, too. 

I hope you get through the insurance business without too much trouble. I was diagnosed last Christmas and am still trying to sort out my pension. Macmillan were amazing with their support on financial issues. 

look forward to hearing how you get on.

Thankyou so far they have been good to me and I am sure everything will work out I am just a worrier. I find things to worry about lol. I have been doing some aquasize it sometimes helps with my feet and I get out with other people. Thankyou for you advice I will looking into doing more of the things I never had time for . Take care and thankyou again

It is low impact and your body feels good in the water. I try to go 3 times a week for 45 mins. Thankyou for chatting eith me. I am here for you too if you need to vent anytime

Hi xxx hope your doing ok

I've recently been diagnosed and after surgery am planned to have herceptin and PERTUZUMAB. 

Can I ask how you got on with it?

I'm a great worrier like you, they have said mine is HER2 positive also, having chemo to reduce the lump then the plan is surgery and then targeted treatment

They've said it's curable but I can't seem to get this awful feeling in my head that it's not, especially with all the treatment

Would be grateful if any advice xxx

Hi. these drugs have been added to my chemo, so it's hard to know which drug has caused a specific side effect. I shall know in a few weeks' time. My cancer, according to doctors, is not curable but I've spoken to someone who is in your situation (and heard of many more) and from what I can see you are indeed to be a cured person. Don't think otherwise: just visualise that lump under attack from all angles - the chemo , the targeted treatment and your body's hostility towards it. Whenever you think anything negative, replace the thought with, "I am curable." Lots of women are walking about living totally normal lives, after your treatment and you will be one of them.Put yourself first: eat healthily and exercise (the latter is good for anxiety) and you'll be fine. xxx