Hi Sandra,

Welcome to Cancer Chat. I am sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis.You are doing well by trying to cope one day at a time.The first letter you received today wasn't so bad.. It is going to remove the cancer in your breast and give you the chance to live a normal life once all this treatment is over, so the sooner you start the sooner you'll be finished with it all. The second was a definite bonus.

What surgery are you going to have - a lumpectomy or a mastectomy?

I have had 2 bouts of primary breast cancer. The first was diagnosed 7 years ago and the second the following year. Have you got a treatment plan in place post-surgery?

Please stay in touch. Remember, there is always someone here whenever you feel like talking.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine.

Thanks for the reply. 

I have 2 small lumps in my R breast (no one can feel them nor is there any outward change to be seen nor pain. Caught on routine screening).

They are grade 1 and grade  2 both invasive cancers. On MRI my lymph nodes look clear.

I am having a lumpectomy on the 21st as a day case. They are hoping to make 1 incision to get to both but will re assess on day. They are also taking 2 sentinel nodes for biopsy just in case. 

After the op all things being equal I am to have radiotherapy mon to fri for 3 wks.

Wow how matter of fact does it all sound in the written word when it is so not.

7yrs post diagnosis - I tip my hat to you Jolamine. When we are first diagnosed it's like our lives ended in that moment. This is so not true "living with Cancer" never a truer word.

take care Jolamine 

Sandra x

I took time off afterwards. Took about a minth before I started feeling vaguely human again. Got thro most of the treatment altho I reduced my hours with agreement from my employer, this was due to fatigue. I went back after a month and gradually built my hours back up to full time. 

Hi hun

deep breaths...u will get there.

in answer to yr Radiotherapy query... can only tell u my timeline. 

2017

Op on 21st Sept  

2nd Oct meeting with surgeon for biopsy results of excision  ( clear margins nd lymph nodes - great news cos meant I could be referred to the oncologist to discuss my radiotherapy). Referral to oncology made.

19th Oct met oncologist nd marked up for radiotherapy 

30th Oct 1st radiotherapy session (Mon- Fri for 3 wks)

I had taken early retirement 9 mths prior to my diagnosis so can’t answer your 2nd query of time off work... anyone reading this who can answer Nicki72 can u please post:-)

The 17th April will come around quicker than u think. In the meanwhile take everything one day at a time. Try to stop yourself thinking ahead and the could, would and should be scenarios. Try and use the free from hospital time to not do things u need to but what u fancy doing:-)

Sending virtual hugs me dear. Take care x

I'm only 12 hrs contract I've been looking into other benefits that will help me while I'm off work I haven't a clue were to start 

Thank you its so scary not thinking I would ever get cancer but its been caught early thanks to lovely doctors and nurses at my hospital you would never think it could be you next and asking yourself why me what have I done to deserve this it's heartbreaking x

Hey Nikki. I'm stage 1 invasive too and have my OP on 13th April. L

Mines on the 17th mine was found early and its only small so I'm lucky but still coming to terms with it is hard x

Macmillan are quite good with this kind of stuff. See if you can contact them. 

I'm going to ring my nurse and ask about what I can do about benefits thank you xx

It's a bit of a shock isn't it. I've had outbreak of eczema in places like my eye lid of all places since diagnosis. I'm trying to focus on normal daily life until my op and take a day at a time. Mine is early too so am very positive for the future.

It's a bit of a shock isn't it. I've had outbreak of eczema in places like my eye lid of all places since diagnosis. I'm trying to focus on normal daily life until my op and take a day at a time. Mine is early too so am very positive for the future.

I try not to think about it to much working keeps me busy hopefully I'll get more hrs but the last few days I've been so tired and just want to sleep and cry about the most simplest things x

Hi Nikki,

I am so sorry to hear about your diagnosis and remember well how I felt at that time. It is a scary time when you don’t know what to expect, but let me assure you that it’s not nearly as bad as where your imagination is taking you. With regard to how you feel now, allow yourself to sleep as much as you need to. Also let yourself cry, as this is a good relief valve for stress.

I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer. The first was 8 years ago and I had a lumpectomy followed by Tamoxifen. I had the second bout a year later and had a double mastectomy followed by Letrozole. Fortunately you have caught things early and this should give you a better chance. I was stage 1 with no lymph node involvement both times.

Ask your cancer nurse if there is a facility at the hospital to help you with financial benefits. I have a group which I think is run by MacMillan in my hospital. It is helpful to have someone who knows the drill to fill out your forms with you. Having it done from a cancer perspective, it is useful to have it filled in by someone who fills out your form based on this. Your local Citizens’ Advice Bureau will also be able to help you out, but maybe not so much from a cancer viewpoint.

Some benefits are means tested, but others are not, so again advice on what you are likely to qualify for is helpful. If you want help, the sooner you apply the better, as it can take some time to get payments through.

I haven’t had radiotherapy, but I’m sure that you won’t receive this until your wound has healed. I was exhausted, even without this. I am self-employed so felt duty bound to get back to work ASAP. With hindsight, this was not a good idea, as I just felt more and more tired. I eventually developed side-effects to my medication and had to stop doing the day to day work, although I still manage the business.

Try not to torment yourself with the ‘why me’ question. We all do it, but it gets us nowhere. Instead, think of how lucky you are to have caught it early and look to the future with positivity.  Try to keep yourself distracted from the wait by keeping yourself as busy as possible meanwhile.

I hope that all goes well for you on 17th April. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you whenever you need us.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Cornishpastie,

I am glad to see that on the face of things you are coping with all that is happening. It’s a real hit between the eyes when you are told your diagnosis and emotions are all over the place. Logic goes out the window and fear, anger, depression, tears, worry for family, etc, all creep in instead.

I have had 2 bouts of primary breast cancer. The first was 8 years ago when I had a lumpectomy followed by Tamoxifen.  A year later I found another lump and had a double mastectomy, followed by 6 years of Letrozole. Fortunately, both of mine were stage 1.

I hope that all goes well for you on 13th April and look forward to hearing how you get on after the operation.

Don’t forget that we are always here for you whenever you need us.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Did you suffer from fatigue at any time 

Yes and still do!

Can you take anything for it I'm new to all of this 

Not really. It’s recovery, your mind and body takes a battering during treatment. When it’s done, if everything has gone according to plan, is when the recovery really begins as you’ll be flying solo, ie at home, no regular hospital trips. This is how it was for me anyway but every one goes through this in different ways. You might not have any major problems and sail through it. 

I just fall asleep when I'm sat down when I finish work I'm so tired just want to sleep my op isn't till next month x

It’s hard. It’s not just what’s happening to your body, it messes with you head as well. I found sleeping at night was a problem so was nodding off at strange times as well. 

Ye I'm finding it hard to sleep on a night to then wake up weird times of the morning doesn't help when I'm on late shifts at work x