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

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.

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

Ah I’m so glad u nd cornishpastie have connected:-) You are both practically running parallel to each other in this club no one expected to join. X

I think it's easy talking to someone who has been or is going through the same has me and I can talk to strangers more than I can family they no know me personally but when I found this site and see what other ppl are going through or have been through you can relate thank you xx

I think it's easy talking to someone who has been or is going through the same has me and I can talk to strangers more than I can family they no know me personally but when I found this site and see what other ppl are going through or have been through you can relate thank you xx