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

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.