Ladies, I'm so sorry for what you are going through. I was diagnosed last summer with Grade 3 IDC, HER2 positive. I had 7 cycles of chemo, lumpectomy 4 weeks ago, and am waiting for radiotherapy to start in the next few weeks. But I am cancer-free due to chemo doing its job. Everyone is different, but I found chemo very tolerable with the worst side effect being that food tasted awful for a few days each cycle and only got back to near normal after I'd finished the 7 cycles. I lost pretty much all my hair (which didn't really bother me) and it started growing back about 8 weeks after the last cycle. I just wanted to reassure you that, as shell-shocked as you may be feeling right now, it will not last. You just find the strength and positivity to deal with it and focus on getting better. I wish you all the very best for what's to come and would be happy to chat over anything with you. I firmly believe that one of the main things that helped me cope was keeping active and eating healthily, which I did from the day after I was diagnosed (I had actually started a bit before then, but upped the anti after diagnosis). Take care, Amy xx

This is reassuring,  thank you! I am still having occasional wobbles and am totally dreading chemo but I know I will just need to get on with it! Because I am rarely ill,  the thought of it all is stressing me out.

I haven't told my work yet, not sure how I'll manage that but will need to tell them sooner than later.

My consultant appointment is not until end of May so no idea what's in store yet . 

Glad to hear that it might not be quite as bad as I'm imagining it to be and you are feeling better xx

Hi Leanne I can't comment on your particular cancer as mine is different but the diagnosis is a very scary and upsetting time. I have a wife and 4 kids and usually run a successful business I've had to put this on hold for now and claim benefits, I've found this difficult as I'm a very proud hardworking man, but I decided just to try and let go, all these things add to what's already a very stressful and anxious time so if I can just focus on my treatment and getting better I find it helps me to be more positive. I find this has really changed the way I think. Instead of thinking poor me I've got cancer, what if this or what if that, I now think wow I'm so lucky it was found quite early or I'm glad it that type of cancer or where it is or I don't have to have more surgery. I also have a blood clot in a major artery but... if I hadn't had a pet scan they wouldn't have known, whereas now it's being treated. So there's always little positives to take from everything we go through. If you can find the right mindset it really helps. I'm seeing my oncologist Tues so hoping to start chemo and rads within a couple of weeks after that

just remember to not be hard on yourself or put pressure on yourself just take each day as it comes, each hour even! There's going to be highs and lows but ultimately you've got your son and you are braver than you know, and you will kick cancers butt xx

Yes I remember when they told me I had cancer i was so scared especially as they had found it in a lymph node which was secondary so at that point I didn't know where the primary was and I remember until I'd had all my scans etc I just kept thinking I'd be riddled with it and kept thinking the worst it was the most stressful time of my life for sure! And we held off telling the kids until we had all the information because I didn't want them to feel the same way I did. I think it's normal to feel more tired too as the cancer is eating up your good cells in your body, I know I get to about lunchtime and feel like going back to bed lol. But yes the mental side of this definitely contributes to that!!

good luck telling your son, I found the more mine saw I wasn't worried the less they seemed worried but it's still not easy so I do feel for you, but you'll be ok x 

and best of luck with your treatment, you will beat this and be much stronger for it, best wishes and positive thoughts to you xx