Have you had a diagnosis yet and if so, what is it? It is normal to feel emotionally drained at this stage in your journey. There are so many unknowns to start with and our over active imaginations don't help either.
Please keep in touch and let us know how you are getting on. We are always here for you.
Thank you so much after loosing my dad to breast cancer and have tested positive for BRACC2 gene I was called for my first mammogram early after my 40th.
I had no symptoms no lumps or anything just thought I was reassured with having regular checks. Turns out they found something deep in my tissue on my mammogram. Was called back for further imaging. Before I had time to process anything straightway had another mammogram straight for ultrasound and then a biopsy. I’m a positive person so thought to myself maybe it’s a cyst or a benign something. No news is good news as I waited weeks nearly a month to hear something. I was called back to see consultant to find out it was cancer DCIS carcinoma FA can’t pronounce the word. Good news was they found it early and it’s treatable. Surgery to remove it and possible radiotherapy. Even with the positive news I felt a rug had been pulled from underneath me. I’ve been to all my appointments had my magseed fitted and went back to work. Work kept me very busy so did Christmas. My family said are you ok you seem very blaise about it all told em I was fine. Well thought I was. But as I finished work and Xmas was over my surgery came then whilst waiting to go down had some kind of break down. My surgery went very well and I’m in my fourth day of recovery but my mental health has took a tumble. My family are so worried and feel I can’t talk to them out of fear of burdening them with more worry and stress. I feel very scared but a fool as people are in much more worse situation than me. I worry so much and now waiting on results whether or not I’m to have radiotherapy. Is having all these feelings normal?
I think so - I'm a bit further along than you - surgery in October and currently having 18 rounds of Chemo before radiotherapy.
I feel a complete divide between how I am with my husband and daughter and what's actually going on in my head....it's almost 3am and I'm writing this to you - should be a good indication .
I think the only thing we can do is be our own best friend. Keep finding positive thoughts and repeat them till they are true. Tell yourself that you and your body are doing something amazing whilst going through something so traumatic - every day you are getting up and fighting this horrible disease and showing yourself that you have strength you never knew existed. Talk to yourself like you would talk to your best friend and when you see your treatment team don't be afraid to ask them anything - they actively encourage this and want to know what help you need. Talking to my specialist nurse and the Oncology nurses has really helped.
My fingers are crossed that you'll find some calm....and we both get better sleep
The way you feel is perfectly normal. You have done well to stay relatively calm up to now, but we all refer to our cancer journey, as one of the biggest rollercoasters that you'll ever experience in your lifetime. You will discover this, as you travel your journey. Try to take each day as it comes and don't look too far ahead for the time being.
It is just as well that you were called for your first mammogram early, due to your family history and that this was discovered then. I am so sorry to hear that you lost your dad to breast cancer. I lost my mum to secondary breast cancer, so I have some idea about how you feel. I must confess that, although I always suspected that I'd get it some day, I got a real shock when I received my diagnosis, after I found a lump myself. For someone, who is usually fairly level headed, I lost the plot altogether, and became an emotional wreck - crying one minute and pushing family away the next - and of course, fearing the worst!
You are fortunate that you have caught this early, as this gives you much better odds. Diagnosis, treatment and after care have all advanced considerably, since my mum was diagnosed and there was just no comparison between the care that we both received. DCIS is one of the less aggressive cancers, as was mine - Pure Mucinous Breast Cancer. It is unfortunate that you carry the BRCA gene, but now that you know about this, your care team can deal with it, My cancer was stage one and there was no lymph node involvement and I am fortunate, in that I still lead a busy life, some 14 years after surgery.
If you continue to feel so depressed about your diagnosis, you can always ask your care team or GP about going on to a mild anti-depressant for a while. Many of us have had to do this to help us through these initial stages.
Please keep in touch and let us know how you're getting on. We are always here for you.
