I am so sorry to hear your situation. Scared is normal feeling cross at the unfairness is too
A chat to the nurses here may help with your questions and lots of people here have had breast cancer. Try a little search im sure they will reach out .....im a carer for my hubby who has cancer....so see it from the outside do ypu have any friends you can reach out to?
Id suggest making a note of all your questions for you medical team so ypu dont forget
I can totally empathise with your situation. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 and had chemo followed by a lumpectomy in April 2024. It is scary and it came out of the blue for me. No history in the family and it was triple negative, which is the genetic version, but they couldn't find any trace of it in my family history (they did a full gene tracing). At least they're moving quick with you and if you're lumpectomy is anything like mine you will be surprised by how little scarring you get. I was in and out as a day case, as long as you have someone at home who can help around the house as there are certain things you won't be able to do for a couple of weeks (like lifting a kettle, making the beds etc). I don't know what area you're in, but here in Derbyshire I had excellent care both during and after treatment. Tell them your fears on the day of your op (or as Rhubarbdragon says below, talk to the nurses on here too). They will be able to help settle you down as much as possible. It is unfair, and it's ok to feel that way.
Please let us know how you get on. Thinking of you and sending positive thoughts and hugs from afar.
A cancer diagnosis tends to hit us like a ton of bricks, especially when there is a cancer link in the family. I am truly sorry to hear about your brother's passing. I lost my mum to breast cancer metastases too. Like you, I was terrified when I was diagnosed as some of her treatments were pretty brutal. However, I quickly discovered that diagnosis, treatment and aftercare had all advanced in the interim and there was just no comparison between what we both experienced.
I had 2 bouts of breast cancer and one of pre-cancer, within a year of each other. I had a lumpectomy the first time and a double mastectomy for the second bout. That first year was challenging, but "doable" and I am now 15 years on from my initial diagnosis. I still lead a busy and fulfilling life and I hope that you will too.
As Carol said, the lumpectomy is much less scary than I imagined and was very straightforward. You will feel better once your surgery is behind you. Has there been any mention of what treatment you are likely to have following your surgery? I shall be thinking of you next week and hope that all goes well. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.
