Just been diagnosed with breast cancer

Hi everyone

I have just been diagnosed  breast cancer 4 days ago and having lumpectomy on the 17th June.  Was doing ok but hit a wall today I'm so scared. I have been told it's  stage 1 but if its gone into my lymph nodes it could be stage 2. I'm beating myself up at the moment as I found the lump 6 months ago and was second  guessing myself as to it actually being a lump and just forgot  about it. Noticed it again 3 weeks ago  and yes it was a lump and thats where I am now.

  • Hi Sue,

    I'm glad to hear that your op is behind you now and hope that you're not feeling too tender today.  I'm sure that you'll worry about your lymph nodes, until you find out what happened with them. You could phone your breast care nurse and ask her. You shouldn't have to wait until 17th to find this out. You usually have to leave a message for the nurse, but they usually phone back as soon as they can.

    I shall be thinking of you on 17th and hope that there'll be no more need for further surgery.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Thank you Jolamine.

    I have an appointment  to check my wounds on the 11th July so hopefully  they will tell me then xx

  • Hi Sue,

    That's not so long to wait. I hope that it goes well.

    Jolamine xx

  • Hi there - sounds like I had a very similar experience to you, I am almost out the other side now so please know that it will be OK! Mine was a Left Grade 3 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma ER4 PR 0 HER2 3+, I had chemo first and then surgery, I was lucky in that I got away with having 4 rounds of chemo (doxytaccyl) and then a MRI showed that it had disappeared. In my experience chemo was unpleasant at times but really just a bit fluey and made me feel chemically (I was lucky). Report all side affects to your oncologist and they will give you drugs to help abate whatever problems you have. Stay strong and reach out if you have any questions... I have also been writing a visual diary on substack about my experience that perhaps you might find useful > clingfilm.substack.com/

  • Hi

    Glad you  are on the otherside and treatment has gone well for you. Still a bit of wait to find out what my treatment will be on the 17th July..  Sue x

  • Hi Jolamine 

    Just wanted to ask but did you suffer from fatigue. ? I'm  finding it hard to get through the day with out a nap of 2- 3 hrs mid afternoon.The tiredness is off the scale for me. Today I didn't nap as we were meeting friends and I'm  getting drops in energy on and off all day. Sue xx

  • Hi, I’ve had one round of chemo and lots more biopsies and CT scan as they think it might have spread. I like you, after chemo 1, needed naps, I day I napped twice; in total 4 hours. This last week, I have been a lot better, been able to manage without the nap and just rest breaks as I still get tired but a sit down for 30 mins seems to boost me again. Chemo 2 next week, can’t say I’m looking forward to it….

  • Hi

    I've not started my treatment  but had my lumpectomy and node biopsies and thats giving me fatigue. I don't  know what it will be like after treatment. I had the nuclear injection  and scan and that says you can get fatigue  after that as well.  Seeing the cancer nurse on Friday so will ask her if this is normal for both. Take care and let us know how you are doing. Sue x

  • To be honest, I suspect it’s all a bit exhausting both emotionally and physically. Our bodies need to repair and in all honesty, I’m just doing what it’s asking me to do. Figure it will fix itself. Do take care and speak soon. X