Recently diagnosed with breast cancer

Iv recently been diagnosed with breast cancer at 38 years old and I'm really struggling to come to terms with it. I'm getting really bad anxiety from knowing I have cancer and it's keeping me awake most nights I am due to start chemo soon but with the hospitals going on strike its made my anxiety worse not knowing if my appointments will get cancelled I have a really good partner and daughter to talk to but not alot of family I have friends that are supportive but doesn't really know what I'm going through as haven't had or going through cancer so I haven't really got alot of people to talk to 

Parents
  • Hi, 

    I am triple negative breast cancer as well. Stage 3A. I am 38 years old. Finished chemotherapy and surgery lumpectomy with some armpit lymph nodes removed as well. It showed full response into treatment, so it is good news. Awaiting now for radiotherapy to start. 
    I understand exactly how you feel. A lot of mixed emotions. Try to not worry and just know you will get through it. Knowing our diagnosis are bad, but it isn’t the worst. If you want to we can chat on what’s app?

  • Hi irma 

    So glad to hear you've responded well to treatment how long was you on chemo for before you had surgery and I know everyone's different and responds differently to chemo but how was it for you I should hopefully find out this week a proper treatment plan 

  • My treatment was 8 rounds over 24 weeks. First 12 weeks weekly and other 12 weeks 3 times a week so 16 visits in total. 6 months if there are no delays and your blood tests are fine. I had liver toxicity in the start, but it was probably because I started taking supplements. Don’t listen friends advice for supplements or any other. Consult with oncologist before taking anything else. 
    Where are you from?

  • Offline in reply to Irma

    Sorry not 3 times a week, but 1 time in 3 weeks lol.

  • I'm so sorry to sound stupid but what do you mean by 8 rounds as you went 16 in total like I said I'm sorry for the stupid questions I'm just trying to prepare myself for what's to come as at the moment I was only graded as 3A and not staged it hadn't spread when I had all my test done do you have to have any test before you start chemo to see if it's spread anymore I'm from Portsmouth what about you where you from

  • I asked thinking maybe you are from London. 
    Sorry don’t know exact names of chemo meds (if you want to know I will try to find it in my records.)

    1 round is:

    week 1 you get 2 chemo meds +1 immunotherapy drug at your visist

    week 2 and week 3 you get 1 chemotherapy med.

    This is one round.

    So I had 4 rounds like that and after it chemo meds was switched to EC + immunotherapy meds once every 3 weeks 4 rounds.

    so 1 round took 3 weeks. 

    i hope you understand, sorry English is not my first language:)

    yes I had CT scan to my bones, my internal organs and MRI to my breasts before chemo started. Cancer had spread in 1 of armpit lymph nodes. My lump was 3cm in size. 

    There are no stupid questions. So feel free to ask.

  • Thank you I understand what you are saying that has made it alot clearer for me oh great more stress to see if its spread did the results take long as I was meant to be starting chemo in about 2 weeks 

  • It might be scary for some even to know what prognosis are and it is a lot of darkness in the start. Try to speak with people who went through recently before you. I followed girl on instagram who had same cancer and went through treatment few months before me. It helped me a lot to know what to expect and what common side effects are. You can text me anytime if you have any questions. 

  • Thank you for taking the time to talk to me and explaining things to me it has really helped 

  •  From the visit to GP in the end of August last year  to first chemo treatment it took me around 10 weeks (get diagnosis, many different tests and biopsies during those 10 weeks) Was the most difficult time emotionally in my life. The tests, waiting time for results and finally treatment start.

    Now I am waiting for CT scan and radiotherapy 15 visits over 3 weeks every working day. 
    full response into chemo treatment means there are no cancer left after surgery. This is what you are looking for. 

Reply
  •  From the visit to GP in the end of August last year  to first chemo treatment it took me around 10 weeks (get diagnosis, many different tests and biopsies during those 10 weeks) Was the most difficult time emotionally in my life. The tests, waiting time for results and finally treatment start.

    Now I am waiting for CT scan and radiotherapy 15 visits over 3 weeks every working day. 
    full response into chemo treatment means there are no cancer left after surgery. This is what you are looking for. 

Children