Struggling to come to terms with diagnosis breast cancer

I have triple negative ILBC breast cancer, localised to breast and axillary nodes. Started chemo 5 days ago. Am really struggling to catch up. Even typing that done is hard. Was all very dramatic presentation. I have been told majority respond to the treatment but it's an aggressive type. I have 3 teenage girls, full time job that i love (albeit a bit too much sometimes), supportive husband, friends - am blessed. I am medical so my mind is doing additional somersaults. How do people manage? Not sure what i am looking for. Hope? Support? I feel I need to maintain composure for family. But am scared, untethered from my usual life. Not looking at stats. 

  • Hi Michelle,  I am so sorry to hear about your diagnosis.  I  had stage 3, grade 2 lobular breast cancer.  Had lumpectomy, chemo and radiotherapy.  Mine was hormone positive though.  I found it very hard and sometimes lonely.  I know that I could not work through the chemo as had public facing job and I was too tired anyway.  My friend who had breast cancer the year before me told me to try and keep to my regular routine.  Obviously not going to work but getting up, walking the dogs, shopping, eating out etc. The first time I had chemo we got home and I said to my husband I would chilli con carne for dinner with a glass of wine.  I just wanted to keep things normal.   This did help me because at least I could control this bit of my life.  I felt like my life and body was taken over by the doctors etc.  It really is like a never ending roller coaster going through treatment, but eventually it does stop.  I found that these forums helped me too.  I was also on the Macmillan forum for breast cancer and so many are on the same journey  Just even writing it down and sharing with others helped and nobody is judgmental just supportive,  You can phone the helpline on here if you want to talk to someone or phone Macmillan.  I am also on here every day if you would like to chat.  You are not alone, big hugs.

    Lee x  

  • Hi Michelle

    • I was very recently diagnosed and am also struggling. Its the worst thing I've ever had to deal with and my treatment hasn't even started yet. I've stopped researching and googling as that was making things worse for me. Mine is grade 3 so faster growing which is so frightening. 
    • Im trying to force myself to eat really well and be as strong as I can before the treatment starts. Try doing a bit of self-care and minimise any unnecessary stress over and above this awful situation. 
    • How is the chemo going? I hope it's going well x