Hi SKW16,

Welcome to our forum. I am sorry to hear that you lost your mum to lung cancer. I lost my mum to secondary cancer after a horrific 12 year battle. When I was diagnosed I was terrified. There are different types of cancers, as well as different stages and grades and some cancers are more aggressive than others. It sounds as if you have caught this early, which is good news. Do you know what type of breast cancer you have?

I caught mine at an early stage too and had a lumpectomy followed by Tamoxifen for 1 year. Six months later I found a lump in my other breast which was pre-cancerous. Just under a year after my first diagnosis, I found another lump in the original breast and had a double mastectomy followed by Letrozole for 6½ years.. I found that there was just no comparison between the diagnosis, treatment and aftercare which mum and I experienced. Cancer management had advanced greatly since my mum had it 28 years ago. Breast cancer is one of the more treatable forms of cancer. It has now been 16 years since I was first diagnosed and I still lead a busy and fulfilling life.

Do you have a date for your surgery yet and do you know what your treatment will entail? Try not to give rein to your imagination and take things day by day - or hour by hour if necessary. The way you are feeling is unfortunately, perfectly normal after a diagnosis. Don't worry about the crying - shedding those tears is a great stress reliever and they will stop as you come to terms with everything. Do you have anyone to support you at home?

Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx