Newly diagnosed breast cancer

Evening all. Just thought it might be good to have a few buddies at this time. I just got diagnosed three weeks ago with stage 3 estrogen positive bc and the axillary node under my arm. So I'm due to have a lumpectomy in the next week or two followed by chemo and radio. Then two days ago due to a double cyst I was told I'll probably need a hysterectomy too. That was a bit of a curve ball and I had a bit of a wobble but as I'm already in the menopause I don't mind the actual taking away of it but not sure if they will do that op at the same time as the lumpectomy or if it can be safely done at a later stage. I'll check with the doc tomorrow. I'm feeling very positive and almost feel like I'm in a funny dream. I'm wondering if I'm going to have a huge meltdown at some point. ?!?! OK rant over...  

  • This is a good place to have a rant if you need to. Din’t worry about upsetting any one, we’ve all either done it or are going thro it. 

  • Thanks rileyroo. My op is on Friday and they are going to reconstruct along with the lumpectomy. No hysterectomy at this point  Xx

  • Hi Tartus,

    Welcome to the boards, I've found the friendship and wisdom of folk on here invaluable and I hope you do too.

    I was diagnosed with stage 3, grade 2 breast cancer oestrogen and progesterone +ve, and with lymph node involvement (post-surgery it turns out 4 nodes were cancerous).  So I was in a very similar boat to you, although you're having a lumpectomy where my lump was half my breast so the only option was mastectomy.  My meltdown never came, but hey, if you do have one why not?  A melt down can be good for us, just like a good cry is.

    If they aren't going to do your hysterectomy before you start chemo then you'll find they'll wait till you've recovered from chemo.

    You might be worried about chemo?  Given everything we hear a lot of people are.  However, having completed 18 weeks of it late September it looks like a long journey but it does fly by.  Take each day as it comes and don't let your brain assume you'll find it difficult or that you'll be really nauseous.  I had very little nausea indeed.  It did require using mind over matter, but I did that every morning and only on two of those mornings did it transpire that I was actually nauseous.

    Anyways, that's all for now as it's early days for you.  Feel free to rant, joke, cry, moan, or whatever helps you, we're all here :)

    LJxx