Hello from a new member of the family

Today I joined the army of people sitting around different waiting areas, carrying my belongings and my "gown" as we went through the various tests to find out if we had breast cancer. Some were, like me, totally new to the routine, others were at various stages in the journey and one lady was given the great news that she was still clear of her cancer five years since her treatment ended. 

I already suspected that my symptoms of strange lump, pain and puckering were caused by the big C, so I wasn't surprised when the lovely consultant showed me the first ultra sound scan with its big black area where there should have been breast tissue, saying it was pretty definitely cancer, and proceeded to tell me what would happen next. 

What did happen over the next two hours was quite unpleasant and painful and I now have a 12 day wait to find out exactly what we are looking at regarding type of cancer and treatment. Strangely enough I have no feelings of fear for the future, although twenty years ago I had a scare that saw me fearful and tearful, now I'm an old dear I'm just cheesed off that I will have quite a lot more unpleasantness to face. I'm one of those boring people who don't often get ill, so when I do I'm the patient from hell, or so my daughter tells me. I admit to being grumpy if I'm ill for more than two days. 

I have read a lot of the posts, here, during my wait to go for the tests, feeling like an outsider looking in, but now I'm in, too!   I suspect future posts from me will be less upbeat, but I would like to record my experiences here, and to share others' experiences, too.

Parents
  • Hi Shelti lady. I like your attitude feeling no fear. I was diagnosed with lung cancer back in 2012. Like you not a tear or a why me even entered my head, I was taken over to Macmillan for a chat. Well she did the chatting. When it got to a point she said have you any Questions. I said one. She asked what the question was. I just said have you finished now because I want to go to tescos. I threw her off balance. She was actually speechless. With that I said has you can't give me any good reason to stop. I will get off and go tescos then. I left she actually came running after me. I told her  I was not going into that room of hers and just said look ok I havr cancer big deal. I am like many other people then. I left her stxts

     

Reply
  • Hi Shelti lady. I like your attitude feeling no fear. I was diagnosed with lung cancer back in 2012. Like you not a tear or a why me even entered my head, I was taken over to Macmillan for a chat. Well she did the chatting. When it got to a point she said have you any Questions. I said one. She asked what the question was. I just said have you finished now because I want to go to tescos. I threw her off balance. She was actually speechless. With that I said has you can't give me any good reason to stop. I will get off and go tescos then. I left she actually came running after me. I told her  I was not going into that room of hers and just said look ok I havr cancer big deal. I am like many other people then. I left her stxts

     

Children
  • Hello,

    Your McMillan nurse sounds like the one who wanted so desperately to be sympathetic to me. I think we might be in the minority, judging from the lack of fun conversations at the breast clinic. 

    I've just read your bio, no wonder you are so strong. They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, you should go in for Iron Man you've had so much strengthening in your life.  I haven't read any of your other posts so forgive me if I'm being redundant in asking how are you now?  

    Christine