im writing this to say please keep positive (I know that's hard to do) but there is light at the end of the tunnel and normal will be back in your lives before u all know it.
I was diagnosed Triple Negative Breast Cancer back in May 2019 I was grade 3 aggressive. When they told me I sat there no tears and said when can I start treatment to which my doctor told me two weeks time.
My Son was with me when I got my results and he ended up walking outside to call his mates and cry as he did not want to upset me by crying in front of me.
I got to my parents house as I had to collect my Daughter (age 11 n autistic) and when I told her she said ok mum we can do this.
I had the best support ever around me and even now writing this it's my family n a small group of friends that helped me cope. I kept my family at home they delt with side effects etc but my friends did all the hospital trips and chemotherapy with me.
I had 6 chemotherapy sessions every 3 weeks and finished them in October 19 then had my Lumpectomy on the 25th November so xmas present shopping and food shopping was fun as I was not allowed to lift heavy bags etc (single parent so no fella to help) but again family n friends to my rescue (I'm so independent n stubborn that having people help me including my Daughter get me out of the shower n dry me due to fatigue was a shock to my system but it's made me aware we all need help at times and to accept it not struggle)
I am all Clear and just waiting for radiation to start as a preventative measure.
So my best advice is surround your self with family n friends and during the times of waiting for results go out for the day keep busy as I will tell you all this that wait times was more worse then treatment I've never suffered anxiety until then but keeping busy and been surrounded by those you love helps. Also if your feeling rubbish tell people don't lie about it as saying I'm ok I'm fine putting on a brave face will drain energy faster then any treatment u have so be truthful with everyone.
I wish you all A Happy new year and this is the year you will all kick cancers backside xx
yes I have done the same over Christmas switched off as If it wasn't happening. Christmas was difficult enough for me as my daughter hasn't spoken to me since August. She has mental health issues and therefore she keeps our granddaughters away as well. So Christmas was sad to start with. We all have our challenges. My cancer nurse contacted me on Tuesday to say that I have appointment for scan before radiotherapy on the 13th. So now starting to stress about that ! My husband and me did a walk along the peer in Sunderland and a Harbour walk over Christmas. The weather was good. I sort of wish that I hadn't been so quick to give up work in Oct as all this waiting around everything seems to have taken ages. At least I would have been too busy to be dwelling on the what ifs. one of my closest friends has had minimum contact with me by text since diagnosis. It's as if she is afraid of catching it off me ! When I didn't reply to a text straight away she replied saying she thought I must be seriously ill in hospital. I will be thinking about you on the 7th and praying that you can have lumpectomy. I get where you are coming from with hair and boobs. Boobs wouldn't have bothered me as much as hair. I'm big breasted and have never been keen on them anyway. You could try cold cap. It works for a lot of people. I don't know if you are on Facebook ? There is an excellent page called BC support UK. The women on there are so supportive and amazing. You can ask any question about anything and they are there in a heartbeat. So many very positive posts and so many pink sisters all going through this same ***. If you want to meet up for a coffee and a chat anytime I'm here for you. Love and hugs. Sandra. Xxxx
Hi Sandra - your scan will be fine and once the radiotherapy starts you can start looking forward to beating this once and for all! I have big boobs too and not overly attached - but I am quite big too so the boobs at least give me some sort of woman shape rather than being a lump hahaha. I worry about what it will do to my confidence, how can my husband find me attractive if I don’t etc. All v normal thoughts I would imagine. It is awful about your friend - don’t be too hard on her I think that there is so much stigma and fear around cancer that it scares people off - they don’t know what to say to us, will they upset us if they mention it etc. So she is probably distant due to fear of upsetting you. I really hope that you and your daughter can patch things up - times like this make us realise how important it is to keep in touch with friends and family. I am loaded with cold at the moment so feeling sorry for myself (although off to take my sis for lunch soon) but I will reply to this thread next week after my review appointments to see if we can meet for cuppa. Diane x
yes please keep in touch and let me know your results from your appointment. My lumpectomy if anything made the operated breast twice as big ! However it has gone down back to normal so no difference at all now sadly . Sometimes radiotherapy can shrink breast so then I can get a breast reductuction lol. There has to be some pay back from this crap
enjoy your lunch with your sister and yes I would love to meet up with you for a coffee. Take care.
