Hi there

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Just remember you are in very good hands. My cousin who is also a cancer survivor, said this to me when I was first diagnosed and it took me a while to realise how right she was. In September 2018 I was diagnosed with stage 1 grade 3 bilateral IDC and am now out the other side of treatment. It is true that waiting for results is the worst part of it all. Because it was bilateral, there was the possibility that it may have spread further, but the scans showed only stage 1 which I was really thankful for (yes, it's possible to be pleased over a cancer diagnosis.) The way the NHS medical team worked through my treatment was amazing - the medical team assigned to you will treat you as an individual and step-by-step to ensure the best outcome. If you have a breast care nurse, talk to her if you are worried about anything. Mine was a godsend. You will also find that everyone around you, friends, colleagues, etc. will be so lovely and treat you in a really special way - I really appreciated that. The 3 rounds of surgery to remove the lumps (margins weren't clear twice, tumours were surrounded by DCIS) and even the double mastectomies I eventually had were nowhere near as painful or traumatic as I expected. Although, chemo and losing my hair was not so great, but endurable. You will get through it all and will find that you are capable of more than you think you are. It is a life-changing experience but in my opinion, definitely not a negative one - you will come out of it a stronger person.

Thanks so much for your reply. Just reading about a positive outcome is so helpful. Glad to hear that you are doing well too x