Hi there,

I understand that everyone's experience is different but I thought it might be useful if you've just been diagnosed with breast cancer, to hear what happened to me. Might give you an idea of what to expect and / or put your mind at rest.

 I'm a 67 year old woman, been retired for years, but had returned to college last year , live on my own ( with my dog) in Glasgow, have 2 grown up kids and 2 grandchildren and consider myself self reliant. Obviously Coronavirus was around, so I went to all my appointments on my own and frankly, I was very scared!

So here goes..... Early last July 2020, out of the blue, sore boob. Went to the Doc a couple of days later, referred to hospital. Got appointment a week later. Mammograms, poking and prodding, hanging around, more mammograms etc etc. Frankly, this was the most unpleasant part of the entire process. Back a few days later to be told I had breast cancer and that the best treatment for me was a mastectomy. Seems I've got small boobs and was not really eligible for reconstruction. I was kinda shell shocked, so did the usual.... thanked everyone, said I was absolutely fine thank you very much, and left. Went home, fired up the iPad and started searching for information. That was a big mistake!! All I read were terrifying and confusing accounts that in reality were probably irrelevant to my situation. I really scared myself! Don't do it! Write your questions down and ask your breast nurse/ consultant

I was given an appointment a few days later for my pre op, bloods and Covid test and later that week went in for my op. I was very nervous! I was kept in overnight and a friend brought me home the next day. I was absolutely astonished at how pain free the whole thing was. I was sent home with painkillers is some sort, but I felt fine..... and I'm not the mega brave type! I kept waiting for the pain to set in, but honestly, it didn't! 

More hospital visits to chat to breast cancer nurses and consultant ...much of the information went right over my head, then about a month later,  4 sessions of chemotherapy started.One every 3 weeks. Blood tests were done a couple of days before my chemo started , that was ok as well. Chemo was just rather boring, but not painful for me when it was happening. I took my iPad and headphones and watched films. They brought round coffee biscuits and sandwiches as well. I tried the cold cap thing, but it gave me brain freeze and I couldn't stand it. I did see others wearing the cap so it obviously worked for them so I'd suggest you give it a go. I was sent home with lots of pills to take and syringes for jags to give myself for a week. Can't say that was a pleasure, but not as bad as I thought it would be and surprisingly, not sore! Mind you, I've got lots of padding! 

I got all  my chemo on a Wednesday and always felt ok for a couple of days. By the weekends though I wasn't feeling great. I was really tired, and my bones ached. Sounds daft, but that's what it felt like. Actually quite sore. I took the painkillers I was given, they really helped and I seemed to spend most of my time dozing on the sofa in front of the telly. There are worse ways to spend your day. That lasted for a few days and gradually I began to feel ok. By the beginning of the second week I was fine. Food didn't taste right, especially coffee and chocolate, my favourites!  That was a real bummer! Then a couple of weeks later my hair started to come out in handfuls. I was surprised at how upset I was when this happened as it wasn't unexpected and I thought I was reconciled to the idea, seems not! What can you do except get on with it? I hacked it off with scissors, trying out a few different hairdos till it was too short to do anything with. 

So, hair on my head gone except for a few fine daft tufty bits. Body hair gone as well.... except for eyebrows, finer but still there kinda, and the hair on the chin? Typically that's still growing! 

Chemo had other side effects for me as well apart from the hair loss and funny tasting food. I've always slept really well, but chemo stopped that. I found it hard  at times to get to sleep and would watch telly at 4 in the morning. Just as well I live on my own and we're in lockdown, so turning night into day isn't a problem. Luckily that didn't last forever. I also had the occasional dose of the runs but not enough to take any pills. All in all, a lot less traumatic than I expected it to be.

A wee break then radiotherapy every weekday for 3 weeks, 15 sessions. Getting radiotherapy really is as painless as they say it is. The only problem I had was with my shoulders. Your on a table lying flat with your hands held above your head and my shoulder got sore.....must be getting old! Apart from that, it was a dawdle. It's now over a week since my last treatment, and my skins a bit dry and itchy, but not really sore. I've been putting on the moisturiser they gave me and that helps. I've also got puffy feet and slight pins and needles in my toes. Odd sensation, but not really sore. Also think my hairs beginning to grow back in a wee bit. It's been so long since I did any real exercise I feel a bit stiff and tired if I walk for too long, but I'm not sure how much that has to do with cancer treatment and how much it has to do with months of lockdown welded to the sofa and telly? 

I do understand that everyone's cancer diagnosis, treatment and experience is unique, but in these weird times I just wanted to say that in my experience the reality has been less scary and much less painful than I thought it would be. It's very easy to feel isolated and overwhelmed when given a diagnosis, and all too easy to be very scared about what's going to happen and to wonder how you'll cope. You will. And if you're struggling, then there's plenty of folk ready and willing to help. If you're just starting treatment, hopefully it'll be less scary than you think, it'll all be over quicker than you expect and you'll be out the other side before you know it.