Hi there,

I'll be honest when I say I've never posted to any kind of forum before but reading everyone's inspirational stories and bravery made me feel like I should share mine and I wanted to ask for some advice. 

I'm 24 years old and on the 9th December I was diagnosed with breast cancer. A few weeks earlier I found a lump in my left breast and after talking to my mum I made an appointment to get it checked with my GP - at the time I assumed it would likely just be hormonal but now I'm so thankful that I went. At my GP appointment, the doctor said she was "99% sure it was nothing to worry about" but would refer me to the breast clinic at the hospital anyway to just get that additional reassurance. 

At the breast clinic the first specialist said he thought it was a benign lump but he sent me for an ultrasound to check. They did the ultrasound and I was quite surprised when the specialist said it was a solid lump and they would take a biopsy - I'd never had anything like this done before and because of Covid restrictions I was there on my own, so I suddenly felt really scared. 

A week later I returned for my follow up appointment and was given the diagnosis that it was grade 1 breast cancer - estrogen positive and HER2 negative. Honestly, I'm terrified still. A few days later I had another appointment to have a mammogram and a biopsy of a lymph node - which a week later I was told was negative which suggests so far that the cancer has not yet spread. 

I'm now awaiting my lumpectomy on Wednesday - I've never been into hospital for anything before so I am quite nervous. I've been told that i will likely feel less scared after my surgery - does anyone else agree? Honestly, I'm most scared about the future and what that looks like for me. Will I live in fear forever? 

The specialist said they currently hope that I won't need chemo, but will instead have radiotherapy and then take tamoxifen for 5 years. At the moment, only my family, boyfriend, close friends and work colleagues know about the diagnosis and I know they're all worried about me so I'm trying to stay strong! It is tough though right???

I'm determined to fight this and come out the other end stronger!! 

Any advice or tips on coping would honestly be really appreciated. Thanks.

Olivia xxx