Hi, thanks for replying, I'm not on any forums but read some article that said that's a good thing to do. So were your symptoms similar to mine? What stage? What type of breast cancer? I thought there was just breast cancer, not many, many types. The more I read, the more confused and panicked I feel. I was just about to copy and paste my msg into the newcomers section, I'm a bit of a technophobe!! 

I found reading about my condition in books (not online, as there can be some contradictory information about cancer online) while I was waiting for my first CT scan and then surgery very helpful. I am also a member of a Facebook group that I find very supportive, but be careful because not all of them are. Honestly, take some deep breaths and relax!

You asked about my diagnosis - that's why I don't usually post on this message board (although I sometimes find it useful to look things up and find out info). I just saw your post and my heart went out to you, everyone who has had cancer knows how awful that 'waiting for results' stage can be. Thank you for asking, but, knowing about my cancer won't make any difference to your health! Cancer is unique and made by your own body's cells that have gone a bit rogue. I had a 3cm IDC plus two further lymph nodes. Mine is ER+ PR+ HER2-. I do recommend reading up on cancer offline, i.e. in books if that's something you're interested in. Please relax and enjoy these few days, worrying won't change anything. Good luck x

Thank you for being so honest and forgive me for asking about your personal story. All of these numbers and acronyms mean nothing to me. When my mum was diagnosed with oesephageal cancer in  March 2018, I spent hours looking into the disease but not knowing her stage. I live 400 miles away from her so couldn't be there as often as I'd liked. When she eventually got a definitive diagnosis, stage 4 and had spread to her lungs, I spent weeks with her knowing her time was running out. She died in January 2019 aged 80 and fought with every breath. The consultant she was under was amazed at her defiance, even after being told it was untreatable. I spent many hours going through her medical records that were left at home, letters from the hospital etc, etc. I've only been checking out the NHS websIte and their links into cancer research partners, plus the one that we are on now. This forum really helps, just looking at the amount of people with cancer, or people worrying about themselves or their loved ones in my position. Not long ago the cancer ad on TV was '1 in 5 people will get cancer in their lifetime', now its 1 in 2, that's a frightening statistic. I'm doing what I've always done throughout my life, prepare for the worst, hope for the best. I'll post again when I know what I'm facing. Thank you amazing lady xx

How did you get on? I was sorry to hear about your mum. 
 

I hope you got good news x

Stage 1, 2.7cm, hormone fed is what I was told, should have asked more questions. Was expecting worse news but I'd rather them give me all the acronyms E+, P+, HER2, so I could try and make sense of it by looking it up on valid websites. Have a friend of a friend who has gone through this last year, so had a good chat with her today. She' recommended 'breast cancer now' which is more applicable to my current position. After spending hours and hours on this forum, which was great at the time pre diagnosis, it's confusing and leaves me more anxious worrying about other people's own problems or of their family and friends different types of cancer. Anyway, my surgery is booked for 4th Sept, followed by radiotherapy. Not the birthday present I was hoping for (18/08) but it could have been far worse. Staying positive and still hoping for the best xx Jo. The name honeybunch is what my husband calls me, when I registered, Jojo (my nickname) was already taken. Fred, my lump, is going to be gone on 4th Sept so I can say "Fred's dead". From Pulp Fiction, "Zed's dead", only I won't be riding away on a motorbike!! Wish me luck amazing lady

Hi Jo, I'm so sorry to hear that the results weren't good news, but I'm really glad that your surgery has been booked so soon! What kind of op are you having? I waited nearly two months for mine. I'm glad that they're not giving you chemo either.

It sounds like you caught it early, which is certainly a blessing.

I quite enjoyed my op and I felt very well afterwards! I had a single mastectomy without reconstruction, and 16 lymph nodes removed. The only things I wish I had done differently were to have shaved my legs and armpits beforehand as I couldn't really reach either afterwards, and had more meals prepared - a friend dropped off some curries her mum had made for me but it didn't last long. I couldn't cook much and I was too scared to get a takeaway at the time, as Coronavirus was only just starting, so I mainly ate fruit and porridge! I was also glad that for some reason I had lots of Epsom salts and I found Epsom salt baths very soothing on the wound (still do), although I didn't bathe much in the first week, I was relying on baby wipes and dry shampoo, it was like being at Glastonbury lol. I live alone and got through it ok, I'm glad that you have your husband to look after you. I was able to go for walks from the day of my op onwards but I think I did use my arm a bit too much straight afterwards, do have a rest!

A couple of weeks later I was able to mow the lawn for the first time and that really did feel like an achievement. You'll be up and about in no time.

Goodluck honeybunch and bye bye Fred!! x