I was diagnosed with breast cancer in January and had a mastectomy and axillary lymph node clearance at the end of March. I can understand how anxious you feel, but, whether you have or haven't got cancer, anxiety won't change things. If I could change one thing about my journey over these last six months I would tell myself to be calm and relax! Since my diagnosis and treatment I have learnt about relaxation, meditation and bought lots of relaxing teas - give yourself a break over the next four days and I strongly recommend chamomile tea! Fingers crossed for you that it's nothing serious. I am 40 so most defintely not ready to throw in the towel. I had my surgery at the very height of lockdown, although there are undoubtedly changes to cancer services at the moment the NHS does take cancer quite seriously and you will be offered treatment if you need it x

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

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