I recently got diagnosed with breast cancer. I'm waiting for biopsy results and scans for staging. I am really struggling with so many thoughts and questions. My main concern is telling my parents. As a family we have had a very tough few years, with one thing after another happening. My Mother has suffered severe anxiety, and can't leave her room. She has just started taking medication for this a couple of weeks ago but is struggling a lot at the moment. Because of this, I thought it would be best to delay telling my parents until I know my actual diagnosis and treatment options in more detail. I am so worried about telling them if it's spread and there isn't anything that can be done for me. The affect this will have on my Mother would be devastating. I've always been the person to sort out people's problems and I'm finding it so difficult to be the person who needs help. My friends and colleagues are trying to be supportive but I'm finding it difficult to reach out. They keep telling me others experience with the disease and how they are doing fine now, but I left it months before seeing a dr, so fearing the worse. They keep telling me I'm strong and a tough cookie....and I have had to be in the past with everything we have gone to, but I don't think I can find the strength to deal with the emotional side and heartbreak I'm going to cause because of this.
I have access to private medical care through work. I am confused about using this (there doesn't seem to be a breast cancer specialist at the private hospital compared to the nhs). However, the NHS is under such a lot of strain and I'm worried about delaying my treatment further. Can you go between private and nhs, or is it one or the other? Is there any benefit to private other than having individual rooms and speed of diagnosis?Sorry for lengthy post, I have so many questions and things going through my mind.