Hi,
I was diagnosed at the end of August with bilateral breast cancer - 2 tumours in each breast - 1 DCIS, 1 invasive ductal tubular grade 1 on the right & 1 invasive ductal grade 2 & 1 mixed tubular/lobular on the left. This was all picked up from a routine mammogram and further investigation so came as a bit of a shock! All tumours are oestrogen positive so have been started on letrozole which has horrible side effects and I’m told I will be on it for 5-10 years.
I had breast conserving surgery with lymph node removal in early November which went well and the margins look clear but unfortunately there was cancer in one of the lymph nodes. Have since had a CT scan and am waiting for the results of a Prosigna test to determine whether to do chemotherapy before radiotherapy. I’m told radiotherapy is a definite to both breasts, chest wall and axilla. Results of my CT scan are due this Thursday but oncology appt not til January now.
I realise I have so far been shouldering this on my own. I have a husband and family and have dealt with things really positively for the most part. I have not made use of MacMillan nurses or really spoken to the breast care nurses outside of appointments as I’m worried I’ll sound like I’m being silly and worrying over nothing. To be honest I think I totally underestimated the psychological impact of a cancer diagnoses plus I have suffered from anxiety and depression in the past.To boot I had changed jobs in May this year so all this has happened while still in my probationary period. I think I cover things up too much and then get very upset in private. As a result of letrozole I also have horrendous menopausal symptoms and sweats plus insomnia!!
Thank you for reading this long post - just felt I need to start reaching out.
Hi Strawberry cat welcome to the forum..So glad you have reached out as it is no easy to do but hopefully something you will always be glad that you did. There is no such thing inherently as a silly question and any worry you have is real to you and we all understand that. I think you raise really valid points about coping on our own and just getting on with things..I think we all do that and then something in us triggers this overwhelming feeling of being out of control and this could potentially be because of any of those things you have mentioned. Please do keep in touch, no judgements here ever ..this is a boat we have all sailed in xxx
gail
