Hi I hope I'm on the right chat!
I've been diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer oestrogen related and will be having a double mastectomy. I'm only A cup but daunted by how I'm going to accept my new normal body after the op. Can't have reconstruction until later on down the line if I still want it. Can anyone share how they came to terms with this? I'm 47. Oh and my husband just had colorectal surgery last week for cancer and is slowly recovering! Challenging time....2 teenagers as well who are obviously worried... Thanks x 
Hi Catherine. Sorry to hear that you have got to go through all this.....I was diagnosed with oestrogen positive breast cancer in February 2019. I had the scans and biopsies and a bilateral mastectomy. I had chemo first, started in early April, which reduced the tumour in the left breast and obliterated it in the right one....The chemo was a bit tough, but I got through. I was 73 at the the time....I then had the surgery in September followed by radiotherapy and finished all the treatment just before Christmas 2019.....my husband who is younger than me coped very well and my sons and families were very supportive although they live a distance away.......I now just take a letrozole tablet each day which is to knock out any oestrogen and help to prevent any recurrence, which was also why I had the radiotherapy......that particular pill might not not be prescribed for you as you would be of pre-menopausal age, but that it something your oncologist will advise on for you......sorry to go on a bit......soooooo, it's tough to come to terms with, and you will have some "dark" days, but you can do this. I found just taking one day at a time helped me.....not trying to overwhelm myself with it all at once.....Treatments are so good now that although you have a bit of a journey you will come through it.....try to tell yourself that it is not just you that has ever had this and thousands of women have come through with many more years to come.....It is hard to accept at the beginning, you wonder what have I done to deserve this. You sound as if you have a lovely family who I am sure will lift you up on the days when it can all seem too much. Don't be afraid to show your emotions. I am not the bravest person in the world so if I can do it so can you, and the support network you will have with the hospital is excellent, so girl accept the challenge and fight the good fight......love to keep in touch to follow how you get on.....xxxxx
