Breast Cancer - newly diagnosed

Hi  and a very warm welcome to this club that you’d rather not have joined. Sorry you’ve had this recent diagnosis and that you’re in the horrible limbo stage of waiting for results. 

In terms of coping mechanisms, I think at your stage I just had to keep busy. It sounds like you have a busy life but probably harder working from home as fewer distractions than going out to work. I did also try to focus on the ‘positive’ aspects, which at that stage were mainly that it was small, had been found early and should be very ‘treatable’. Like you I have a family history of hormone related cancer and my mum died at 53, so I’ve sort of expected it to ‘get me’ at some point. You can also think on a positive note that you are post menopausal. The fact that you already have a healthy lifestyle will also help, both with the treatments and with helping to prevent recurrence. 

Longer term my go to strategy has been walking. I call it my sanity saver! I started during radiotherapy as I was advised that gentle exercise would help with fatigue. So I made sure to walk every afternoon, even if it was getting dark so I saw many sunsets over our local heath and trudged round streets if necessary. It’s now a passion of mine and I do Nordic walking as well. I also do mindfulness zoom sessions through the Maggie’s centre at Addenbrookes. 

Wishing you well, wish there was a fast forward button to whizz you through to results day. I thibk we’ve all felt the waiting to be the pits. Love and a big virtual hug, HFxx

Just wanted to add, although I have a family history of cancer (both parents) they don’t think mine is hereditary. Can’t remember why! Also I found my lump whereas yours was spotted on your routine mammogram which is generally regarded as better, I think, as likely to be smaller? So that’s another positive for you to think of! Ironically I was called for a routine mammogram a few months after I found the lump, so it would have been picked up then, as I guess it would by then have been very obvious. Xx

Hi

can I give you another warm welcome to the community along with sorry that you find yourself here. I'll echo what HappyFeet1 has said - the waiting is horrible and any distraction is helpful.

I can understand that you feel you know too much, but remember that every cancer is different and everyone's treatment plan and response to treatment is individual. It's really easy for our minds to take us to dark places - but there are bright places to go too, we just don't visit them as frequently for some reason. 

I used to distract myself with work, housework, exercise. I was teaching naughty teenagers at the time so there wasn't much time for my mind to wander - not so easy if you are working from home. I used to shed a tear or two on the way home though and then I used to read  books that engrossed me - I was a bulk buyer at the bookshop! This site can be a great distraction - I spent many hours on here while going through treatment - I was able to be very honest about my feelings and fears with people who understood them and that helped enormously. 

Hope you don't have to wait too long for your next appointment - it's weird but people tend to feel much better once they have a plan. Remember to be kind to yourself - it's exhausting staying strong and positive all the time - rant, rave, cry when you need to - we'll happily help with all of that - and with laughing and distraction and anything else you need!

R