Second time round

Hi RubyRedSocks, sorry you are back on the rollercoaster again.  This is my first time round and that is bad enough, can’t imagine having to do this again.

 I was diagnosed around mid December and had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy on 16th January.  Now waiting the two weeks for the results on margins, whether nodes were affected and whatever else they test for.  Waiting is so painful although today I haven’t minded it too much.

I think the best place if you want to chat, moan, seek support, make jokes etc is the AWAKE thread.  You’ll find it in the breast cancer in the chat section.  It’s usually top of the list.  There are a few of us newbies there and also lots of others at different stages including cancer free.

There is also a breast cancer group for under 50’s but that doesn’t seem  as active.

Wishing you all the best and a speedy win over the cancer.

Hi  and another warm welcome to the forum. Crap deal to go through it all again, I’m not surprised you’re finding the ‘brave face’ elusive. We all seem to be programmed to try to protect those around us from the effects of our cancer, as if having it in the first place isn’t overwhelming enough! Glad you’ve found yourself here and this group, as GodWilling has said, is a busy one. 

Sounds like you’ve had the bulk of your ‘active’ treatment which is great, but can often be the point when the sledgehammer of ‘did I really go through all that’ suddenly comes down on our heads. There’s a great article by Peter Harvey called something like ‘When treatment ends’ that is well worth a read if you haven’t already come across it. I’ll tag  lesleyhelen (thank you!) as she has provided the link before. 

And do have a look at the Awake thread as mentioned above, full of chat both sensible and definitely not! But always friendly and supportive. Sending love and a big virtual hug, HFxx

Here it is - Dr Peter Harvey, After the Treatment finishes - then what?

Can I also suggest that that maybe this time you don't put a brave face on it and accept the love and support that friends and family will offer?  You have been through this awful disease once and to get it a second time is just awful.  Perhaps this time around take others strength and support to help you through x

Hi ,I love your name! A warm welcome to you, sorry to hear this is your second time round. I can speak from experience of that and it is quite weird at times - you know some of the terminology and about the treatment as they were, but of course there is Covid on top so extra precautions are taken. Look at my profile by clicking on my name if you wish. My first diagnosis was 22 years ago and then just in March this year. Both times I had lumpectomy  and now "evened up"again as one each side! I don't think it really hit me until I had finished the Radiotherapy at the end of June and then I expected to feel elated - instead I got upset . I suppose the relief that the initial  treatments were over , but that I have to have follow up again and take Letrozole for 5-10 years. There are others on here with similar stories- hopefully they will be along to give you further support. I should add that I am 74 but still wanting to enjoy life to the full and determined to do so once the Covid has subsided. I found this site very supportive and I too would advise you to join the Fruit loops on the Awake thread- you will see why if you have a look.. You will get through it all again I am sure - the treatments have progressed so much in the years in between. Sending you my very best wishes and big virtual hugs xxKwissy