Newly diagnosed sad and shocked

Hello Rose, so sorry to hear about your cancer.  Just wanted to give you a virtual hug - remembering all the times NHS workers have held my hand (not with cancer, it's my mum who has cancer) following operations and procedures, made me toast and tea and reassured me.  I'll never forget their kindness and I hope you will be just as happy to be on the receiving end this time around.  Wishing you all the very best xx

Hi Thank you Jpsclouds for your reply so kind it helps so much to receive your support xx

Hi Rose, I’m so sorry you’ve had this diagnosis and I’m sure it’s made harder by the work you’ve done, knowledge can be a good and bad thing. Hopefully being part of our online community will help you as it has helped me, all the best ️️️

Hi Rose, so sorry to hear about your BC, you are in the right place for understanding, support and hugs, we are the only people who know how you are feeling, do you know your treatment plan yet? there will be lots of us that are on the same plan so hopefully able to help you through,  I had 7 chemo, lumpectomy, radiotherapy and targeted therapy and found such comfort in being able to "talk" to people who completely understood how I was feeling, love from Ann

Hi Rose

Welcome and sorry to hear about your diagnosis.  I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer last year and after having chemo, surgery and radiotherapy I am now in remission. As others have said you'll find loads of support on here. Just take things one day at a time and be kind to yourself.

Wishing you the best of luck with whatever treatment you receive.

Best wishes

Daisy53

Thank you for your kind replies I am feeling wretched today… Started to feel pain on that side under my arm and in my boob ..

also whole body aches  ( is this normal? ) have not started treatment yet… Plan is for PET Scan +/- MRI with op booked for late September for mastectomy Thank you for your support 

Hi Rose,  I too have worked in the NHS, not in physical but in mental health.  It honesty doesn't help at all to be a Psychologist by profession (I'm just as flawed and damaged and able to cause chaos as the next person) and when it came to getting a diagnosis of Breast Cancer I spent a lot of time trying to protect the people I care about from distress.  But I wasn't good at keeping up that 'spirit of positivity' and found myself crying quietly in the middle of the night, or just getting overwhelmed with emotion when I least expected it (I even welled up when a lovely nurse at the Assessment Clinic asked me kindly whether I'd like a cup tea or coffee).  I’ve never been good at asking for help for myself or showing people I feel vulnerable, anyway I always imagine people are too busy with their own lives to connect with me.  I go up and down. I've asked friends to check in with me from time to time, as they may just hit on a time when their offers of support (which I might not have taken up earlier as I was in a better place) may be desperately needed.  This forum is a great way of connecting with people who really know what you're going through.  And this website has also been a place where I can 'blog'.  I've found writing things down has been helpful in processing and crystallising my thoughts and the joy of it is that I'll never know if anyone reads my blog (Cakes & Cancer), if their eyes glaze over whilst reading it or they switch off their computers, but at least I've managed to get some of my thoughts out of my head.

Wishing you all the best, Rose; this is the first step in self-care.  Well done for taking it!

I resonate with a lot in your post, thank you for sharing x

Katherine it was lovely to read your post and for me to understand that other people start to cry like me when people are nice to them ! As a hardened lecturer in health ! I felt that I should toughen up but I can't my surgery over I'm doing well and when district nurse calls I'm so pleased to see her I start to cry . It's a little crazy but understanding . I liked your post to Rose who has given so much to others it must be hard to now be the patient . I wish you well Rose and Katherine and Thanks for giving me a little bit more understanding of my own mental health . Jayne 

Hi Rosie, me again (I know, it's 2:20am  I'm afraid I'm still awake). Wondering how you are feeling and if the pain is still disturbing you and making you feel wretched?  If it is do contact the place you got your diagnosis and talk to a Breast Care Nurse, or phone the Macmillan helpline - I've found both avenues really helpful.