Breast cancer diagnosis - am terrified

Hi Anna I totally get how you are feeling .it is perfectly normal. The waiting is the worst but it is better to have all scans done before your consultation. They will know exactly what they are dealing with and your plan is specific to you .I found mine a couple of months ago and have since had a mastectomy as mine was a fast growing sarcoma . I felt just like you ,everything goes through your head when you hear that word and especially if has spread to your lymph nodes and you are waiting to see consultant. I assure you you are not alone we may have different cancers but our feelings and emotions are the same. There are lots of people on here and I found it comforting to talk to others going through the same. I hope you get your results soona d you can begin to get rid of this horrible thing. Take care x

Hi Anna, so sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but welcome to the group. There are lots of really helpful and supportive people on here.

I think it's fair to say that everyone on here found the waiting at the beginning of the process excruciating. It is really hard to deal with and I hope that you have support from family and friends. I found the Macmillan helpline to be a Godsend and a great source of comfort on a couple of bad days that I had early on.

Sending hugs and wishing you all the best for your treatment plan and your journey of recovery Xx

Thank you so much for your reply. My head is spinning but I have almost accepted I may need chemo, radiotherapy and a mastectomy - the breast surgeon asked my bra size. My real fear is it is already a late diagnosis and it might be stage iv.

Thank you. I feel touched by your reply. I have always been very independent and live alone but am worried about how I will manage on my own with the forthcoming treatment. I have told two friends but am concerned about becoming a burden. I am due to see my sister tomorrow and will tell her but I almost don't want to put this weight on her, especially as she has had a very difficult time these past few years.

Hi Anna I too am very independent and live on my own. I like you did not want to have to tell my family. I did not say anything until I had my diagnosis. I did not want to put it on them as well. My family have been great and actually we're upset that I had not told them when I found the lump. I'm sure your sister would not want you to feel like that. It is very hard when you are independent to accept support from other people but we all need it to get through this. Cancer is very scary and we always think the worst believe me I did .mine is very rare .there are so many treatments and knowledge nowadays and they will give you the best plan. It is not an easy journey and emotions are all over the place. But there is lots of support as well 

Hello, sorry to hear what you are going through, I had 2 mammograms that missed my tumour, again dense breast tissue the reason for not picking it up, I had a right mastectomy without reconstruction then opted to have a axillary node clearance, if I’m honest I recovered pretty well from the surgeries,  just had my 1st chemo session and I’m just feeling so lethargic which I hate because I’m normally very active,my scalp is tingling which is so weird, got the hair loss hurdle to get over, wig & scarves in place, that’s gonna be tough, keep telling myself to deal with one day at a time and not think about the next day, it’s not gonna be easy but we can do this, we have too, just don’t be hard on yourself, take good care of yourself xxx

Not sure if I’m posting in the right area/way…Every message of support and advice I’m getting is making me cry! It is reassuring, comforting and I feel a tiny bit stronger to hear stories from others who’ve been through and are going through it. Thank you!
Yes we have no choice but to get through it…and accept help and get support. You’re right knowledge and treatments are more advanced nowadays. I am so sorry to hear they missed your cancer on your mammograms but good you made a good recovery from the mastectomy. Can I ask why you decided against reconstruction? Sorry if I’m being too probing. I feel angry that they missed mine especially as I find mammograms excruciatingly painful and angry at myself for not following up on the pain in my breast earlier. I don’t understand why we weren’t sent for follow up tests. Anyway I have to try and get over that as it’s in the past. 
If anyone’s interested as it could be helpful, I’ve just watched Victoria Derbyshire’s six videos about her cancer journey and treatment. I have a slightly better idea about what to expect. Sending love and hugs to all. X

Hello, please ask away, my reason for not having reconstruction was I wanted this nasty horrible thing gone from my body no matter how, I had it in my head if I had reconstruction and some of my breast, breast tissue, skin etc was used in that reconstruction that they could still be a slight fleck of that nastiness left behind and I didn’t want to risk that so my attitude was get rid, it’s sounds silly because the further treatments kill any cells etc but I just wanted everything gone, that’s why I opted to have all lymph nodes removed too when given the choice, I’ve managed really well with my new falsie friend and you can’t even tell I’ve had a mastectomy, it’s just the new me now, I can have reconstructive if I change my mind but I won’t, everyone is different and I can live with one boob, hope this explains, take care xxx

Thank you for sharing and being so honest. I completely understand your decision. I feel the same even though I’m not at that stage yet. I’m even thinking I would opt for a double mastectomy even though they said one breast is clear. Partly because I don’t trust they haven’t missed something and partly because I have huge, painful breasts and don’t want a reconstruction with another huge breast. They have given me back and neck pain for all my adult life. Not sure if they would agree to the double procedure and what the increased risks of surgery are. 

Also meant to say I hope the rest of your chemo sessions get easier. I can imagine it is dispiriting feeling so lethargic and having uncomfortable sensations when you’re used to being active. At the moment it sounds like you need to rest. I hope you’ll be back on your feet  and have more energy again in a day or two. X