Breast cancer diagnosis

Hi Jane and a very warm welcome to the forum. Sorry you find yourself here but it’s a great place for support and shared experiences. I had a different variation of breast cancer but there are many folk here who’ve had triple negative and I’m sure you’ll hear from some of them before long. 

You’re at the tortuous limbo stage where you know some stuff but not all. That’s really horrible as you know you’ve got cancer, which is scary in itself, but not all the details yet. I think you have to go into a sort of auto pilot survival mode and just ‘get through’ this stage until you know what you’re facing, and can begin to deal with what lies ahead. 

All I can really say is that now you’re here you’re absolutely not alone, lots of folk here will be thinking of you and holding your hand. And they’ll offer a different sort of support to your nearest and dearest. Sending a big virtual hug your way, keep posting and let us know how your story develops. HFxxx

sorry you going through this!  I was petrified  of chemo, anxiety through roof, couldn't sleep for nights before,  hopefully when you put big girl pants on and walk through the door events will start, you will have blood pressure, temp, finger pulse taken and then you will be collected and just do whatever the nurses say and write down things like meds you take home after. you may be given choice off  PICC or PORT so chemo can be administered. tell the nurses you're nervous , they will be very used to it and mine explain what they are doing and although busy always find time for a chat. 

take something to read, water to drink, music etc to listen to. dont be afraid of the machines beeping every 5 minutes it's normal. they will watch everyone and it won't ever be unmanned. we get tea sarnies and biccies.  we get a weekly call from oncologist to go through any side effects, blood test results and answer any questions. keep popping on here x good luck x

Hi HappyFeet1

thanks for your reply it is good to know that you understand how I am feeling.

Its the middle of the night and Ive just woken up in a sweat which I gather is not a great sign as one of the nurses asked me if I was experiencing night sweats.  I have my results appt next friday and have just had a CT scan so its still a waiting game.

Thanks for the virtual hug and I send one back to you and everyone going through this.

xx

Thanks so much for your advice and it helps to know exactly what will happen when I get to have chemo.  Its all such a big unknown at the moment and i really need practical information.

It really helps to know that I am not alone

x

Hi Jane, welcome to the forum. Am sorry you are here too. You are going through the worst part right now - the waiting game for results and a final treatment plan.

It is hard to sleep/think/function at times when it is all spinning in your head and that is OK. I wonder if your night sweat was just an anxiety symptom? I can remember being in a total spin most of the time. I arranged near constant company in my waking hours and a to do list that I could never finish. I walked miles in company and was constantly busy to try to distract myself. I also used the Macmillan support telephone line - it was so helpful to just let it all go to someone who  didn’t know me and wouldn’t find the worries I shared 0upsetting. It was really therapeutic even though there were no solutions!

People say all sorts of things because they care about you and want to keep your spirits up. It is OK not to feel/be strong. To bury genuine feelings and normal reactions is not helpful. It is good to let it out, to cry, to shout, to feel sad, or to be whatever it is that you feel. It helps us to process this huge thing called cancer that just entered our lives. Some days you may feel like superwoman who can manage everything, and then by lunchtime you may not. It’s just one rollercoaster ride we are all on and we just have to go with it. 

I found chemo to be OK overall - I got in a rhythm with it. I had side effects but found ways to manage them. There’s lots of advice on here and support on here for you. With good support from family and friends I managed to get through it as they took on the things of life that I could not at times. I just saw all the treatment as an investment in the future, and tried to put a positive spin on it when I could. 

I hope you get your results soon so that you have your treatment plan. Sending love and strength to you. xxx

Hi Jane, sorry you are going through this. I also have TNBC. I had surgery in March and am currently going through chemo. As others have said, the waiting is in many ways the hardest bit - once you start treatment, you just go along with it. The staff are always kind and are completely used to people who are anxious. I have written a blog of my experiences in the blog section (a trip with triple negative breast cancer), I hope it’s of help to you. 

Hi

You descibe exactly what I am feeling.  I veer between wanting company all the time and then not wanting to see anybody and as you say, your mood changes within half an hour from positive to extremely negative and back again!

My results are due on Friday and i really hope that a treatment plan will be discussed.  I think I will feel better once i have the full information and know exactly what I am dealng with. thanks for your reply it really helps to have the surpport of everyone who has or is actually experiencing a breast cancer diagnosis.  I send you love and strength too.

will let you know how Friday goes.

PS how does this forum work as in can we all read each other's posts so that I can reply to several people at once? 

Jane

x

Hi Coddfish

I found your blog which was very informative and really helped me.  I will go on reading it

xx

Hello Jane,  Those feelings that you mentioned came all flooding back and believe me it is totally normal to go on the emotional roller coaster ride.  My BC was caught early but I had DCIS in right one and Stage 1 invasive in left.  I became so emotional when I found out about my other breast having it that I couldn’t make decisions about what to do.  I hope your CT scan went well.  
I read a good article about using Keytruda along with chemo for TNBC.  I don’t know if they are going to do that for your case but it is an immunotherapy medication.  One thing is ask a lot of questions and no question is ever a stupid one.  I pray for you to have a great outcome and stay strong.  
there is a thing called a cool cap that you can use during chemo and it stops hair loss.  Not sure of correct spelling.

Another person I have watched on YouTube is Dr Kristi Funk , MD a breast cancer surgeon.  Her book called Breasts the owners manual is great.  I read it during radiation and liked it so much.  She practices in California.  
Take care

Hopeful Barb

Hi - we can all see each other’s posts on a particular question or thread. If you reply to someone, they are notified by email that you replied to them. The messages come up on date and time order so sometimes replies look out of sync in a thread. X