I was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in November 2021 and started chemotherapy on Christmas Eve. After 3 cycles the treatment was stopped as the lump was not responding clinically and I was given a lumpectomy. I then had to have a re-excision of the margins which did not come back clear and so had another re-excision. This also came back with cancer cells but they were too far away from the original lump to be considered as part of it. The breast team decided that I should have a mastectomy and reconstruction and started me on Letrozole and Abemaciclib (which had just been licensed for treatment of early stage breast cancer in certain circumstances). I asked if the cancer was spreading and the answer was 'We don't know' so a CT scan was arranged followed by an MRI. Turns out the breast cancer has spread to my liver and I now have secondary breast cancer so will not be having surgery. I can continue on the chemotherapy and hormone therapy but just feel so abandoned and very very scared. I asked my oncologist if I was dying and she said that lots of ladies live with breast cancer for years but I can't help thinking that as nothing so far has gone to plan that I'm going to die imminently. I know I'm not being logical about this and have gone from being very positive about treatment to completely despondent. How on earth do I get a grip ? How do I tell people ?
Hiu ShockedandScared
Welcome to the forum and sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. It's perfectly understandable that you've gone from being positive to despondent about your treatment as you've had a awful shock. There is no right or wrong way to feel about a cancer diagnosis. There's a secondary breast cancer group you can join to receive help and support from others who have been diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. Here's the link: Secondary breast cancer forum.
Wishing you the best of luck.
Best wishes
Daisy53
