Hello everyone

Hi Nov22

Welcome to the forum and sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with breast cancer. I'm also sorry to hear that you are struggling.  As you are a writer how about starting a journal about your cancer journey, you might find that it helps.  Also there is plenty of support you can tap into from Macmillan.  Here's al link to the various supports that Macmillan offer: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/get-help

Wishing you the best of luck with your treatment.

Best wishes

Daisy53

Hey Nov22 so sorry to hear you’re having such a rough time. These things often seem to come all at once don’t they? Thought it might help to know mine was 35mm and a lumpectomy (day surgery to remove the tumour) was successful. Although that doesn’t necessary mean it will be the same for you it might help to feel encouraged that as yours is half the size you have prob caught it early and hopefully treatment will be quite simple. 

one thing I will say, rely on your friends, they will be invaluable during all this and they won’t mind. I couldn’t have got through mine without my closest friends.

good luck and hope you get positive news xx

Thank you for sharing. That’s really encouraging. I’ve asked my sister who spoke privately to the bc nurse. She’s told me it’s stage two. 

im nervous about being positive as so far I’ve been met with bad news afterwards. Before I went to my GP. Before I went to my fist appointment. Before I went for the results and now before the mri. It’s been positivity followed by unexpected crashes. 
am now thinking it might be best to err on the side of pessimism.  

How is your treatment going?

Sorry I’m not sure if it’s ok to ask about these things. 
Thinking of you

I completely understand how you feel, I’ve been there! I’ve never been told my stage so not sure what it is but I’m pretty stage 2 is very treatable so even if it means an op and chemo it sounds like all will be ok! 
I’m currently half way through 8 sessions of chemo then I have 3 weeks of radiotherapy. I’m doing ok, very tired but haven’t been sick and have been able to continue to do most things, with some help. Don’t be afraid to ask! 

Thank you sharing. 
I know this sounds silly but I thought breast feeding prevented breast cancer or drastically reduced chances of getting it.  
so somewhere it never really occurred to me that anything could be wrong. 

that sounds like a lot to experience. I can’t imagine being further than now. even though my sister has had cancer treatment (not breast)

I don’t think any of us really know much about it until we have it! There’s no history of breast cancer in my family so I wasn’t expecting to get it. You’re in the early stages where you will struggle to come to terms with it all. Once you have your treatment plan you can start to let it all sink in. If you can’t remember everything that was said at your meeting, call the breast care nurses, mine were lovely & always willing to help. They have more time to explain and go through things. Write down the questions you have, might help to make sense of some things. Good luck x

• Hi, these are hard times for sure. I feel neutral, everyone is trying to be positive for me. We really are in their hands. I've stopped doing anything much with others don't want flu or Covid as wel A friend is 17 yrs post surgery and chemo etc. I know someone who has had it twice. I just feel I want to stay alive. Let them do what they need. I like being active, still walking and shopping in mask. Life on hold, for now.

I came home on Wednesday afternoon with my my sister  binged tv for five hours then went to bed where I have been ever since. I’m not a great example of positivity. 
it’s nice to hear your reaction though. Neutral is where I might be able to get to. And a walk sounds like a good thing to do. I miss winter walks. I find Christmas overwhelming. 

could you tell me when you were diagnosed? It would be nice to go through this with women at a similar stage. 

Hi November 22,

Firstly sorry to hear your diagnosis, it’s tough especially when you have relatively young children and being a single parent also. 
I was diagnosed end of October after a routine mammogram call back. I had 14mm Invasive Ductal Carcinoma and 8 mm Ductal Carcinoma in Situ. Huge shock for me and my family, I had no lumps and no symptoms. 
I had a lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy on the 1st December (my right breast). My results were received on the 14th December, lymph nodes clear phew!! But the DCIS measured 25mm and they found cancer cells in the outer margins they took away. So unfortunately I’m having a further operation on the 5th January to clear those margins. 
Another shock for myself and my family, but apparently fairly common.

I have been told I will need radiotherapy and await an Oncotype DX test to determine if I will need chemotherapy. I’m praying that will not be the case, as that’s something I really wanted to avoid.

If you’re feeling low you can chat to a Macmillan nurse on here, I’ve done that and she was very helpful. Or talk to your BC nurse if you have one. I think what you have to remember is that everyone’s cancer journey is different and we all go through different medical procedures and yours may be very straightforward. I hope that you can enjoy Christmas with your family and hope everything goes well for you on your journey xx