New diagnosis

Hi - new to cancer & new to Macmillan. Experience to date has been exceptional all round; it’s like being wrapped up in a warm, comforting, & truly knowledgeable community with all its diversity. Thank you.

Found the tumour on evening of Friday 13 Jan - shocked at its size as did regular checks - just how had I missed it! Called GP Monday 8:35; app by 9:25. Referral to Breast Surgery unit. 1st app Tue 24 - exam, mammogram of both breasts, ultra sound + biopsy of l. breast & axilla nodes, & bloods. Results: P5, M5, & U5 - tumour 10cm. 2 app Fri 27 - full body bone scan & CT scan upper thigh to head. 3 app Wed 8 - Breast surgery team - diagnosis: l. breast, ER+, HER2+, 10cm, grade 2 invasive lobular cancer with involved lymph nodes, no evidence of metastases. Allocated cancer nurse. Plan: 6 cycles chemo, mastectomy & axilliary node clearance, radiotherapy, and finish with hormone therapy.

The worst period was after 2 app, but once I told my daughters pressure lifted & I found my equilibrium. I started my research/reading, found: cancerresearch.org, macmillan.org, forcecancercharity.co.uk, breast cancer care.org, & a number of specialist medical sites. I’m now waiting for my oncology app tomorrow Wed 22. Never thought I’d be wishing to undertake such a punishing regime, but essentially it will made the surgical step so much easier & result in better outcome & ultimately the best prognosis. 

Im feeling good, strong, & optimistic, but realise that I’m only at the start of the journey, no idea how it will go & grateful to be surrounded by so much experience & patience for those times when being me is not enough.

I’ve copied & pasted from my original post in the “general” forum.