Recently diagnosed

Hi, I haven recently been for my referral appointment and had 3 mammograms ultrasound and core biopsies and still waiting for results although by the look on their faces I don’t think it will be good news. They thought it was a cyst at first but had very weird insides and said they were worried.Have an appointment booked for the 17th oct even without biopsy results. Hope your ok and if you need someone to chat to I’m hear. 

Hi Claire722, 

I had a lumpectomy some months ago and lymph nodes removed, I  finished my radiotherapy a few weeks ago and am now taking one day at a time. It is a shock when you are told and it is important you take a bit of time to let it register and sink in. The strides made in modern cancer medicine these days is amazing and they can do so much for you. However, there is so much you can do for yourself too.

You have made the first big step by finding the Macmillan site, also do visit your nearest Macmillan centre, a list is on here, or ring them on 0808 808 0000, they are superbly helpful and give you lots of great info, do walks, talks, help with benefits, bills, open 10-4 Mon-Fri for coffee and chat and lots more. Please also get a good support structure in place, family, friends, good work colleagues, I’ve lived on my own for nigh on forty years, but realised you can’t do this on your own. I also go for a short walk every day (British weather permitting) and do a daily diary, this is mega helpful, as it gets everything off your chest and out of your system. It is important during the day to keep yourself occupied, hobbies, interests etc., it stops you from dwelling on what is going on. You may also find it beneficial to listen to a meditation podcast, they really help you to relax especially when you are trying to get to sleep. I use one called ‘Go Gently’ by Christine Elizabeth Smith, it does a lot for me. Whatever you do, do not visit Dr Google as there is so much conflicting information, your head will spin and it will stress you out, listen to your medical team and ask you’re breast cancer nurse as many questions as you like, also you get great support on here.

I know it’s hard sometimes, but try and keep as positive as you possibly can, have positive people around you and dump the negativity, above all, be kind to yourself - I promise you, you will get through this. You are never alone and can always come and chat to us shower in here.

Keeping fingers and everything crossed for you and wish you loads of luck.

Take care and big hugs.xxx

Hi Referralhelp,

I had a lumpectomy some months ago and lymph nodes removed, I  finished my radiotherapy a few weeks ago and am now taking one day at a time. Please don’t automatically think it’s bad news, hopefully everything will be okay, but if it’s the worse case scenario than what I would say, is that it is a shock when you are told and it is important you take a bit of time to let it register and sink in. The strides made in modern cancer medicine these days is amazing and they can do so much for you. However, there is so much you can do for yourself too.

You have made the first big step by finding the Macmillan site, also do visit your nearest Macmillan centre, a list is on here, or ring them on 0808 808 0000, they are superbly helpful and give you lots of great info, do walks, talks, help with benefits, bills, open 10-4 Mon-Fri for coffee and chat and lots more. Please also get a good support structure in place, family, friends, good work colleagues, I’ve lived on my own for nigh on forty years, but realised you can’t do this on your own. I also go for a short walk every day (British weather permitting) and do a daily diary, this is mega helpful, as it gets everything off your chest and out of your system. It is important during the day to keep yourself occupied, hobbies, interests etc., it stops you from dwelling on what is going on. You may also find it beneficial to listen to a meditation podcast, they really help you to relax especially when you are trying to get to sleep. I use one called ‘Go Gently’ by Christine Elizabeth Smith, it does a lot for me. Whatever you do, do not visit Dr Google as there is so much conflicting information, your head will spin and it will stress you out, listen to your medical team and you get great support on here.

I know it’s hard sometimes, but try and keep as positive as you possibly can, have positive people around you and dump the negativity, above all, be kind to yourself - I promise you, you will get through this. You are never alone and can always come and chat to us shower in here.

Keeping fingers and everything crossed for you.

Take care and big hugs.xxx

How soon after the lumpectomy did you start radiotherapy? Have you had any side effects from it? 

Hi Claire722 

I was diagnosed in December last, had a triple negative grade 3 carcinoma. My lump on the left breast was 2 cm. It was an absolute shock and to be honest I still feel in shock. I have been through chemotherapy, lumpectomy and starting radiotherapy today. It has been a rollercoaster and like everyone says there are good days and bad days. It is overwhelming and your mind does take over a lot of times. But it is normal and we are here for you, you have a community that cares for you and will support your all the way. Even if all my tests are super positive now and they keep saying ‘the cancer is gone’ I still feel overwhelmed many days. Make sure you have a good network of supporting people and tell those who you trust how you feel, don’t dismiss your feelings, you don’t have to be strong and positive all the time. I found that some  people around me, friends and family, keep asking me to be positive, which is not always possible, and realised that they were doing it, not on purpose though, to cope with their own burden of how afraid they are too. I chose to talk to those who were comfortable with me been vulnerable and overwhelmed to accompany me in the more difficult moments. You got this, it will be hard but you are wonderful and you can do this. 
x

Hi

 I had my surgery at the end of July and starting radiotherapy today. I chose to have the summer off and my consultant was happy with it. now I wish I had done it a bit earlier because the last couple of weeks have been too stressful waiting for the date to be set up and I really just want all this to finish! hope this helps! 

Hi Claire722

Similar to you, I went with a lump on my right side which turned out to be nothing sinister but then was told things had been found in the left which I had no clue about. Unfortunately mine was diagnosed as cancer, Grade 2 IDC, and I have since had surgery, radiotherapy and now taking Tamoxifen. I fully empathise with where you are now, the waiting and not knowing is the worst part by far. Once all your results are back you will receive a treatment plan tailored to you. I guarantee you will feel better when you know what is happening and when. 

If you have any question please shout. Best of luck with everything. x

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with me. I am hoping that I will soon be informed as to when my treatment will be starting and what the treatment plan will be. I think that facing the unknown is really taking its toll on me at the moment. I have a supportive partner and I have also been given some good support from my bosses at work. I keep feeling anxious that whilst I’m sat waiting for some answers that the cancer will be growing or spreading. I’m trying to not let my thoughts about this start to take over but I’m just finding it so hard to focus on anything else. I’m very grateful to have this online support network to help me through and to help me make sense of it all. 

Thank you for sharing that with me. Like you said, I think I’ll find it easier once I know what the plan will be. I’m still struggling with the shock of the diagnosis. How did you feel during the radiotherapy? 

Radiotherapy was fine, I had a tiny bit of pinkness and a couple of days feeling tired after two weeks but nothing major and it soon passed. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have not had any real issues with any treatment I’ve had.

The initial shock is so real and I genuinely feel for you. It’s one of those things we never expect to happen to ourselves especially if, like I was, you’re feeling fit and healthy otherwise. It’s almost like the diagnosis can’t be real because you feel so well… I really struggled from diagnosis to surgery and ended up having to take that time off work as I was no use to anyone. Something I found really helpful during that time was a daily journal where I could write down and get out all my worries and fears in a safe way.