Breast cancer

Hi

A warm welcome to the online community, although we wish you didn't have reason to be here.

Gosh, it's hard isn't it? Sitting in that room and being given your results. Nobody would say you are being a fake - breast cancer is breast cancer - it's no less a shock or trauma just because it's smaller than someone else's

It's a rollercoaster ride and the only way to get through it is one step at a time - cry, shout, scream - laugh if you can, it helps.

We're a very friendly bunch here and always ready to chat. I don't know what your treatment plan is, but we have threads for those going through chemo or radiotherapy to get together - you'll see them stuck in the grey area at the top of this section.

We also have some long-running threads in the Ongoing Discussions section - places where people chat late into the night when they can't sleep (Awake), or post about their exercise (Walking Back to Happiness) plus some other general chat and distraction. Distraction helps - it  helps to deal with all those emotions slowly and bit by bit.

We're here for you whatever you need

R

Hello, I’m having a lumpectomy, I think that’s what it’s called, on Monday. Then radiotherapy six weeks from then. I feel like I’ve been plunged into a foreign land and I don’t know the language. I see lovely nurses being kind and smiling and gently explaining things to me but it’s so surreal. Like I’m watching tv

So today is surgery day - hope it goes well for you. 

Yeah, I recognise the feeling of being in a foreign land. This site is great for helping you adjust to that - we even pick up some of the language along the way. 

Let us know how you are getting on - we are good at distraction and support - whatever you need as you heal after surgery. 

When you start radiotherapy, we have a thread where you can connect with others having treatment, get tips etc. It all seems so daunting when you first get thrown into it, but take it one day at a time and you'll soon find you are out the other side wondering what on earth just happened! 

Sending virtual hugs

R

Hi  and another warm welcome to the forum. Just wanted to add that your treatment sounds very similar to mine. If you click on my name you’ll see my profile. You might want to do one for yourself at some point. 
I hope your surgery is done now and that you’ll soon be home. I agree that it can feel very surreal and as if it’s happening to someone else. I think it takes a while to ‘sink in’. And I have also at various times felt a ‘fake’ as it could have been much worse both in terms of the diagnosis and also re the treatment. But in the end I’d still much much rather not had cancer at all! So be careful not to play it down too much, we all still need support and kindness. And we’re not always much good at being kind to ourselves, which is also important. 
Wishing you well and sending love and a big virtual hug, HFxx

Hiya, I didn’t want to spoil Christmas for everyone.