Diagnosed with ‘2b’

Hi Louise86 

At least now you are a bit further on with what you know, but I remember how scary it was getting my diagnosis.

I was stage 2b too, and yes, they definitely will be treating with a view to cure. My consultant said that to me and I held onto those words! The petscan is the final piece of the jigsaw, and hopefully it will just confirm what they already know. My tumour was just under 4cm, and treatment can be very effective in getting rid of it.

Sarah xx

thank you for messaging me 
Mine is apparently 4.5 

do you have children ? It all feels very surreal atm 

I completely get how surreal it feels-like they are talking about someone else. It takes time for your mind to process things when you’re first diagnosed.

Yes, I’ve got 2 daughters but they are adults-I was 56 when I was diagnosed and I’m  going to be 64 this month. I waited until I knew what my treatment would be before I told them, and I stressed to them both that they were treating me to cure me. It was still very hard to tell them though.

Sarah xx

Thank you this is what the nurse recommended 

mine are 11,9 and 8 x

They are young, and so are you, so this must be extra hard for you. 

I know we have some advice on Macmillan to help with explaining things to children-let me see if I can find it and give you the link.

Sarah xx

Thank you 

Here it is Louise-I hope it might be helpful for you

Talking to children and teenagers

Sarah xx

Hi Louise86 i wanted to pop on to let you know that i was also diagnosed with 2b cc, Sept 2023, completed treatment by December 2023 and im doing well. Its a huge shock, and the PET scan being requested terrified me but very soon you will be accessing treatment that is proven to be very effective. I had just turned 45, and a single parent to a then 14 year old. I felt very vulnerable at the time, and i chose a few close friends and my sisters to be by my side throughout and there support without doubt got me through. My daughter elected not to tell any of her friends at the time, she needed the escapism going to school and being free with friends afforded her, im sure every child is different in terms of what support they need and your children are younger but trust your instincts. I did not tell her until i had my treatment plan and start date for treatnent that meant i could answer all her questions and as you now know, 2b was treat to cure, it meant everything to be able to say that too her at the time and seemed to be enough to enable her to get on with being a teenager despite the stress at home. Take each day as it comes, in the waiting period before treatment i took myself off with long walks, nature, gym etc and tried to get myself into a good head space and fit for treatnent but there was a lot of fear and distress and this is where friends and family really kept me going. Thinking of you

Thank you . Did you have chemo and radiotherapy ? X

Yes chemo 5 radiotherapy 25 then a 4 day inpatient stay for brachytherapy