The Start

Hi Belinda, I am really feeling for you right now. It's such a shock finding out isn't it - really hard to get your head around especially when you're relatively young and healthy. So much of what you've written reminds me of my own diagnosis 7 months ago. I am 46 too and I thought going to the gym 4-5 times a week would stop me getting any nasty diseases, at least for a couple of decades. My mum also had breast cancer but she was 61 so I didn't expect to get it in my 40s. And I sent my husband off to work on the day I got the biopsy results thinking it would be nothing to worry about.

I know you must feel horrible right now. I think the waiting and not knowing where you stand is probably the worst part. And its a shame you don't have your family and friends nearby. But I am glad you found this site. I have found the support and information I've got here invaluable. While my family and friends have mostly been terrific sometimes it's easier to share your fears and frustrations with other women going through the same things.

I had  a 2.4 cm hormone positive tumour that was thought to be low risk after the biopsy but found to be more aggressive after my surgery. On the positive side my surgeon got clear margins and there was no spread to my lymph nodes. I've had chemo (lost my hair which totally sucks) and I am now almost finished 6 weeks of radiation therapy. Soon I will have to start taking tamoxifen for 5 years. While none of it has been fun, I suppose through reading other women's stories on this site I've come to realise that I've been fairly lucky overall. I haven't suffered any dramatic side effects and my cancer has been treatable and my prognosis is good.

Unfortunately there are no guarantees with this crappy disease but I do feel pretty confident that I will get past this and life will go back to normal. I just say this to let you know there is light at the end of the tunnel. You will get through it. Be gentle on yourself, accept any help that is offered and don't hesitate to ask any question at all or just express how you're feeling on this site. There's always lots of amazing, caring women here willing to respond.

I will be keeping my fingers crossed for you Belinda and hoping things go as smoothly as possible for you. Take care, Janet. :)