Newly Diagnosis

Barney74

Found out last friday i was dignosised with breast cancer im only in my early 40's it has been a very hard to deal with.

Melsie97

Welcome @Barney74. This network has been fantastic for me. 
I was diagnosed the day before my 40th Birthday last year so I can understand the shock you are going through. 
Everyone on here has been so supportive and full of knowledge, so ask anything you want.
Hopefully you have a breast care nurse and have been given the My Journey Kit or it has been ordered for you.
let me know if there's anything I can help with.
Mel xx

Barney74

Thank you xx
Im not sure how i organise a breast care nurse ??my journey kit im pretty sure the nurse at the Breast clinic is ordering one for me.

LITHGOW1950

Wish I could say some words that could allievate your concern.  This network is amazing and full of information. I think the best I can say at this time is take one day at a time. Try not to be overwhelmed by all the information. We have the very best specialist and hospitals, I think, in the world and there is so much help out there. I know the beautiful ladies on this site will be so helpful and express themselves brilliantly so, I'm not going to say much more. 
Take all the  help from family and friends, as they all want to be there for you. And be gentle with yourself. 

Hopes_and_Dreams

Hello @Barney74, so sorry you find yourself here, but welcome.  You are in the right place for lots of support and information.  All our diagnoses and treatment may be different but we have all been where you are and had to deal with the shock of being told we have breast cancer.   We do understand how you feel.
You will feel more in control once you find out a little more about your cancer and what type of treatment is planned.  
There is so much happening at first - I found it really helpful to jot down all the questions I had between appointments.  Once I was in front of the surgeon it was very easy to forget to ask something.  It gave me a bit of control to tick things off too!   Try to take someone with you to your appointments, it's easy to miss something with all the information to take in.
Have you been told anything about your cancer yet?  What type, size or grade?  All these things will impact what type of surgery or follow up treatment you will need.   But just remember, you can do this.  You are stronger than you ever imagined and you have all of us here to help you.   Keep in touch, take care Jane xx

Barney74

Hello Hopes_and_Dreams thank you i have Invasion Ductal carcinoma  Grade 3 .i have seen a surgeron i was dignosised  July 28th 2017 .im going in for Surgery 15Th August as they had a spot wow very quick it all happened for me.i have a CT scan and Bone scan on Thursday .

Hopes_and_Dreams

It does move quickly Barney74, but would you have it any other way??  Once I knew I had cancer I just wanted it out of me. I was diagnosed on 20 July and had surgery 1 August last year.  I had IDC grade 1, left nipple sparing mastectomy with immediate implant.  clear lymph nodes.  We have no choice but to be swept along in these first few weeks and have trust in our medical team.   All the best for your scans on Thursday.  Jane xx

socoda

Hey @Barney74, Welcome to the forum. It all becomes a bit more handleable once you have your surgery. One of the worst things is the waiting. So here's a link about what to take to hospital  https://www.reclaimyourcurves.org.au/information-sheets.html - it's been put together by a lot of the ladies here from first hand experience so it's a tried and tested list. Wishing you all the best and let us know how you're getting on. Xx Cath

adean

Hardest thing ever. I just wanted to say its 5 years for me and its still like yesterday but you have 2 choices 1 is give up and 2 is take control of this bloody thing the best you can. I chose to grab it and punch it. There are good bad and better but you do get through. Adean xx

Barney74

Is it normal to stay just 1 night as im having the Lumpectomy. Thats the option i choose .but depends on pathology  results i go back and have a mastectomy. I have 2 young boys 10& 8yrold(adhd ) .its going to be so hard to rest with him.

adean

Depends on your surgeon l stayed 4 days.

Romla

I stayed 2 nights and was OK to go home with simple analgesics but not lifting washing/ shopping etc for a few days.You will need bras without wire - breast care nurse offered a free Berlei but had already bought a couple from target. Also was given brilliant "cushion" made by local craft group which kept weight of my arm from my breast esp useful when sleeping. Guess the harder bit for me was wait for pathology results - I had to go back to have margin widened which wasclear.They did sentinel node biopsy also 2 removed 1 clear and 1 tiny spread which they decided radiotherapy and hormone therapy would fix as was estrogen receptor positive like many women.I did not need chemo or mastectomy. All the best. 

Cowgirl1

Dito to all the comments I have just done my first year in July and cancer free!!! But I still carry emotional stuff around and loose the plot every now and again,and have a life long lymphoedema which I am trying to get control of ,so all the best and this site is fantastic you have friends and family that support you but know one knows what u have gone through or how u feel unless they have been through it to oxoxo

primek

Welcome and sorry you've had to join us. Yes...the beginning feels like you've been thrown into a rollercoaster going downhill, unless waiting for your biopsy result where you feel the endless climb to the top. Happy for you surgery is so soon. I had to travel 500k to see my surgeon and took my hospital gear with me, hoping to go straight in. Alas it was a further 20 days which felt an eternity. I needed to return for pre op appointment  and more scans in between. I kept busy doing planning and investigating. I already knew I needed chemo so bought some inexpensive scarves and practised tying them. I checked out wigs. I organised work leave, my family etc all for time away. I also had a farewell boobie party as due to my type of cancer, my family risks and breast tissue with my surgeons advice I opted on a bilateral mastectomy. So The day before I left I had a party. My work colleague and friends came, all bringing boobie inspired food and dressed up. I wore just a bra and tight slip and skirt with the girls proudly out. Anyone not dressed up was given one of my bras to wear. I wrote a poem. It was fun and sad...but a send off for them non the less. I called it Dolly's Parting. 

It's not an easy time. Tears and fears are normal and we are here to listen and support whenever you need us. Kath x

cranky_granny

Hi @Barney74 as everyone has said make the most of this site. I don't post a lot been here for about 8 months now but boy do I search for answers in the search bar  There is always someone who has been there before. We are all a little different but the same if that makes sense. I have trusted my team from woe to go. Done all the bits chemo then surgery I got away with breast conserving surgery and then radiation.
I have gotten here and had my questions answered and I always feel better before I log off.  
You can have a moan session   and no one judges. 

Romla

Dear @barney74 glad you found the store