Hello everyone,Its not long now until Christmas and the summer holiday season. As we all know, cancer doesn't take a break at Christmas time. We have recently had quite a few new members join the online network as a result of a new breast cancer diagnosis. They will be having investigations and or treatment over Christmas and New Year break. It would be great for them to hear from our online community re any helpful tips as how to best manage this time of year, with a new cancer diagnosis.One of my tips is to make sure you have some supports in place. If you are having treatment, find out who you need to contact if you have any concerns and to keep a notebook with any contact phone numbers that you may need by the phone. Find out your GPs availability and have a back up plan if necessary. If you are worried about something its better to ask the question. No question is a silly questions when you are coping with a cancer diagnosis.

I’m currently alternating between using my time to live in a shell and using my time to actively plan for things like Christmas. Last year I threw out my old Christmas tree with the plan of buying a new one long before now. Yesterday I bought one on line with lights already fitted. I’ll get the kids to decorate and I promise I won’t be anal if the colour symmetry is not right. Also thanks to @kmakm suggestion last week I have started ordering gifts on line. I can’t face the thought of hitting the shops but it’s been quite good doing it online. I’ll probably forget what I’ve ordered by the time it arrives 😊Thanks @Zoffiel I have started recording everything because suddenly there’s lots happening and dates/names are getting vague for everything.Luckily Christmas is not at mine this year, so I’m actually just going to sit back and let others do things, and not feel guilty...promise.

Im going in for my second lumpectomy...then my radiotherapy...feel pretty good at the moment....enjoying time with my 4 yr old grandson today....his mum is not as fortunate as me...she has stage 3 and is on the last two of her chemo....31 yrs old...both diagnosed within a wk of each other...how lucky am i to have reached 59yrs without it....im more afraid for her 😢

I have had surgery just before my surgeon has headed off for her holidays. The other doctor was excellent and their communication was great. I also found starting radiotherapy in the new year to be no problem at all. This was in the private sector. I had phone numbers if I needed them and my care has been excellent during the year and in the breaks. My GP is a fairly recent graduate. She goes the extra mile, orders tests when I want them and is a great doctor. It is about keeping your own records, communicating what you want and following up with any concerns. Also make sure you go home with adequate pain killers and use them if necessary.

At this stage due for surgery on 19th December, so will be taking things easy this Christmas, Taking all the information on board relating to who will be available to talk to over the break.As we all know cancer doesn’t take a break. Have a ton of questions for my surgeon on Monday , just had CT scan and full body bone scan, so feeling anxious at the moment.Had a good night sleep last night after visiting GP yesterday, she has given me something to assist with sleep and anxiety.Booked into do a Meditation and Mindfulness course which commences tomorrow, and runs for four weeks, and I have a good friend sharing this with me.Hoping to gain skills to help me over the journey ahead.Keep the positive thoughts coming through ladies, as we all need to hear them.Looking at putting up tree early December as we need to keep things as normal as possible as this is something we do have control over.Sending love and hugs to everyone ❤️

I was diagnosed on the 20th Dec 2016 , bone scans and Ct scans the following day all clear thankfully. On the 22nd my diagnosis was confirmed as a very aggressive Stage 3 grade 3 triple positive BC. I was also told that it was inoperable due to the size and fact that there may be skin involved. My treatment was to be Chemo first. We had plans for a family Xmas at my Mums new home in Coffs Harbour and were scheduled to fly up on the 23rd Dec, we went ahead with our plans as a few extra days wasn't going to change things. I met my amazing oncologist on the 2nd Jan 2017, had a port inserted in my arm that afternoon under a general A, saw a dentist the next day as I had a broken tooth, had that pulled. Started AC chemo on the 4th Jan.15 months of treatment followed , I am now almost at the 2 year mark since my initial diagnosis and am happy to say really healthy and enjoying my life. It is a surreal feeling looking back as it honestly feels like it happened to someone else. My cancer was extremely aggressive as was my treatment even so, we were always given time to think and breathe. After finishing 6 months of Chemo we snuck a week away in Kingscliff, then I started 5 weeks of Rads,followed by a mastectomy and full aux node clearance in Mid September. We treated ourselves to 3 days over Xmas last year at Crown Metropol as I was finally cancer free after a massive year. Herceptin treatment finished in March and I was switched from tamoxifen to Arimidex in June, taking that for 10 years. It is difficult starting your treatment on or around major holiday periods as there is always a skeleton staff on, you do however get through and know that next Xmas will look a whole lot different.

Coping with a cancer diagnosis at Christmas, some helpful tips...

44 Replies

kitkatb
Member
7 years ago
Thinking of you @Payne and fingers and toes crossed for you.
Giovanna_BCNA
Member
7 years ago
Hello @Payne all the best with the biopsy next week, fingers crossed that its absolutely nothing to worry about. Take care
Payne
Member
7 years ago
Thanks Ladies, Ill let you know the outcome
Sister
Member
7 years ago
All the best @Payne
Zoffiel
Member
7 years ago
If it's a 'thing' it may be possible to go anyway. Good luck. Mxx
arpie
Member
7 years ago
Oh BUGGER @Payne - never a good time to find one :( That is one nasty shock. All the best for the biopsy - fingers crossed it is just scar tissue

Thinking of you

Take care xx
SoldierCrab
Member
7 years ago
oh Payne I am sorry to hear you need another biopsy I had some lumps and had to have biopsies again I was like you concerned after my first but this next lot were not as painful.... they also turned out to be new scar tissue
Payne
Member
7 years ago
Thanks, that is encouraging @Blossom1961
Blossom1961
Member
7 years ago
We are all hoping for the best case scenario for you @Payne. AND I hope this biopsy is not as rough as your first one. My first one was horrendous but I have had two since then with minimal pain.
Payne
Member
7 years ago
Thank you @kmakm, Wednesday morning. Im going to take diazepam, I still remember well how awful the first one was.