Unsure how to feel since diagnosis in October 2019

A good cancer is a relative term, it can mean slow to develop, or responds well to treatment or a number of other things. Sure, no cancer would be better but that’s what treatment is for. I had one malignant node but, touch wood, no evidence of disease six years after my active treatment ended. Looking forward to tomorrow and being optimistic helps enormously with dealing with treatment and indeed living your life well. Best wishes. 

Hi BewilderedButHopeful,
I have been allocated a breast care nurse actually 2 of them but they are difficult to get hold of.  I have results back from my PETscan and thankfully was good news, I had one of the doctors call me on Friday to tell me, as I did make a complaint about the way I was only given half answers at my last specialist appointment.  I haven't seen nor spoken to either of my breast care nurses since my last appointment almost 2 weeks ago, and some days feel like I'm travelling on this road alone although not alone but still left hanging. 

Tomorrow is my first meeting with Medical Oncology, I do no that I am ER/PR + HER2 - not sure if that's a good or bad thing, my mum was ER/PR- HER2 positive and although completely different, I now know how she felt with the waiting game.  My GP has said that I have a good cancer but what cancer is good cancer when it's already confirmed in 1 lymph node and no further ahead of anything and left to wonder?  I will see what tomorrow brings and hopefully will have my long awaited answers I'm looking for, but will update my journey thus far and keep my spirits positively high, and hope that the outcome is good.

Hi Pampa,

Sorry to hear your news. I'm still waiting for a treatment plan six weeks after my second surgery. I should know more at the second oncologist appointment tomorrow. The MDT meetings are only every fortnight, so that's the hold-up. I was surprised at the lack of communication and coordination between doctors/departments, but felt reassured after I emailed my questions to the Breast Care Nurse, who said she would be at the MDT meeting. That helped a lot, and I feel less anxious knowing the Breast Care Nurse will be an extra pair of ears and eyes to help me understand what's happening next.

I hope you can get that help too. My surgeon allocated me someone, but if yours didn't:

To find a breast care nurse near you, visit the McGrath Foundation’s website . Under ‘Get Support’, you can search for nurses in your area simply by entering your postcode.
https://myjourney.org.au/article/2187

One step at a time. Try not to dwell on the entire treatments or it will overwhelm you. Chemo is doable and we are all here to help you along.
I would suggest you take someone with you every time to be a second set of ears and to keep an eye on you should the chemo nurse step away at any time. Also someone to go and do the mundane things like food shopping is a big plus.
Drink lots of water or any liquid if you don't like plain water. You want to flush the rubbish out and stay hydrated. Also you will need to gentle walk even if you feel awful. Take someone with you then as well in case you get light headed. I never had any real exercise trouble but I had someone with me, just in case.
The hair thing is tough to endure but each stage after the initial omg time, you sort of adapt and it will grow back, sometimes a bit odd for a while. I have dead straight hair and after chemo it came back in the most wonderful perm you have have ever seen and I didn't have to pay a hairdresser for it either. It only lasted a few months though and now I am back to straight hair again.

@Pampa, good news re your bone scan. What an insensitive Doctor, he definitely need some more training.  Good luck with the chemo next week x

Thank you BrendaS I do and have spoken with her, dr got a towelling yesterday, but plus side of news PET scan results came back all clear in my bones proceeding with chemo starting next week

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis but first I will say, you are not your mother and treatments have come a long way since then.
Do you have a breast care nurse to go in to bat for you and towel some of these doctors up? https://www.mcgrathfoundation.com.au/get-support/find-a-nurse/

Hi @Pampa   It's a really scary time for you and I wish you all the best.  I am sure it's even more difficult as you have witnessed the worst possible outcome with your mother but try to remember no two cancer cases are the same and right now, you have every reason to believe you can beat this xx

So sorry you are off to such an extra tough beginning with this rotten disease. Just wanted to let you know that when I had scans at diagnosis they also picked up a bone island. If it is just a bone island this is a benign lesion that is nothing to do with your breast cancer. It is best to always check things out properly but my bone island has not given me any trouble beyond showing up in scans and scaring the life out of me! I hope that this is all it is for you and you can get on with treatment for your breast cancer.
Wishing you all the best and keeping my fingers crossed for you. Take care. xxx
Also my breast cancer had spread to several nodes at diagnosis but I am doing very well and still no recurrence 61/2 years later, so this disease is very treatable even when in lymph nodes.

Thank you Afraser