Hello everyone, I am newly diagnosed with ER+ breast cancer. I am still awaiting appointment for specialist/surgeon to do series of tests to determine the stage. I have type 2 diabetes as well. Does anyone here have the same situation? I am scared and anxious and don’t know what to do.

Hi MeIVE - I hope all goes well with your treatment. I have added more vegetables and healthy protein to my diet (also I avoid alcohol; cut back on ultra processed foods) and have included strength training. I feel this has helped in my recovery from breast cancer treatment. An exercise physiologist is helping me with strength training. I think it is important to get guidance from evidence based authoritative sources and check with your oncologist about your specific situation.

Hello MeIVEim sure everyone on here can relate to how you’re feeling. The waiting and not-knowing is the hardest part. Once you have a plan and you know what you’re dealing with, you’ll feel more in control. One foot in front of the other. I don’t know how diabetes will impact your treatment, but your medical team will know what to do and provide options. Hopefully you have a strong support network around you to help you through. You aren’t alone and there is so much external help available to you as well. As I said, one foot in front of the other..and try not to go down the Google rabbit hole or you will never sleep. I hope your next few days gives you clarity and comfort from your medical teams. Keep us updated on your progress and post all of your questions!! Sending you all my very best

Hi Melve, All you can do is breathe and trust the process. Once you see the breast surgeon you will have a clearer picture of what lies ahead. The BCNA site has plenty of information, don’t overwhelm yourself though. Get in touch with the breast care nurse, you will find her very helpful.. I have just had a heap of tests done to be sure of whats where so we can start treatment. I’m only new to all this as well and yes it is scary but you are in the right place for support.💐

So completely normal to just be unsure and overwhelmed but as everyone has said dr Google is a bad idea. Everyone's diagnosis is different and therefore treatment will be different so general Google advice will set you up to be overwhelmed, freaked out and generally confused because everything won't necessarily relate to your situation even if what you read was about for example er+ cancer. Diabetes I think all depends on how under control it is but also the treatment plan you have. It may change nothing except monitoring it closer or it could be adjusting treatment to suit your situation too. So I would say don't let it stress you out too much the doctors will know how best to ensure one doesn't effect the other. Sorry you are in the situation but hopefully talking on this page and asking questions will be helpful to you.

Hi @MelVE,Re your query about what to eat , I am being treated at the Kinghorn Cancer Centre ( St Vincent’s Hospital Darlinghurst) and it has a wellness centre with nutritionist, exercise physiologist, physiotherapist etc).You have to pay but your GP can do a plan and it gets subsidised.There is a similar wellness ever attached to The Mater on the north side.I saw an exercise physiologist and she really helped me I didn’t see the nutritionist as I knew what to do - I cut out most ultra processed foods , ramped up the fresh fruit and vegetables ( organic preferred), more fish and leaner meat and chicken.I was never a McDonald’s/KFC kind of person but they should definately be “ no go” areas.Also I had a real sweet tooth so I virtually eliminated sweet biscuits, cakes, dessert etc and have fruit and unsweetened yoghurt instead .I still have dessert if I go out to a restaurant.Also cut right down on alcohol ( full of kilojoules anyway).I never drank soft drinks but ramped up the water and peppermint tea .I lost the 10 kilos I had put on over 30 years of marriage and have kept it off.I know some food/drink is definately not indicated if you are on chemo but your breast care nurse/oncologist would be the best bet for that advice , also any vitamin pills or supplements you should let your medical professionals know about as they can also be contra indicated.Take care , and definately stay away from Google - there is so much into on this BCNA website you can stay here and get lots of answers .When you have time look at ( listen to ) the Dr Charlotte Tottman podcasts - I found them very helpful.

I am scared and feel lost | Online Network

deekay77
Member
4 months ago
Hello MeIVE
im sure everyone on here can relate to how you’re feeling. The waiting and not-knowing is the hardest part. Once you have a plan and you know what you’re dealing with, you’ll feel more in control. One foot in front of the other.

I don’t know how diabetes will impact your treatment, but your medical team will know what to do and provide options.

Hopefully you have a strong support network around you to help you through. You aren’t alone and there is so much external help available to you as well.

As I said, one foot in front of the other..and try not to go down the Google rabbit hole or you will never sleep.

I hope your next few days gives you clarity and comfort from your medical teams.

Keep us updated on your progress and post all of your questions!!

Sending you all my very best
Number2
Member
4 months ago
Hi Melve, All you can do is breathe and trust the process. Once you see the breast surgeon you will have a clearer picture of what lies ahead. The BCNA site has plenty of information, don’t overwhelm yourself though. Get in touch with the breast care nurse, you will find her very helpful.. I have just had a heap of tests done to be sure of whats where so we can start treatment. I’m only new to all this as well and yes it is scary but you are in the right place for support.💐
MelVE
Member
4 months ago
Thank you for your message. It does help to talk to someone and I am glad I have found this site.
MelVE
Member
4 months ago
Thank you deekay77, I was reading about my condition in Google and you are right it is scary. I will try to be calm and wait for all of my appointments and go from there. I will follow you and Number2 advice and just breath and one foot in front of the other. Thank you to the both of you for replying.
GorgyS
Member
4 months ago
BCNA, my medical team including McGrath nurses helped me to go through the treatment (still going through as I am on hormone blockers). My diabetes 2 was also under control and monitored during Chemo. They put me on medication for diabetes and I am still on. It is normal to be scared, but the right information and support from the medical team will help you to go through safely. And NO GOOGLE. There are so many resources on BCNA website that you do not need to look at anything else. You will also get the right written information from your health team. All the best @MelVE with your treatment. And stay in touch with this great and supportive network.
iserbrown
Member
4 months ago
Great advice given!
Need to reiterate "Stay away from Dr Google"

The BCNA website is a wealth of information.

At this stage test results will determine surgery/treatment and pathology from surgery will give a defined diagnosis

Easier said than done but deep breaths.......a calm does come when everything is defined

Take care

https://www.bcna.org.au/resource-hub/articles/breast-cancer-pathology/
melways
Member
4 months ago
So completely normal to just be unsure and overwhelmed but as everyone has said dr Google is a bad idea. Everyone's diagnosis is different and therefore treatment will be different so general Google advice will set you up to be overwhelmed, freaked out and generally confused because everything won't necessarily relate to your situation even if what you read was about for example er+ cancer.

Diabetes I think all depends on how under control it is but also the treatment plan you have. It may change nothing except monitoring it closer or it could be adjusting treatment to suit your situation too. So I would say don't let it stress you out too much the doctors will know how best to ensure one doesn't effect the other.

Sorry you are in the situation but hopefully talking on this page and asking questions will be helpful to you.
MelVE
Member
4 months ago
Thank you all so much for replying, words of encouragement and reassurance, it really helps. Today is my appointment with the specialist/surgeon and I am praying for more clarity about my situation. I will keep posting here of my progress. Thank you again.
arpie
Member
4 months ago
Hi @MelVE - sorry to see you here ... lots of terrific advice given already - definitely stay away from Dr Google as much of it is also out of date too, as advances in treatment have been enormous in recent years - including using immunotherapy.

Yep, try not to get ahead of yourself - it will only muck with your brain xx Try & stay 'in the present' (dealing with today's issues) and tomorrow's will sort themselves out ;)

Wishing you all the best with your surgeon's appt today - then keep as busy as you can between now & any surgery/treatment xx

I think being diabetic really only comes into play if you need chemo - and even then, it may depend on which one? My husband was diabetic & we just had to make sure he didn't have cereal/toast on the days of his infusion (just 2 boiled eggs) so his blood sugar wasn't too high, as the tablets (and some of the infusion) elevates the blood sugars anyway, so didn't want a 'double hit'.

Check out this post for a lot of 'general' info on the forum ..... and if you find yourself feeling a tad overwhelmed, give our Helpline a call on 1800 500 258 for a private chat xx. There are some 'tick sheets' to help you 'self assess' your own stress levels too, down the bottom of the post xx

https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/23477/a-big-welcome-to-all-new-online-network-members#latest

take care
MelVE
Member
4 months ago
Thank you for your advice. I feel less anxious now after talking to my surgeon. I already have schedules for my Pet Scan and MRI and referral for blood test. It is a bit of a wait for another appointment after all these scans due to Christmas break but I will try my best to keep myself busy and just breath😊