Hi,am new to this site. I have been diagnosed with breast cancer in April, had surgery and undergoing radiotherapy currently. I am 48 and haven't stopped since my diagnosis. Trying to process it all.

Hi Belinda, sorry to hear about your diagnosis but so glad you joined this network. I am 47 and was diagnosed last October. It was such a shock (no family history of any type of cancer) and the first two months were such a whirlwind. I had surgery, chemo and 30 sessions of radiation and am now having 12 months targeted therapy. I remember those radiation days and thinking that getting through 30 sessions would be hard. Surprisingly it actually went really quick but boy was I glad when I didn't have to go to the hospital every day. I hope you are holding up ok and am not too tired. I didn't start to burn until the last 5 days and then it only took a week to heal. Hang in there, it will finish soon. I know I have had many days where I struggled to process it all, but I usually have a little cry and then I feel better. So come on here any time and vent if you need to. There'll always be someone here who understands what you are going through. All the best and take care Nadine

It all happens so fast and is a lot to take in. No time to think really. Sounds like you won't need chemo which is great. I am 51, 6 months into it and still really trying to fathom it. All the unknowns is what bothers me the most. Take care. Kath x.

Hi Nadi its all a bit of a whirlwind, I was diagnosed in April, had my surgery and will start radiation in three weeks. im so happy that I joined this site it has been very supportive. trying to process it all and coming to terms with the whole thing seems to be very daunting. Come on line and have a chat, it's helped me a lot

Hi Belinda everything seems to go so fast in the early days. You don't have time to process much. I was 48 when diagnosed and spent my 49th and 50th birthdays at the hospital. I finished active treatment in June last year and felt that I only began to process what I had been through then. I felt that whilst I was having treatment that all of my focus was on getting through what I had to. Counselling has helped and it may be worth asking to be referred to a counsellor. Good luck for the rest of your treatment. Take care. Karen xox

Hi Belinda, I was diagnosed with triple negative stage 3 invasive breast cancer June 12 last year, I was self employed just had my third grand child in 6 weeks and life was great . In 10 days from diagnosis I had closed my business had surgery and told would be having 6 rounds chemo 3 weeks apart and 30 rounds of radiation. I don't know were the last years gone, I know every one says this but you just have to take it one day at a time. Go to your local cancer council you can get free treatments,massage,facials,yoga, mediation,and most importantly counselling it all helps. the most important thing is look after you, if you need to cry, then do. I'm now waiting on genetic testing,to see what next step is for me.My journey continues. Good luck,your not alone, Janine

Breastcancer | BCNA Online Network

Cook65
Member
9 years ago
Hi Breezer110,

i think most of us get to a point when we just think we can't do it anymore. For me it was my 4th chemo! My body was screaming for me to stop but my head knew I had to continue on. I was half way through chemo, I still had 33 radio treatments and another 14 more herceptins to go. It felt like forever. Off days are hard to handle, especially when you thought you were coping well. The thing is, it's exhausting. Between the stress, the emotional turmoil, the surgery and anaesthetic/s and then the treatment is it any wonder we lose our fighting spirit and positivity. Don't feel bad or guilty. It's all part of the process I think. I just constantly told myself " short term pain for long term gain." Plan something nice for yourself so that you have something to look forward to. If the feelings don't dissipate after a few days perhaps think about getting some counselling. It really does help. Take care. Karen xox
Breezer110
Member
9 years ago
It's definitely a bit of a whirlwind and it goes so quickly, I had my off days and thought that treatment would pass by with a bit of swelling and some pain.

week 3 of radiation and my whole outlook on it has spiralled downwards, my strength and being positive through this had just crumbled. I feel guilty/bad for thinking and feeling this. Maybe I had it easy or coped well and it's all just caught up with me.

have any of you felt like this and thought I don't want to go to any more sessions anymore
PaulaY
Member
9 years ago
Hi all, I was diagnosed 5 July this year. Have only just had sentinel node biopsy and get my results tomorrow , happy 46 birthday to me. So I am preparing for the whirlwind I expect it to be, but agree with those comments of others, this site is extremely helpful.
Johnann
Member
9 years ago
Hi. I hope you're doing well. I didn't get nauseous during radiation just very tired but I have learnt that we all can have very different symptoms. This time last year I had just finished chemo. I'm now back at work, graduated return, and trying to remember to be kind to myself. One day at a time is a great philosophy. Keep in touch, Johnann xx
Belinda16
Member
9 years ago
Hi Johnann

Thankyou. I am really feeling fatigued now. It is frustrating in that I want to do things and don't have the energy. I think I am now learning that it is one day at a time. Yes my mother gave me the MooGoo cream and I started prior to the radiotherapy. I was using the sorbolene cream I was given for treatment but now it is so red that the nurse has dressed it with solugel and jelonet.

Did you feel sick from the radiotherapy? I did know it could be a symptom but I thought it maybe more related to people having treatment near the stomach. I have been feeling sick the last 3 treatments.

Belinda
Johnann
Member
9 years ago
Hi. Thinking of you. You will get through this. One day at a time was how I coped. I had chemo and radiation. MooGoo skim milk udder cream was my saviour during radiation. Keep in touch. Johnann
Belinda16
Member
9 years ago
Hi Janine

I am sorry to hear what you have been through. Thankyou for the information re cancer council. After my surgery I decided to go to a counsellor from the team as I really didn't know how I was supposed to feel. The counsellor is great and she really seems to understand cancer. I am trying to look after myself and at times is frustrating I have to say no to friends in catching up. Belinda
Belinda16
Member
9 years ago
Hi

Yes I was diagnosed but had my mamogram in February. The surgery went well and I had a sentinel node biopsy as well. I had a friend come with me to my appointments because I knew I wouldn't take information in. When I had radiation planning, that is when it treally started to hit me and I kind of felt abit alone at the time. Once I started radiotherapy I got used to the routine and got to know the staff. Belinda
Belinda16
Member
9 years ago
Hi Kath

Thankyou. Yes I didn't have chemo. The unknowns worry me as well. At the back of my mind I think but what if the cancer comes back. Although I am just trying to keep my mind on getting through treatment. Belinda
Belinda16
Member
9 years ago
Hi Nadine

Thankyou for you reply. I don't have family history of breast cancer either. I am counting my days of treatment. Unfortunately yesterday the nurses had to start doing dressings. I found that my breast became quite red before the half way mark, even applying the cream. I am very tired. i only last a couple of hours and have to rest.

Belinda