Just getting started

Love your name. It's my daughter's name so I'm a bit bias.

I'm sorry you have found yourself amoungst us but welcome to a fantastic site where you'll find understanding, support, friendship and advice from wonderful women who are all here to listen. You can jump on here anytime and rant and rave, ask questions, get your feelings off our chest (pardon the pun) or just tell your story. There are no judgements here.

Adean and Deanne have already given you good advice on looking after yourself. You need to concentrate on getting well. Your work can cope. I found that out very early on when I thought I'd let people down like you. I wanted to work through my treatments but I just couldn't. My employers were very undertstanding and they found a temporary replacement to fill my position very quickly. If there is ever was a time to be selfish Jessica, now is that time. You need to be kind to yourself before everything else.

It is perfectly normal to experience terror and anxiety through this journey. It's a crazy rollercoaster of a ride and you'll have your good days and bad days. After the initial shock of diagnosis and once you have a plan of action, you'll find that you'll get into a kind of routine and as Deanne said, your days will be filled with appointments and treatments. I wrote a poem about waiting which you might like to read. I'm pleased that other ladies have liked it and I was very chuffed when the BCNA used it for their Melbourne Christmas appeal. Here is the link to my blog. http://www.bcna.org.au/user/12607/blog/62506 I hope you enjoy it. There is also a great post called "What helps you when you are down or stressed" from a wonderful lady, Mich, who we all look up to as our inspiration. Here is the link http://www.bcna.org.au/user/8430/blog/70425  It has so great ideas to help you through.

My journer began with a lumpectomy, 6 months of chemo, double mastectomy and immediate reconstruction surgery. I am still having Herceptin treatments every three weeks until May this year and I'm on hormone therapy for at least the next 5 years via daily tablets. I used to think of 2013 was the worst year of my life but now I've turned it into my year of healing. I am just over one year from diagnosis (20/12/2012) and like Deanne, I can tell you that I am feeling well and happy again. I have found my new normal and I know you will too.

Love and hugs

Janey xxx