New to this

Thanks Lisa for this really appreciate it  yes as soon as I have a start date I am sure I be more comfortable and accepting.  Bald is not a bad thing and I am going to go tomorrow and have my hair cut really short to get used to that side effect.  Fiona

Yes. Telling people is the hardest. I wish people would gossip more so I didn't have to tell everyone myself and comfort them! I've got the spiel down pat and quickly change the subject if I can.

things I've learnt:

i post to a blog so that I didn't have to constantly talk about it with everyone. Otherwise I get 10 texts asking me how I am going. I post all the boring details to it as no one takes it in when you tell them. People can read my blog or not. But they know it is there.

depends which chemo you are on. AC gave me morning sickness but I never vomited. I worked through my pregnancies and chemo was no worse than that. Had a few tired days but most days I was walking 1 hour a day.

Paclitaxel is much much easier. Nothing to worry about.

of course people react differently to chemo but I'm hoping you react even better than me. I feel like I'm faking it half the time. I still go out, exercise. Just I'm bald ;-) 

Thanks Marlee

I have had the surgery and told everything is clear but what lies ahead is still daunting and the waiting is what is the hardest. Fiona

Thanks Rene,

Really like this deal with today's issues today Everything else that lies ahead needs to go on the virtual shelve and shall try and ensure this is what I do moving forward

Thanks for the comments

I was diagnosed 4 weeks ago and I understand completely what you are going through. I can't believe everything that has happened in four weeks

I went to a surgeon first and decided to go chemo route before surgery to try and shrink the tumour. I started my first chemo one week ago.

i found initially one of the most difficult things was other people's  emotions and reactions, and was very surprised at what people said to me and how many wanted to share their stories about who they knew that had since died. 

It is such a shock and I think I'm still in shock and it's a real roller coaster ride. 

The support on here is great and so many inspirational women to draw from

hang in there, sending you cyber hugs

Im so sorry that you have to go through this but you are in the right place.  What helped me in the beginning was to

1.stay off the internet,  don't Google.  Come here to bcna for support

2. Only read the sections from your my journey kit that applies to your current situation. Don't try to take it all on board in one go.  You can come back to it when you face other stages of treatment.

3. Set up a facebook group page and add all family and friends to it and tell them you will use this page for updates on all your treatment and this is where they should post support messages as opposed to texting you constantly asking how you are.  It gets tiring to have to text the same info over and over to concerned friends and family. This way you can write about your experience when you feel up t to it and not get bombarded on your mobile.

4. Ask a close friend to organise a meal roster for friends to cook and bring you meals for the first couple of days.  This is a massive help and can all be done via the fb group page.

5. Then last,  deal with today's issues today!  Everything else that lies ahead needs to go on the 'virtual shelve' until you get to it , then deal with that.  Emotionally you can't and don't need to cope with it all today because it is exhausting your brain and will bring you down.  Having stuff on the 'shelve' puts you back in control. 

All the best with the rest of your experience. Be kind to YOU. 

Big hug, Rene

Thanks Maryrose, appreciate your comments and my feelings are like yours so will be strong like that when I see them on the weekend.

Fiona

Hi Fiona. I had to set some family members straight just after my surgery. They were bringing me down, very emotional  and treating me like i was sick. I was clear i wanted to be treated nornal. As far as i was concerned my cancer had been removed. If i could be strong i wanted everyone else to be also. Its important you surround yourself with positive people and keep a positive attitude.  Take one step and appointment at a time and you will be so much stronger when your treatment is all over. Take good care of yourself.

Maryrose 

Thanks LIsa really appreciate your comments  i will get through this just such a roll a coster

Hi Fiona

you have some great advice here from others going through this. I think it also helps to take it one day at a time. It is an emotional roller coaster at the start with lots of information to process. Take some time for yourself everyday if you can. This is a series of treatments that you will get through and come out the other side of. Once you are clear about your treatment plan it will feel more in control as you will know exactly where you are going. 

All the best and remember to keep posting here as we are all women diagnosed with bc and we get it! 

Lisaxx