Newby

We never know what life is going to throw at us. Like Samantha I acknowledge that there are parts of my old life I will never recover, but from my point of view it is a very positive one! I've decide I'll never wear a bra again, no more arriving at the front door and as soon as you step inside reaching behind you to undo your bra! No reconstruction either, don't care if I'm lopsided.

You'll find that the Dexamethasone they give you to prevent fluid retention and nausea around your chemo days will make you hyper.

At this stage you need to take time for yourself to heal and to grieve. There is a limit to the time you can be upbeat in public. Gather your friends around you and give yourself permission to fall in a heap. Many on this forum have consulted psychologists and/or attended support group meetings to help them through. This sort of help is available, just ask your treatment team.

I found that I only read the information about what I was going through at the moment, but got better and more specific advice from questions I asked of my treatment team - breast care nurse, Medical Oncologist, Radiation Oncologist, Breast Surgeon, Plastic Surgeon, Physio etc.

I made the decision to be treated as a Private Patient in a Public Hospital because of the committment to this Multi-Discipline Team approach and have had an absolutely dream run through the system.

If you still need to have Radiotherapy ask to be treated at a public hospital if at all possible as there is a substantial out of pocket expense if you are treated at a private radiotherapy centre.

With love

Joy K