6 months pregnant and newly diagnosed

Hi Emma,

Sorry to respond so late - I only login every now and then. That's a lot to go through in a week (and the inevitable rest!) 

I was diagnosed at 37 weeks with my first so she was induced at 38+6. I understand the feeling of having your birth plans (and breastfeeding etc) being taken away from you, it's really shitty. I was more upset about being told I couldn't breastfeed than the diagnosis itself, I think.

My daughter is nearly 6 months now and I have 3 more rounds of taxol (chemo) to go and then see the surgeon again for a likely mastectomy (I had a sentinel node biopsy and axillary clearance shortly after the birth with one node showing signs of cancer.) I have radiotherapy after that plus more rounds of herceptin (as my cancer is er, pr and her2 positive.)

You'll get through it. It's not ideal timing but when is this news ever ideal? 

Best of luck with the new bub - I'm not sure whether you're having him early or not but if not it must be getting close to the birth which is very exciting!! 

I'm so sorry to hear you've lost your Mum to (a different type of) cancer so recently too. We lost my Dad in 2010 to renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer) but I can't imagine what losing your Mum must have been like.

You sound like a strong person mentally and I'm sure you will put this in the past once it's all over and done with. My advice (being a similar type A personality) is accept just about every bit of help you're offered and if friends ask how they can help and you can't think of anything ask if they're happy to cook a dinner you can freeze. Things like that really helped me even.though I usually try to do everything myself.

Good luck with your 3 boys and of course getting through all of this.

Marina

xxoo