Need some positive stories

I was 46, it was 8 months ago.  Stage2, Grade 3.  I had a tidy removal of the tumour with minimal scaring.  2 ops under the arm to clear the nodes and the operations were no drama.  I see you used the word, minimal, that good right!  I am Triple Negative and if I wanted to panic, I could have because that is a more difficult one to treat.  But I also think its a bonus because I dont have to take those tablets for the next 5 years.  (smile).  I noticed you have family support.  Thats wonderful, some women dont.  Your beautiful children are old enough to understand and I think thats a bonus.  Most women eventually leave behind the constant contact, so the survivors are out there back at work or doing other fabulous things they didnt get to do before this happened.  There are plenty of positives..... oh and there is ONLY ONE YOU AND NO 2 PEOPLE GO THROUGH THE SAME DIAGNOSIS OR TREATMENTS.  (very often).  (smiling helps).  Big hug, Bel

If I tell all the women on the BCNA website to look out their front window and tell me what they see, then that is what breast cancer is like.  It all depends on the view, the attitude and your own experience.

I had to have 2 operations to remove nodes, but I never once felt terror, just thought, lucky it hasnt gone further.  As you go through your own experience, it will greatly depend on how you think.  and how positive the stories are around you.   I found It is easy to focus on the negative because its not great being diagnosed with Cancer, but you do adapt and ultimately, trying to be a  positive person, I feel will have more positive result .   I am so glad the view from my window was tranquil.

xx Bel

If I tell all the women on the BCNA website to look out their front window and tell me what they see, then that is what breast cancer is like.  It all depends on the view, the attitude and your own experience.

I had to have 2 operations to remove nodes, but I never once felt terror, just thought, lucky it hasnt gone further.  As you go through your own experience, it will greatly depend on how you think.  and how positive the stories are around you.   I found It is easy to focus on the negative because its not great being diagnosed with Cancer, but you do adapt and ultimately, trying to be a  positive person, I feel will have more positive result .   I am so glad the view from my window was tranquil.

xx Bel

Hi Lara, I was diagnosed at 41 in June 2012 with multi focal stage 2 grade 2 IDC lymph nodes clear. I have had 2 lumpectomies that did not remove all evidence of disease so after chemo finished had a bilateral mast and skin sparing free tram flap reconstruction. I am 12 weeks post that last surgey.

The waiting is the hardest part I found. Waiting for results is torture. But whatever the news, knowing is better than not knowing and means you can move forward with whatever you need to do.

So now I am 12 months on and completing treatment in December (as I was her 2 Positive thus on herceptin). I am returning to work after the holidays. I feel strong and reparied, a;most like before this whole cancer episode. I still have revision surgery and nipples and plan to be complete by the end of this year.

I hope you get clear nodes, but until they get in there they will not really know staging and grade anyway. I should also say that having an MRI was my turning point and am very glad i had one as it resulted in a better diagnosis of DCIS and subsequent need for the mastectomy. Otherwise we would not have known what was there.

Hard as it is its all doable. i found i was not worried about some things like i thought i would be; eg loss of hair and no nipples. But somehow, I think due to my great kids, I just soldiered on and we had plenty of laughs.

Take care and ask heaps of questions and always get your pathology reports to do your own research so you know whats going on. XXX Louie

Hi Lara,

I am 49 and was diagnosed in march this year, had a partial Masecomy and was told that my lymph glands were clear by an ultra sound and would only have to have radiation.
After the OP that went well, a week later had to path results, the lump was alot larger that they thought but it had started to go into my lymph nodes. This meant that i now would have to have Chemo, Radiation and 5 years of tablets - my husband and i were devestated, but when the Doc explains to you in percentages of the benefits of having all the treatment or only radiation the window of recovery was huge and a no brainer to our decision.

I am half way through my chemo, then 6 weeks of everyday radiation and then 5 years of tablets, but the outcome is good for me.

Please i know it is hard not to dwell and think the worst - the WAITING is the worst, but wait for the results and deal with it then.

Hope to keep reading on your progress honey, all the best with the OP.

Jody xoxoxoxoox

It is all scary, and so unfair when you are so young. But I truly believe in the power of positive thinking.

Look at your beautiful family, enjoy every moment with them, plan things with them, force your mind to push away the dark thoughts. Embrace whatever treatment you can have to fight it. Just take one day at a time, try not to project the might bes and what ifs.

I KNOW it is hard, I've done it too. I am one year down the track and it gets easier.

I have all fingers crossed for positive results from your lymph.

magicmum