Dear @Bowie, I am so sorry to hear about your diagnosis and fear. Many of us feel anxiety and depression in our lives. As Soldier Crab says, counseling is definitely a great idea. You can also ring the Cancer Council for phone counselling. My oncologist gave me a referral to a free cancer counselling service where I live.
Once you get going on the treatment you will feel better which is surprising but is, I think, partly that you feel action is being taken and also you have a plan of action. You will meet some wonderful nurses, doctors, radiation people along the way. They make a huge difference.
I too found some of my friends didn't step up to show they cared or to help. I was very upset about this. It's seems to be pretty common, I don't know if things would have been different if I had been better at asking for help. Along the way some other people stepped up and gave me some wonderful support. This seems to be a common experience. So you will make some new friends. I made a friend talking to a nice looking woman waiting in the surgeon's waiting room. She also had breast cancer. Going through something like cancer treatment is a great way to bond. Bosom Buddies is also a way to meet and talk to special women who have been through what you are going through and survived. Keep reaching out to your children, they are young and don't know what to do. You have to gently encourage them to help you.
The cancer treatment is tough but we make it through, even those of us who are not so strong or young. It turns out we are stronger than we realize. Hollywood movies have portrayed chemotherapy as dreadful with vomiting etc. but be assured it isn't normally that bad and there are many drugs to take that help. I got constipation for a few days after each treatment, I had simple medication from the chemist for that, then a day of diarrhea with again simple chemist medication to sort that out. I never vomited. I did have nausea but I had drugs to help with it. If the first drugs aren't strong enough, there are much stronger ones available. You have to be an advocate for yourself and ask. There are a lot of people out there in the system who are there to help you. I recently met a woman who had chemo on a Friday and played tennis in the Saturday, some people cope better than you would imagine.
Having said all of that, yes it's dreadful getting a diagnosis of cancer and having to go through treatment. There are hard days now and ahead. It's ok to feel overwhelmed and sad and frightened. I did too. But it's going to be ok. Treatment will end eventually.
at the hospital and from the Cancer Council and this site also there are really helpful booklets about diet, treatment etc. really worth getting.
This site is so helpful and supportive. Please keep us posted how you are going.
Very best wishes Karen
