Freaking out about Mastectomy

Thinking of you Vallerina.  Everything you describe is so normal for most of us, all the emotions, thoughts running and rerunning through your mind...on an on..  The best advise I got early in my diagnosis was to only focus on whatever challenge you are faced with today and leave everything else e.g. Risk of lymphedema, type of cancer, what they will find or not find etc. on the virtual shelve until the day you are faced with it.  You only have energy to cope with the near future's challenges (near future = weeks ahead not months ahead) and for now that is preparing for surgery.  Focus on things like what you need to pack for hospital and maybe asking family or close friends (one of those who said "please let me know if there is anything I can do' friends) if they could perhaps look at arranging some home cooked meals for your family for the day of surgery and probably 2-3 weeks post surgery.  This way you rally your troops, you can relax about having to worry about cooking after surgery and people closest to you feel they are helping in a practical way.  DO NOT decline help.  If anyone offers, say thank you, I might take you up on your offer and if you think of anything that needs doing, text them.

Then, when surgery day arrives, you deal with that on the day, then when results come through you will deal with that on that specific day not earlier. Deal with the information you are given on the day it is given.  You will have to force yourself to not ask yourself these 'what if?' questions at this stage, because for now you are in the best place possible.  You have a plan, there is a team of experts that will look after you.  With regards to RBWH, I have not had my surgery there but I am from Queensland and I have a work colleague who has and she got state of the art treatment and service.  You need not worry about that at all.

All the best for next week, remember, one day at a time, one challenge at a time, all the rest, put it on the virtual shelve.  You will eat this elephant one bite at a time.  It is a marathon not a sprint and you will soon find your pace of running the race.  We are all here for you cheering you on.

ps:  I am 2 years post surgery/treatment, double mastectomy and full auxiliary clearance (22 lymph nodes removed), and I have not gotten lymphedema as yet.  I'm saying this to encourage you to try hard not to waste your limited energy on things that might not even happen.  Stay strong x