Just diagnosed stage 1 - feeling scared
Hi all Three weeks ago I was in the shower and noticed a lump. I'm not a lumpy breast person so I realised straight away. It was tender also. So I booked a mammogram through breast screen and saw ...
Forum Discussion
Welcome @Tweezer,
Just adding to the many responses to say you are not alone with this wonderful group here to support you. I'm a few months ahead of you on this path, and the shock of the diagnosis is still palpable. I'm also sorry about the loss of your brother, even if your relationship had been fraught it is a sad time.
I know you must be hurting and feeling very afraid - we have all been there... In late August I was on my way to a fabulous job overseas and after finding a lump had to turn around and come back to Australia. Two days later I was diagnosed stage three invasive ductal cancer, and 16 days after that I had a mastectomy. Starting 8 months of chemo and radiotherapy this Friday. And it's scary, but so many here on the BCNA group have helped me already. I felt I needed to change oncologists, last week right before chemo and found the most amazing support here in this group who collectively gave me the courage to fight for the very best treatment and care.
I sincerely hope your Mum can come down to help you. I've had to return to my childhood family home on the East Coast of NSW to be with my sister and mother during treatment, as I'd already packed up my life here to go overseas. I didn't want to, but now I'm glad I did. Also the day after my surgery, my partner left me. C'est la guerre! It broke my heart at the time, but he wasn't being supportive and the disappointment of his daily failures was worse than facing this experience as a single woman. We experience pain, we adjust, move on and focus on the important stuff ~ our health. Everything else falls into line behind that.
I hope you can share your diagnosis with close friends. You'll be amazed at how much compassion and support will come to you. Accept all the support that is offered. Do everything all these wonderful women on this thread have already advised! Take notes of each suggestion, get the My Journey kit, write down your questions and take someone with you to appointments. Prime your companion by saying they may have to take over your list of questions if you begin to feel overwhelmed. Its a lot to take in.
Also, ask to see a Breast Care Nurse who specialise in patients such as us, and ask your GP for a referral to a psychologist or psychiatrist through BreCare (Breast Care Centre) in Melbourne. You could also, instead, ask your GP if you are eligible to apply for a mental health care plan which can cover the cost of visits to a psych' in certain circumstances.
On the job front: I hope the superannuation fund is able to help with income protection, and your employer shows a little more compassion. Talk to the social workers at the BreCan about your rights in the workplace. But also know that if you can't work, if it all goes pear-shaped, you can explain and request that your GP issue you with a Centrelink medical certificate for 3 months at a time which means you will not have to work during treatment. This will ensure you have some funds (essentially the dole) to survive on during treatment. It all helps if you are unable to work.
Hope some of this helps, and you're able to draw some comfort from our solidarity - we are all here, walking the same journey with you. Our strength is in our unity and community spirit.
Hugs, Karen
Just adding to the many responses to say you are not alone with this wonderful group here to support you. I'm a few months ahead of you on this path, and the shock of the diagnosis is still palpable. I'm also sorry about the loss of your brother, even if your relationship had been fraught it is a sad time.
I know you must be hurting and feeling very afraid - we have all been there... In late August I was on my way to a fabulous job overseas and after finding a lump had to turn around and come back to Australia. Two days later I was diagnosed stage three invasive ductal cancer, and 16 days after that I had a mastectomy. Starting 8 months of chemo and radiotherapy this Friday. And it's scary, but so many here on the BCNA group have helped me already. I felt I needed to change oncologists, last week right before chemo and found the most amazing support here in this group who collectively gave me the courage to fight for the very best treatment and care.
I sincerely hope your Mum can come down to help you. I've had to return to my childhood family home on the East Coast of NSW to be with my sister and mother during treatment, as I'd already packed up my life here to go overseas. I didn't want to, but now I'm glad I did. Also the day after my surgery, my partner left me. C'est la guerre! It broke my heart at the time, but he wasn't being supportive and the disappointment of his daily failures was worse than facing this experience as a single woman. We experience pain, we adjust, move on and focus on the important stuff ~ our health. Everything else falls into line behind that.
I hope you can share your diagnosis with close friends. You'll be amazed at how much compassion and support will come to you. Accept all the support that is offered. Do everything all these wonderful women on this thread have already advised! Take notes of each suggestion, get the My Journey kit, write down your questions and take someone with you to appointments. Prime your companion by saying they may have to take over your list of questions if you begin to feel overwhelmed. Its a lot to take in.
Also, ask to see a Breast Care Nurse who specialise in patients such as us, and ask your GP for a referral to a psychologist or psychiatrist through BreCare (Breast Care Centre) in Melbourne. You could also, instead, ask your GP if you are eligible to apply for a mental health care plan which can cover the cost of visits to a psych' in certain circumstances.
On the job front: I hope the superannuation fund is able to help with income protection, and your employer shows a little more compassion. Talk to the social workers at the BreCan about your rights in the workplace. But also know that if you can't work, if it all goes pear-shaped, you can explain and request that your GP issue you with a Centrelink medical certificate for 3 months at a time which means you will not have to work during treatment. This will ensure you have some funds (essentially the dole) to survive on during treatment. It all helps if you are unable to work.
Hope some of this helps, and you're able to draw some comfort from our solidarity - we are all here, walking the same journey with you. Our strength is in our unity and community spirit.
Hugs, Karen