Newbie

Welcome to the site.  It's so hard hearing those words when you are diagnosed.  Regarding telling others - do what you are ready for but I would recommend appointing some gatekeepers.  My husband and I told his immediate family (I don't have any) and I told two close friends and asked them to pass on the information to others with the instruction not to contact me as I needed to deal with the news without having to go through it all a hundred times.  I let these two friends know what was going on as things progressed, and they told the others.  While I was having my first surgery, my husband helped me set up a blog so that I could post to that and keep friends up to date.  I think we all found that much easier.  Again, having to go through each detail all of the time would have been too draining.

The other advice I have is, if it is possible, take someone you trust to your appointments as you will not take in much of what is said.  Even doing that, I have realised that there were things discussed 11 months ago that just didn't make it through to me.  Also, write down your questions so that you remember them when you go to appointments.

And come back here for info and support!