Hi Everyone, my name is Lois and my life got bit of a shock last week when the doctor said "It is Aggressive, Invasive Breast Cancer". The emotions went into hyper drive and I left his room and promptly threw up in his garden. Luckily, my husband was there for that much needed clean up and cuddle. My "Lump" had been there for over 5 months and as I have Lupus, merely thought it was a torn chest muscle that was taking forever to heal. Unfortunately it wasn't. Instead it is a Stage 1, Grade 3 estrogen receptor cancer (I think that is what they said!!) located in the upper quadrant of my left breast on my chest wall. The lump is nearly 30 mm...Yesterday, I met with the Specialist for the first time and my Breast Care Nurse - both very calm, methodical, easy to approach and allowed me for the first time in nearly 3 weeks to let my breath out and come home with a positive outlook - even though I know the months ahead will shake, rattle and roll me to exhaustion and beyond.At the moment, the decision is to take out the lump and relevant lymph nodes then radiation therapy. The view to full removal of both breasts will be considered once I have done healing....especially as "we" are unsure how the Lupus will react as I have been in constant flare up with a myriad of symptoms for nearly a year now. The whole thing of rejection of breast tissue for reconstruction etc needs to be considered at length and with advisement of specialists.I am alternating between being scared and rationally calm. The hardest bit of this news, was having to tell my children and watch the sheer horror cross their faces. That took my breath away.So...that is me. Trying to find a sense of positivity amongst the fear and monumental freak out sessions since I was told the news.

Dear @Lois_56 Hang on to that positivity! It won’t make you well all by itself but it can make bc and treatment a bit easier for you (and your family) to handle. As you have already found out, this stuff is best attacked bit by bit. As far as you possibly can, take it day by day. Things can change, your own views of what you want can too, so it’s good to see how each stage of treatment goes and make decisions as needed, with relevant advice. If you have to do this, Stage 1 is a reassuring start! Best wishes.

You'll find lots of help and support on this forum . As Alfraser says. Take it one day at a time. I was stage 1,grade 3 with a 55mm lump so I had chemo and rads. If it was smaller it would have been like you, only rads. Already you're in front, no chemo . The survival rate is huge so plan to be one of them. I certainly found the answers to a lot of my questions, and fears shared here on this forum..I didn't know about this forum in the early days of my diagnosis when I could have benefited from the info here..Luckily you have arrived here early and everyone will help you .

It sends you reeling, doesn't it? But believe me, it does get better. Once you have a treatment plan and start down that path, the fear and shock seem to recede a bit. My advice...take someone you trust to appointments as two pairs of ears are better than one; write down any questions you may have as you'll probably forget otherwise; stay away from Dr Google as the information there is often old or irrelevant; ...and breathe. Also remember, if you don't want to talk to all and sundry all the time about what is going on, you don't have to. You can update people if you want to in many different ways but it is up to you how much you talk about it.

Hi @Lois_56, I am sorry to see you’ve joined the club no one really wants to join. The diagnosis really rocks your world and those around you. It mucks with your brain bigtime too. But as the girls have said, once you’ve had your surgery, you’ll be amazed at how much better you’ll feel, just knowing it it OUT! I was amazed at how sore I WASNT following my surgery 2 years ago - but it is very important to take the pain meds to keep it at bay. Your pathology will determine the rest of your treatment. I was lucky and skipped chemo too, and found the rads quite easy to cope with. Try and keep busy as you can as wait for your surgery. The waiting is the pits! Keeping your mind and body active helps. Your family will be your biggest supporters, so lean on them. Let them do things for you and definitely have a good buddy with you in appointments. I recorded all my early ones on my phone as I found I couldn’t remember half of what was said. Take care ... and put up any query that you may have, as there is a wealth of support and comfort here, from those who know exactly what you are going thru. Xx

Thank you for the kind words, wisdom and advice. I must admit I did come home and seek Dr. Google's info. I roamed as many sites as possible but kept on being drawn back to this site, especially when my Breast Care Nurse said joining the forum would help me. I knew I had to be educated as much as possible and also to answer any questions posed by my family. I found using social media to put one post up on facebook helped combat the need to individually tell my extended family and friends - it was reassuring indeed to have the outpouring of love and friendship - even though my initial reaction was not to tell anyone - that was a natural reaction I assume to "protect" feelings both of myself and others. I have been told that Radiation can leave you exhausted and the skin becomes highly sensitive for weeks after the sessions are completed? Would soft flowy clothing (cottons) be preferable? Thank you once again (big Hugs) Lois

Newly Diagnosed 18/2/2020 | BCNA Online Network

Blondy
Member
6 years ago
@Lois_56. Everyone reacts in a different way. I also think the mindset goes a long way into how it affects you. On a positive note, I had my sessions first thing in the morning and then went to work. I did get some breakage of skin under my breast at the very end. The centre nurse dressed it then a nurse came to my home as my sessions ended and we ended up after the first visit with the nurse showing my husband how to dress the very small wound as I didn't want her coming to me every day when I'm sure there were far more people needing her. In time it healed and was tender in that area only but I used to wear a pad between it and my bra. My booby was very red but no problem I had moo goo cream which I slathered on many times a day..i found the cream they gave me at rads was thick and harder to apply Moo goo do an excellent oncology pack It contains a lot of things plus some freebies and works out much cheaper than buying them individually. So if anyone wants to buy you a pressie .... The redness gradually receded and as I'm not a nude model it didn't affect my work. Lol. There are so many things that can go wrong, or side effects, etc and you may only have a few of them, certainly not all but it's good to be educated and to be aware but don't for one second think you'll get them all. This is the time to decide how you are going to get through this. That's where the mindset comes in. Glass half full, or half empty. Being stage 1 your prognosis is a very good one. Already you are off to a positive start. Keep it up dear girl and kick its ass and don't ever let it rob you of your happiness or anything else. Give it zero power, by being positive. Put your big girl pants on and show em girl .You got this.. Personally all my friends and family were my Team Unicorn. Right after surgery I wore my Unicorn headband in hospital 2 1/2 years later, last week I still am getting Unicorn presents .. Maybe get yourself a positive team together. I also had a Ra Ra Girl who messaged me forever with happy thoughts.
LoisLois
Member
6 years ago
Thank you for the kind words, wisdom and advice. I must admit I did come home and seek Dr. Google's info. I roamed as many sites as possible but kept on being drawn back to this site, especially when my Breast Care Nurse said joining the forum would help me. I knew I had to be educated as much as possible and also to answer any questions posed by my family.
I found using social media to put one post up on facebook helped combat the need to individually tell my extended family and friends - it was reassuring indeed to have the outpouring of love and friendship - even though my initial reaction was not to tell anyone - that was a natural reaction I assume to "protect" feelings both of myself and others.

I have been told that Radiation can leave you exhausted and the skin becomes highly sensitive for weeks after the sessions are completed? Would soft flowy clothing (cottons) be preferable?

Thank you once again (big Hugs) Lois
arpie
Member
6 years ago
Hi @Lois_56, I am sorry to see you’ve joined the club no one really wants to join. The diagnosis really rocks your world and those around you. It mucks with your brain bigtime too.

But as the girls have said, once you’ve had your surgery, you’ll be amazed at how much better you’ll feel, just knowing it it OUT! I was amazed at how sore I WASNT following my surgery 2 years ago - but it is very important to take the pain meds to keep it at bay. Your pathology will determine the rest of your treatment. I was lucky and skipped chemo too, and found the rads quite easy to cope with.

Try and keep busy as you can as wait for your surgery. The waiting is the pits! Keeping your mind and body active helps. Your family will be your biggest supporters, so lean on them. Let them do things for you and definitely have a good buddy with you in appointments. I recorded all my early ones on my phone as I found I couldn’t remember half of what was said.

Take care ... and put up any query that you may have, as there is a wealth of support and comfort here, from those who know exactly what you are going thru. Xx
Blondy
Member
6 years ago
You'll find lots of help and support on this forum . As Alfraser says. Take it one day at a time. I was stage 1,grade 3 with a 55mm lump so I had chemo and rads. If it was smaller it would have been like you, only rads. Already you're in front, no chemo . The survival rate is huge so plan to be one of them. I certainly found the answers to a lot of my questions, and fears shared here on this forum..I didn't know about this forum in the early days of my diagnosis when I could have benefited from the info here..Luckily you have arrived here early and everyone will help you .
Sister
Member
6 years ago
It sends you reeling, doesn't it? But believe me, it does get better. Once you have a treatment plan and start down that path, the fear and shock seem to recede a bit. My advice...take someone you trust to appointments as two pairs of ears are better than one; write down any questions you may have as you'll probably forget otherwise; stay away from Dr Google as the information there is often old or irrelevant; ...and breathe. Also remember, if you don't want to talk to all and sundry all the time about what is going on, you don't have to. You can update people if you want to in many different ways but it is up to you how much you talk about it.
Afraser
Member
6 years ago
Dear @Lois_56

Hang on to that positivity! It won’t make you well all by itself but it can make bc and treatment a bit easier for you (and your family) to handle. As you have already found out, this stuff is best attacked bit by bit. As far as you possibly can, take it day by day. Things can change, your own views of what you want can too, so it’s good to see how each stage of treatment goes and make decisions as needed, with relevant advice. If you have to do this, Stage 1 is a reassuring start! Best wishes.

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