Newly diagnosed and learning
I've read through some posts and realise I have lots of gaps of knowledge about what I have. I know I have breast cancer, it's about 8cm, I know its spread to my armpit lymphs and now the nodes near ...
Forum Discussion
HI there @Lillian67.
I am so sorry about your diagnosis but can I give you a virtual hug and a huge welcome to the online forum. Here you will find many like minded women who at the start of their diagnosis had lots of questions but did not know what to ask, how to ask it (sometimes fear prevents us) and general confusion and fuzziness. There is so much support here Lillian that I am sure that by end of the weekend you will have many helpful comments and hints so you can be as prepared as one can be.
What you need to do right now - and this is the hardest part - is take a deep breath. Keep doing this several times a day over the next few weeks/months.This diagnosis sounds like early breast cancer with some spread beyond the original site (breast) and into your lymph nodes (most common place for bc to go when it goes beyond the breast). What sort of questions to ask is how many lymph nodes were involved (positive for cancer) - you already know it is ER positive (oestrogen). Also, ask what grade your cancer is.
You said that the bone scan and CT scan has come back clear - that is the first good sign.The PET scan will reveal more results (if anything to report) when you have that next week.
What you are experiencing and feeling is totally normal - in fact, there is no "normal" situation in a bc diagnosis. Because your life has been turned upside down ! The fact you keep swinging between starting treatment and wanting to gather more information is something that I am sure most of us have felt or experienced.You feel like a pendulum at times.
Of uppermost in your mind are your 2 little girls - they are babies, in effect. I totally understand where you are coming from. My boys were 5 and 2 when I was first diagnosed. My fear was that I would not see them start school, finish school, grow up etc etc. Well, my eldest is now 2nd year at Uni and my youngest has just started Year 10.
Keep telling yourself that you are young, possibly otherwise healthy apart from bc and you have everything to live for. You are not going to leave your little girls as you have everything to fight for.
Current treatment delivers great results for early bc.
When you see your oncologist next week ask lots of questions - go through the My Journey kit over the next week - several times, if you need to - and jot down any questions you might have. Even ask your breast care nurse - you mentioned that she is wonderful (most of them are !).
If you can take another person with you next week when you see your oncologist - a trusted friend, partner etc - that makes a huge difference. You have a support person there - someone who "has your back". An extra set of ears is very handy. Write down any questions you have before you go in and your oncologist won't mind if you jot down the answer or ask for clarification while you are there. You need to put your mind at ease with informative, reliable information as there are lots of frightening websites out there that simply scare and do not educate (and are often plain wrong).
My very best wishes to you and your family Lillian <3
Sheryl xxxx
I am so sorry about your diagnosis but can I give you a virtual hug and a huge welcome to the online forum. Here you will find many like minded women who at the start of their diagnosis had lots of questions but did not know what to ask, how to ask it (sometimes fear prevents us) and general confusion and fuzziness. There is so much support here Lillian that I am sure that by end of the weekend you will have many helpful comments and hints so you can be as prepared as one can be.
What you need to do right now - and this is the hardest part - is take a deep breath. Keep doing this several times a day over the next few weeks/months.This diagnosis sounds like early breast cancer with some spread beyond the original site (breast) and into your lymph nodes (most common place for bc to go when it goes beyond the breast). What sort of questions to ask is how many lymph nodes were involved (positive for cancer) - you already know it is ER positive (oestrogen). Also, ask what grade your cancer is.
You said that the bone scan and CT scan has come back clear - that is the first good sign.The PET scan will reveal more results (if anything to report) when you have that next week.
What you are experiencing and feeling is totally normal - in fact, there is no "normal" situation in a bc diagnosis. Because your life has been turned upside down ! The fact you keep swinging between starting treatment and wanting to gather more information is something that I am sure most of us have felt or experienced.You feel like a pendulum at times.
Of uppermost in your mind are your 2 little girls - they are babies, in effect. I totally understand where you are coming from. My boys were 5 and 2 when I was first diagnosed. My fear was that I would not see them start school, finish school, grow up etc etc. Well, my eldest is now 2nd year at Uni and my youngest has just started Year 10.
Keep telling yourself that you are young, possibly otherwise healthy apart from bc and you have everything to live for. You are not going to leave your little girls as you have everything to fight for.
Current treatment delivers great results for early bc.
When you see your oncologist next week ask lots of questions - go through the My Journey kit over the next week - several times, if you need to - and jot down any questions you might have. Even ask your breast care nurse - you mentioned that she is wonderful (most of them are !).
If you can take another person with you next week when you see your oncologist - a trusted friend, partner etc - that makes a huge difference. You have a support person there - someone who "has your back". An extra set of ears is very handy. Write down any questions you have before you go in and your oncologist won't mind if you jot down the answer or ask for clarification while you are there. You need to put your mind at ease with informative, reliable information as there are lots of frightening websites out there that simply scare and do not educate (and are often plain wrong).
My very best wishes to you and your family Lillian <3
Sheryl xxxx