Newly Diagnosed

Hi @Flossy - welcome to this forum - it's a place where you can come for support any time of the day or night. There's always someone on line and there's always someone who can relate to what you're going through. 

I was diagnosed with bilateral lobular carcinoma in January, aged 52, and had a double mastectomy in April at which point I had a full axillary node clearance on the left side. I've finished AC chemo (4 x 2 weeks apart) and I'm now half way through 12 x weekly Taxol chemo infusions. After that I'll have radiation then hormone therapy as my carcinoma was also ER/PR +ve. 

I've heard so many people tell me about the 'butchery' that was performed on women decades ago. We're really so fortunate to have come so far with treatment and surgery - although there's still a long way to go and much more that can improve. 

Have an amazing time in Fiji - enjoy every minute, and when you get back and start your treatment, please keep in touch and let us know how you're doing. xx

Hi Jameela,
You are a strong beautiful woman.... you have got this.  As scary as this is “ the unknown” plus the demons of knowledge and what we have experienced in our careers .... there is no other option to even consider. And when you are out the end other side of this journey you will be stronger and more beautiful because if your battle. 
Thank you for my Birthday and holiday wishes ... I will have a cocktail for all the strong, brave beautiful women on this network. Xx

Hi @Flossy, my diagnosis is tracking alongside yours, having arrived via a different path and with a different treatment plan. I was found to have a BRCA1 mutation, then 3 weeks ago at my first mammogram and U/S, IDC and DCIS was detected, ER & PR positive, HER2 equivocal – which can’t be felt. My MRI also showed possible DCIS in both breasts. After much soul searching, because of the BRCA1 status I’ve decided to have a bilateral mastectomy and sentinel node biopsy, with immediate expander reconstruction on 5th September; followed by implants in a few months. I’ve also just turned 50, and am an RN – sometimes I think the extra knowledge we have doesn’t always help us.

I agree with @kezmusc, one minute you feel like you’ve got this and the next you’re scared stiff. Even though my decision is made and an operation date has been set I’m riding an emotional roller-coaster, shifting between “this is no big deal” to “OMG this isn’t happening”. For the most part I think my head is down in the sand trying to ignore “that day” which is rapidly approaching.

The women on this forum are amazingly supportive and generous with helpful advice and comments. I am still a bit of a silent stalker of the posts, as my brain is all over the place, but the few times I have put my toe in the water, the feedback I have received has been invaluable.

We’ve got this; we can tread the path together. Have an absolutely fantastic 50th celebration in Fiji. The glorious sand, sun and shared time with family will take you to a “happy place” in those times when the journey gets hard. Sharyn xx

Hi primek,
Yes I have been fortunate to have been assigned a breast nurse... we have chatted on email a couple of times. She so kindly ordered the My Journey kit for me, which I have started to read. I believe a bra is on its way too. 
Many thanks x

Hi Lovelies, 
your posts are so wonderful to read ... so what I needed to hear, so much hope and encouragement gained. What a beautiful lot of women you are so strong and brave, gentle and sharing. 
Hope the day is kind to all of you xx

Welcome @Flossy,

The demons in the head is possibly the hardest part.  One minute it's like Yep. I got this" and the next your scared stiff and howling your eyes out.

Our brains do like to conjure up the worst case scenario for reasons known only to itself and all the waiting around at the start just does your head in.

  I had similar to you.  No lump in the breast could ever be felt by anyone, thankfully it couldn't escape the MRI.  I had the same surgery lumpectomy, aux clearance (5 nodes involved). ER+ PR + Her2 neg.  6 mths chemo and 30 rads.  I had felt the lump in my lymph nodes so I had a fairly good idea of what it was going to turn out to be.  Still horribly shocking though. It's all so hard to believe when you feel perfectly fine.

At the beginning it feels like it's going to take a lifetime to get through.  Time travels fast and you're so busy with appointments and treatment, hey presto, and you're out the other side before you know it.

I did pretty well through chemo, kept my hair with the cold cap and had next to no problems with rads. It does suck but sometimes it's nowhere near as horrid as what you think it is going to be.

Keep chatting to us, everyone here knows how you are feeling.


Enjoy your holiday lovely. 
xoxoxoxoxo

Forgot to add aggressive grade 3 cancer 

Hi @Flossy. Yes, I agree with @kmakm. The waiting at the start is the worst. I had a lumpectomy & 9 lymph nodes removed with one node positive, all margins clear. Er+ Pr+ Her-.  
I’m having TC Chemo & it is doable.  It’s actually not as bad as I thought. Had a few side effects, but that was only in the first week or so. 
Make sure you drink 2 to 3 ltrs of water/coconut water or whatever liquid you choose to wash the toxins out every day. I also try & walk/jog most days. I’m still able to eat as usual. 
2nd chemo due next Wednesday & I want it to hurry up because then I’m half way through. Although wondering how I’ll go this time. 
Radiation & hormonal treatment to follow. Bring on next year!! Time is flying so getting a bit excited about 2019. 
Try & enjoy your holiday, sounds amazing!!!
Take care & let us know how you get on xx

Welcome @Flossy.  I was diagnosed in December last year at 54 after a routine screen.  I was just ticking the boxes getting my health checks and had no idea there was anything wrong.  I was in total shock to get the call back and then to find out it was positive.  I had lobular carcinoma with node involvement (also ER & PR +, HER - ) and ended up with a mastectomy and dissection.  I then went on to 6 months of chemo - AC-T.  I won't lie - it wasn't fun but it was do-able.  It does affect different people in different ways.  Some go on with the practicalities of life with few side effects, some are get ill at times through it, most fall somewhere in the middle.  I'm on to my radiation programme now as well as hormone therapy.  I know that I'm giving it all I can to stop it coming back and that's all I can do.

Try to relax and enjoy your birthday trip.  Let the waves and sunshine take your worries away for a little while and capture a happy place in your memories to go to when things get you down.  (And don't forget to tell @socoda when your birthday is so she can put it on her calendar!)

Welcome and yes knowledge can help but we can over think.
Have you got a My Journey kit on order yet and do you have a breast care nurse?