Diagnosis - not so good

Lots of great tips to use. I'm just starting out

Paula

Just keep on mind that the chemo and targeted therapy for this type of cancer is very good. It will come aroubd soon enough. Best of luck.

Hi Helen,

from one single parent to another, things that helped me out at home:

   - ask close friends/family/teachers to "be there" for your teenager, helps you to know others have got your back when you don't feel strong enough as mum

   - online grocery shopping, they deliver when it suits you and saves a lot of energy, premixed salads & prepared meals are great

   - who cares if the floors don't get cleaned today, they'll still be there tomorrow, next week, next month....

   - even though you are used to doing everything, ask for help. You really can't drive yourself to chemo, no matter how independent you are. Organise family or friends to drive you. My hospital has a "cancer bus" for patients or Transcord to drive you to & from treatment. It's humbling to accept help, but it will lighten the load.

   - those times when you really need someone to talk to, just to know that you're not alone, or some encouragement to keep on hanging on - we are here, talk to us.

Fantastic news that the c hasn't spread, hold on to the positives, Tracey??

Hi Helen, 
Your situation reminded me so much of my own. I was diagnosed triple positive in November 2014. Within three weeks of first finding the lump I was being sat down in a chemo chair. 
At first I couldn't understand why the surgeon didn't want to just cut it out, but now I'm so grateful that he chose the neo-adjuvant chemo option. As unpleasant as the chemo was, it worked fantastically. So much so, that instead of doing a mastectomy the surgeon decided I only needed a lumpectomy. 
Plus, after chemo, everything is a breeze. Radiotherapy was a holiday in comparison!
Anyway, 16 months on, I'm coming up to my last herceptin. Thank goodness!
It was really overwhelming at first but it all settles down, I promise.
I wish you much luck!
Susan

Forgot to add, treatment started last year and my daughter was in year 12. Make sure you tell the school, they can help and he can prob have leeway with assignments and exams.

Keep your son informed and involved, my two chose to attend chemo with me and have been amazing

I'm sorry you had to find us - but it's also good you did.

I also had chemo first to try and shrink a large tumour (how did I miss it), the chemo was changed after first two sessions as it wasn't working that well, the next lot (4 cycles) worked really well. I since have had bilateral mastectomy (I chose this as an option) - had sentinel nodes removed (clear) and am now waiting to start rads.

I am hormone pos too so will start hormones after rads. I am neg for HER2 so won't need herceptin.

It is all so hard to take in, as others have said breathe, ask questions, cry (or not) and take each day at a time. You will get through it

Sending you strength and cyber hugs

Hi Helen, the beginning of this ordeal is tough, particularly the tests, pathology results, the waiting and the information overload, it can all feel too much. Hopefully you have a copy of the My Journey kit, I found it to be a really useful resource and helped me to understand a lot of the new medical terms I was currently hearing. It also helped me to work out what questions to ask my surgeon and oncologists. Taking someone with you to appointments can be really helpful too as I'm sure I often only heard the headlines and very little of the full story!

I was also triple positive (both hormones & HER2 positive), with 3 invasive tumours and 1 lymph node affected. While scary, it was ultimately very treatable and I am almost 4 yrs on from that initial diagnosis. My treatment included a mastectomy, 5 months of chemo, 12 months of Herceptin (for the HER2 + tumour), radiotherapy and am now on Tamoxifen (anti-hormone tablets). I finished active treatment in July 2013 and have since gone on to have reconstruction. I also had 2 school aged children, and it was a tough year for both me and the kids, but both their schools were fantastic supports and hopefully this will be the case for you too.

Because there is so much to get your head around and it can all seem overwhelming, it is useful to try and take it one day / one step at a time - frustrating for we organisers / control freaks - but ultimately a good strategy to riding the BC roller coaster. Best wishes, Jane xx

Hi Helen,

Scary at first, but once you get past the news about 'big' tumour, all I'm seeing is great news!  It hasn't spread!  No lymph involvement.  Wow!  How fantastic.  That means so many good things for you.  Hang in there because you're going to work out that you can take this on.  

I had a similar diagnosis with heavy lymph involvement and I'm still here and feeling better and better.  

Hi Helen,

Remember to breathe, stop and catch your breath. Get a friend to sit with you over a cuppa and breathe....There is so much information being thrown at you at the moment on top of the diagnosis! 

. I have had two surgeries and am waiting for chemo.. I asked the same question about my impending mastectomy, why not now? Have faith that your team know whats best for you! If you have surgery first it would delay the start of chemo, because of healing time from surgery etc.. they want to get in there and  zap that bitch into oblivion! 

There are many resources out there for family support, so many resources to help family members as well as yourself cope with all of this. ASK for help

It's all so overwhelming at times, but if you don't understand ANYTHING, ASK ASK ASK ASK! You need to make sure you fully understand everything that's going to be happening to you! Write questions down, write the answers down....ASK ASK ASK!

You CAN do this! We got your back Helen.....Take care, good luck with all of your treatment and remember to breeeeeeeathe! really breathe....

Love and light for easy recovery and beautiful days.

-Tracy

stay strong|breathe|believe