I was told yesterday

No worries, georgie -- just ask any time (you can bet if you have a questions, someone else does, too :).

To add a contact, just click on the person's username, and when you're on their profile page, have a look on the right side of the page under their userpic and you'll see a link labelled "add as contact".  When you click on that link, it takes you to a page where you can write a little message, and submit. The person then gets notified and when they accept they'll automatically appear in your contacts list.  Have a go by clicking on my name and see if you can get it to work

Similar thing for groups.  Just go to the group home page (by clicking on a name link in a list when you see it), then join the group.  Once you've joined it will automatically appear in your groups list (My Groups). Try it out with the Getting Started Group and see if that works.

Hope that helps

Di

Thanks Di for your advice, I am still trying to figure out how to use this site - a few sinple things like how to I save contacts into "Contacts" or groups into "My Groups".

I slept most of the night last night for the first time this week and today feel as though I'm more able to get a grip. Have written a list of things to do (can't get by without my lists) and am going to try to achieve some of these things.

Thanks again for your help.

Georgie

 

i have been where you are now. I was diagnosed in july 2011 at only 27. I only had one breast off but the tumor was 10cm in my left breast. operation was actually easier than i had thought. I had the full dose of chemo and radiation starting in august 2011. i couldnt have reconstruction immediately but i am planning to have it eventually. im actually only days away from finishing radiation!!! im on tamoxifen for 5 years to stop cancer coming back. the ladies here are awesome so much information and they genuinely care about people who are going through the same thing.

The time doesnt feel like it will go fast at the start but things do get better. Good luck!!

i have been where you are now. I was diagnosed in july 2011 at only 27. I only had one breast off but the tumor was 10cm in my left breast. operation was actually easier than i had thought. I had the full dose of chemo and radiation starting in august 2011. i couldnt have reconstruction immediately but i am planning to have it eventually. im actually only days away from finishing radiation!!! im on tamoxifen for 5 years to stop cancer coming back. the ladies here are awesome so much information and they genuinely care about people who are going through the same thing.

The time doesnt feel like it will go fast at the start but things do get better. Good luck!!

Hey Georgie, I just wanted to also say welcome, and give you a couple of links that might make it easier to use this site.

If you want to see all the latest public posts, you can do that on the 'all posts' page, here: http://www.bcna.org.au/node/all/blog/network

To find out a bit more about how this site works, you can visit the Help page, here: http://www.bcna.org.au/help

To find something on a particular topic, (something you particularly want to know about, that might have already been talked about), just type your key words into the search bar at the top of the page above the main navigation the same as you would with Google (or use this link: http://www.bcna.org.au/search).

Glad to hear you're starting to get a plan together for your treatment.  Just ask any time you have a question -- there's nearly always someone here who can share an experience. :)

Di

Thank you so much to all of you that responded to my cry for help,  My internet connection went dow yesterday and I couldn't get online so I have only just read your comments.  Your comments made me feel that I'm am not alone in this and I just sat here reading them with tears streaming down my face knowing that you are out there.

Yes i do feel like I'm in a freefall at the moment my surgeon who I saw yesterday said this first appt was what the parachute appt.  He was right in a way I still feel like I'm falling just a little more slowly.

I have been diaganosed with invasive breast cancer, I am scheduled for surgery on the 27th March he talked about wires and injections of radioactive dyes to check on my nodes and a whole heap more that I am trying to remember my husband was with me but I don't think anything was written down because we were both in such shock..  My surgeon has given me some dvd's to watch ( can't go there yet) and I am being sent for a bi lateral mammogram and ultra sound, left breast only as the lump (though I do have another name for her) is in my right breast, that happenes on the 22nd March.

On my ......wires, dye injections - I am the woman who has to lay down when they take blood because of my needle phobia I just don't know how i'm going to do this.

But you ladies all seem so strong and have coped so I am going to have to draw on your strength and hope I don't embarrass myself by passing out and telling them all to stop.

thank you all again for you words  Georgie

Hi Georgie,

sorry to hear about your diagnosis.  You will find many of us on here willing to share our experiences and hints to help you along the way.  Your head will be spinning for a few weeks as you go where you are told and do what you are told.  It will settle down eventually  but it will feel hectic at the start.

Make sure you write down any questions you have when you go to the doctor or for tests. 

I am always happy to have a chat if I can help.  Feel free to add me as a contact if you like.

i wish you all the best with your appt.

Take care.

Tracey xx

Hi Georgie

I'm about six weeks ahead of you and it's certainly a roller coaster ride. My experience was a whole lot of appointments - blood tests, ultrasounds, MRI's, body scans etc and then the scheduled surgery date.  Don't be afraid to ask your surgeon lots and lots of questions.  My surgeon offered to write everything down for me as both my husband and I were in shock at most appointments.

I had surgery just over a week ago and just found out about my type of cancer this week.  It's been a lot of waiting in my experience.  I worked up until surgery and am now on extended sick leave.  I'm now waiting to find out more about treatments (ie. chemo and radiation) and what happens from here.

I've heard the best things are a positive mindset, lots of laughter and exercise.  Not always easy to laugh but hopefully you have support around you.

Good luck with it all and I've found taking it one step at a time keeps it from being overwhelmingly terrifying.

Tammy

 

Hi Georgie, I remember like it was yesterday, hearing the Dr tell me that I had invasive breast cancer. The lump I was having checked, had been diagnosed as fibrous glandular tissue, and the accidently discovered ( cyst ), that no one was very worried about, turned out to be the cancer. Like you, I wasn't even concerned that my results would show cancer, and when they did, I had to ring my husband who was on business in Perth, ( I'm in Sydney), and tell him the news over the phone. He was able to get on a plane that afternoon and be back for my specialist appointment the next day. It is not the sort of news you want to tell over the phone, and then there is a long wait for them to get home. This all happened 16 months ago, and I'm on the otherside now and doing well. I had a lumpectomy first, followed by a mastectomy and 10 nodes removed a few weeks later, due to the aggressive nature and size of the tumour. I came home on Christmas day. Since then I have had 4 cycles of chemo, a second precautionary mastectomy, insertion of bilateral tissue expanders, and in January had the permanent silicone implants fitted. I will be having my 5th hair cut on Friday and my hair has come back very curly. I will be taking femara, an anti oestrogen tab for the next 5 to 10 years. As the others have said, the time will go quickly and soon it will be behind you. I too advise you to take someone with you to all appointments, as it is hard to remember everything while scared to death. I wish you well, and trust you will get all the support you need from your family, friends, and us. Love Chris xx

Hi Georgie, I remember like it was yesterday, hearing the Dr tell me that I had invasive breast cancer. The lump I was having checked, had been diagnosed as fibrous glandular tissue, and the accidently discovered ( cyst ), that no one was very worried about, turned out to be the cancer. Like you, I wasn't even concerned that my results would show cancer, and when they did, I had to ring my husband who was on business in Perth, ( I'm in Sydney), and tell him the news over the phone. He was able to get on a plane that afternoon and be back for my specialist appointment the next day. It is not the sort of news you want to tell over the phone, and then there is a long wait for them to get home. This all happened 16 months ago, and I'm on the otherside now and doing well. I had a lumpectomy first, followed by a mastectomy and 10 nodes removed a few weeks later, due to the aggressive nature and size of the tumour. I came home on Christmas day. Since then I have had 4 cycles of chemo, a second precautionary mastectomy, insertion of bilateral tissue expanders, and in January had the permanent silicone implants fitted. I will be having my 5th hair cut on Friday and my hair has come back very curly. I will be taking femara, an anti oestrogen tab for the next 5 to 10 years. As the others have said, the time will go quickly and soon it will be behind you. I too advise you to take someone with you to all appointments, as it is hard to remember everything while scared to death. I wish you well, and trust you will get all the support you need from your family, friends, and us. Love Chris xx