Just wanted to say hi.

enjoy the weekend, it sounds wonderful.  Will be good for you to have some 'chill out time' before the rollercoaster ride begins.

Di  :)

I love INXS too.So good music and wine-should be a good weekend.It will keep you occupied and give you nice memories to visualize in the weeks to come.Hope you have a good one.

                                           Tonya

Hi Loretta,

So sorry to hear about your diagnosis.You feel like you are in a bad dream but then you wake each morning and remind yourself it's real.It takes a few days to get over the shock and then you go into survival mode - right,what do I need to do and prepare myself for.I had a lumpectomy,full lymph node clearance and then radiation back in 2003.I was just as shocked when cancer came back in the same breast last May.I had to have a mastectomy and then chemo and am now on Tamoxifen.So have had the full works but no reconstructions.Your pathology dictates which path you go and it's the waiting that does your head in.Just take each bit at a time.For which ever op you have make sure you have some button down the front pjs and shirts to wear afterwards.It can be abit hard to put your arm up at first.If there is a breast care nurse available to you then meet with her before your op.They are amazing support.Lots of support for you here too,we know how it is.

                                                 Tonya

Hi Loretta,

Welcome!! I agree with everything Di said above. The speed with everything that happens after diagnoses is amazing. Make sure you take someone to support you to all the appointments as you wont remember half of what is said. Do you have access to a McGrath Breast Care Nurse...I found mine invaluable. She will help you with everything.

I am 49 and married with 5 children (none at home). I too had a right mastectomy and full axilla clearance (all lymph nodes removed) in on the 29th Oct 2010. I breezed through the surgery and recovered quickly ( make sure you do all the exercises after surgery or you will have trouble with movement in that arm). Chemo is another story but its different with everyone. With any luck you wont need chemo or radiation therapy..fingers crossed.

Good to hear you have lots of family and friends to support you. They are a god send in my case. I would be lost without my hubby and parents.

All the best for the surgery and if you can let us all know how you are going when you can. Make heaps of friends on this wonderful website as we all help each other.

Take care ((HUGS)))

Chrissy D xox

Hi Loretta,

Welcome!! I agree with everything Di said above. The speed with everything that happens after diagnoses is amazing. Make sure you take someone to support you to all the appointments as you wont remember half of what is said. Do you have access to a McGrath Breast Care Nurse...I found mine invaluable. She will help you with everything.

I am 49 and married with 5 children (none at home). I too had a right mastectomy and full axilla clearance (all lymph nodes removed) in on the 29th Oct 2010. I breezed through the surgery and recovered quickly ( make sure you do all the exercises after surgery or you will have trouble with movement in that arm). Chemo is another story but its different with everyone. With any luck you wont need chemo or radiation therapy..fingers crossed.

Good to hear you have lots of family and friends to support you. They are a god send in my case. I would be lost without my hubby and parents.

All the best for the surgery and if you can let us all know how you are going when you can. Make heaps of friends on this wonderful website as we all help each other.

Take care ((HUGS)))

Chrissy D xox

Hi Loretta,

Welcome!! I agree with everything Di said above. The speed with everything that happens after diagnoses is amazing. Make sure you take someone to support you to all the appointments as you wont remember half of what is said. Do you have access to a McGrath Breast Care Nurse...I found mine invaluable. She will help you with everything.

I am 49 and married with 5 children (none at home). I too had a right mastectomy and full axilla clearance (all lymph nodes removed) in on the 29th Oct 2010. I breezed through the surgery and recovered quickly ( make sure you do all the exercises after surgery or you will have trouble with movement in that arm). Chemo is another story but its different with everyone. With any luck you wont need chemo or radiation therapy..fingers crossed.

Good to hear you have lots of family and friends to support you. They are a god send in my case. I would be lost without my hubby and parents.

All the best for the surgery and if you can let us all know how you are going when you can. Make heaps of friends on this wonderful website as we all help each other.

Take care ((HUGS)))

Chrissy D xox

Hi Loretta

welcome to the site, I hope you find some very helpful comments/tips etc.  Sorry to hear about your diagnosis and yes, everything does happen extremely quickly.  You dont really have time to digest the news, before you are off for surgery, then treatments start almost immediately after surgery (mine did, anyway).  Everything just seems to knock the wind right out of your sails.

I think it is great that the medical profession get onto this straight away, but if you feel like I did, you will feel that your body doesnt belong to you!  I had a mastectomy with full axilla clearance (which just means they took all the lymph nodes) which hasnt really caused any major hassles, but have to be extremely careful as the risk of lymphoedema is increased.

Be prepared to be 'shunted from pillar to post' over the coming months, but life will return to 'normal' (whatever that is) at some stage and you will be able to slow down.

Listen to your body, rest when you need to and get all the help you can from family and friends.

Be mindful (if you can) of hubby, as this will be a long journey for him also.

Wishing you well for your op and treatment.  Look after yourself.

Di 

Hi Loretta

welcome to the site, I hope you find some very helpful comments/tips etc.  Sorry to hear about your diagnosis and yes, everything does happen extremely quickly.  You dont really have time to digest the news, before you are off for surgery, then treatments start almost immediately after surgery (mine did, anyway).  Everything just seems to knock the wind right out of your sails.

I think it is great that the medical profession get onto this straight away, but if you feel like I did, you will feel that your body doesnt belong to you!  I had a mastectomy with full axilla clearance (which just means they took all the lymph nodes) which hasnt really caused any major hassles, but have to be extremely careful as the risk of lymphoedema is increased.

Be prepared to be 'shunted from pillar to post' over the coming months, but life will return to 'normal' (whatever that is) at some stage and you will be able to slow down.

Listen to your body, rest when you need to and get all the help you can from family and friends.

Be mindful (if you can) of hubby, as this will be a long journey for him also.

Wishing you well for your op and treatment.  Look after yourself.

Di