Newly diagnosed less than 2 weeks - scared

"Surround yourself with positive people" - yes, I find that essential too. It's like I've become allergic to negativity, criticism, discontent, etc. I told my husband I'm allergic to all that stuff this year, and I pull him up when he's having a bit of a moan.

We (husband and I) continue a practice we started several years ago - at bedtime as we're saying goodnight, we share three positive things from the day. At first it felt like we sometimes struggled to find three, but we got better at it and helped each other. It doesn't matter how small the thing is - and we get a bit of a chuckle when it feels like we're scraping the barrel! It's good for both of us, and something we'll continue long into the future. Gradually, over time, it changes your mindset. 

Our worries and concerns have a life of their own, but for a couple of minutes at the end of the day, we dwell on the other side of the coin - the good things in our life.

Thanks again, you beautiful girls for all your kind words of support.  It's nice to hear stories of people at the end of their treatment, still travelling somewhere, or close to where I'm tripping along.

I'm finding this week is the focus to psych myself up to more surgery, find out everything I know about bc, enjoy my daughter's 16th birthday followed by mothers' day. Walks in the park and the joy of folding laundry warmed by the sun!  So it's a full week!

Thank you, thank you, thank you,

One day at a time,

xx

Hi Kazzi,  I agree with all the advice the others have given. It is a long journey...tough at times...but you will get through it...small steps forward. I am looking at my 12 month anniversary coming up...enjoying things in life and looking forward to the future. Come on here for support...you will receive plenty. We are all thinking of you. God Bless. Chris.xx

Hi Kazzi

So sorry you have joined the BC club. It is such a shock at first!  I am 47 and am quite a newbie too.  I was diagnosed in Feb this year .  It has been a roller coaster ride with lots of waiting ... For appts and results and consultations.  I am now 5 weeks post op from a unilateral mastectomy and auxillary clearance and am about to start 6 months of chemo followed by hormone therapy and radiation therapy.  Reconstruction will be my prize at the end over a year down the track!

I would love to stay in touch with you.  Be kind to yourself and allow yourself to roll with whatever emotions come up.  I learnt to reach out to close friends and family when I felt I needed extra support.  I have also been blown away at the beautiful kind people that are out there.  I hope you find love, kindness and care around you also.  Sending kind thoughts your way that your surgery, pathology and treatment plan come together quickly so you can begin to see the plan ahead.  I'm learning the one day at a time thing as the others have said.  I've found it helpful to schedule some pleasant things in amongst the harder stuff, like meeting a friend for a coffee or walking by the beach to take a break from my whole world being about  BC.  Even if it's just a little breather here or there.  All the best Hun.  

LindaN

Hi Kazzi, it can be overwhelming at the start with so much happening in a short period of time.  I was diagnosed last September with early breast cancer and had two surgeries followed by chemo and radiotherapy which I finished two weeks ago.  Visit to the oncologist today and now I start hormone therapy. 

The time has literally flown even though there were days that seemed to take forever to pass and the appointments would never end.  Like the other ladies, one day at time.  Look on the bright side of life because there have been many positive aspects even though it is a rotten way to find out how strong you will be.

I have found that being bald didn't bother me in the least.  I love my short hair now and have decided to keep it that way.  I rediscovered my love of colourful clothing, hats and fabulous earrings.

Be kind to yourself during your treatment and don't worry about the things you don't have the energy to do. 

Surround yourself with positive people.  I refused to listen to anyone who even looked like being negative. 

good luck Maureen

I don't mean to reply just to add a comment but not sure how to do that. My diagnosis was infiltrating duct grade 2 20mm with one lymph node .8mm hormone and re positive her2 neg. my treatment was August 2013 lumpectomy followed by radiation and now on tamaxofin.  I think the stage you are at is one of the hardest as there is shock and adjusting : I remember ending up on surgeon's floor which I thought at the time was a bit dramatic but that's how it was for me.  Things can change too: the scans showed two other lumps that my surgeon wasn't concerned with and they did go away by themselves and my surgery went well.  It is a life threatening illness with a good prognosis for many so I still cross over to these two realities but I think in the beginning, for me anyway, it was adjusting to those aspects.   best wishes

Hi Kazzi, sorry you've joined the club but welcome. It is a whirlwind at first and you don't really have much time to digest it all. Ask lots of questions of your medical team. Write them down when you think of them so that you don't forget. I always took some one to appointments with me so they could take in the information that I couldn't. Definitely one day at a time is the way to go. You will get through this. You will get heaps of support and good advice from everyone here so keep in contact. Take care. Karen xox

Thank you for those lovely responses  & the reminder to take one day at a time.  (I'm a teacher, so I'm usually always forward planning!)

I had a better night's sleep, no night horror thinking, and waking up to those comments has just made my day.

Today is a good day.

Thanks

Welcome the girls have covered most things one day at a time. Get a box to keep all information you will receive and a diary to keep track of all your appointments.

It is a long trip but you will get there, I was diagnised in 2014 and it was the longest year but here Iam 2015  trying to move forward 

Hi Kazzi, welcome to the network, it's not one we always wanted to join but it's a great place for advice and comfort. It is a long journey, but it is doable. I was diagnosed in Sept 2013, had a lumpectomy in the Oct, chemo, radiation followed by genetic testing. I had 2 tumours in the one breast, luckily they were close enough to each other to be removed basically as one. One piece of advice I received which I found helpful was to take one day at time. I found when I looked too far down the track it became overwhelming. The waiting was the worst, waiting for results, waiting for treatment plans etc. I finished my treatment in May 2014, I still need to take a hormone tablet for another few years, but I am back at my job and feeling good. You will too, I wish you all the best for what lay ahead, take care and keep in touch, whether it be advice you need or just to vent,

Hazel xx