OMG

Great you had it chopped - really makes it less.of a shock when you shave it later on...

With the line if the veins become difficult they can always do it if needed later on so do not fret over it.

And the best advuce given to me by the surgeon pre my surgery was to stay off the Mr Google as the amount of misinformation there is way to overwhelming and can give you mightmares... And you never know who is or is not legit.  For me bcna forum has been one invaluable place to get info from and advice as aleast everyone here I know idlsndealing with the same crap and has been through it so advice has always been spot on ??

And have trust in your medical team. Breast Care nurse contact asap - even if she is only acessible by phone... and remeber the surgeon oncologist and radio therapy specialist all have your best interest at heart and will do thenright thing by you so make sure you communicate with them and they will help this whole process be as painless as possible as there is so much available meds wise to help with chemonsideffects these days so juts remmber to write things down before consukls and communicate with them and remember to use the breast care nurse and you can always ask her to attend consults with you if you need help or an avicate or simply someone there to help step in if you feel overwhelmed...

Hugs

Jel.

Had a bit of a break from Internet for the last few days...learning and reading too much...can't do much about my situation..just go with the treatment and keep healthy and get better! My stomach was in knots..surprised I didn't poop out pretzels! But now I have finally met my oncologist and asked all the questions...she didn't want to put a PICC line in, but I have Valium and lots of numbing patches to cover my arms...

Had my hair cut...hubby said " why bother" ? But just wanted to! We are going to shave together when the time comes! Big party on Sunday, then blood test Monday and start treatment on Tuesday!

chemo 5 mths then radio 6 weeks...should be finished mid January! Bring on February 2017!!!

Well I for one wouldn't be returning to her..... sounds like she needs to learn some bed manners and how to help a patient through a diagnose without leaving them reeling. She also obviously hasn't had a lot to do with Breast Cancer Education... as that is not what the statistics say.

Get a Breast Care Nurse ASAP

and sorry about all the typos... combination of this site being slow and my dodgy touchscreen drive me nuts ??

Oh Lisa, I sure get that feeling. I kept my diagnosis a secret as mum was supposed to go overseas for a 2 month holiday so wanted her to be able to go and rest up so.apart from my husband nobody in my family knew. But a few people at work had to be told and an odd person here or there from the local pharmacists, some receptionists at my specialists' offices etc...  And the second they heard 'Breast Cancer' they would either look at me as if I was a warmed up corpse and I would.offcourse launch into this "no big deal" act (not sure if I did it for me or for them oretending it was no biggie) and then even worse many would go on telling me how I was "taking it well", "good attitude was the key to beating cancer" or worst of all had an odd idiot tell me about a friend of their who had been diagnosed with cancer, got through chemo and is "now looking after themself, healthier than ever and getting cancer was the best thing that happened to them as now they take incredible vare od temselv". Yes at that last one I would have to walk away real fast while biting my tongue and keeping hands in my pockets - all I could.do to not jump on them and beat them into a bloody pulp.

It is hard to listen to those reactions and even harder to observe changes in the way people behave. Wirh me.it resulted in a massive denial and my pushing myself to be 'normal' way more than I should. It resulted in many a breakdown when finally alone and many a meltdown (many of them in private and a few in front of others). Lucklily ladies here also helped me through it as I guess we all go through this and I trully can thank everyone here for keeping me sane.

My mum went o'seas and on the 6th of this month had to come home early due to poor health so has been told and the rest of my family has been told. I was in hiding all this time since Chemo started in May (combination of needing to keep myself away from potential viruses and knowing loss of hair is impossible to hide) so seeing them now well into Chemo looking like a hairless cat with massive nags under my eyes has not helped. They are breaking into tears and treating me as if I am going to explode.

I know it isnbwcause they care for me and they are in shock but at the same time it is frustrating me as it is the same as when I was diagnosed initially. Dealing with weird reactions and weird looks and the old frustrations and anxiety are making a come back. It just reminds me how horrible it all felt initially and how relieved I was onxe Chemo starzed and the people wno I had told.knew and everyone had gotten ised to the 'new normal'. I guess family will het used to it too. They just need a few weeks to digest and I guess we all go back to "I am going through BC treatment" normality...

May sound really weird but the period between treatment starts and when I had to tell my family had some normality to it. Everyone including myself knew the routine and concentrazed on living inside the new paramters of Breast Cancer and Chemo.

I know it sounds weird that Chemo and breast cancer can be 'normal', even with weird side effects and restrictions posed on one's life but this initial unknown, and frustration and people.lookong at us as if we are going to implode pass. It calms down and weirdly enough it also weeds out those who really give a damn from those who do not and you get to be OK and they get to be OK.

Just hang in there. They have to deal with a massive shock. You have a massive shock and zrauma to deal with. So you make sure you take care of you so you get through this the best you can. Be honest with people about the way you feel and about what you need. It may be tough for some of them but you know best what you need then to do or not do so do not be affraid to ask that off them.

And do not forget we are here - and tbis is one safe place to come to and if need be vent when thise who love you do silly things because they worry and do not realise they are not being helpfull when they try to show they care...

Hugs

Jel.

Breat Care nurse will be involved throughout your treatmwnt - regardless of the type of surgery or type of treatment you have.

Several ways of getting in touch with one. You can call your surgeon and ask how you can be put in contact with one. You can call your local Breast Screen centre and ask them or call the Cancer Centre at your local public hospital and ask them.

I only wish I was put in contact with mine before my surgery as she has been invaluable and Rhe information I received from her would have been far better put to use and would have helped me a lot more had I had it pre surgery

Hugs

Jel.

My best friend renamed me soldier crab as my nick name online was touchycrab

Hi, I did send you a PM.

Hi Lisa, all my family are still back in the UK but my mum has a medical background (midwifery) so has a much more pragmatic mindset than some would. We've also had a lot of experience as my godmother has been diagnosed with numerous different cancers and has happily kicked all of their butts!

Everyone's been great to be honest, maybe the British stiff upper lip has played a part!! All my friends have been great, I think because I've been quite open about my diagnosis and treatment and have kept my sense of humour fully in tact! I have found people ask how I am expecting me to say I feel crap and when I say I'm good maybe their not expecting it! Especially as I have the stereotypical cancer patient look of no hair/eyelashes/eyebrows and hat firmly in place!

I would just try and remain as normal as possible around your friends and family as they are probably freaking out as much as you are (or aren't!) and aren't quite sure how to act around you ?? After the initial shock of everything you and them will get used to the new, temporary though long winded, medical based lifestyle and hopefully all will become the new normal ??

Well that almost sounds like I know what I'm talking about doesn't it! ??

Oh there is also a lot of support for friends, family and partners of people diagnosed with cancer so maybe that may be useful for your parents at least. Have a look at the Cancer Council website ??

Hope my rambling has been in some way useful!

Laura ??

Oh and if you scroll about 13 pages back in my blog I day by day recorded my chemo journey.