So scared

Bcna is selling the Prof Boyages book Breast Cancer taking control. I just picked it up again since borrowed from my Library, and agree it is a good read. Has good analogies and lots of pictures including some on options for prostheses vs mastectomy which you are grappling with. i know of some women here in Sydney happy to "bare all" if you need to see examples or discuss the surgical options there may be some near you or a local hospital may have seminar info day as part of october bc month. dr boyages has a down to earth manner and is very popular with all his patients here in Sydney where he used to head up the Westmead BC clinic and now is at Macquarie cancer Institute. Wonderful speaker too i heard him at the breast Cancer conference last year. I would have liked something like this when I was searching for info. I only got the first BCNA my journey kit after I had completed surgery and most of my treatment and was starting to become involved with BCNa to ensure others did not suffer the way I did. Private hospital may have enabled quick surgery for an aggressive triple positive bc but did nothing for my social wellbeing and isolation in a big city. Don't even talk about the social worker not entering the room as if I was contagious and tossing a pink packet onto the wall unit far from my bed which hubby took home unopened for me to find a bra in it that was several sizes too small in both cup size and circumference on return home 10 days later. They could have looked at the bra I wore to surgery 16d instead of giving me a useless 12b I hadn't been since before kids 19 years Earlier! The Berlei bCNA bras are a pretty pink now packaged down in Melbourne by a lovely team of BCNA volunteers - thanks girls. No breast care nurse - McGrath Foundation established after my surgery and run from public hospitals in my area. Hear good reports from those who have experienced their wonderful care. Also the cancer cottages at most public and private hospitals will have books pamphlets music meditation etc resources , even wigs to try or borrow and often meditation and other session inc bc groups for you to attend for local info. Many allow you attend even if you didn't have surgery there as part of their outreach. Some also have cancer Council stand as well. The Cancer Council helpline is staffed by excellent trained people some of whom I know from my advocacy work with NSW Cancer Council who can provide info and resources. I remember getting something called real men or was it boys cry too. Unfortunately none of mine wanted to look at this but you can only try...... Libraries also have stories for children of all ages about having a sick parent... You are lucky there is so much physical and virtual help available now and lots of research to help us all as they work to improve surgical procedures and other treatment options. Need to balance all the info with a good dose of common sense and touch of humour. Trust in your medical team - they have the experience. Hope my info of use Your pink sister Carol