Hi Cath
Sorry you had to join us, but hope you are recovering from your surgery. I am nearly 4 years from my diagnosis and stilll feel like you in that it feels like it happened to someone else.
Its a crazy time at the beginning and you are just trying to put one foot in front of the other. Just take one day at a time and yes you will be one of those strong women in time and you will look back on this experience and know that it has changed you and not just physically, but some of the changes you will even like.
Take care and ask anything here.
Tanya