Hi,I’m 58 years old & was in pretty good health when I sustained a massive bruise after just a small amount of pressure in my pelvic area. I showed a friend (nurse) who told me to go to the doctor sooner rather than later. From there my journey began. After ultrasounds, CT scans, MRI’s & about 25 vials of blood it was found I had cancer in my lever. It was only after a biopsy on my liver & mammogram that my breast cancer was diagnosed. It’s been 8 weeks since that bruise & here I am now trying to come to terms with the diagnosis. I’m off this morning for a biopsy on my breast where a large tumor as become obvious over the past 3 weeks, an Echo after that then a PET scan on Wednesday. My chemo & cocktail will start in a week or so. My family & friends a very, very supportive but everyone has a story to tell & not all of them positive. I hope & pray I can keep up the strength I know I’m going to need to continue on the emotional rollercoaster I’ve found myself on.

Dear @Enaid I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis but as the lovely ladies who have responded to you have said, you have come to the right place for support - day and night - and some very good suggestions.There is a private group that you can join if you wish to 'Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer' that I joined and have found invaluable.Best wishes and hugs, you will get through this <3 <3

@Enaid And just like that your life is turned upside down. :( I'm sending you hugs and positive thoughts.

It’s an awful ride. Your whole world up ended in a heartbeat. Sending best wishes and some comfort that we have world class breast cancer treatments in this country. Xx

@Enaid What a distressing situation 😕. Difficult to say the least. You have friends here on the forum so check in whenever you need. And please, do NOT listen to those stories. I seriously don’t understand what’s wrong with people sometimes. I heard stories too before I was even diagnosed. I’m staying away from those people, or just don’t talk about the cancer so they don’t have an opportunity to share more 🙄. It’s better to get advice and help from people who have experienced it, and that’s us here. So I can tell you it will be hard, but that you definitely have the strength. Definitely. Just please take it one step at a time. Otherwise you will exacerbate your anxiety unnecessarily. It’s a long process so do what needs to be done at the moment, and in the meantime still try to find fun and pleasurable things to do, as much as it’s possible. Don’t wait till it’s all over to enjoy yourself. You should do something good for yourself every day.Good luck and keep in touch 🍀♥️

Advice I received from a Counsellor on day of diagnosis was to appoint someone as the gatekeeper, in my case Hubby, so that circle of friends and family and unrelenting stories are controlled. Sometimes we just don't need to know how Mrs What's-her-name from down the street had the same as you but in actual fact didn't!We are all different in how we react to treatment and hopefully you are in the category of someone who can sail through with very few side effects!It's a so and so but I am sure once all the biopsies are complete and a plan in place you will feel like you are having a little more control on where you are atBest wishes and take careBTW the website is full of lots of information to guide you, here's a couple of links to help you alongFact sheet: Breast cancer pathology | Breast Cancer Network Australia (bcna.org.au)Types of breast cancer (bcna.org.au)

Metastatic Breast Cancer found just by accident

Anj_j2020
Member
5 years ago
@Enaid And just like that your life is turned upside down. :(
I'm sending you hugs and positive thoughts.
ddon
Member
5 years ago
It’s an awful ride. Your whole world up ended in a heartbeat. Sending best wishes and some comfort that we have world class breast cancer treatments in this country. Xx
iserbrown
Member
5 years ago
Advice I received from a Counsellor on day of diagnosis was to appoint someone as the gatekeeper, in my case Hubby, so that circle of friends and family and unrelenting stories are controlled. Sometimes we just don't need to know how Mrs What's-her-name from down the street had the same as you but in actual fact didn't!
We are all different in how we react to treatment and hopefully you are in the category of someone who can sail through with very few side effects!
It's a so and so but I am sure once all the biopsies are complete and a plan in place you will feel like you are having a little more control on where you are at
Best wishes and take care

BTW the website is full of lots of information to guide you, here's a couple of links to help you along

Fact sheet: Breast cancer pathology | Breast Cancer Network Australia (bcna.org.au)

Types of breast cancer (bcna.org.au)
FLClover
Member
5 years ago
@Enaid What a distressing situation 😕. Difficult to say the least. You have friends here on the forum so check in whenever you need. And please, do NOT listen to those stories. I seriously don’t understand what’s wrong with people sometimes. I heard stories too before I was even diagnosed. I’m staying away from those people, or just don’t talk about the cancer so they don’t have an opportunity to share more 🙄.
It’s better to get advice and help from people who have experienced it, and that’s us here. So I can tell you it will be hard, but that you definitely have the strength. Definitely. Just please take it one step at a time. Otherwise you will exacerbate your anxiety unnecessarily. It’s a long process so do what needs to be done at the moment, and in the meantime still try to find fun and pleasurable things to do, as much as it’s possible. Don’t wait till it’s all over to enjoy yourself. You should do something good for yourself every day.
Good luck and keep in touch 🍀♥️
gumnut
Member
5 years ago
Dear @Enaid
I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis but as the lovely ladies who have responded to you have said, you have come to the right place for support - day and night - and some very good suggestions.
There is a private group that you can join if you wish to 'Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer' that I joined and have found invaluable.
Best wishes and hugs, you will get through this <3 <3
Dory65
Member
5 years ago
Dear @Enaid,
I am sorry you have found yourself here too. Wishing you all the best. <3
Sister
Member
5 years ago
People often mean well but really should put their brains into gear before their mouths. The gatekeeper idea can work really well. My husband dealt with family and my two closest friends with everyone else. There was a great thread on here a couple of years ago - something like "Did you really say that?"

@enaid Be kind to yourself and allow yourself whatever feelings you have. You have had a massive shock and it takes some coming to terms with.
Enaid
Member
5 years ago
Thanks for the advice ladies, I live on my own so have to screen my own calls. I guess I just need to speak up when someone’s telling me something I don’t need to hear. I’ve always found that difficult, I hate to hurt peoples feelings but I’m finding myself getting really angry when people tell me about others cancers and experiences.
jennyss
Member
5 years ago
Dear @Enaid

from jennyss in Western NSW
Sister
Member
5 years ago
@enaid If you have a close friend or two you can rely on who know a fair range of your other friends, or a relative, you could try asking them to be the gatekeeper - anyone wanting to find out how you are going would then speak to them instead of you. I found that most people were very understanding particularly when it was put to them that going through everything each time someone called was overwhelming for me. Another option, which I utilised a couple of weeks later, was to start a blog (lots of free sites for this) and kept people updated this way. It has also been a great diary to look back on.