Mental health and new diagnosis.
Hi all, been struggling really bad finding out i have cancer in my right breast early diagnosis. I dont know what sort as i cant cope with the details of it all. I have seen the doctors and waiting MRI appointment and surgery date. I am really struggling with the anxiety and the moving forward bit. I suffer with anxiety and depression quite badly. I was given the option of just having the two lumps removed or the whole breast. I cant decide which option will help me move forward better. So firstly is there any mental health accept to this organisation? I only have my hubby to rely on who is also classed as my career. I am unsure which option to go with as my mental health plays a big part in my descion. I need to make a descion that i can be happy with and wont make my anxiety worse. Unsure of who to talk to or where to go for help.
Emotional support
I was diagnosed in April and have had a lumpectomy. Was going to be radiation next but my Ki67 levels are a bit high so having Endo predict test done. Oncologists are saying possibly chemo now. I am very anxious. Don't have much support. One daughter at home is autistic and the other has gone to uni so not home much. Partner and I separated so living separated under one roof which is so hard. Just need some support.Feeling overwhelmed
Hi thereAll I am 59, happily married, have two adult children. One grandson and baby no 2 due anyday now... Had surgery last week for lumpectomy and Sentinel node biopsy. Everything went well Saw surgeron yesterday . Lymph nodes are clear. Margins good. My issues is I am SO overwhelmed. Smiling for family. Smiling for friends. Little background. I had **bleep** cancer 10 years ago, back in 2016. Chemo and radiation. It was brutal. The burns were horrible. The exhaustion was the worst. Everyone is saying.... your so lucky you caught it early. You've done this before... you'll be right. Support is encouraging and I am lucky to be surrounded by lots of love. I am to be a grandmother again in two weeks and have a lively gorgeous 2 year old grandson. Timing suck.... I am overwhelmed with sadness I am overwhelmed With discourage, feeling of resentment. Feeling very isolated. **bleep** THIS CANCER... so sorry for language but it express how I feel. I want to shout. Cry. Hit something and hide under the covers and not deal with this. I know that I should be grateful. I am sick and exhausting from smiling on the outside, but paddling like hell of the inside. Hiding my emotions. I still work. Love the job. I work for a Toy library as assistant. Its not a stresing job. Only 3 days a week. They have been wonderful. How has everyone else cope. I know what I am going through is normal. Can anyone suggest a good cancer support group. I live in Victoria on the Mornington peninsula. Love and support to everyone going on this same journey Let's kick ass . Cancer sucks. Xxxxxx
Write off 6 to 12 months?
I was given a diagnosis today of small tumor, early invasive breast cancer, double hormone positive and I have an appointment with surgeon in 1 week. At just-turned-60, the next 9 months were supposed to include 2 sons' graduations, 1 son's wedding (a family first), our 25th wedding celebration, a road trip to find-purchase-or-build a new home in a tree-change location in another state, and downsizing-packing-relocating. Surgeon and nurse at breast clinic today seemed to think "we can work around things" ...is that realistic? What is the most valuable question to ask the surgeon, next week, re time frames and realistic expectations? Thanks.
Working while waiting for surgery
Hi all, was diagnosed 3 weeks ago today with early stage and was told I’d be having surgery pretty quickly. Ended up having to have more tests to eliminate issues in the other side and thankfully that all seems to be clear. But that has meant I still don’t have a date for surgery (I should find out tomorrow hopefully). My question is about how you’ve all kept sane during this ‘limbo’ period. My emotions and anxiety are all over the place, I can’t really focus or concentrate so I’ve taken a fair few days off work. I’m lucky enough that I can work from home (when I’m up to it) and my boss is awesome but I weirdly feel guilty about taking time off as though I should be managing this better. I’m conscious my surgery might not be for another few weeks so feel I need to work out better ways to handle this. Any inputs welcome! Thanks.
Newly diagnosed and waiting for appt. breast becoming more tender as I wait :-(
Hi there, I feel I’m in the difficult position of waiting four weeks between diagnosis and first surgeon appointment. Invasive lobular ER+ PR + HER2 - lump that I noticed in right breast a month ago. I’ve had the MRI done privately this week so the information is ready at that appointment. Trouble is the breast and armpit just feels increasingly niggly and slightly tender while I wait. I’m worried that it’s just growing/spreading as I wait. I don’t have private insurance, do have savings. but wanted to hold out for public and it being a more multi-disciplinary team. I’m really struggling wondering if I should have gone private and quick :-( Thank you x
Just diagnosed IDC HR++ Her2 low mulitocal, still awaiting further tests and freaking out!
Hi all nice to meet you all but wish it were under better circumstances. I have just been diagosed earlier this month for a check up that I thought was going to show nothing so I was really thrown. I have a least two 1.5cm lesions and a number of smaller ones they are not sure about yet. Just met with the breast team yesterday for my first appointment. They were all lovely but not much info yet as they need to run more tests. They did two more biopsies of lesions not done initially and also ordered a bone and CT scan as well as an MRI. I was expecting teh MRI as I have Very dense breast tissue. I was not expecting the bone and CT scan, which they said are staging scans, as given the size of the lesions I thought I was considered early breast cancer. She reassured me this was just standard practice for lesions over 1cm but I have been in a tail spin since worrying it is already stage 4. I have a 9 year old son, his dad is completely unreliable and probamatic so does not and will not be living with us anytime soon. I havebnt even told him about it yet as he's not in a potisiton to do anythign right now and it would just cause more stress. I am the sole provider for us and all I can worry about is what happens if I go down. Who pays the mortgage, who puts food on the table. I know this is all way down the line and I keep trying to bring myself back but it's so hard. I am usually a very rational person so this is killing me. My next lot of scans are on Sunday and Monday and my follow up appointment will be a week after that to give them time to review the results and discuss my case before coming up with a plan. On one hand I am terrified it's going to be worse case senario and on the other I am terrified it if is bad news they won't wait until my next appointment and they'll call just before christmas and I'll have to manbage that on my own without ruining my sons day. He's already had to deal with enough of an emotional rollercoaster with his dad I don't want to add more to that. I thought I was doing ok but I'm crumbling. Every ache or pain has me over analysing. I know the waiting is the hardest part. I almost think I would be handling it better on my own as it would be ok to fall apart but I have to stay strong for my son.Guilt
Thanks to BCNA and the forum contributors (my new friends). I was diagnosed with IDC this week at 49 and have been 'battling' my emotions rather than sitting into them. That stops now. A couple of family and friends have tried to console me by dismissing my emotions. "Oh, you'll be fine. So-and-so had breast cancer and she's fine." "It's like appendicitis. You'll get it cut out and move on." "With all the advancements in treatment, it's not like it can kill you anymore." "You're not special. Everyone has some form of cancer these days." I was starting to feel guilty for being so emotional. I felt like I needed to get over myself and just deal with it quietly and confidently. I'm lucky I have a supportive husband... and you all!Early HER2+
I understand what Early is and I am grateful that I found something at the same time as my breastscreen mammogram and it is not in lymph glands, PET was also clear but they need a new name for Early. My treatment is starting 9/10 and will be Chemo (abraxane) & hercepton then surgery and radiation. I thought I had choice after doing a lot of research on trusted websites, listening to great podcasts and asking questions of my MDT but although they say I do they highly recommend the above plan. I am resolved to losing my hair and looking forward to the freedom no hair should bring me, I am self employed so can regulate my hours, I am active and look forward to keeping that going, as I know how good it makes me feel and again research shows, it helps us through chemo and everything else. What I struggle with is seeing others reactions to the news and seeing my husband frustrated by the time it takes to have tests and get things started. I would delay treatment even longer if I could but know that is not a good decision as the HER2+ is a grade 3. With a name like Early people seem to think 🤔 I will have an easy run, and I certainly hope I do but have read enough to know that I may not. People also say oh that’s good it’s not urgent then and not that bad. For someone who limits toxins as much as one can this is testing my self control to the limits and then having people say and think 🤔 it is going to be an easy road does not sit well with me. I am babbling and that is certainly something that has happened since diagnosis. I spent 24 hours in denial and 24 hours in why and have decided to tell only positive supportive people going forward and focus on things I can control and leave the rest to my team. thankyou for letting me rant and thankyou for all your encouraging posts and links which I have loved. Let’s kick this tumours out of here x