Newly Diagnosed in Pink October

Anonymous

As Pink October rolls around again I am reminded of my "cancerversary". I remember how surreal it felt to be newly diagnosed. I was navigating my way through doctors appointments and my own emotions as the "c" word sunk in ...all while being bombarded with pink awareness everywhere I turned it seemed... pink uniformed football players, advertisements on the internet, on tv, on random products in the grocery store..with cashiers asking if I'd like to donate for breast cancer....and, depending on my mood, whether or not I'd disclose my recent diagnosis and get a perverse kick out of the poor unsuspecting person's awkwardness trying to figure out what to say to me next.

So I wanted to hopefully give a few words of encouragement from someone who is doing just fine 6 years later. I lot of us who didn't have many complications tend to participate less, if at all, in these types of forums which is natural and expected. So someone newly diagnosed, browsing through the various topics may get a skewed sense of how often things go in a bad direction. Yes, it's good to be prepared for the worst, but there is nothing wrong with expecting the best.

There will be those that have an easier road than you, and those that have it worse. But whatever road you find yourself on, I hope all those newly diagnosed are able to find strength and comfort through a good support system, whether it be family, friends and/or forums like these. And hopefully, before you know it, you will be looking at cancer in your rearview mirror like I am.

DaraB

Such a nice post Susansgarden. Thanks for the kind words. One of the things I've found so great since joining this site is the fact that many keep coming back for years after tx. The longevity is the most encouraging thing we can see and read. I hope in 6 years to be able to pay it forward as you've just done. Thanks!

Anonymous

Thanks DaraB. This sight was so helpful to me. Besides being invaluably informative, it was comforting and helpful to connect with others going through a similar experience.

msphil

hi all just wanted to say hang in there to those going thru treatment we have been thru this also to Inspire n give Hope i continue to come back so u can know there is Hope i am a 22yr Survivor Praise God. Keeo Believing. msphil idc stage 2 Lmast chemo and rads 0\3 nodes 5yrs on tamoxifen.

Jackster51

Susan, I remember you!! I was DX in 2011. Still kicking and doing well, minus my hair.... that I did not get back after Taxotere.

jenny153

Susansgarden. What a lovely post to anyone who has just recently been diagnosed. This day one year ago I was diagnosed with Stage 1 BC and thought my world had fallen apart. Admittedly, It has been a tough year but it has also has made me tougher. To anyone out there just diagnosed my advice would be to take baby steps, try not to stress out too much, easier said than done I know (mindfulness helped me lots especially while waiting for test results) and above all, know that many, many people survive breast cancer and thankfully treatments have advanced so much in the past few years. Take all the help and support you can get while going through treatment and above all, BE KIND TO YOURSELF during this stressful time.

Anonymous

Great advice jenny153! Congrats on 22 years msphil! And congrats to you too Jackster51 for being 5 years out. I'm so sorry to hear about your hair loss from Taxotere. I wonder if it is under reported how often that happens? I also wish that the oncologists would mention cold caps as an option to possibly keep your hair (I know it's not 100% guaranteed but there appears to be huge success with it). Not sure if that is happening more now... I know it was not mentioned to me 6 years ago when chemo was looking like a possibility for me before my oncotype score came back.

Toad

I'd have been fine with Pinktober, even though I'm just done with treatment. I have friends who get very angry at all of the pink (they don't want to be reminded they had breast cancer). I'm like, "Meh"

. . . except that they found a new tumor in Pinktober.

Not so thrilled with staring at the hot pink paper towels in every bathroom/examining room while swishing my pink-beaded hot/cold pack "door prize" back and forth - as I was called back numerous times so they could take one more shot of the tumor they had just discovered. I'm bracing myself for Monday, when I am visually assaulted again when they biopsy the new tumor. They really ought to offer an optional pink-free zone for those in the process of diagnosis and/or actively undergoing treatment.

But - I do get a perverse pleasure from disclosing that I'm the invisible other they are trying to raise awareness about/money for/etc. Hey - gotta have my fun somehow.

joyandpiece

Toad, my thoughts are with you for your biopsy tomorrow. 

At a football game the other night, there were two high school girls going around with a pink bucket asking for money from people.  I was turning over in my head what I was going to say to them if they approached me.  From the sarcastic to the supportive to the complacent.  I was at least going to grill them as to what the money was going towards.  I must have had an invisible shield around me because they didn't ask me for any money - and I wasn't even wearing pink!  Maybe I'll decide to get a "perverse pleasure" if it comes up again.  As it was I was a little nervous. 

Denise-G

I was diagnosed in Pink October FIVE years ago!  I remember the onslaught well.  Through the years, I hardly pay attention to it now.  Except when I went with my mom to purchase new carpeting this week and the living room pad she picked out had pink ribbons on it!  

Now, I always tell my story when asked for money for solicitations for breast cancer - myself, my mom and sister all diagnosed within 3 years - get your mammograms, dense breast tissue get an ultrasound, make your female relatives get their mammograms, mastectomies, I lift up my lymphedema arm sleeve...I mean I really go on and on because I feel it is my mission to do so. One day I practically had a seminar going in the grocery store line.    But let me tell you, at my local Kroger they remember me and NEVER ask me for money again!  hahahaha

Anonymous

I'm crossing my fingers for benign, Toad! And pink paper towels? Really? When I was diagnosed 6 years ago, they didn't have pink vomited everywhere at the mammogram thankfully. Though it was a beautiful breast care facility that, if you didn't know any better, you would think you were at a spa. I remember going back to the interior waiting area where I was waiting to talk to the radiologist after being told it was high concern for cancer. A few women were sitting in the area and we were all in our luxurious robes and I was unsuccessfully trying to hold back tears. It was painfully awkward until one of them came over to comfort me and reassure me that most biopsies were benign. It was a surreal sisterhood experience.

joyandpiece ~ I juggle between sarcastic, supportive or complacent answers in regards to pink fundraising too.

Denise-G ~ I love the visual of the grocery store seminar you had going. I find myself talking about it less, but I never miss a chance to educate when misinformation is presented.