Me?Breast cancer? nooo

i am sorry to hear of your diagnosis.  It is very difficult - overwhelming.  The beginning is the worst.  I was diagnosed 3 months ago.  You've got appointments scheduled to find out exactly what you're dealing with so that is good.  If the anxiety is too much as it was for me ask for Xanax or Ativan to help.  I was a mess and it did help me.  I still take ativan at night.  Hang in there we all know what you're going through.  It stinks and it's not fair, but we are here for you

Big hugs to you

Nancy

When I was first diagnosed, I was crazy with grief and anger.  Then someone told me that I would live through it, that I would be happy again and that I'd look forward to the future.  And that turned out to be so true.  The first three months are the hardest, then it seems to get more manageable, then you get to the point where it isn't on your mind constantly.  It's been 15 years since I was first diagnosed and really I never thought I'd live so long.  

If I could offer a recommendation, it would be to consider antidepressants if you feel unable to cope and also antianxiety drugs if your life is disrupted by anxiety.  It's tough enough to go through cancer treatments and be depressed & anxious too.  Be good to yourself too.  

Vent to us.  We've all been through it. 

I was diagnosed last year in September 2013. My first diagnosed was in my left breast, then after my second mri, they found it in the right breast as well. At 46, I had a double mastectomy. I forgot to mention that this was going to be my first major surgery in my life. (October 2013) I was not depressed, upset or going crazy over the doctor's result.  I just keep thinking...I was given this for a reason...I have a story to tell.  After my first chemo treatment, my hair began to fall out, so I told my husband to shave it all off...it's just hair.  I AM NOT MY HAIR!!! When my hair fell out, I began to walk around with confidence, bald headed and smiling because I was STILL ALIVE! During this time, I was attending school. Upon my returned to work, I was still bald, going to school, (only missed one day of school, because I  just had surgery the night before class) attending church and doing my normal routine. This month, I wll be celebrating my one year diagnosis, finishing up my college courses (BA in Business Administration), and everyday LIFE! All I have to say is, don't let the word 'CANCER' take control over your life.  I AM FIGHTING CANCER LIKE A GIRL AND WINNING!!!!

Enjoying Life One Day at a TIME!!!

Welcome Lynette.  Sorry you joined our club. I was diagnosed in July (at 39!) and it is a whirlwind emotionally.  I'm not one to take meds ever, but I have to say Xanax helped me get through the first few weeks of the unknown and to sleep! I don't take it all the time, just when I felt panicky or had to be in social situations where my Dx might come up.  (We live in a tiny town and word got around fairly fast.) I'm grateful that my 3 kids and back to school provided a huge distraction!

That said, for me, it's all about being in control of my life.   I felt better when I decided which surgery I wanted, I felt even better once the surgery was scheduled, better when it was done and better so when I received my full path report.   Today I meet with oncology and we decide where I go from here. I know I'll feel better after this appointment and I know what's next.  Try and not let yourself get caught up in the what ifs and just focus on what you need to do to take control.  Don't feel bad if you need medication to help sleep or keep anxiety at bay.  Your body needs to be rested and your mind clear, so you can face this and have the best possible outcome.  You can beat this!  Best of luck to you!

Hi, Sjacobs--

I hear what you are saying now, soon after your diagnosis, and can tell you that I had the same I'm-feeling-too-good-and-too-healthy-to-have-breast-cancer feeling, when I was in your shoes almost two years ago.  But I found it useful all through treatment to use my good health to my advantage rather than to lose it or mourn its potential loss, even at 71.  

Yes, you and I were diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, and yes, the diagnosis can shake up our world (if we let it).  BUT the sooner we decide to not let the diagnosis itself undermine us, the stronger we can become.  Surviving the diagnosis is, in my opinion, the first step toward surviving the disease!  The medical team takes care of our diseased tissues, pathologies and treatments, but we are the caretakers of our attitudes and feelings that accompany the disease.              

Example:  After my initial "diagnosis shock" wore off and my treatment plan was in place a week later, I returned full steam to my usual schedule, including 3 weekly 90+ minute resistance and cardio workouts at the gym and walking on non-gym days.  Since my surgeon said I could return to the gym as soon as I felt like after the lumpectomy (provided I skipped arm work for a while to help the healing and avoid lymphedema), two days after surgery I was back there doing my non-arm routines and the treadmill--and felt great--and continued exercising right through 35 days of radiation, with no fatigue at all.  For me, working out was normalcy and a reminder that I am a whole, strong person (just missing some excised, diseased tissue); your activity may be different, but I expect its healing effect on you to be similar.     

So instead of mourning a perceived loss of your good health, use your good health to maintain your usual pre-diagnosis activities, and to keep yourself strong during treatment.  While radiation will keep you close to home for 5-7 weeks, it should not keep you from planning a vacation for sometime after your one-month follow-up with the rad onc and between other follow-ups with the surgeon or med. onc.  Part of our attitudinal caretaking    

Best of luck to you on Friday when you see the surgeon--I'll be thinking of you. TG             

Thank you for your kind words tgtg.  I've been feeling my age lately, and wishing I appreciated my youth more when I was young, bc is just adding insult to injury.  I am feeling more positive after talking to the surgeon.  I have been focusing on the worst that can happen, and not the best.  Thx again!