This thread is flying along already! Thanks Trumpton for starting it.
I’ve been quiet for a couple of weeks but all is well. My story: I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in April following my finding a lump several months earlier that I wrongly assumed was the same lump as I’d already been told was normal tissue 😳. I started chemo very swiftly and had 16 rounds that ended in late September. Since then, I’ve had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy that happily found zero dodgy material was left and I had therefore had a complete pathological response to chemo. My chances of recurrence are excellently low, and I’m in absolutely no doubt that I have been extremely fortunate in all that. I start 23 sessions of radio on Monday and then I will be done with treatment. I haven’t worked since chemo started, and live in south London with my husband and two young children. I’m 47. I lost every hair on my body during chemo but it’s all growing back now, also have embarked on the menopause thanks to chemo and am currently enjoying numerous hot flushes every day.
Welcome and commiserations to our newbies on here. There seems to be a wide range of different types of cancer on here now, which if nothing else makes for an education about this whole malarkey. We get to know our own types very well but it is sobering to hear about the others out there and what is involved in treating them and living with them. I wish you all good responses and clear scans as you go through, and lots of helpful support from your nearest and dearest which makes all the difference in my experience.
iVampire I’m sorry to hear about your recent uncertainty and I hope your options for second line drugs are good.
Bridget I’m so pleased to read that your scan results were so good! Congratulations. Did you get your sore mouth looked at too? Have a lovely trip to Scotland and enjoy the catch up.
Very glad to see that you are back home again Zorgoth, it must be a relief for you to get out of there and back to a comfy bed as well as your little boy. Let’s hope the infection is on its way out.
Sisyphus the others have said it very well already, but the numbness and lack of emotional reaction is very very normal. Some people weep and some don’t. You do not have to follow a script that other people expect for cancer, it’s you going through it. I still have barely cried about mine in 8 months and at times it does feel as if it happened to someone else.
And Squiffy a similar comment to you. I’m another one who looked and felt very well at the point of diagnosis. I’ve had many many comments even during/after chemo about how well I’ve seemed. It is possible to go through it and not look too cancer-y (of course, these people have not seen me without a wig or make up on, which help massively, and did not see me on the days when I had to stay in bed). It’s not fraudulent if you look ok or keep your hair or remain cheerful, just as it’s not weak if you find it frightening or exhausting. It just ‘is what it is’ for each of us and I guarantee you will get nods of recognition on here if you share what you’re feeling, even if those around you find it harder to get what you mean.
Good luck for your scan results ellen. You have had a horrible time with your wound and skin reaction. Due some good fortune I think!
Good luck also to you meercat for your appointment next week. Glad to hear your joints are less painful.
Sorry to hear of the new worry, toofar. It must feel demoralising to be told that there’s possibly more invasive surgery to come. I hope it turns out to be less of an issue than the gynae suspects.
Have a nice weekend everyone and best wishes to all waiting for treatment, scans, results etc.