Hi everyone, lurker here, first time posting to this thread. I've realised reading through that I need to be a part of a supportive group of people who have some idea of what I'm going through. And to give support in return too.
I had a 4cm lump removed from my breast just over a month ago, along with 3 lymph nodes. The lump was larger than scans had shown, though it was removed intact and with good margins. Unfortunately a small nodule was also found in a lymph node and cancer cells in the other two. After oncotyping (at least part of me got to travel internationally this year) I've been recommended chemo and I start in a fortnight's time. Up until now I've managed to stay fairly cheerful and positive but finding the worry about chemo to be taking over. Hat's off (no bad pun intended) to those who are going through it or have been through it.
I'm on holiday this week and was hoping to forget about it all and have a lovely time with my husband and 5 year old, but actually having more time to think hasn't been good for me. I went to a specialist wig shop yesterday and the lady was absolutely lovely, but she did keep telling me how wonderfully thick my hair is which wasn't entirely helpful given I expect to be bald a month or two from now.
I think the worst thing is that at every appointment/results discussion things have turned out to be worse than first thought. At the beginning I was told it was very unlikely I'd need chemo.
On the positive side though my surgery was relatively minor and I recovered well and quickly.
I'm very rarely all 'me me me' - this post is definitely unusually self absorbed, which I guess just reflects how tough this stuff is and how much it affects you. Love to all.