Newbie & scared

Love it, thanks for sharing.

I was thinking about you today @simone1 , and wondered how you are doing?

Hi, this is a journey you are about to go through ....so many of us have traveled. I was a social worker and always had the information for others and then one day I was the one frozen with my breast cancer diagnosis. Thankfully I had a great oncologist who said, I by the look on our face I know what you'd did. You went to research all the med and chemo and radiation I have prescribed for you. Dr said, My dear. you need to stop. I read the ghastly side effect and crying was the only thing I could do just out of fear. Dr said, I promise you of all the side effect. you have read about you may just experience 3-5 of these side effects and you will learn to deal with the with the help of family and friend and your doctors. Most shocking was the loss of hair. Five of my friend decided to shave their hair off. OMG I almost fell love as they wanted to know what it felt like and just going me with part of my treatment. WE looked like aliens together. In summer we did not cover our bald head. and of course people would stare and we would just laugh.

Our body are marvelous things. The mindset has to be trained to readjust to life for the next year or two. The hair will grow back and have fun with your head covers, I did wraps (clothes made out of nylon that are twisted and knotted and they look great. Very Carmen Miranda looking wraps, I would attach pins, or any kind of decoration.
Rest when. you need to, the house if needs cleaning ask for help. Put the superwoman I can do everything on the shelf and it will still be there once your recover begins.

For fun I did Chinses brush painting...It's fun, beautiful and different. YOU TUBE has fabulous online courses.
We hold you heart in our hand and know many women and some men are here to support you. The fear will dissipate and you will become stronger than ever. Keep us posted.

I had bilateral mastectomy 12/1/22, then 4 other surgeries.; last one on 5/17.
Often I have deep, hot pain within my chest, where I once had breasts.
Anyone else have this. A PA told me it was my nerves growing back. At times, it wakes me up during the night.
Love you sisters!
Cathy

@cathybrown98 in my experience that got better (and so did the "iron bra").

What do you mean 'iron bra;?

Sorry...I saw that term all the time, describing the tight feeling across the chest after a double mastectomy... there were exercises to stretch. Maybe it isn't being used as often these days!

I'm very sorry! Everyone in this group has been where you are at some level.
I was diagnosed in Feb of this year at age 43. I immediately thought I was going to die (in like months), especially since the thought of needing chemo felt like enough to kill me. I knew nothing about BC. I was so emotional. Spent more of my days crying vs not. I felt so alone and really wished I could talk to someone who understood my feelings. All I could think about was " I have cancer". All the emotions made me exhausted and I slept alot.

After I was diagnosed and assigned a nurse navigator, who made all my apts, and he would say often that my "journey " would be different than others and I would have options. I had no idea what that meant until I started going to apts. And it's so true, people's journeys can be very different. This can confusing to someone new in this group, but down the road, if you are faced w a decision to make on a path to chose, you could ask here if anyone had this same decision to make and gain insight.
I didn't find this group until after my double mastectomy, but wish I found it much sooner. I have Invasive Lobular and Ductal Carcinoma, stage 1a.
I am in my " final steps" as I have started long term meds and just had my ovaries removed yesterday.

This group is great, but I hope you find someone to connect w so you build a relationship w someone who " gets it". Feel free to message anyone in this group who you feel might be this person to you.
I have developed a great friendship w someone I meant through this group and it has helped my walk tremendously.

I write to you with great feeling of compassion. I had a radical mastectomy at 36 and a simple mastectomy 2years later. I had 14 lymph nodes removed. so you can guess I was not a pretty site. Reconstruction was not an option. I have no idea what stage I was at, that type of testing was not done. Neither was Chemo, Radiation, or follow-up medications. Like you, I thought I would be dead before my 45th birthday. I had two children 5 and 8. After a year or two, I came to the decision that no matter how much I thought about it, I was probably not going to be able to do much about it, and I better start enjoying the time I still had.

I am happy to say that was 56 years ago. I am 92. I am still here, and God has allowed me to hang around. He must have a purpose or project for me and I hope one of them is giving hope to all who are facing this road ahead. Believe in yourself, and your bodies ability to heal it self. Grab hold of life, and do everything you thought you ever wanted to do. Don't waste the precious years you have been given. God Loves you and so do I
Gina5009

Thank you!! You just gave me more hope and inspiration. Many Hugs, Kim Smith