Hi Kathm,

Welcome to Cancer Chat. I'm sorry to read about what's brought you here, however it sounds as if your atittude and mindset towards it is great. I'm glad you don't have long to wait until your next appointment.

I'm also glad your daughter had good care and that this has helped how you're feeling now. Don't necessarily expect any panic to set in - a positive mindset is always possible, although I know it's difficult at times.

Hopefully others will be along here soon who have been through similar experiences - do also feel free to explore some of the other discussions on here. It's a very welcoming community to be.

Wishing you all the best and do feel free to let us know how you get on, if you would like to.

Ben

Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi Kathm,

Welcome to our forum. I am so sorry to hear about your lump. I found mine the week I retired too. That was 10 years ago now. I had a lumpectomy then. The following year I had a second bout in the same breast and had a double mastectomy.

I lost my Mum to secondary breast cancer, which had spread to her brain, bones, liver and lungs, but the diagnosis, treatment, and after care that I have had were far superior to that which she received. Thanks to our friends at Cancer Research and elsewhere, great strides are continually being made.

I am glad to hear that you have an appointment at the breast clinic on Friday and hope that it all goes well.

I hope that you can continue to remain calm, as worry doesn't achieve anything. It is so good to hear thatyour daughter is doing well after her diagnosis 7 years ago. The care I have had has been superlative and I hope that you receive the same.

Do please let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thank you for your lovely reply Jolamine. So very sorry about your mum and I agree about treatment being so good now. I saw such brave and beautiful women take the journey with my daughter and she made some long and lasting friendships along the way. I feel very nervous now but at this stage I feel I’ve no control over my own health and need to know just which path I need to take to get the best treatment because of my age. I was thinking that I wouldn’t be offered the best treatment because of my age but you’ve made me feel more optimistic about that. 

Success stories like yours and my daughters really help someone who is at the stage of not knowing. I really hope you continue to be well and yes I will let you know how I go on on Friday.

Kind regards right back

kathm xx

kind regards right back

kathm

Hi Kathm,

This is when you get to know who your real friends are. Some people don't seem to know how to cope with a cancer diagnosis, even if the cancer is yours and not theirs. I too have made some great friends along my cancer journey and, have been quite surprised by where my support has come from.

I expect that you are feeling very nervous tonight. There are so many unknowns at the moment and you are right, you feel that you are not in charge of your body. There is no point in me telling you that there is nothing to worry about tomorrow. Chances are that you will just be examined and have a few tests done, but you will probably have to wait for another week before you get any results.

Most people find that their emotions will improve once they have a definite diagnosis and, start on the road to treatment. There is no need to worry about being passed over for the optimum treatment because of your age. This won't happen. I am now 70 and am still surprised by the options offered to me over the past 10 years.

I am glad to hear that stories like mine and that of your daughter give hope to others who are at this awful state of panic.

I shall be thinking of you tomorro and hope that it all goes well.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Jolamine I really thank you for this post just when I need it to reassure me I’m not on my own. This reminds me of late night conversations with my daughter when she needed reassurance I think we become night owls don’t we it always seems worse in the late hours. I’m ready for tomorrow and going in knowing that family and friends are rooting for me. I may be long in the tooth but I’ve a lot of living to do yet so bring it on ! 

Thank you again for your support and will keep you posted

kind regards right back

kathm xx

Hi Kathm,

Yes, things always seem worse in the early hours.

One statistic that might help you is that of every 10 people referred to the breast clinic, only 1 will turn out to have cancer. Here's hoping that you are one of the other nine!

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx