Breast Cancer Sucks!

The club no one wants to belong to, that is... I'm sorry things aren't progessing more quickly for you, but this is pretty normal, this waiting. One thing you might be able to do - is your work such that you can go back while you wait? I did a lumpectomy, mastectomy, reconstruction, chemo, and radiation - the whole 9 yards - and missed very little work. You can usually work during breast cancer treatment, unless you have a job that's very physical... And if you do, then I guess, unfortunately, you DO need to take enough time for physical healing.

As for being a "control freak" - I think loosening up a bit may prove less stressful in the long run. At the end of the day, there's nothing we have guaranteed control over — except our own attitude. I'd like to suggest you read our post on control. And our post on living a less-planned life. Both are worth thinking about, as you wait for the "action" to begin....

Best of luck, Dora, and please stay in touch. We're here when you need us - PJH

Hello, I know exactly how you feel. It feels like your life is on pause for a minute. I'm 27 with 3children and work partime. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in both breast in April of 2008. I went through a total of 16 rounds of chemo no node involvement so no radiation. I had a dbl mastectomy in April and just got reconstruction in Dec. Now I just feel so much relief. Also WOW! was I strong to make it through all that. Such an emotional rollar coaster. But it's all worth it in the long run. We do what we have to for our health. I have to say I would do over and over again to have my life. I truely feel blessed to be here to tell my story. As you will too! You'll get through this it will be hard but lean on loved ones for strength and fight like a girl! Stay Strong!

Hi this is Stepaheda,

I am so sorry to hear that you have to go through this, but happy to hear that they caught it and you are receiving treatment, this is good news.

But I want you to know that you are not alone, we all know exactly how you feel, it is so overwhelming at first to have your life be controled by something that you can not see. But to let you know "YES" it does get better, or we just get better at dealing with it. One thing that I can tell you is that the more knowledgable you are the better for you, you know what they say knowledge is power. So I would say read, read, and do more reading on the subject of Breast Cancer. There was so much I did not know and did not understand. My surgery was July of 2008 and things are moving alone just fine, my doctors are very happy with my healing progress.

At this stage of the game, I would suggest that you step back and just take a deep breathe, and now close your eyes and breath very long and slowly, and say to your self I can do this. And you know what you will do just fine.

Please let us know how you are doing.

Best Regards,

Stepaheda

Dora,

You sound pretty spunky ... I think you will do fine. It is amazing how tough we are.

Let me know if there is anyway I can support you.

Thinking of you,

Daria

diagnosed on dec. 25th ,I understand your anger ,Its like a prison sentence that you didn't do the crime for.

Dora hang in there! My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in December but this is not her first go a cancer... She has hodskins when she was 27 and this is a result of the radiation used to cure that..... I had bladder cancer in 04 and being a dumb guy I had ignored the problem for longer than I should have so it was no good.... but I am still here and so is my wife. Stay positive and you will be through this in no time! They have come a long way in the treatment of all forms of cancer!

Best wishes

Yes it does suck but you have to look at it differently....

I am 42 years old, single parent of a wonderful 12 year old son... when I was diagnosed with breast cancer I was devasted. I have no family and was certainly not ready to go to a higher place... I opted to have a double mastectomy right away to get it out of me as quickly as possible and I said just take anything out that doesn't look good... I then came home with drain tubes and hide them very well under sweat shirts to not scare my boy... I had 2 rounds of chemo, lost all my hair. I got lots of fun wigs and made sure to try to look my best everyday and get up so I wouldn't scare my boy. I also did 7 weeks of radiation and 10 weeks of the oxygen chamber every day. I had three boob jobs after the mastecctomy... all three failed I got fevers, felt like crap so I opted to just feel good and stuff my bras..... At first I cried , I was angry at first.

How I get thru it is I think it was a gift to me to have it instead of my son, because no matter how hard I think it is, it's not as hard as it would be if it were my son..... I'd take this desease gladly if given the choice...

That's how I get up and work and play every day of my life and live with cancer!!

Annie

annie.nick@att.net

Then something