Hi Cynthia,

I am trying to reply to as many of the "Just Diagnosed" as I can....I remember how it was for me at the beginning. 

You are in the hardest part right now!!  I was just diagnosed a few months ago...had a mastectomy and have had two rounds of chemo...The hardest for me was actually the beginning...the not knowing...this website is the one that helped me the most. I actually started talking to other women that were going through this, too. And the experts on this site can give you a lot of solid information.  That helped me a lot.

Do your research on this site...too many of the other websites are way too scary and don't give clear enough information.

Read the "just diagnosed" sections. They will explain a lot. Read through all the "living with it" shareposts. Find a couple of women whose stories you connect with and make contact with them. Everyone on this site is here to help. Many of us are going through it, too.

I have also found that making my own "Cancer Book" where I keep all of my records has helped me feel a bit in control.  I found the beginnings of the record book on the website http://www.chemotherapy.com/organizing_info/tools.jsp

Then I decorated it with all the different cards that I got.  All of my doctors love it...I write out the questions that I have, keep copies of lab reports, etc.  It is great to have.

It does seem overwhelming...sounds impossible but it does get a little easier to deal with.  You hang in there!!

Koponen