Just Diagnosed with Breast Cancer

Hi there Andrene,

So sorry you have had to join our club. You will get great support here. I used to have a fear of anything medical but over the course of my diagnosis, all the tests and treatment I have learnt to trust the medical team and I know they only carry out what tests they need to ensure you get the best treatment for your condition to ensure the best possible outcome for you.

Good luck!

Karen

Hope your tests go well Andrene. Initially I hated the thoughts of the CT scan and the MRI but I've had both and they really are ok. The CT is absolutely fine. The MRI is quite noisy. I attend the Mater Private and they put on music to help block out the sound. I also found it was good to focus on the song or think positive thoughts to get through it. I have another CT scan in the morning and the only thing that's bothering me about it now is the fasting!! You get used to all the tests and procedures quite quickly, believe me. Best of luck with your treatment. I've had my mastectomy, 6 months of chemo and 25 sessions of radiotherapy and although its tough it is doable. Take all the help you can get.
Good luck.

Hi Andrene

All the procedures and scans are mad auld yolks alright but as mentioned before, it seems like it all happens in a whirlwind. However, it's tough enough to have been diagnosed with cancer without having to face everything else as well.

I haven't yet met anyone who really enjoys scans and tests; I have a big problem with needles - who doesn't!!!, most of the vampires that were drawing blood were lovely and understanding and genuinely tried to make it as uncomfortable as possible. However, it was all grand until I had to get a canula into my arm for one of the dyes or lotions or potions - I told the nurse the usual craic and she said, "ah, you'll be grand". And then I woke up on the ground with two doctors, another nurse and a porter all around me shouting my name - I had passed out cold and fallen off the chair. So it's safe to say THAT nurse will believe me the next time she has to poke me

Anyway, the point of my story is while it is important to try and distract yourself and take your mind off, make sure to voice your dislike, tell the staff if it affects you in any particular way, such as anxiety attacks, palpitations, etc., and I'm pretty sure they will offer you only the greatest of sympathy and help.

I hope everything goes ok for you, best of luck

Hi,

Thank you all for your advise and support. I got through the scans alright, the staff at UHG where very professional, aware and sensitive to my fears. I think they had been warned about the runner I had previously done from the mammogram unit They managed to get me back that time.

It was a long long day for us, we live in North West Cavan and it takes about 3 hrs driving to get to the hospital in Galway. We left at 5am and got back home again at 7pm. Very tired and hungry, still recovering.

We are back again to UHG on Monday to get my outstanding results, should have a better idea about things after that. My consultant is Ray McLoughlin.

Thank again for your support.

Regards...Andrene

Hey Andrene,

I was the exact same, so afraid of even going into a hospital! But it will pass..you will get used to all the ways of it all. And I hear ya on the travelling, I had a round trip of 5 hrs to Galway, its a killer...try to rest as much as you can! And bring snacks for the journey!

Good luck x

Hello everybody,I am supernew to all this too,diagnosed on December 13th, has wide local excision and sentiel node biopsy caried out.Meeting consultant on Friday morning to hear what treatment is ahead of me, already that HER2 was 2 positive so gone for FISH test, also oestrogen positive so def facing radiotherapy and hormone therapy.Not sure how I feelabout it all.

All the procedures and scans are mad auld yolks alright but as mentioned before, it seems like it all happens in a whirlwind. However, it's tough enough to have been diagnosed with cancer without having to face everything else as well.

I haven't yet met anyone who really enjoys scans and tests; I have a big problem with needles - who doesn't!!!, most of the vampires that were drawing blood were lovely and understanding and genuinely tried to make it as uncomfortable as possible. However, it was all grand until I had to get a canula into my arm for one of the dyes or lotions or potions - I told the nurse the usual craic and she said, "ah, you'll be grand". And then I woke up on the ground with two doctors, another nurse and a porter all around me shouting my name - I had passed out cold and fallen off the chair. So it's safe to say THAT nurse will believe me the next time she has to poke me

Anyway, the point of my story is while it is important to try and distract yourself and take your mind off, make sure to voice your dislike, tell the staff if it affects you in any particular way, such as anxiety attacks, palpitations, etc., and I'm pretty sure they will offer you only the greatest of sympathy and help.

I hope everything goes ok for you, best of luck[/quote]