Hi Stitch, That's good news. I hope your recovery goes well and you can go home soon. ... View more

Hi Glenys Since you didn't know this woman had advanced breast cancer and a bad prognosis then you might have accidentally said something insensitive to her. I guess you just need to be careful what you say without knowing other people's situation. She could have given you some advice about this if she told you off for something so you'll know for the future. Are there different support groups for early breast cancer and advanced breast cancer? In the support group I have been to I have only met people with early breast cancer but they have mentioned former members who have passed away. It seems a bit mean to tell you not to go to the support group but I don't know who that group is aimed at. It could be that it was not a suitable group for you. Maybe they could suggest a different group for you. ... View more

Congratulations! Society should be honoured to welcome you back. ... View more

An afro sounds hard to deal with! Is it hard to comb? My hair is now long enough to get knots in it and it's really annoying. I can't remember if it used to get this tangled before or not. I do like having hair that I can tie up though, and I like my funny curls. I think I will be sad when I lose them - it is 14 months since chemo and haven't yet had it cut. ... View more

I know just what you mean. It's like the upsetness is behind a glass wall so I see it but don't feel it. It's starting to bug me. I hope you are doing ok. ... View more

Hi Glenys I hope your son will be able to find the photo for you. I hope it can help comfort you and accept your loss and your new body. It must be a hard and awkward thing for your son as well. Allicat ... View more

I didn't have radiation but I did like the friendly atmosphere in the chemo room and out in the hall where we all spent a lot of time waiting for our doctor's reviews. I think it was very helpful and meant that the actual getting of the chemo was not a bad experience for me. ... View more

I have been impressed with how my family and friends did not seem to be freaked out by me having a mastectomy. I feel like I would have been awkward with them if it had happened to someone else. I would guess that your sister and family feel awkward and don't know how to deal with the situation and so ignore the issue instead of figuring out how to deal with it. Were you very close with your family before your diagnosis? My oldest sister was diagnosed with breast cancer 3 months after I was. Many people have assumed this is good for us both to have somebody who understands how we feel and what were going through. But, it's also annoying and I had issues with resentment at her sharing "my" problem. This is sort of the opposite of your problem. ... View more

Hi Glenys I don't know if there are specific things you shouldn't say to people who haven't had breast surgery or a mastectomy. Maybe you need to try not to split the world into people who've had this surgery and people who haven't. People are just people and we all have problems and issues and need help sometimes. You didn't put your foot in it by offering to help. Maybe she felt embarrassed to have to explain she hadn't had cancer but she shouldn't have. I had my mastectomy exactly 6 months after I was told I would need it. This gave me time to get used to the idea. I didn't worry about it for the first 4 or 5 months as I was concentrating on getting through chemo. It was only once chemo was finished I started stressing about the mastectomy. I remember it was impossible to believe. The idea was too big to fit in my head. I could not imagine that it would really happen and that I would be still be me. I was terrified beforehand but then on the actual day I was quite calm. I was just glad the day was finally there and I didn't have to wait any more. Allicat ... View more