My friend

I am dealing with vaginal low grade cells as you all know. I want to thank you all again for answering my questions.

Yesterday my best friend called me as the doctor called her about her breast MRI. She has cancer in both breasts. My heart sank, and I rushed over to be with her. I brought my "calm" because I really wanted to just help her any way that I could. I sat and held her hand and told her that I would be with her every step of the way, and I will.

I read the report from her x-rays that were picked up, to go to the surgeon on Jan. 3rd. I am no doctor but from what I read it appears that the lymph nodes are involved. Last year she had a biopsy on one breast and that was fine.

Can you girls guide me? I don't think any woman should feel alone in this. I want to do what I can to give her love and support. I have poor health in general, but I will use every good day that I have to take her for her treatment. Her doctor mentioned "treatment" but I don't know what that is yet and I guess the surgeon will tell her more in Jan?

My friend, on the day of her mammogram said that she "knew" she had cancer. She said it felt like a sixth sense about herself. I did not poo-poo it, but I was curious about it. Still I had faith that things would be okay.

Thanks for listening. My friend also is a heavy smoker. She said yesterday that she must quit, and I think that she will. But not on the day she got the news. I think she was in such shock.
Blessings everyone and thank you
LynneAnn

Hi,
I love this website however hystersister pretty much sums that up and the support you get from these wonderful women is a tremendous gift. There is another website I have found since going through my diagnosis of now cervical cancer and that is cancercompass.com. They have many forums for women dealing with breast cancer and breast issues and I think they might be a great help to you. The women here will help too in anyway they can. This website along with cancercompass have been a blessing for me I could not have gotten out of bed without the wonderful words of encouragement and hope and the hugs and prayers without. I am so sorry please tell you friend that we are all here for her. I too knew when I got my first pap that it was gonna come back cancer. There are a lot of treatment options out there. My Aunt Pat just made her 7 year mark of total mastectomy with reconstruction and is still cancer free Good luck.

Thank you blondraider, your reply means a lot to me. I will check out that website as well. I was thinking how grateful I am for early detection and grateful that women go for their mammograms. Then I wondered how women go from being fine to having a diagnoses like this. I guess maybe this is all part of that process, where you get stuck on "why".

I guess after a bit, things sink in and become more real. (sorry to ramble)
I am going to pray that my friend is too a survivor. She is just a wonderful, wonderful person....
Thanks again....
Blessings..
LynneAnn

Hi LynneAnn,
What a kind, caring friend you are! Your friend is lucky to have you.

My best advice would be to just be you. Be there when your pal needs you, understand when she needs quiet time. Offer to drive her to her treatments when you can, and sit w/her (if she needs chemo) to keep her company.

Also, I am not sure if you know this, but Hystersisters has a breast health forum. Why not share that with your friend and see if she wants to join our site? You know how invaluable our woman-to-woman support is!

Blessings to you for being such a great friend!

xoxo

k9

HI K9....You gave me such comfort. I will do that. I will be there for her for what "she" needs. If she needs quiet and space I can love her through that part too In my eyes she gets what I call a "free pass". If she is cranky or sad or whatever she is, I will love her right through it and understand that this is her personal space and not ever take it personal

You guys are awesome! I will mention this site to my friend. Maybe she would like to join us.
Bless you all!!
LynneAnn

Hi LynneAnn,
Your friend has eerything she needs. She has you for a friend. Just be there when she wants to cry, scream, rant or rave. As you know emotions can sometimes get the best of us at any given time but things are much easier to take when you have a good friend with you. My thoughts & prayers are with your friend & you. Hugs.
Bertha

Thank you too Bertha. She and I spent a lot of time on the phone yesterday and that was good. I let her lead the conversation. If she wants to talk about it we do, and if she does not want to talk about it, we don't. We even had a big laugh or two.
Blessings everyone..

Hi LynneAnn,
You are such a great friend. My best friend lives in Virginia & I live in Pittsburgh. She would call me every night & let me vent. We would laugh sometimes so hard I would have tears running down my face. Someone on here gave me good advice when I was first diagnosed - smile as often as I can & then I will be looking at life through happy eyes. It really works. Hugs
Bertha