I was diagnosed with breast cancer last month. If it's any help when I was told my mind went blank and all I could do was cry. After the tears I felt this deep sense of peace. I knew it was going to be okay. I not only knew it I felt it. I had my surgery on November 19th and as soon as I woke up I knew it was gone, all gone. I had my surgery follow up on November 30th and was told the pathology report said they did get it all, but I already knew that. I will start radiation therapy some time this month which will last for 7 weeks, 5 days a week. Then 5 years of a pill I'll have to take daily. Not sure what it is as my doctor said we'll get to that step after the radiation. I know I'll be okay as God has already shown me things I needed to know. The first one was I'm 63 and had my very first mammogram when my cancer was caught. Also, I have no health insurance but I know God is watching over me and I know he'll be with me every step of my recovery.
My best suggestion is for your husband and you to find a support group in your area or call the American Cancer Society. I received some great information from a breast cancer group called Network of Strength. They sent me a wonderful booklet called “After Diagnosis” a guide for patients and families. It's from the American Cancer Society and answered a lot of the questions I had as to how I should deal with “all of it”.
If I can be of any help or support please let me know. In the mean time my prayers will be with the both of you and your family.
So far as we know now, the treatment is going to be very tough on him. It consists of surgery to remove hundreds of lymph nodes in the neck, chemo and radiation.
We are great together as a couple. We are very close and there is nothing that we can't get through as long as it's me and him.
But quietly, to my self, I am terrified and my heart is breaking to think of what he is about to go through; knowing that I can't make it OK.
If the pill you will have to take for five years is Tamoxifen, I suggest you read up on it very closely. My wife, a breast cancer survivor for 15 years now, had to take Tamoxifen for the first five years of her remission. There are some potentially bad side effects you should be aware of. Basically, it screwed her up physically, emotionally, and mentally.