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Newly diagnosed?
Start here.

If you’ve just been told you have breast cancer, you may have a thousand questions and absolutely no idea which one to ask first. Or you may have heard the word “cancer” and missed everything that came after it.

I’ve been there. You don’t have to figure everything out today.

Give the questions somewhere to go

Write down what you know, what you don’t understand, and what you want to ask at your next appointment. A notebook, your phone, or a planner can help when your brain has decided it’s unavailable for further comment.

A few questions to start with:

What type of breast cancer do I have?
What do my test results tell us, and what are we still waiting to learn?
What happens next?
Who should I contact with questions between appointments?

My breast cancer planner grew out of needing somewhere to keep all those details during my own treatment.

Take a look inside the planner

Find someone you can talk to

Friends and family can love you deeply and still have no idea what this feels like. Sometimes you want someone who understands without needing the entire explanation.

My Resources page includes peer connections, professional support, and patient navigation. You can explore what feels useful and leave the rest.

Find support and connection

Ask about the practical stuff, too

Transportation, bills, time away from work, recovery supplies, and keeping your house reasonably livable can become part of this very quickly.

Ask your treatment center whether an oncology social worker or patient navigator can help. I’ve also gathered organizations offering financial assistance, practical services, and free or reduced-cost supplies. Each has its own requirements.

Explore practical help

Buy things when you know what you need

You don’t need to panic-buy an entire cancer survival kit tonight. What helps will depend on your treatment and your preferences.

I’ve shared the things I personally found useful, from soft hats and post-surgery comforts to everyday favorites. They’re suggestions from my experience, and purchases through affiliate links may earn me a commission.

See things that helped me

There is no required personality for this

You can cry. You can laugh. You can be angry, quiet, overwhelmed, or several of those things before lunch. You don’t owe anyone an inspiring performance.

Humor has helped me cope, but that doesn’t mean I’ve enjoyed every minute or handled everything beautifully. My journal is where I talk about the parts that don’t fit neatly into a treatment tracker.

Read my journal

Take what helps. Come back when you need to. There’s no homework here.