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Hi all, I am new to this, and to be honest I'm not quite sure what I am hoping to gain from posting...maybe a little understanding and support from people going through something similar! My wonderful hubby was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in November 2011 after being very ill since June 2011 with breathlessness, coughing, night sweats, weight loss. He underwent an unsuccessful biopsy in June 2011 (he was coughing too much to remove a biopsy) and at this time he was misdiagnosed & told he had Sarcoidosis. He began steroid treatment for Sarcoid, but steadily went down hill. When he collapsed and was hospitalised in October, it was discovered that there was a lot more going on! After A LOT of testing, biopsies and scopes, it turned out my hubby had stage 3 Non Hodgkin’s mediastinal lymphoma with a tracheoesophageal fistula thrown into the mix for fun! He was sent home from hosp to await chemo but was re-admitted as a critical patient after his lungs flooded at home due to the fistula. He underwent 6 rounds of R-CHOP and was hospitalised for 2 months. Due to the fistula he needed a PEG and JEG tube fitted to decompress his stomach and was on liquid feed almost 2 months. It wasn't believed he would make it through 3 nights during his hospital stay as he developed severe infections and went into resp. failure. I slept on the floor beside him in the hosp for 2 weeks! But, Thank God, he pulled through and we began to see improvements slowly. He was discharged from hospital on the 18th of December, was told his fistula had sealed on the 21st of December (and he was allowed to eat again) and he finished his last chemo on the 29th of Feb. We just received his PET scan results...and they are clear! It has been a rollercoaster of a journey! We will be married two years in July...this has definitely been a test of our vows! He is doing wonderfully, his energy is almost back to pre-sickness, and his hair is growing back.. I have my husband and best friend back. I guess I'm just finding it hard to get my head around all that has happened. It has been very fast moving and we have had a lot to deal with! We have been told that his PET scan was clear and 100% normal...can I ask..does this put him into the remission category? I was in such shock when we received the results via the phone that I forgot to ask! We are seeing the oncologist on Monday, but just wanted to test the waters here first! Has anyone experienced anything similar to this? I believe the type of lymphoma my hub has in a rarer type? I'd love some feed back! God Bless. xx

Well, wasn't that one hell of a quick year!! I am coming down from a day of a huge high after getting my results of MRI/ultrasound/mammogram which were all good and made me grateful that surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and now Herceptin all did a great job on getting rid of cancer - so far, so good! I knew nothing about breast cancer last year only negative things:- it was something to fear and it wrecked lives. It is still something I wouldn't like to keep around like a pet puppy, but I didn't know how successfully it can be eradicated when caught in time, and with the right care and treatment. It certainly wrecks lives but I've been so lucky that I am blessed with the amount of love and support that I have been shown and continue to receive that it can make you appreciate what you have. I still have a few doses of Herceptin to go through, so it's very reassuring to know that I will be cossetted in the bosom of the oncology team and if I think there is a problem, the Fairy Godnurses and doctors will look into it immediately; but I came away today feeling even happier to know that I will get seen twice a year for five years. I will not be cast off into the wildnerness and have a great team that genuinely care about my health and me. I have learnt there is so much more to breast cancer than the cancer; it has tested my time and patience with family and friends, it has tested my patience with myself and made me learn to lean on these people, not to be afraid to talk, and get up of my arse and not let it change who I am, despite what I look like! I know it's not the same for everyone, and that unfortunately breast cancer isn't always as lenient as it has been to me so far but if nothing else, I hope that other women (and men!) who do find themselves in the mire of being newly diagnosed with breast cancer learn that it's not all doom and maybe learn that if you get a second chance, then take it with both hands and run with it!

Hi all I am 46 diagnosed on my 46th birthday with IDC with signs of inflammatory breast cancer. Presented with huge amounts of pain in the right breast and some discolouration but no lumps. Nothing showed up on Mamo but ultrasound showed problems with lymph nodes. So to cut to chase cancer in lymph nodes and MRI reveals 2 tumors in breast and inflammatory breast cancer under nipple. Started chemo this week Taxotere and Cyclophosphamide 6 sessions proposed. Had a reaction to the Taxotere the next day and an antihistimine is taking care of that. Feel tired and emotional, scalp a bit tingly so best get head gear and wig sorted. A few questions how long post chemo day do you feel any bit like yourself? and what can you expect to be able to do work, exercise etc? How on earth do you get your head round a mastectomy (due in Nov). Being large chested just can't get my head around the grotesqueness of being left lopsided for more than a year as reconstruction will have to wait until 1 year post radiotherapy? Of all the bits involved in breast cancer I just can't stop thinking of and crying about the surgery or butchery as I see it. I know it has to come off if they are to save me but finding it so hard. Is this a natural thought ... did anyone else feel like this? Will appreciate any advice from the wise. Feeling lost and low I guess it is the shock as this all happened in less than a month - ie no time for planning:-) Any advice greatfully accepted. Dane 7

Had mastectomy, chemo, radiotherapy 12 years ago when I was 40. All brill till before Christmas when it came back on my lung. Thankfully, doctors are very positive about it and telling me I'll be around for a very long time. First scan since starting hormone treatment next Wednesday so just feeling 'slightly terrified'! Would love people to pray for me. Thanks a mil everyone.

Hi folks, am new onto this site. Aged 37. Diagnosed Nov 11 finished 6 doses chemo, am on Herceptin for rest of year. Been told need mastecomy because of size of tumor - 5 cm at diagnosis but has definately reduced. Also had tiny spots on lung and they also reduced in last scan I had (Feb - just after 3rd chemo) Not sure if need radiotherapy yet think they waiting on results from op. Met surgeon earlier this month and he recommended that I get reconstruction. Having spent last few months getting head round having breast removed to be told it could be reconstructed was a 'nice' surprise. While was in with him he called surgeon in Galway and they set date for 24 May. Met surgeon in Galway last week and he thinks that best option for me is implant because of previous surgery on tummy. There are 2 different types of implant options available but not sure what I should do? Was wondering if anybody on here could give me advice. Is the inflatable one better than the silicon one? Think edging towards inflatable one because of what I read about radio treatment afterwards. Hope that is clear, any questions please ask and look forward to getting your responses.

I was diagnosed with DCIS in March this year... I have had 2 operations to remove an area of DCIS which was approx 5mm. I was told that this cancer was only stage 1 and very small. Im doing 6 weeks of Radiotherapy and have just started my 5 year course of Tamoxifen. In 2009 I had an ovary removed due to an ovarian cyst that was over 10cm in diameter... If Tamoxifen is prescribed to block the production of eastrogen, why aren't we offered a full hystorectomy ???? Surely this is safer ?? My concern is that when I finish the 5 year course of Tamoxifen my body will go back to its normal cycle and once again start to produce eastrogen... Is there any medical reasons to not be offered a hystorectomy...???

diagnosed nov 11. Finish chemo on 8 may, goin week Holiday. I wanted to go away before my surgery. Anyone gone away so soon after chemo. Any tips. I heard you are more sensitive during chemo.

Hi all Am posting this from hospital bed.surgery first thing in morning early start and long day awaits.Am remarkably calm at moment(although sleeping tablet at ready!!) Please cross fingers and say a little prayer that mastectomy and reconstruction all go well. Thanks

Hi all... Im 39 years old and was diagnosed with DCIS breast cancer in March this year. Im currently in the 3rd week of radiotherapy and all is going well. Last week I had my appointment with the Encologist and at the weekend I started to take the hormone replacement tablets Tamoxifen.. Ive read so many things on the drug and read alot of people's post's about how severe the side affects can be.... I think I am more scared of taking these then anything else that has come my way in the past 8 weeks.... Does anyone have any advice or has anyone been lucky enough not have any of the side affects... Be good to hear from anyone... Fluffy...

The Annual Meeting of MAC will take place on Saturday 12 May 2012 in the Ashling Hotel, Parkgate Street Dublin 7 at 11 am. Speakers: Prof John Fitzpatrick, Head of Research, Irish Cancer Society “The management of prostate cancer in senior adults” Helen Forristal, Cancer Nurse Co-ordinator, St Vincent’s University Hospital “The prospects for men and their families with prostate cancer”