Community

I am awaiting a response from the Breast Care Nurses and the Nurses at the RT centre in James, but they are taking their time, and I need to decide soon, so I thought I'd check the collective wisdom here. I get the option of a flu jab each year in the office, and take it each year, though I am not (normally) in an at risk group. I don't get any side effects from it, and I have not had a (real) flu in years. However, I am wondering how wise it is to take the flu jab now, two days after finishing RT and with the Tamoxifen. My googling seems to suggest that it is actually a good idea as cancer treatment (even RT without chemo, apparently) depletes one's immune system. However, I'd like a little advice. Has anyone here been in that position and been given a proper med opinion ? TIA, and I hope you are all feeling well today. I am TIRED, probably a lot less than many reading this, but more than I've been in years. I had completely underestimated the effects of RT, and was happily sailing through it congratulating myself on how well my skin was holding up! Anyway, thanks again for any light you guys can cast! Catherine

Hi Guys To any of you lovely ladies who will be unfortunately losing your hair through chemo I would gladly lend you my wig.. I say lend as wanna keep it for a keepsake for years to come. Its really nice and it was around 550 mad price ...... would be delighted to help someone out and lend it, its in great condition. You can see pictures of me in my blog www.kickingtheshiteoutofcancer.com and see what the wig looks like, I even had the head for the wig (I called her Daisy) Hopefully might save someone a few quid bloody exorbitant prices we pay for wigs..... when I get back over thinking brain back gonna check out getting wigs cheaper to us cancer chics. Private Message me if interested

I have finished RT just over a week ago, and in the last three weeks or so I have found myself occasionally from episodes of shortness of breath. They don't tend to last more than an hour or so, and are not related to exertion (I have continued with relatively intensive exercise routine, though less intensive than usual towards the end and todate). The RT oncologist can hear "asymetric" breathing, but the chest xray I had two weeks ago or so showed nothing worrying. Anyone had this experience? Catherine (suffering one at this very moment, in the middle of a work meeting )...

Hi, I'm new on here, I just finished 8th cycle of chemo today, plan is surgery in a few weeks and rt after. Just want to say I've been reading some of your posts in the last few weeks and found them great I'm 39 and I was diagnosed in June with 8cm invasive lobular bc which didn't show up on mammogram or ultrasound and was then found through biopsy and could be seen on MRI. It seems this type commonly goes undetected on routine scans and also can be due to dense tissue in younger women.(not that I thought I was that young ) I had no idea this can happen before my diagnosis. It was all a huge shock, but, as the weeks passed I started to get through the treatment and processing it all as I go along!! Great to be able to join a forum like this and I look forward to chatting to all you amazing ladies!!!!

hi Girls Just wondering if anyone has expereinced the same so I know I am not alone. Had my second last expasnion yesterday I haev around 350mls in me now. The pain however afterwards was extreme I had to drive home and dont know how I made it. Can hardly walk, getting up and out of couch is so painful, can hardly move my arm. I would just like to know if other people felt the same pain so I know its normal and hopefully will subside. Thanks Dee

Hi, we got bad news reqarding my Father-in-laws cancer recently. Our only daughter (8 years old) is very-very close to him and he is coming home for palitive care ( his wife has passed also). Just hoping to get some advice or experience from others as to how to tell my daughter, should we tell sooner or later? Thanks in advance.

Hi all, I'm taking the plunge and bringing up the topic of stoma care. I had an operation for bowel cancer which invaded the pelvic area requiring the removal of my womb ovaries part of a kidney, part of the large and small intestine as well. I am on a course of chemo therapy at present and will have radium as well. While the surgeon and oncologist have not given any prognosis regarding life expectancy they both said that even advance cancers now respond very well to treatment and I know they are looking at my case in a positive way, as I also am. I have a stoma and received help from specialist stoma nurses while in hospital - I adjusted very quickly to to idea of it and became proficient in looking after my personal hygene etc. So what's my point? Well since coming home I realise that its quite a job getting supplies of bags, and all the sprays and things to go with it. At first the hospital put me in touch with a company who supplied this stuff - I then had to get a prescription from my doctor and send it to them along with a cheque for prescription charges. I ended up with too much of one thing and not enough of another. So I changed to getting supplies from my local chemist this required that I go in and let them know reference codes for each item so they could order in. On one particular day I spent an hour waiting in the doctors in order to get a prescription for supplies. Another time I ordered a repeat prescription on a friday and was told on monday I didn't give them enough time and to come back. In my opinionall this beaurocracy around these prescriptions is a waste of time and energy on my part and on the part of the G.P's as well (who by the way has been very supportive of me during my illness - no complaints there). Why are they not availabel free to bowel cancer patients at a point of distribution (like the chemist)? Its the only way we have to go to the toilet - no one else has to jump through these hoops to answer the call of nature. After all I only use what I need to use - I dont think there is a call for them on the black market so I wouldn't see why I should require any more than is necessary - what would you be doing with them anyway? What does anyone else think? Am I making a mountain out of a molehill? Jo

On Monday next, I will be running my fourth post surgery marathon. There will be many, many other Cancer Survivors running also. Please give us all the support you can! I hoping to raise a few bob for both the Irish Cancer Society and Cork ARC. However, my main goal is to give hope and inspiration to those dealing with Cancer. My Irish Cancer Society fundraising page: http://www.mycharity.ie/event/john_quigleys_dcm_run/

I had a mammagram just a week ago in Beaumont but I have no results yet and I still have pain in left breast. Does anyone out there know when I will get results?

I have had so many suggestions for changing my diet My first tumour was removed pus a few nodes two days after my80th birthday so old age does mean you can ignore lumps etc first annual check up was all clear but they changed me to tamoxifen I was having a tickly throat this summer, had an ex-ray which show the cancer had headed inwards . I have just had my second injection of fulvestrant into my bum and would be interested to hear from anyone who might also be having this treatment I am juicing vegetable, have not worried about filtering, our water in County Clare seems so good. eating a lot of turmeric and just a few apricot kernels each day, not too much red met and processed foods