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posted by Monoboob2021
22 April 2023

Returning to Work - Company Trying to Sideline Me

Last reply: 06 May 2023 19:02
Hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone has had experience with their work trying to side-line them when they come back to work? I work in a large public sector hospital and have been out from work for just over 2 years. Our Occupational Health consultant signed me off to return to work 7 weeks ago and I have had to chase my department and HR to start the process. Last week I met with my new manager (started while I was out) and a HR person. They are attempting to put me into a role 2 levels below mine in an entirely different directorate doing data entry. HR person said I am unlikely to ever return to my department and that the office is not 'ergonomically suitable'. Nothing in the Occupational Health report hints at anything to even remotely support this. Sitting near a window for light & temperature management and a phased return is all that is advised. After a long battle with side effects I was prepared for the return to work to be difficult, but I thought it would be only managing side effects, fear of recurrence and awkwardness with colleagues, financial issues. Is there any services that you know of for someone to come along to my next meeting to help me? Because they are behaving so badly I don't want to expose a colleague to any backlash for coming with me. Does anyone have any suggestions or advice on how to proceed? Any help greatly appreciated! Thank-you in advance :-) Shocked and disappointed survivor
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posted by Hopeful
24 April 2023

Taking supplements while on treatment

Last reply: 25 April 2024 17:39
Hello. My mam is currently undergoing treatment for lung cancer, she is receiving chemo ( carboplatin + paclitaxel ) and immunotherapy ( pembro ) and she will also need one session of radiation in the coming weeks. I was wondering whether it is safe for her to take supplements while on this treatment? I have read that ginger and turmeric are good for fighting cancer so she has been drinking herbal teas with ginger and I was going to get her some turmeric supplements but I am not sure if these will be ok as I have also read that they may interfere with the treatment and its best to get them from diet? Any advice is appreciated as it can be hard to get a hold of her medical team on the phone and she isn't back in for treatment for another two weeks
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posted by BellaBubble
02 May 2023

Scalp cooling

Last reply: 13 July 2023 23:46
Hi, Has anyone here used scalp cooling/the cold cap in recent years? (I see there is another post about cold caps, but it's ten years old and I don't want to potentially trigger the original poster if they get email alerts to say there have been replies to it.) If so, what are your thoughts? Did you find it successful? How much time did it add to your day? I've read that the cap should be on for 30 minutes before and 45 afterwards (the afterwards time seems short - is that an accurate timeframe to expect?). Any other information that you think would be relevant or useful would be gratefully appreciated. Thank you.
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posted by Maggiemakes
05 May 2023

Bad first time chemotherapy reaction

Last reply: 11 May 2023 14:42
Hi there, I was diagnosed in January with IDC 3cm tumor and 1 sentinel glad with 5mm met. My doctor said it's localised I've had a lumpectomy and started the 1st of 4 AC's to be follwed by taxol every week for 12 weeks. After my first AC last week I became extremely unwell 3 days after and was diagnosed with septicaemia I became extremely unwell and am currently in hospital and will be for another few days at the least. My 2nd chemo can now not take place obviously. Has anybody had anything similar happen to them ? Im so upset as I follwed everything they said to the letter but this has happened. They cannot find the source of the infection which is worrying. I'm 56 and in general good health. Any advice or similar problem I would much appreciate to hear.
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posted by ccg2
07 May 2023

Tamoxifen brands switch

Last reply: 08 May 2023 15:08
Hi I've been on tamoxifen for 6 weeks. 4 weeks on 10mg and 2 on 20mg. Since upping the dose I'm struggling with side effects. Acid reflux very extensive skin rash fatigue sweats flushes. I have read online but mostly on UK forums that changing brands sometimes helps. I'm on rexa brand just wondering if anyone has experience of this working with brands in Ireland. I'm contemplating going back to pharmacy to see if they will swap a packet but I don't know of any other brands. Anyone done this?
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posted by Von23
09 May 2023

Biopsy Result

Last reply: 23 May 2023 10:10
I was called today and asked to come in this Thursday to get my biopsy results. Does this mean it is more than likely bad news? Just wondering what common practice is. This waiting is so hard.
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posted by PinkRose
12 May 2023

How long is GP referral to hospital

Last reply: 18 May 2023 19:49
I have a suspicious mole on my arm. It is two colours. It's brown and has a very dark nearly black centre. I have a lot of moles on my body. This mole looks different than the rest of them due to the colour. I went to my GP and she referred me to the hospital for removal of the mole. I think she said the plastic surgeon department for removal. She referred me as an urgent case. I am not very stressed or anxious about the possibility of a cancer. I read online that there's a few different forms of cancer and some of them can be slow growing cancer. Hopefully it won't be cancer. However there's something in the back of my mind thinking maybe it might me. There were many different stresses in my life over the past number of years that I will not go into. I think maybe this might be a cancer. I was investigating my arm again today. A few inches down my arm and a few inches away from the questionable mole is another mole that I don't like the look of. There's two different shades of brown in it and it looks very slight asymmetric. It's hardly noticeable. It looks like two moles on top of each other or one that is spilling outwards. Now I am concerned due to having two moles that look questionable located withing inches of each other. I am waiting for a referral. I was just at he GP this week and she sent the referral this week. She sent it in as an urgent case. Just wondering how long would I be waiting for to be seen by thr hospital? I am a public patient. I am in Galway.
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posted by mylo0307
17 May 2023

Kinda anxious

Last reply: 08 June 2023 17:28
Hi, I hope it's ok to post, I found a lump just under 2 weeks ago due to my dog constantly sniffing my left breast, i know, sounds totally strange! I've had lumps and an abcess in the same breast before but when i felt this 'new' one, it just felt 'odd'. I made an appointment to see my gp on the 9th & she referred me immediately and said I would be seen within 2 weeks. The same breast sometimes feels burny, shooting stabby pains on & off and it can be intensely itchy. I am a fairly logical thinker and i am 99% sure the appointment will go well. I am in next Wednesday 24th at 10:30. So, all in all, its been quite quick from finding it, to seeing my gp and going to the breast clinic. I wont lie though I am quite anxious only because it doesn't feel 'familiar' like the other lumos ive had previously. Im attending the appointment on my own cause id only be stressing more worrying about the person waiting for me. I've no idea what to expect at this appointment. Am i right in thinking an early appointment would mean possible tests if they feel its necessary? As im going on my own, is it ok for me to drive IF they do a biopsy? I feel quite alone to be honest, im only 38 so my friends & husband are like youll be grand, itll be nothing, try not to worry. Its easier said than done though, i guess thats why im posting here, for a listening, non emotionally involved ear. Thanks a mill for reading. All support & advice hugely welcome!!
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posted by Coming off Tamoxifen
17 May 2023

Coming off Tamoxifen

I came off Tamoxifen on the 13th May after 10 years, I do feel slightly anxious coming off it even though I did have some side effects whilst taking it. I'm wondering if anyone has experienced any bad side effects when they came off Tamoxifen - what they are and how long they lasted. I've read on some forums, mainly English ones, that some people experience quite bad tiredness and fatigue and what they describe as 'brain fog'. I have noticed that I'm feeling quite tired the last few days but, having only finished taking Tamoxifen on Saturday, I don't know if I would be feeling the effects this quickly. Has anyone else experienced this?
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posted by aloevera
18 May 2023

Side effects of T-DM1 vs T-DXd

Last reply: 02 June 2023 15:21
Has anyone been given either trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) or trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd)? If so, what kind of side effects did you experience with either of them? I’m after completing neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer and surgery, and my oncologist has suggested these drug treatments. As the drug treatments could last approximately 10 months, and I need to consider their impact on my ability to return to work, I need to get an idea of the likelihood of side effects. Please let me know.
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