Community

Hi all anyone other males going through this or have gone through it I’m 43 and facing chemo next since surgery x2 This just came out of nowhere for me like a lot of cancers I suppose

Hi guys I was referred by my doctor to the breast clinic with a lump on my breast 12 weeks ago. I was put on a 12 week wait period and my doctor received information from the hospital about this. She gave me a number to call if I hadn't received a letter in a couple of weeks and the lady who answered quite quickly got me off the phone with a solid answer of "you're down for a year, ok? Bye". I'm residing in Waterford at the moment. I called my doctor and she told me to call again after the 12 week period had ended and I did today. I reached a voicemail of the same lady directing anyone to call another number. Once I called this number I was told that my wait will be up to two years! I asked her if there is any point in me waiting 2 years with this and she said "well it's up to you" and that they wouldn't have any more information about the 12 week period because they are new to taking over the department. I will be calling my doctor again who said she will see what she can do following this but who knows how this will end. I'm 29 with a history of breast cancer in my family. I can't afford private healthcare as I'm a student who has been receiving grants to support my cost of living here. Has anyone else been dealing with this conflict? This seems absolutely ludicrous and terrifying for me now to deal with and I can't find too many personal stories about it or how to handle it; all I can find are recent statistics here and there regarding wait times. I mean, why even bother saying 2 years to me. I will be beyond the point of saviour once that time has come. I can't believe this is going on really. Breast cancer is a common enemy in our female society. How it's not the top priority is beyond me. Please reach out to me and help me out with some resolutions or personal stories. Thanks so much for reading. Jade

Anyone know what current wait times are for follow-up at breast cancer clinic? In this case for the Symptomatic Breast Cancer Unit at UCHG. I found a lump in my breast recently. Went to GP a couple of days later. She sent a referral to the Symptomatic Breast Cancer Unit at UCHG. That was two weeks ago. No contact from them yet. I rang them last Thursday and was told the referral wasn't received. Back to GP and was told it went through whatever secure system they use and had been acknowledged as received. Back to UCHG and was told they did have it after all and that all incoming referrals would have to be "triaged" and didn't know when xxx would do that as he was typically only there on Mondays. I have a history of breast cancer. Diagnosed in 2009 - I had a lumpectomy in the other breast and chemo and rads. Had surgery in NY so I don't have any contact with a breast surgeon here. Wondering what to do next. I don't want to leave this hanging. My next mammo not due until end of September.

Ladies Just received news last Friday that post 5 chemos chemo didn't really work for me and only a very small shrinkage of my tumors occurred. Has anyone been in this boat? Oncologist expected a very good response .... hence my surprise, disappointment and let's be honest, fear that it is not the case. Anyone else experience this at all?

Hey peeps, not sure why I'm here I just need to vent??! Stage IV Breast Cancer diagnosed last November Post mastectomy and node clearance last Sept. Had chemo and stereotatic radiotherapy on a single met lesion found on a rib which was described at aggressive. Finished treatment on March 26th last and am back at work 4 weeks and loving it. Last week have been getting pinching/ sharp pain just below my mastectomy scar ( right where original lump was on my breast). Contacted the breast unit and have an appt on Wed next. I'm afraid it another rib lesion. I don't feel any lump/ scar tissue on or around my scar in fact I have never had a bother with the scar. Does anyone know if another metastatic lesion could appear this soon after chemo ( finished chemo on 1st March). Thanks

I had mammogram and ultrasound in symptomatic clinic in Galway on 26th March. I still haven't received results. Neither has my gp. Its impossible to get through to them on the phone. Can I assume as I've been waiting this long that my results are clear?

I’m starting treatment next week and I’m looking for advise and what types of headwear to buy and where to buy them.

Hi, I'm looking for some advice or tips regarding taking tamoxifen. I got my 1st prescription today and am quite anxious about taking it due to possible side effects. I was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in March needing 2 mastectomies but no radiation or chemotherapy. Any advice or tips greatly appreciated

finished radiotherapy 6wks ago still having discharge from nipple, and have thickening of the skin, dimpling and quite a lot of breast pain also the breast now seems larger than it was, is this usual after radiotherapy

Hello I hope this post finds you well. I discovered a strange mass in my armpit approx 6 weeks ago- was a strange bump within that. I do regular checks on myself and this really stood out as different. I got check at gp, i thought she’d tell me it was nothing to worry about. But she felt something that she couldn’t tell what it was. She referred me on urgently. So I received letter from st James‘s, saying they’d see me (today) but for a hand exam only. That if any other test would be required it would be booked for another day. Again, initial doc couldn’t really feel it, she got more senior woman to come in and then she referred me on for a mammogram there and then. Which is fab, I appreciate it. But now results are 3 weeks away. I had melanoma last year and I’ve had lletz procedures a few time due to pre-cancerous cells. I’m so grateful for screening, but I’m so nervous now. I’m a single parent of 2 boys and the idea of being sick for them, or worse still. Is literally my worst nightmare.