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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

Hi, Just thought I would share this link http://www.choosetotri.com/index.php/ou ... ht-cancer/ In particular the following statement We recently spoke to Dr. Janice Walshe, Consultant Medical Oncologist at St. Vincents University Hospital, Dublin. “[color=#0000BF:312ix0bk]Probably the most common question I get asked by women who have completed treatment for breast cancer is “Now what can I do to reduce my risk of my cancer returning?”. The evidence from all the literature is consistent and compelling – the answer is exercise and maintain a healthy body mass index (BMI). We encourage our patients to get out there and exercise during and after treatment to the extent that they can. Regular exercise is beneficial on many levels. I’m delighted to hear about the ChooseToTri initiative and wish them the best of luck in their campaign to get people active[/color:312ix0bk].” On the same site there is some guidance about the levels of exercise needed. Some further reading: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232406.php http://www.dana-farber.org/For-Adult-Ca ... ivors.aspx http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinfor ... ivity.aspx Kathleen

Hi. I recently had a left inguinal/groin dissection, end of January, for Melanoma that had spread to the sentinel lymph node. Last week I heard that none of the nodes removed were positive for melanoma. I know the news was great (I am grateful) but I'm nowhere near feeling like I can just put it all behind me, smile and get on with it. Does that sound selfish? I feel that's just what is expected of me! I have little other information on my personal melanoma case, to date. I wasn't prepared with questions on the day I got the results as I wasn't expecting results that same day. I have to wait 3-4 months for my follow up appointment with surgeon. I've been told that I will be seen by a melanoma follow-up person also, but again, not for another three months. I can not believe the wait! I am very anxious about being cast aside for three months, without further explanation. I feel very let down by the system, that no-one has once sat me down and spoken to me informatively or caringly about my melanoma. It is a dangerous cancer and I have no doubt that anyone who has ever been diagnosed with it has experienced the fear. There was no melanoma nurse that I could call, no information leaflets etc. etc. etc. My experience has been purely surgical. It has been a scary time for me. I have (and do still) feel very much alone on my melanoma journey. There seems to be very little support for melanoma patients, in my area at least. There is so much I want to know. So many questions I want to ask. All that said, I have a super G.P. and have found other avenues to seek out information. As for leg lymphoedema, no-one warned me, or ever even mentioned to me that I would be at risk to develop it! (Thanks to the Irish Cancer Society for sending me on their lovely leaflet on prevention of leg lymphoedema ) I would love to hear from anyone who has had a groin dissection for melanoma. I'd be interested in hearing about your personal follow up experience, time-scales etc. I'd also love to hear advice on post-op leg care etc., Do I really have to keep my leg up all the time while sitting?? I braved the cinema last week and it was a disaster trying to keep the leg up! Thanks, Annio

Hi all, Does anyone know of any support group, anywhere in the country, that is specifically for people with melanoma? If not, is there anyone out there who would be interested in getting together or organising something? Annieo

Just wondering about numbness in the under arm and left side after ax clearance and mastectomy. I got the impression from the nurses that feeling would come back now I am not so sure. 6 months on, I hate the feeling of a dead arm resting against the arm of the chair. Is this something I am going to have to learn to live with? If it not back after 6 months its never coming right!? There are so many extras to this cancer thing that you just can't prepare for

Hi, I wonder has anyone experience of this drug, I have been on it for about 6 weeks and while I have no dramatic side effects I feel generally unwell - tired, low mood, aches and pains. I know it's important to keep taking it but I would like to know if you get used to it and feel better over time Thanks Sunny

Hi, Mid August I was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular BC Stage 2 also in Lymph System. I am booked to go for Bone and body scans in Galway tomorrow, not looking forward to being radioactive for 24 hours, also I have a big fear of hospital machines and all the sounds they make. I am trying to be strong and keep calm but this is very difficult for me. Sometimes I just feel like leaving the country and travelling around the world until I can't go on any longer. But of course I won't do that, need to look after my lovely retreiver called Daisy. Does any one else have a fear of all these tests or is that a silly question? Regards...Andrene