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Hi I never posted in anything before so here goes, I was diagnosed 6 years ago with dcis with mi, sentinel node clear, I had a mastectomy and no other treatment. I've had pain in mastectomy side on and off but since August it got worse. My gp sent me for an ultrasound in breast clinic. The radiologist seen a swollen lymph node and done biopsy. Got the results Tuesday, cancer cells in node. I had a ct and bone scan since, I'll get results Tuesday. Has anyone had anything similar. Im so scared. Thank you

Hi -I'm only writing this as I find it impossible to talk about it to anyone. I was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma in November 2019. I had surgery on the affected bile duct and liver re-section in December 2019. I've had follow-up scopes and bowel biopsies since then, with the most recent blood tests for tumor markers a few weeks back. As the blood tests are done in batches the results are due around now. I missed two calls from the hospital (I didn't have my phone on me) and I suspect the calls are related to the blood test results. I've deliberately not tried to ring back as I don't want to hear any bad news before Christmas. I'm due back in January anyway for more scans. I'm finding the stress very tough at the moment and I've had more or less no contact with anyone, outside my immediate family since the first Covid lockdown in March as I've been (lucky enough) to be working from home since then. Just want to get through Christmas and face up to it again in January.

Hello, I went to my GP with a small lump in my right breast and a referral was sent to the Mater Hospital clinic for review. I have been waiting 10 weeks now for an appointment and told there are delays because of Covid19. In the mean time a larger lump has developed in my left breast and I have noticed my breast is larger and feels heavy. I cannot lie on my front due to pain in both breasts. I am wondering if I should revisit my GP or continue to wait for an appointment? Also, during the clinic visit will both breast be reviewed or just the one on the referral? Kind regards.

In September 2014 at the age of 26, I was diagnosed with a rare form of Ovarian Cancer; Immature Teratoma-a less common form affecting younger age groups. It therefore is so important that we acknowledge and understand that Ovarian Cancer isn't confined to those in older age brackets and in effect can present itself at any age. When I was experiencing my symptoms Cancer was the furthest thing from my mind...Polycystic Ovaries, IBS, Allergies, anything but Cancer were being looked into. I had to persist to get a scan because on the basis of my doctors referral the hospital only viewed my case in terms of priority as low and not high. I eventually got called 6 months later and the pelvic ultrasound showed what they thought to be a cyst; being compared in size to a tennis ball. I had it removed quite promptly via laparoscopy. One month later I was called back in and to my horror told the biopsy showed it was a rare form of ovarian cancer; a tumour that actually was hiding out and growing away inside my left ovary, frightening thing is that when I had the blood markers done prior tomy first surgery they showed up as normal, so it was a double whammy to hear the opposite a month later when I thought I had put my worries and fears to bed. I was immediately referred to Cork to the most wonderful professional and empathetic doctor; numerous scans and checks followed, the first stage of treatment was to remove my left ovary and Fallopian tube. My second surgery went very well and thankfully I didn't need any more treatment after that as the cancer had just been contained within that ovary. I feel blessed that I listened and persisted, as hard as it was I went to my GP as not all the symptoms can be easy to discuss. I'm also blessed that I got it when I did. Early detection is key and I cannot stress that enough. I'd love to help raise awareness as I was only 26 when diagnosed. I did find it hard to talk about it but time has passed and I have been blessed that my check ups have been going well and I think it's time for me to speak out and help others with early detection! The scary thing is the amount of times I brushed off my symptoms and put them down to other things. I knew something wasn't right, my body was asking me to speak up, and I'm so so grateful I did. I am nearly four years in remission now and I can't express enough gratitude for that, I am on the other side and proud of myself and the journey I have put down over the past while. There is hope and I'm sharing this to emphasise that and the positive outcomethatcan be achieved when you act early. We can be bombarded by bad news and horror stories but I feel optimism and hope go a long way so I hope my piece will help other women who find themselves in a similar situation; I urge you to surround yourself withthose you love, let them in, the endless support and love I received from my family, my partner and friends got me through it #youcandoit. Women young and old need to be encouraged to listen to their bodies and persist in seeking medical advice no matter how small their concerns are. Taking responsibility for your health is imperative, the ball is in your court. Please listen to your body. My symptoms were a mix and blurred the lines into other possible conditions which again makes Ovarian Cancer hard to diagnose and catch. I am sharing the following link as it sums up the key symptoms that help detect Ovarian Cancer and is titled 'BEAT Ovarian Cancer':https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8Zr_3Bop-aA The main learning on my journey has been to listen...and to trust my body. Not an easy thing to do the best of times, but your body really does know what's best for you. Don't doubt yourself. Be proud to look after your #womenshealth I will be forever grateful to have come through this process and to be given a second chance. I am so blessed and I truly realise that. If I didn't keep returning to my doctor however it may have been different. Please don't fear being judged as an overthinker or a worrier...if something doesn't feel right for you, for YOUR body that is enough. There is absolutely no harm being done by checking in with your GP even if it just provides reasurrance with a once over. Don't feel like an inconvience or a bother because you're not. You're you and you're important. You're loved and admired more than you'll ever know. You matter and so does your life. Life is fleeting, it is a precious gift. Trust yourself. Warmest blessings and well wishes to all who read, benefit from this and share #strengthinnumbers #worldovariancancerday #raisingawareness Marian x 'Just like air. I rise' ~Maya Angelou~

My 13 year old son has been receiving black specks in his poo and I am worried for him

Hi, I am male, 46 and recently had visible blood in my urine (it occurred on one day and in two occasions of urination). Ever since, I have had frequent urination, pressure/pain in the bladder/abdomen and just generally feeling unwell. I went to my doctor the day after i had blood in my urine and he did a manual check of my prostate and said everything seemed ok. There was no sign of any infection but i was put on a precautionary course of antibiotics. My blood tests came back and my doctor said that they found no cause for my symptoms and has referred me on to a Urologist (who I am still waiting to see). I also had an ultrasound and all that showed up was a small kidney cyst that the sonographer said wasn't anything to worry about. I am up the walls with worry and am finding the uncertainty unbearable. I am tormenting myself on google wondering what kind of terminal illness could be at the root of this. I would really appreciate any feedback from anyone who has gone through this. Thank you

Sorry in advance for the long post. My mother was diagnosed with terminal mesothelioma around this time last year. The average life expectancy for her cancer is thought to be 6 months to a year. I had just graduated college and was 2 weeks into my new career in a different city when we found out. With 6 rounds of chemo coming up to try and contain the cancer I had to move back home to look after her as she couldn’t live alone. My employer was incredibly understanding and agreed to let me work from home temporarily. My elder brothers live abroad so it’s just me here and no other family to rely on. The chemo made her incredibly ill with her constantly needing to be admitted to hospital which is always a battle to get her there. She wouldn’t eat for weeks on end, couldn’t stand on her own, dress herself anything. I was sleeping on her floor for weeks to make sure she was still breathing, it was quite honestly traumatic. This was pre covid and my brothers flew home a handful of times so I got a day to myself once every month or two. I barely held onto my job with how much work I had to keep taking off. I’m a finance trainee so my hours can range up to 60 hours a week including weekends during busy periods and I’m also meant to be sitting exams. Looking back I’m not sure how I kept it together. The chemo was eventually dialled down and the harsh drug removed as she couldn’t handle it. Then covid hit and in a bid to keep her safe we have been completely cocooned since March. I don’t leave my house except for a walk when she’s ok enough to be left alone and I don’t see anyone at all. We are completely alone all day everyday. 6 months post chemo she’s been doing relatively ok and the struggle she went through was worth it. But we’ve now found out the cancer has entirely collapsed one of her lungs. In order to slow its spread, the decision has been made to try an even more aggressive 6 rounds of chemo again. As much as I want to be there for my mum and I don’t want her to die I don’t know if I can manage it all again on my own. I honestly don’t believe she will be able to handle the side effects this time around and will be left with no quality of life for her final months. She won’t have a carer come in to help and because I was only straight out of college I’m not entitled to sick pay if I have to take time off work again. It looks like I’m going to have to give it up altogether and apply for carers which I don’t think we can financially survive on at present and job is the only thing I have left of a normal life. I love my mum she’s the only family I’ve known and the idea of losing her has been very hard to accept so I feel an incredible amount of guilt that I don’t want to do this round of aggressive chemo again. Any opinions I had on this have been immediately shut down by the team as they assured me she would be looked after (she wasn’t at all the last time, in fact various complaints were filed over neglect issues in the hospital). I can’t describe in words how stressful and isolated the last year has been. She barely survived chemo last time and that was before Covid meant trips to the hospital were so much harder. I’m terrified if she goes back in she won’t come back out and could die alone in the hospital like so many have since the virus started. Chemos starting next week and I’m just not ready for it. I don’t know how other people are coping with it all during these times but I applaud anyone who is managing it. I’ve been running on adrenaline the last 12 months but I’ve run out and don’t know how to keep pushing through. If anyone else has had similar experiences or methods of coping as a carer I’d love to hear them.

Hi all, I have recently gone through the whole diagnosis and surgery element of breast cancer. I was fortunate enough to have caught it early after a screening and was told I had a 2mm tumour removed. Thankfully it wasn’t in my lymph nodes. I am still finding my feet about information on post-surgery with radiotherapy and treatment. I have just began Tamox 20mg and am quite scared with how many side effects are listed on the patient information leaflet. I’d really love to hear from others who have or still are going through the treatment and see real stories about the drug. If anyone also has any tips on dealing with treatment day-to-day I’d be so happy. It’s been a scary few months and I am trying to stay positive but it is hard. If anyone could give me an insight, I’m keen to hear your stories 💗 sending best wishes to all of you through these times

Are you over 18? Have you been told in the last 12 months that you have lymphoedema as a result of cancer treatment by a health care professional? If you have, our reseachers would like to hear from you! A team of researchers at DCU, funded by the Irish Cancer Society, are looking for people who have been recently told they have cancer related lymphedema to take part in a research study. The study involves filling out questionnaires on how you feel about lymphoedema, how it affects your life and your body image. Body image refers to the picture we have of our own bodies and the emotions and thoughts associated with that picture. For further details and more information, please go to https://www.facebook.com/Bodyimageandcancerrelatedlymphoedema or contact Emma Byrne at emma.byrne83@mail.dcu.ie  or from 9am – 5pm at the following number  083 0953847.

Hi, My partner has recently had surgery for a brain tumour and we're waiting for the biopsy results. The consultant has said he's 90-95% sure that the tumour is malignant. Since my partner came home from hospital, I have noticed changes in his personality and attention span, ability to find words etc. He is in good form in general, but at times he fixates on certain things such as trying to sort out his affairs, or the fact that he was told he probably won't be able to work again. He can get very anxious, which is understandable. Does anyone have any advice on how to respond to these situations? Also, I work from home and had only been a month in the job when he got the diagnosis. My instinct is telling me that I should take time off to care for my partner asap. We'll be facing into radiotherapy and chemo after Christmas and in the meantime I want to be there for him. I could potentially work part time until Christmas but to be honest, I don't think I can focus on work at all at the moment. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Kind regards,