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posted by SarahG
09 November 2010

Delayed grieving

Last reply: 23 March 2011 13:14
I lost my Mam a year ago to ovarian cancer, and got through the first year fine, but I'm finding this year harder - it's as though I never really grieved her properly the first time around. I was so focused on 'getting through' that I never really stopped to see what 'getting through' meant. Now I feel so far away from her, but yet I can't stop thinking about her. I want to remember her as she was (a brilliant and beautiful woman), but can't get past the hospital for her final days, or the way she looked at me and held my hand just before she went into her final coma. I know this is all probably very normal, but I really wanted to know for sure if anyone else is going through something like this, and what you are doing. I'm not sure if counselling would help. I know what is wrong with me - I miss my Mam, and don't want to be without her. What can counselling do to change that?
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posted by wilfiedog
13 July 2010

HRT

Last reply: 14 July 2010 18:02
A warning for anyone coming off HRT. After BC diagnosis I was told to stop taking Hormone Replacement Therapy immediately. This resulted in a very sudden and violent onset of menopause symptoms which are still making my life a misery after nearly seven years. I have done a lot of reading on this subject and it seems obvious that HRT (like most drugs) should be weaned off slowly to enable the body to cope with the adjustment. The medics don't warn anyone about this as far as I know. Hope this helps someone
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posted by FH2
01 August 2010

Feedback - GOOD and BAD for the HSE

Last reply: 27 August 2010 16:37
Hi Everyone, If you need to complain about, or compliment, a hospital or member of staff you have encountered, this is the email address to send your feedback to. yoursay@hse.ie This is the official HSE contact and they aim to respond within 30 days. See details on their website. http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/ysys/Complaint/ Regards, Flo.
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posted by snake-lady
07 October 2008

in memory of my dad, Derek Seaton.

Last reply: 25 September 2010 23:24
dad, i just hope you really are in a better place now as everyone keeps telling me. its not even a fortnight yet but i miss you so much im actually feeling physical pain. i would never want to bring you back to suffer again as i know your pain was horrific. i often wondered if i did the right thing in fighting the doctors to allow you to come home, but i think it was the right thing for you. i know you didnt want to die in hospital, but the doctor told us you would have a couple of days left if we kept you in hospital, instead you only got 10 mins at home before you left us and for that ive felt a lot of guilt. but if you hadnt got your last wish to die at home i think my guilt would be so much more. i have you in my heart and when i miss you i think of the good times before you got sick. i will look after mum as you wouldve wanted, ive been with her every day since you left us. she is devastated but we can help each other. im going to miss our wee walks together with you holding my arm and our drives in the car where you gave me the wrong directions and got us lost. in the end though you were just too ill to do any of that. anyway daddy, i just wanted to let you know that i will always love you and as the song says, youre in the arms of the angels. from your loving daughter patricia, sleep tight daddy.
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posted by Bevan
26 October 2008

A need to talk

Last reply: 14 January 2013 22:04
I have been checking out this website and I dont find anyone talking about how they feel or how they are coping before after or during. I am a member of an American breast cancer.org and everyone their talks quite openly about how they feel, up or down and the community is their for everyone. Is it just an Irish thing that if we dont talk about our feelings they just dont exisit. I often wake up angry that it was me who got BC but then at times I feel okay about it. I dont know what I am suppose to feel some times and people look at me and say "God its great to see you got over your trouble" I didn't get over anything I just got on with living. Do you feel like this at times. Sometimes I still suffer from Chemo Brain even though I'm 2 years on. Is this normal? Do you want to tell me what's happening in your brain. I know mine is not quite up to scratch at times. Sometimes I hide and sometimes I cry for no reason and some times I just get on with it. I feel lonely sometimes wondering what am I suppose to do. Am I weird or What. let me know what you think of when you think of BC. Talk to me. Bevan
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posted by baldygirl
08 November 2008

Lymphoma

Last reply: 01 February 2012 19:14
Hi, I was wondering if there was anyone on the site who has Non Hodgkins Lymphoma - it doesn't seem to have made it to the list of topics. I was diagnosed in early July after spending 9 weeks in hospital undergoing tests. I still can't understand why it took so long to find out what it was. Before that I had been visiting my GP with various unrelated pains and aches and fatigue which in hindsight pointed to the disease but didn't seem connected at the time. I wonder if this is a common problem or was I just unlucky. I have stage IV non Hodgkins follicular centre cell lymphoma which is also in the bone marrow. I am getting 8 cycles of R Chop and 6 cycles of chemo into the spine. I have just completed cycle 5 and am feeling well now. I spent a total of four and a half months in hospital as I got bacterial infections. I am home for 5 weeks now and it is heaven. I wonder does anyone know anything about 'centre cell' as all the literature mentions B cell and Tcell but never centre cell. Would love to talk someone.
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posted by Ger
15 November 2008

Malignant brain tumour

Last reply: 17 July 2010 08:13
Is there anyone out there who has or is living with a Oligodendroglioma upper grade 3 ( Malignant & aggressive brain tumour) Please get in touch Ger
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posted by Eilswen
19 November 2008

Mum Lives On

Last reply: 27 April 2010 12:45
Hi, Coming up on three years ago now my Mum died of cancer. She was the biggest and most wonderful inspiration in my life. I've started a blog about her if anyone is interested www.mumliveson.com E
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posted by LindyLu
09 December 2008

New to this and terrified

Last reply: 24 February 2009 18:21
I am 39 years old, married with two babies - 5 months and 22months. Last week I was told that I had breast cancer. I found a lump in my left boob 5 weeks ago now. About a week after finding it I went to my GP who referred me for further tests in Beaumount. In the last two weeks I have had mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy of the lump and sadly the results have confirmed my worst fears. It seems that I have two tumours – one about 19mm in size which can be felt. The other, right beside it, is about 9mm and cannot be felt but can be seen via ultrasound and mammogram. Current options for me at this point are (a) Have the two tumours removed ie a lumpectomy (b) Have a full mastectomy – having more than one tumour usually dictates a mastectomy! However cos they are right beside one another it may be possible to just have a lumpectomy but I need to have an MRI scan on my boob to make sure there are no other growths there. The good news is that it does not appear to have gone into my lymph nodes as yet according to what can be seen via ultrasound however I will shortly have a biopsy of those nodes to test for sure whether the cancer has spread to there. I am still in shock with the diagnosis. Too shocked to actually tell friends tho I have told immediate family. I just keep bawling my eyes out anytime I think of what lies ahead. Anyone else been through this and come out smiling??
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posted by kasandra
11 December 2008

secondary breast cancer

Last reply: 05 May 2009 10:01
i had a mastectomy on the 7th of november this year and two weeks after the operation i was told that i have secondary cancer in femur and pelvis. this is very frightening and i am also on zometa and having radiotherapy this week i am 49 years of age and i would just like to know if there is any one out there living with this at the moment and what can i expect in the way of quality of life with regard to pain control and life expectancy i would love to hear from any one with any advice
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