Best Of
Re: Scared about the side effects of treatment
Hi Caity,
So sorry to hear about your diagnosis.
i was diagnosed in July this year with triple positive invasive ductal carcinoma - also in one lymph.
So sorry to hear about your diagnosis.
i was diagnosed in July this year with triple positive invasive ductal carcinoma - also in one lymph.
I finished my 6 rounds of chemo and targeted therapies (tchp regime) on 15 November and have surgery on 17/12. Then more targeted therapy and hormone blockers - it feels like long journey.
For me chemo was tough but doable. Key things I found helpful were to force myself to walk twice a day and do some form of yoga. If you don’t have a yoga practice something like the mediations/breathwork from insight timer can be helpful and some gentle stretching will help. Walking can be around your lounge room if that’s all you have the energy for or get outside and breathe in the fresh air. Just to help you sit with yourself and breathe. It was hard sometimes but in the end made me feel better.
For me chemo was tough but doable. Key things I found helpful were to force myself to walk twice a day and do some form of yoga. If you don’t have a yoga practice something like the mediations/breathwork from insight timer can be helpful and some gentle stretching will help. Walking can be around your lounge room if that’s all you have the energy for or get outside and breathe in the fresh air. Just to help you sit with yourself and breathe. It was hard sometimes but in the end made me feel better.
Be sure to tell your team about any side effects as there is often things they can do to help. I had my dose of one of the drugs lowered each time to minimise the effects. They want you to get through without smashing you more than you need.
I’d get Imodium and movicol since you never know which way you’ll go and some mouth spray like oral 7 to help avoid mouth problems.
also cut your nails short, apply nail hardner and keep them clean. Use unscented moisturiser like QV is helpful if you get dry skin. Keep a dairy of your symptoms both so you can compare rounds and know what worked to help you and to share with your team.
also cut your nails short, apply nail hardner and keep them clean. Use unscented moisturiser like QV is helpful if you get dry skin. Keep a dairy of your symptoms both so you can compare rounds and know what worked to help you and to share with your team.
If you are in WA BreadtCancerCareWA have free counselling services,support and classes (like yoga for breast cancer) I think the cancer council do Australia wide counselling plus as Arpie mentions the BCNA line. I was fortunate to have a pain psych already who was happy to keep me on for counselling. I also saw a cancer coach once for some advice on holistic ways to manage some unpleasant but not urgent side effects like mild fluid retention.
Most importantly you’ve got this. My mantra was I choose to be here now - and chemo does end.
wishing you all the best xx
wishing you all the best xx
FeR
5
BCNA calling out the government - failing to protect Australians from genetic discrimination
Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) is calling out the government for failing to protect Australians from genetic discrimination while showcasing its new genomics framework.
Cancer Australia launched the National Framework for Genomics in Cancer Control this morning, which aims to integrate genomics into routine cancer care, improving outcomes through personalised medicine.
BCNA welcomes the framework but condemns the Australian Government’s failure to follow through on its commitment to legislate a full ban on genetic discrimination in life insurance, a critical reform to ensure all Australians can access genetic testing without fear of financial repercussions.
“The Government cannot claim progress in genomics while failing to uphold the fundamental rights of those affected by breast cancer and other genetic conditions,” BCNA Director of Policy, Advocacy & Support Services Vicki Durston says. “If genomic medicine is the future, then protections against genetic discrimination must be part of that future.
“No more excuses. There must be action before an election is called or Australians are at unacceptable risk.”
BCNA calls on the Government to immediately prioritise its promise to introduce a full ban on genetic discrimination in life insurance, ensuring all Australians can access genomic testing without fear. Read full media release via link BCNA calls out government for failing to protect Australians from genetic discrimination while showcasing its new genomics framework (Media Release)
Take action now!
✔️ Share this post to spread the word
✔️ Contact your local MP using the form link Email your MP about delays in banning genetic discrimination | DELAYS TO BANNING GENETIC DISCRIMINATION IN AUSTRALIA
Mez_BCNA
5
Re: Awaiting formal confirmation - terrified
Thank you everyone, I just need to try and breathe and take it one day at a time. By the end of yesterday I had convinced myself I had stage 4 metastatic. The brain is a hard thing to control sometimes. I get the results tomorrow so I’ll know more then. I have a congenital heart issue so I think that will complicate things as well. I’m just going to hope for the best outcome possible. Thanks for the supportive words.
Australian women denied knowledge of their increased breast cancer risk
Approximately 10% of women have high breast density. At this point in time, thousands of Australian women are being denied important information about their breast health which could empower them to better understand and manage their risk of breast cancer.
BCNA’s Director of Policy, Advocacy and Support Services, Vicki Durston, says Australia’s approach to population-based screening is not keeping pace with growing evidence that supports routine reporting of breast density. This due to the absence of national reporting standards and a lack of software in publicly funded screening services that can effectively measure breast density.
“Every woman has the right to know and understand her breast cancer risk through standardised breast density reporting,” she says. “For those identified as high-risk or with high breast density, it is essential that clear options and pathways are available to support early detection and proactive risk management.”
Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) is currently advocating for a unified national approach to reporting breast density through Australia's national population-based breast screening program – BreastScreen.
Mammography images showing the difference between spotting cancer in a fatty breast (top) vs dense breast (bottom). It's like "spotting a snowman in a snow storm".
You can read BCNA's media release via the link Australian
women denied knowledge of their increased breast cancer risk
Read ABC's feature piece on our advocacy efforts: Mandatory breast density reporting
BCNA’s Director of Policy, Advocacy and Support Services, Vicki Durston, says Australia’s approach to population-based screening is not keeping pace with growing evidence that supports routine reporting of breast density. This due to the absence of national reporting standards and a lack of software in publicly funded screening services that can effectively measure breast density.
“Every woman has the right to know and understand her breast cancer risk through standardised breast density reporting,” she says. “For those identified as high-risk or with high breast density, it is essential that clear options and pathways are available to support early detection and proactive risk management.”
Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) is currently advocating for a unified national approach to reporting breast density through Australia's national population-based breast screening program – BreastScreen.
Mammography images showing the difference between spotting cancer in a fatty breast (top) vs dense breast (bottom). It's like "spotting a snowman in a snow storm".
Read ABC's feature piece on our advocacy efforts: Mandatory breast density reporting
Mez_BCNA
5
Introduction
Hi! I’m Kitty I was diagnosed over Christmas period with breast cancer after noticing a lump on my left breast near my armpit. It is er&pr+ and her2 -. So far all my other tests have been positive and it is just the lump, so looking to get a lumpectomy with sentinel node removed also then radiation ☢️ I am 37 and the genetic test was negative. I am going well so far just looking forward to getting this lump out! I am a bit nervous about the radiation and side affects and also the potential of being on tamoxifen reading the comments it seems to be quite a full on drug.
kittymc
5
Awaiting formal confirmation - terrified
Hi, I was called back last week for a biopsy of my right breast. The Drs said it was highly suspicious of cancer. At the time I was totally flawed and didn’t take anything in after that. Now I have so many questions having read lots of forums. I just wondered if anyone knows the answers.
I’ve seen a lot of people saying about the USS being rates for likelihood of outcome but I wasn’t given any rating (unless I don’t remember). She did find multiple cysts and a large number of unidentifiable hard lumps all over the breast though. They only biopsied one main site and didn’t clip the area. I was told I have very dense tissue and it took 2 drs and 3 radiologists to get the biopsy.
I heard them say that they had some floaters and some sinkers.
So my brain has been working overtime while I wait for the results and I’m wishing I had asked so much more but I just fawned and panicked.
Does anyone know if floating and sinking is a sign of anything?
should I just assume it is cancer given the drs statement and that the biopsy is just a formality to establish what type it is?
they didn’t biopsy any lymph nodes. Does that mean they didn’t see anything in them? They weren’t mentioned at all.
would the many lumps found in the same breast mean it metastatic?
Why didn’t they clip? Is that because the site is so big already that they will be able to find it easily?
should I just assume it is cancer given the drs statement and that the biopsy is just a formality to establish what type it is?
they didn’t biopsy any lymph nodes. Does that mean they didn’t see anything in them? They weren’t mentioned at all.
would the many lumps found in the same breast mean it metastatic?
Why didn’t they clip? Is that because the site is so big already that they will be able to find it easily?
Why oh why didn’t I stay clear headed to ask all of this. From the reading I’ve done it seems that they tend to know by the scans normally.
This whole thing has thrown me. Im 45 and have a disabled daughter who is going through an acute mh crisis. Im also the main wage earner so if this is true and I can’t work then we will lose our house and I can’t imagine what will happen to my daughter. We are simply trying to keep her alive each day, it’s that basic. We don’t have the scope for this diagnosis emotionally and nether will she. I’m even thinking I should just not do treatment as make sure I’m around for the next few years for her rather than being here longer but being sick and unable to help her.
