Welcome to the club no-one really wants to join .... We are happy that you found us - as we were in the same boat not that long ago. The members here are just wonderful and will provide you with as much support as you need. Just ask away!
If you add your town/city/region in your Profile - members will be able to help you with specific services and support groups in your area. Once Covid rules are relaxed, you may even be able to meet up in person for a chat & a coffee. I've made some wonderful friends on the forum and when things are 'back to normal' we plan on getting together in Darwin for a Fantastic Fun Festivity for a week! ;) I can't wait.
If you live in Regional/Rural areas - you should be eligible for IPTAAS assistance with travel & accomodation costs (the name may vary from state to state.) Ask your GP or Specialist about it, as they will have to sign off on your first appointments - and each specialist, too. After that, it should be smooth going. The NSW one is here:
https://iptaas.enable.health.nsw.gov.au/
There is a webcast on BCNA in Mid Sept on the cost of surgery/ongoing treatment - you may like to attend!
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/23739/managing-the-cost-of-breast-cancer-webcast-tips-and-resources#latest
If there is anything you want to discuss in a more private manner, you can message a member (or a group of members) and chat in total privacy.
Personally I found that it mucked with my BRAIN more than anything else! And that is very hard to control, as it has a mind of its own! I found that keeping BUSY, doing things is the secret (specially in the 'wait times' between discovery & diagnosis, diagnosis & surgery, surgery & pathology results . .... Try & get back into your hobbies (as you are able to) or take up a new one - even more so now with Covid as we can’t get together with buddies as readily as before.
When you have some time ... check out the blog by a female British Breast Cancer Surgeon who went on to develop Breast Cancer herself, with recurrence. She was amazed at just how much it changed her life, both mentally and physically ... and validates all our own ‘concerns, aches and pains’ ... if your Onc doesn’t believe you when you discuss side effects - get THEM to read this too!
http://liz.oriordan.co.uk/
Some more info on some of the threads on the forum - we even manage to have a couple of laughs now & then! 😉
Try & keep your sense of humour 'up there' - we have a really good 'funnies page' (called Friday Funnies, but we add them every day!!) Just click on the link to add pics and posts ... I have a rather 'dark' sense of humour, so we have a more risque thread for those ones! 😉
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/19116/friday-funnies#latest
If you are into arts & crafts, we have a 'Creative Corner'
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/14979/creative-corner#latest
and if into your garden, a Gardening post as well!!
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/comment/186078#Comment_186078
And we now have a Fishing post, as that is one of my passions!
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/19494/fishing-brag-pics
If you have 'fur kids' - put their pic here & describe their funny antics ... https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/comment/92526#Comment_92526
We even have a funny Xmas page .... feel free to add any that you’ve seen!
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/20086/christmas-funnies-put-them-up-here-for-a-laugh#latest
Try not to use Dr Google too much (difficult tho it is) as there is just so much conflicting information out there (and much of it is REALLY OLD & OUT OF DATE), and every BC case is totally 'unique' and it will only scare the pants off you!
If you haven't had your surgery yet, we have some posts here on what to take with you to hospital, to make it 'easier' on you.
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/16442/prep-for-surgery/p1
And for your annual checkups, here are some ‘tick sheets’ to help you put your questions together for your medical team. (Make sure you click on the documents at the BOTTOM of the post, as the others are only sample pages.)
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/21973/questions-to-ask-post-surgery-of-yourself-to-your-specialists-tick-sheets-self-assessment/p1
Take care and all the best with your ongoing surgery & treatment xx
