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💌 You’re Invited: Free Online Sessions for Carers
If you’re caring for someone with cancer, you know it can feel overwhelming at times. These free online sessions from CarerHelp could be a great way to feel more supported and connected. The sessions offer: 💗 Practical tips to help make caring a little easier 💗 A chance to connect with others who understand 💗 Expert advice and resources you can use every day Simply register for the sesssions here, and join from the comfort of your home. We hope you find these helpful!Thank you to the carers of those with breast cancer 💖
‘If you’re not in a good place then it's really hard to look after someone else’ Stuart Diver’s message to those caring for someone with breast cancer is: Prioritise your mental and physical health Access resources like BCNA’s My Journey which offers personalised information What tips do you have for caring for someone with breast cancer? Let us know in the comments. If you aren’t sure how to support someone in your life with breast cancer or you need help navigating your role as a carer, you can call our free and confidential Helpline for information and support on 1800 500 258 between Monday- Friday 9am – 5pm.
Perjeta cost
Hello army of knowledge. I was diagnosed with breast cancer last week and I will commence chemo next week, so processing and decision making is happening quicker than I can keep up with right now. I have looked for this answer but can not find it so I'm hoping someone can help. Perjeta has been recommended as 1 of 4 in my treatment and I was advised the cost is 6k. Today, I was sent an article from BCNA that stated perjeta was now on PBS so I'm seeking the answer is Perjeta covered under PBS or is it an extra cost Please help my brain rest. x
Helping make decisions
Hi, my Mum is 78 and was diagnosed with hormone positive breast cancer in 2023, she has had her surgery and radiotherpay and is now on her hormone blockers. She now needs to make a decision about taking zometa, weighing up side effects with quality of life in your later years. She wants me to help her make a decision she is really struggling with, anyone have any tips on making decisions when your elderly and for loved ones they rely on to assist them.
Please help me help my wife.
My wife was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in January and is BRCA1 so a double mastectomy is more than likely happening soon. I'm getting better at just letting her vent and holding her sometimes instead of wanting to fix everything. I don't know how to help her with her own mental state with the impending surgery on top of the already completed hysterectomy. She said the other night, and excuse me for being blunt, "Would you still feel like a man if you had your d*** and b**** cut off?". Now I don't care what she looks like, surgery could remove anything and I would still love her and be lost without her, but I'm at a loss as to how to help or what to do when she gets sad about the last of her "woman parts" being removed. Of course having bits taken off is better then some of the less desirable outcomes, but how can I help her deal with her feelings moving forward? Have you been there? If so got any tips?
With or without a plastic surgeon? How common is a mastectomy and reconstruction without p.surgeon
Hi everyone, my family member’s breast cancer doctor said she can perform her mastectomy and reconstruction without the help of a plastic surgeon. This makes my family member nervous. As she was told by friends theirs was done in tandem with a plastic surgeon. Whilst she is happy to have the cancer removed, the mastectomy is the finish line hopefully at the end of the chemo. She will be able to keep her nipples and needs a reduction and removal of skin as has lost weight and only wants the smallest of implants/expanders put in. Her surgeon said she does this all of the time by herself. My question is how common is this? She feels she may want a second opinion.
Is anyone on a home care package & NOT in the Carer's Group? MORE Changes being made ....
I have posted this link into the Carer's Group but think that not all who are on a Home Care Package are in the group .... so posting it here as well. This is for members who actively CARE for friends or relatives, too. It seems they are making MORE changes (after big changes were made last June as well) that you should be aware of ..... from the web .... Do you want to stay updated on the reforms to in-home aged care? Join the webinar for older people, their families and carers, and the aged care sector. Thursday 18 May 2023 2:00pm to 4:00pm AEST You will have the opportunity to submit questions during the webinar. This webinar will have Auslan interpreters. You can register to be a part of the webinar HERE: https://www.agedcareengagement.health.gov.au/engagement/reforming-in-home-aged-care-update/ If you are on facebook - feel free to read all the comments already made ..... it may arm you with more information to discuss on the webinar if you want to put a question to them .... Facebook 'Name'/link - it might be worth 'following' them .... https://www.facebook.com/healthgovau Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care Also - Learn more about a new model for regulating aged care and the changes we’re proposing to improve transparency and accountability in the system. We invite you to share your feedback as part of our consultation on ‘A new model for regulating Aged Care, Consultation Paper No.2: Details of the proposed new model’ open till 23 June 2023. Get involved in building a better aged care system. Visit the Aged Care Engagement Hub to read the consultation paper and register for our 9 May webinar You can leave feedback HERE: https://www.agedcareengagement.health.gov.au/regulatorymodel/
First time lump: from a concerned husband's POV
Hi all I'm not really sure if this is the place to be asking this, but I've tried looking and reading online to get info, but it all seems fairly general, a little all over the place, and mostly american-based, which I don't find all that helpful, given the difference in standards / practises between our two countries. Anyway, a quick snapshot of the situation before I ask my question/s. My wife is 30 years old, and from a very conservative culture. Basically, unlike many girls her age, you'll never see her wearing clothing that shows more skin than it covers! We're relatively recently married (2 years), both each other's first loves, etc, so neither of us have had any reason (need or want!) to expose certain parts of either of our bodies to anyone other than each other. *Note: this point will be relevent shortly.* Pretty much until now. About a week-and-a-half ago, I discovered a small, hard lump in my wife's breast. (Y'know, because I'm a good husband and all that! :P). With Christmas happening last week, we only got around to seeing a doctor the other day who has given her a referral to get an ultrasound next week. That's great, but we don't really know what to expect from the whole thing. Again, online articles provide conflicting and varied answers, so I'm hoping I might find some answers in here. I should state that I'm not jumping any guns and thinking / presuming what she has is cancer. Far from it, actually. I'm 99% sure it's nothing of any concern, but right now we just don't know. What actually will happen at this appointment? When they see the lump, will they know what it is, or will there be other x-rays, ect, to determine that? I really want to be in there for everything with her, as if the roles were reversed, I'd really want my wife there with me. No-one other than her has seen my 'bits', so I'm putting myself in her shoes at the moment and I know my being there to hold her hand in support would make her feel a lot more at ease. I know that she's really nervous about the idea of someone else seeing and, even moreso, FEELING her breasts, so I've taken the day off work to be there for her. I spoke to the imaging place the other day and they said I MIGHT be allowed in to the ultrasound room with her, but there were no guarantees. I would like to think all places would allow someone to join the patient, as I'm sure it's not just a scary thing to just my wife and I! Anyway, any personal accounts or recounting of similar situations would very much appreciated. Thankyou in advance!Where to find support?
Hi I was recently diagnosed with grade 3 comedo necrosis DCIS 11mm in my Rt breast. I had a failed lumpectomy on the 2nd August (the hook wire went into my muscle), and I'm going for a re-do this Friday. My problem is that I have no support person to attend appointments with me or help me out in general while recovering. I live alone, have no family nearby, and my friends are work colleagues who have their own lives. I have never needed assistance for anything, and I'm very independant. This diagnosis has me feeling very isolated! Where do people find their support?
Support for carers in Melbourne
Hi all, My wife has been diagnosed 21 days ago with an aggressive TNBC and is already a week into chemo. The whole thing is a whirlwind and I am really struggling even though I am grateful for the support we have around us. We have small kids and even though I was already the primary care giver in the family (I've always supported my wife in her career) for then I am finding it tough. I just wish I had another carer I could talk to face to face about it. Is there anywhere husbands of BC warriors can just chat? Not sure anything like that exists in Melbourne or even Australia. There are some amazing organizations in the USA, but seems limited in this country. Thanks for reading and wishing all you ladies the best
