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Learnt some new. Re HPV
I have been informed that my cervical cancer removed by cone biopsy 37 years ago has come back to life but not in the cervix of all places I never imagined appeared as pre cancerous changes to part of my anus. Through research since finding out is that being immune compromised can trigger the dormant virus to get moving. Didn't even know it could. I suppose if chicken pox can come back as shingles not so surprising. Just not talked about Seeing as my neutrophils rarely go above 1.3 not surprising I suppose. Here I was thinking it was a haemorrhoid. Probable minor surgery in February. Of course the specialist surgeon has to talk to oncologist glad they know each other well.
Herceptin treatment post-chemo
Hi there! I finished chemo for her2+ breast cancer 3 weeks ago and have just had a double mastectomy. I’m supposed to continue with herceptin every three weeks for a year. I’ve heard differing reports about whether this is an infusion or an injection. Does anyone have any experience of how this is given in Australia? Also, who can give this treatment? Is it only given at hospitals, or if it’s an injection can it be given by a GP or oncologist? My treatment up until now has been in France and I’m considering moving back to Australia during this year, but with doses every three weeks it’s a short turnaround for getting into the Australian medical system, so just trying to understand more about how this stage of treatment works. Thanks!
Neuropathy - pins and needles after radiotherapy
Hello Peoples. I see that Neuropathy is common for chemo or drug treatment - but has anyone had Neuropathy after Radiotherapy? I had Radiotherapy for DCIS - it finished 4 months ago - but I have had pins and needles and numbness in my arms and legs. Has anyone else with DCIS had this too? I was fine throughout the radiotherapy sessions - no pain - no skin issues - not fatigued. But now this months later - curious to know if it happened to others and what process you went through to find out if it was related to the radiotherapy. I have just had bloods taken by my GP. INterested in others stories. :-)Radiotherapy and exercise
Hello everyone - After a DCIS diagnosis and lumpectomy with a re-excision I now have clear margins and, although I could have refused radiotherapy, I have opted in as it is still standard treatment. And I wasn’t prepared ‘to roll the dice’ as my surgeon put it. I will have about a three-quarter hour train commute and a 10 minute walk each way from the train station. So all up I reckon it’s going to be three and a half or so hours each day. I have heard that exercise helps combat the fatigue. My question is - yoga? I’ve found a fabulous YouTube yoga by Lisa Moore which is about thirty minutes, gentle stretches etc. Walking I could definitely do in fine weather. I also have a rowing machine at home that I enjoy. Have people kept up resistance training while going through radio? I work four days a week but I can be fairly flexible about hours. Any survival tips welcome!
Taxol side effects
Hi all, I’m starting paclitaxel chemotherapy this week (once a week for 6 weeks). I’m wanting some insight into how I might feel. It’s a busy time of year and I’m a single mum. We have dance concerts and holidays booked. Is it like a hangover? Or more like a bad flu where I’ll struggle to get out of bed. What are the main things I will struggle with? I am going to do ice and to try avoid neuropathy and hair loss. Many thanks for your insights 🙏🏽Scalp Cooling - long curly hair
Hi all, I started TC (docataxel/ cyclophosphamide) two weeks ago and had the scalp cooling PAXMAN. My hair is naturally curly and long, just past the shoulders. On day 15 post first chemo half of my hair came out as I combed the conditioner through in the shower. I've tried so hard to only wash my hair once every 5 or 6 days and do not brush it at all. Have others in this situation had their hair cut to a short bob length, or gone straight to a very short hair style? Are there any specific brands of shampoo and conditioner that are gentle enough that are also moisturising enough to comb the conditioner through the curls without causing more pulling? Has anyone had success with keeping some of their hair?Giredestrant - SERD
Hello there, Reading the news coming out of the San Ontonio Breast Cancer Symposium this year (happening right now) and there is a very positive, yet early, study on a new SERD on Early stage BC in the Lidera trial. Does anyone know about this or is part of the trial? It seems that there was recruitment in Victoria? Keen to hear.
Best Bra's post surgery
Hi. So I had a Left Mastectomy 3 weeks ago now. My breasts are DD. So it's hard to not wear a bra as my remaining boob is too big. So I have to wear something. It's been difficult as under my arm is SO sore. I didn't have lymph nodes removed. But it's just really sore right around to my back. So I've been experimenting with all the different bra's I have to see what's most comfortable. The Berlei Post mastectomy bra is okay with the pad in it...but I don't actually like wearing the pad. It feels weird and is different shape to my ordinary boob anyway. I feel self conscious. The bra without the pad in it rides up all the time on the operation side. Really annoying. And the sides are NOT wide enough. Too narrow and it cuts into where my wound is. So hurts. It probably will be better in a few months. Then I have the Amoena Frances bra. It's pretty good. But it's not really good fit. Too big on the actual boob size, but I'm sure the size smaller would be too small. But it is okay. The best seems to be plain ole Bonds Seamless Crop top. Looks similar to Amoena Becky bra. I like the the sides are wide. Cause I need to be able to pull it down and have it cover the entire scar area - not cut me on my wound line. So it's funny cause I have half a dozen Bonds Seamless crop tops anyway! I've worn them around home for years. Comfy. So this is what I have found. Anyone else found different bras that are good?Post surgery / cancer follow up.
Not sure where to write this one! If anyone has suggestion on where please let me know and I'll put it in there. So I have had a shockingly bad journey. TNBC. Stage 2-3 when started...so they said. Long story....Finally culminating in a Left Mastectomy. Histology shows they definitely got it all and there was NO lymph node involvement. But I can never have Chemo again. And I can't have Radium anywhere on my left side as I had to have a ICD Internal Cardiac defibrillator implanted. SO...in terms of cancers? No more treatment options for me really. And according to what they say? I have no greater chance of my cancer reoccurring than risk of cancer generally. Don't really believe this, but they got it as well as it can be done. Because of my Heart problems and Sarcoidosis. I will have another PET scan end of Feb 2026. Ordered by my Immunologist. Then hopefully if all is well? That should be it. Probably yearly visit to Cardiologist for a few years with him doing Cardiac Echo's. I have a good GP. So...I see no point in going back and seeing the Oncologist. There's nothing more the oncologist needs to do for me that I can think of. And I'm very pissed off at her. I think she was negligent and all that happened is because she was not monitoring my Chemo closely enough. I should not have gotten to where I got to and I should not have nearly died. So, I'm wondering? What is the usual post cancer follow up process? Who do people see and what tests in what time frame is done? Do you have regular PET Scans? MRIs or what? And who generally orders these tests? How often do you have follow up appts and with whom? I am wondering if I just find another Oncologist if it's the oncologist I am supposed to continue to follow up with. Anyone shed any light on this?
