When you get cancer twice or more
Summer Prevails
Member Posts: 82 ✭
Sorry if this is in the wrong category and kind of depressing..but I have a question for those women who have been through breast cancer and then were diagnosed later in life with more cancer - breast or elsewhere.
How did you cope with that second diagnosis, and did your family/friends react differently to it compared to the first time?
How did you cope with that second diagnosis, and did your family/friends react differently to it compared to the first time?
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Hi @Summer Prevails I have just been rediagnosed with metastic breast cancer, myself and my family and friends are coping a lot better this time, seems easier to handle/accept if that makes sense, as I walkways say I change what it is or where it is I have to accept it and deal with it, that’s what 8m doing in the most positive way I know by being happy all the time hope that helps 😃1
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I’m sorry if this is a triggering question for anyone reading, it’s awful and grim and I feel bad asking. But I’m in a way trying to prepare myself for the day I get cancer again (if that’s how life plays out), I am curious about what on earth I would do? And how my family would respond?
@Glynnis I’m so sorry you have had to go through this again. I know you must be a damn strong woman and I admire that. I hope your supports and loved ones are there for you. Were they shocked? Were they upset but more ‘ready’ to know how to help you?
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I recently thought I had bone mets. Which I fortunately didn't . As I had Drs dismissing my worries but specialists at least taking me seriously, I just kept saying ...if its mets I just need to know so I can get onto appropriate treatment. I honestly think some days it would almost be a relief....then I could stop just fearing it and just get on with it.
Naturally though I am grateful I remain NED and my heart hurts for those who aren't. I know it's a battle to remain positive when it returns. My sister who has now passed has showed me just how strong you can be living with meastatic cancer and I hope I have the same resilience she had shoukd that be my path. X2 -
@Summer Prevails I don't think that you are the only one with this sitting in the background. I'm concerned that with all of the side effects from treatment, how will I recognise something that I need to be worried about? My sister's recurrence was unexpected and she was diagnosed at a much earlier stage than me so it's something that is always in the back of my mind.2
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I’m the same as @Sister. With all the aches, pains, bloating etc I worry that side effects could mask an actual recurrence. It’s hard cause I don’t want to be a paranoid hypochondriac but some things that I have could be construed as a early warning for some types on cancer.2
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Im only 8 weeks post first diagnosis and in active chemo right now, but I’ve predicted everything else so far with my treatment etc since I had the first ultrasound and naturally I feel I will have a recurrence or Mets one day. It’s bloody awful living like this isn’t it just waiting for that day. I can only hope it will be many many years from now.
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My mum has had three primary cancers in her life, breast cancer at 48, bladder cancer at 50 and then oesophagus cancer at 66 thankfully all were caught early and she is extremely fit and healthy at 69. She has endured a lot and has faced cancer each time head on, we nearly lost her with the bladder cancer as it was extremely aggressive but they were able to remove her bladder and build her a new one from part of her bowel so she has never had to wear a bag, 20 years on there's been a few hiccups but you would never know she has ever faced cancer let alone 3 different types. My mum has never smoked, always exercised , is not overweight, has eaten organic foods most of her life and still she has copped cancer. There is no rhyme or reason to why cancer comes back in different parts of our bodies but there is always a chance it will, just like if someone had never had cancer before. I guess what I'm trying to say is just live your life be happy and if something is worrying you get it checked, cancer casts a shadow over all us and it is scary but unfortunately we can't change what our bodies do. I was always more scared of a secondary cancer than another primary, well guess what that secondary cancer has happened for me with no symptoms at all. I still feel completely well thankfully and am 2 weeks into oral chemo to help contain the cancer to my lymph nodes and base of my neck (C7 ).My primary cancer was extremely aggressive and so was my treatment and I was in remission for 18 months, I am hopeful that this treatment will do the trick and again I can say that I am in remission or at the very least contained and stable. I intend like I did before my first diagnosis, during that treatment , while I was cancer free and during this new battle to enjoy every moment of my life and not worry about the what ifs. What ifs will pop up and when they do, let's just smash em back down!!!!9
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@kmakm thankyou for your kind words x I guess we all have choices in our lives on how we decide to face things I know I can't change what has happened to me but I can choose to not let it define or change who I am. I know there will be dark days and days where I am absolutely scared shitless but there are also going to many great days and years ahead too!!
I told my Oncologist the other day I remember when I first met her she told me she would be my Dr for at least the next 10 years, I said she better count on making it at least the next 15 or 20!2 -
@Summer Prevails yes my supports are terrific, family, freidnds and work colleagues, it was always in that door shut and bolted in back of my mind that it would come back hope to goodness it never would but... maybe that’s why it wasn’t such a shock, family dealing with it a lot better this time there is not a lot they can do except support me all the way which they are doing 😃0
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@Kat09
Very nicely put! Enjoy every moment of life!
Reading this discussion I hope reminds everyone to keep up their regular checkups and if there's a niggle don't ignore it.
I have an Aunt who let it go second time around, head in sand attitude, by the time she made that step it was too late
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You are an absolute legend, @Kat09 xx
Yep - everyone has a basic concern for secondaries - as @iserbrown said - if you have any niggles, get it looked in to.
My basic mantra - If In Doubt, Get Checked Out - it is no skin off your nose if it is nothing - but if it IS something, you should be onto it early enough to make a difference. It is about being aware, but not totally spooked.
Let's face it - they do not know who or why people get secondaries - as up to 30% are totally random.
So get out there, doing what you love doing & keep busy! Idle hands = idle minds. Idle minds = unecessary worry.
Have a wonderful Easter everyone xxx1 -
Two years after being diagnosed with breast cancer (Stage3B) and one year after finishing treatment (chemo, Mx and all axillary nodes, rads, tamox) I was diagnosed with an aggressive prostate cancer. Treatment for this second cancer involved a prostatectomy. I'm NED for both cancers now and lead a completely normal life..
The reason I'm posting here is because I have a BRCA1 genetic variation of unknown significance and, while you women obviously won't get my second cancer, you are susceptible to ovarian cancer and colon cancer. Keep an eye out for these.
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