Welcome to New Members

Mez_BCNA

A very warm welcome to our newest members:

@gratitude101 @Debra-Es @Tracey96 @Palmira @Jaimee_james94 @Rorita @jodraper27 @Accau @FrancesJs @Brandi @ScotinAus @alton_grange @BonnieC @Delilah @Kim68 @Allym @animallover @BeauJ @Crystalstar @Nannaof3 @TrishP

You have found your way to Breast Cancer Network Australia’s (BCNA’s) Online Network. This is a forum where you are not alone and can engage with generous members who provide meaningful support to each other. You can share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with to other members. Please explore our various Groups for members who are looking for greater peer-to-peer support.  

The following links may also be helpful in getting you started: 

Navigating the online community 

Community Guidelines 

My Journey Online Tool 

Our long-time members (newbies too!) are a wealth of information regarding the useful discussion topics and information available through BCNA’s Online Network, therefore please do not hesitate to post your questions.  You have the option to add details about yourself to your ‘profile’ and if you would like more targeted member responses, you may like to add where you live ( eg. Sydney, Melbourne, regional Victoria etc). 

If you need help navigating the Online Network please message myself @Mez_BCNA or one of our other moderators. Alternatively, phone BCNA's Helpline 1800 500 258 Monday to Friday 9 am - 5 pm AEST. 

Jodraper27

Thanks for the welcome. I'm Jo from Gold Coast (originally from Nottingham, England).

I had a DCIS in my left breast five years ago. I had a lumpectomy and radiation. Everything was good until this year when they saw calcification on the mammogram. After a biopsy, I was told last week that the calcification is a cancer.

I have decided on a double mastectomy with no reconstruction. I'm due in within 30 days for surgery. The hospital team need to decide whether I will need chemo or hormone therapy as I'm in between the ages (I'm 52). 

I would love to connect with other women going through whatever you're going through. 

I will get through this with humour and quite a few F words! 

Jo xx

arpie

Damn! I am so Sorry to hear of your recurrence, @Jodraper27 .... All the best with your surgery and your ongoing pathology decisions after that xx   I'll ask one of the mods to move your chat to the 'main area' where you should get more replies xx

@Mez_BCNA - could Jo's discussion be moved to it's own page in Newly Diagnosed, please?

Oh my gosh - you are not alone with the need for humour & quite a few F words!      We even have an 'extreme funnies' page, where you can put some of your darker humour ...... I hope you get a giggle from them!  Feel free to add your own!
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/comment/158343

Here are some other links on the forum for you to discover too .... 

Definitely, 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 ... 
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
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

We even have a funny Xmas page .... feel free to add any that you’ve seen - it is not that far til Xmas!!!
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/20086/christmas-funnies-put-them-up-here-for-a-laugh#latest

When you have some time ... check out the blog by a female British Breast Surgeon who went on to develop Breast Cancer, with recurrence.  She was amazed at just how much it changed her life, both mentally and physically ... and validates all our own ‘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/

As you haven't had your 2nd lot of surgery yet, we have some posts here on what you may like 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 to you! xx

Mez_BCNA

Hi @Jodraper27 while you have already received wonderful support from members @arpie - I have also copied your post to the Newly diagnosed category discussions, to extend your intro to other newly diagnosed members:

https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/23798/newly-diagnosed-recurrence-after-dcis/p1?new=1

Please feel free to reach out if you have any trouble navigating the Online Network.

arpie

Bumping this one to the top for all the new members .... 

Mez_BCNA

Thanks @arpie, just as a side-note as well I have had some technical issues getting accurate report for 'new members' - hope to get a new post out today.