New Group for young women, mums.
Calling out for other young women to join in conversation and sharing ideas and experiences that may us get through breast cancer and treatment and coping with our busy lives with work, partners, friends and young families.
I feel that I am not represented out there (early 40's young family) and hope to connect with others so together we can work thru this crazy challenge and maze of treatments and regain our recent health and control of our lives.
Love to hear from you :-)
Lee
Comments
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Yes I am in!
Diagnosed 2 years ago at 35. Still on Zoladex and Tamoxifen. Struggling with weight gain.
It becomes an obsession (losing weight). I have started yoga to help and love it.
Sophie
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Hi Lee, I hope I qualify for this. I'm now 44, and it's been 14 months since diagnosis and surgery. Chemo finished Xmas eve 2013, radiation finished end feb 2014.
I have four kids under 11.
I'm not sure what I find most challenging? Keeping my kids lives normal is the hardest. I live in a rural area so my treatment has cost us massively in every way possible. $30000, 20000kms in my car plus fuel, reduced work for my husband to get me places...man I could go on.
On a brighter note, I cannot remember how foul I felt during my 18 weeks of chemo or post mastectomy. I hope that means my focus is on the future?
My current issue is that my implant, done straight after mastectomy has started to encapsulate. Side effects of radiation I wasn't having...but did. So now I have a lumpy, painful implant that apparently unless I pay for myself to have it changed, will annoy the crap out of me forever!
Good grief.
Lisa0 -
Hi Lee, I hope I qualify for this. I'm now 44, and it's been 14 months since diagnosis and surgery. Chemo finished Xmas eve 2013, radiation finished end feb 2014.
I have four kids under 11.
I'm not sure what I find most challenging? Keeping my kids lives normal is the hardest. I live in a rural area so my treatment has cost us massively in every way possible. $30000, 20000kms in my car plus fuel, reduced work for my husband to get me places...man I could go on.
On a brighter note, I cannot remember how foul I felt during my 18 weeks of chemo or post mastectomy. I hope that means my focus is on the future?
My current issue is that my implant, done straight after mastectomy has started to encapsulate. Side effects of radiation I wasn't having...but did. So now I have a lumpy, painful implant that apparently unless I pay for myself to have it changed, will annoy the crap out of me forever!
Good grief.
Lisa0 -
Oh no Lisa :-( (re implant) We have private health insurance and are still massively out of pocket. Luckily (which is a word thrown around way to often with breast cancer) we only lived about 20 minute drive to austin in heidelburg, melbourne so distance travel etc not an issue. I managed to avoid radiation thanks to masectomy on RHS but i totaly experienced the "oh probably wont need such and such, and then oh its best to have such and such)
One conversation with our reconstruction doctor in regaurd to the implants was that we will need private helath insurance for the rest of forever as if anything goes wrong with the implants then it will be covered. however i dare say it will be another time so hospital exces and the recon doc isnt the only specialist in the therate and they all require a little extra out of pocket from the patient :-(...
My issue is the side effect of chemo (no oestrogen and now vaginal disfunction) and tamoxifen. I only took tamoxifen for 4 months as is sent me into a downward spiral of depression, especially after my recon surgery (which i blame the chemical cocktail of all the drugs) I have just had some more reconstruction and wish to sail into christmas and new years drug free. I am following a pretty healthy diet (my diet wast that bad before) with lots of ayurevdic (indian) spices and foods and all the other foods and vitamins the cancer free drug free diets sugest.
I also aksed just recently to be referred into the pubic system (due to expenses) so maybe there is a chance for you to do the same. I thought that seeing different doctors may be a benefit to get some different points of view (although the same approach from them all is disheartening).
This is a great space to air your thoughts and have a winge. Who knows, someone may come up with a great idea or option ??
:-)
Thanks for listening to me too.
xxLee
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Hi Sophie, I am hoping to start some yoga too. I am pretty active at the gym as i teach fitness cycle and pump classess (when not rebounding from chemo or surgery) but think i will start to slow down and take on a quality not quantity approach.
The gym has been a massive source of support and friendship for me over the last year and so i definately recommend doing something that you will be interested in so you can share your common interests with new friends. Also i think sporty health concious people are the best people :-)
whats zoladex ?
xx Lee
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Hi Lee,
I am in this category! I am 33. I was diagnosed with Triple negative BC at the end of April this year. My 3rd Child was only 15 weeks old at the time, now nearly 9 months old. I have two bigger kids too, 8 & 6.
I had a lumpectomy in May and I am still in the process of going through chemo. I have done the AC chemo, and 7 rounds of Taxol. I have 5 rounds of weekly Taxol to go. Then possibly radiation in January - or a risk reducing mastectomy (depending on my genetic test results).
I don't know if I have any advise with how to get through it! I just try and find the moments in life that make me feel 'normal' again. A few weeks ago I got great joy and satisfaction out of vacuuming and moping my whole house - it had been a while since I had done it myself (i have been getting help to do it) and it felt so great to have the energy to do it!
Our socilising has really dropped off and I find myself saying no to a lot of things, because of the effort and energy it takes to take the whole family out and about. The times when I am up to socialising and seeing friends has become really precious and I just try to really enjoy the moment.
I guess the biggest thing is to not be so hard on ourselves. Us mums always want to do everything so well and we want the absolute best for our families - but during this season we need to just tone it down a bit and go easy on ourselves when we can't do as much, or as well as we would like to. Remembering that kids are very resiliant too. If they don't get a story read to them every night, or if they get the occassional baked beans on toast for dinner - because Mum and Dad are both shattered - that is ok, they will be alright. That is my biggest thing - going easy on myself, and learning to look after myself more.
It is such a crazy hectic time though! As what I have realised is that (family) life just goes on!! Kids still have homework, school, parties to go to - the baby continues to grow and get more and more busy and into things. Hubby has work. It is a challenging time, but it is really amazing what us mums can do and how we can cope with it all!
I've added this picture that I thought was a bit funny...not so much the man flu bit, but the bald mum with the child. It reminds me of myself, running around crazy, still trying to do normal life things (shopping, kids ect), but doing it bald and all while going through something huge.
I wish you all well in your journeys and busy lives!
Christy x
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Wow Christy ! you are amazing, strong and absolutely correct. Family life does keep rolling on and they are often my stregnth and greatest source of love/bliss. My husband has been fabulous and so patient and kind.
Please feel free if the sun isnt shining to let us know. Thats being human. I have just recently had to come terms with being human and not the hero many claim me to be. its quite upsetting and you feel like you have let everyone down. but this space will pass.
I saw this ic the other week and it is soo sooo sooo true :-) in a tounge in cheek light hearted way.
Keep in touch christy. :-)
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Zoladex is monthly injection that prevents ovaries to produce oestrogen.I am chemically in menopause with all the side effects, like hot flushes, weight gain especially around the tummy and also more fatigue.
Stats were not good for me as I had a huge tumour in my breast and most lymph nodes had cancer. It's been more than 2 years since diagnosis.
That's why I had all the treatments possible. I mostly used the public system, so it is ok financially.
I have 2 kids 3 and 7. My husband travels a lot for his work and I am working full time myself. Never stopped working actually. I am a bit of a workhaholic to say the truth. So very busy life that prevents me to think about my condition.
I am still thinking on reconstruction. I don't want more surgery, more pain, and disappointments. Might ask for a second mastectomy.
Cheers
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Hi Lee,
I am 43 and have 2 teenage children. I was diagnosed at the end of June. I had a lumpectomy followed by 12 weeks of TC chemo and am about to start 6 weeks of radiotherapy at the end of Oct. When that is all finished I will be starting tamoxifen.
I have had great support from my mum. She helped out around the home during the weeks directly after chemo. The kids have had to miss a few after school groups they are in, over the course of the chemo. They have accepted this ok but these should get back to normal now that chemo is finishing.
I have had trouble getting used to hot flushes from chemo induced menopause and am worried about how I will cope once on tamoxifen. I am starting an Encore program tomorrow and hoping that I can start to improve my health and fitness and maybe this may help.
I wish everyone well on their journey and look forward to chating,
Michelle
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Hi Lee and everyone else, I'm nearly 43 and have a 15 yo daughter and 11 yo son. I have also just been diagnosed, and have had a mastectomy and auxiliary clearance in late august. I met my oncologist today and start chemo on Monday . I can't even remember what chemo I'm having, will have to wait for my education session. I have been told I will also have herceptin for a year and radiotherapy. Got to say , it feels huge right now, but I'm happy to be starting. I just hope I can maintain working throughout this time, I hope I'm not being unrealistic , will have to wait and see. X
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Hi Lee and everyone else, I'm nearly 43 and have a 15 yo daughter and 11 yo son. I have also just been diagnosed, and have had a mastectomy and auxiliary clearance in late august. I met my oncologist today and start chemo on Monday . I can't even remember what chemo I'm having, will have to wait for my education session. I have been told I will also have herceptin for a year and radiotherapy. Got to say , it feels huge right now, but I'm happy to be starting. I just hope I can maintain working throughout this time, I hope I'm not being unrealistic , will have to wait and see. X
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Hi Everyone, got the news yesterday oncologists recommends chemo. Was 26years old at first diagnosis had lumpectomy, AC chemo and radiotherapy. Now 12 years later at age of 39 am now knowing that i have BRC1 and have a 5 yr old and 9 yr old (zoladex worked) have BC again on the other breast, Had a lumpectomy 2 weeks ago, lymph nodes clear, just booked my dbble mastetctomy and found out that i need to do chemo again, dont think i can do it with kids, FT work, family- no hair, seemed to have found some inner strength the first time went to work wiht no hair etc, cant see to feel positive this time not happy...anyone felt the same?.
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Oh No, I cant imagine a second go at all this. Question whether you need chemo. The no hair thing is everywhere. They are churning them through chemo now a days so please investigate whether you really need chemo and all the side effects (the could be long term) My hair has now grown back to a decent legnth and can just style it (curls are out of control) but it wasnt about losing the hair. it was losing the oestrogen that i have suffered with so i cant imagine how you have been going with the zoladex. my cancer was hormone receptive and i want my periods and oestrogen back.
Will your work be flexible ? I kept at my work as much as i could - definately a distraction from what was going on and a huge social and emotonal support.
and your kids will be awesome. mine are younger 4 1/2 and 2 1/2 and they are so resiliant and a huge source of love and bliss. cuddles are pretty tight now.
What ever you decide - you can do it - keep in touch :-) especially if you need a winge xx
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Its a great goal to aim to keep working. Lots of people do, even if they have to have a day off here or there. its a great distraction and source of moral support. I had some rough moments but breezed through chemo really. but be aware it doesnt just go away after chemo sessions are finished.
Best wishes and keep us up to date with how your feeling and let us know if you have any crazy questions. we are here to say yes that happened to us too :-)
:-) x
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Hi Lee,
Thank you for your reply. I will ask all the questions i can think of to avoid chemo. i have a 3% benefit i am told and I should do everything I can to avoid the risk. I took the zoladex for about 4 months during my AC treatment, I was triple negative so oestrogen wasn't an issue it was able to have babies. The zoladex was pretty bad night sweats, moodiness awake at night on top of all the chemo side effects. Thinking back now 12 years later I'm glad I went through it as I now have 2 beautiful children. My periods return straight after my next zoladex injection was due. I have since removed my ovaries and tubes as a precaution given i have the BRAC1 and went to instant menopause. First week felt strange mood wise however overall not as bad as zoladex, winter was fine no hot sweats summer was a little restless but nowhere as bad as the zoladex. Good luck!!0
