What can i do to support mum

Thanks Daina and Mikayia for getting on top of this so quickly, I'm sure Heng and Min (Heng's Mum) will find your information invaluable. Leonie you are a wealth of knowledge regarding the health food/vitamin aspect of diet, we could all learn a lot from you.

Heng, this is what BCNA is all about, providing information and support to all those going through breast cancer. I hope you will explore the various web sites the girls have found for you and that they are of benefit to both of you.

Stay with us and let us know how you are getting on. Hopefully once Mum is able to speak comfortably in her own language with others who have shared her experiences her journey will be that little bit easier.

Heng make sure you look after yourself, with your studies and work and your worries about your mother's health and well being you are taking on a lot - make sure you have some "Heng" time.... Mum is very lucky to have such a caring son.

Don't forget we are here if you need us

Love .. Shirl x0x

Hello Heng

My name is Mikayla Rose, I am the Cultural Diversity Coordinator at BCNA. It is so great that you made contact with the online network as I know that you will gain lots of useful information and support for both your Mum and yourself here. One of the main organisations that your Mum may find helpful,  which is very nearby where you live is the Chinese Cancer Society Victoria. They are based in Box Hill. I have been to their office a couple of times and I know that they offer a very welcoming environment for people from Chinese backgrounds who have been diagnosed with Cancer. The most common cancer that the members of the Chinese Cancer Society Victoria have been diagnosed with is Breast Cancer. So I am sure that your Mum would find many people with a shared experience to her own, that she could talk to in her own language there.

Their website is:

http://www.ccsv.org.au/

Here you will find their address in Box Hill and their phone number.

The Cancer Council NSW launched a new multilingual website last year where they have more than 50 pages of cancer information and support in Chinese:

http://www.cancercouncil.com.au/publications/multlingual-cancer-information/

They also have cancer factsheets in Chinese, although breast cancer specific information is a bit light on.

The Cancer Council Victoria have numerous cancer fact sheets translated into Chinese which can be found on their website:

http://www.cancervic.org.au/other_languages

Although, once again breast cancer specific information is limited.

For this reason we are developing a series of breast cancer specific resources in plain English which will be translated into Chinese (and other languages). However these will not be ready until the end of the year.

There are numerous other programs that BCNA will be implementing over the next few years which aim to provide information and support to women with breast cancer from diverse cultural backgrounds. Chinese is one of the 5 cultures / languages that we will be focussing on initially. So please stay tuned for more information. (This program area is brand new for BCNA and we are very excited to be working proactively in this area).

Good luck Heng and please don't hesitate to contact me through the online network or directly via email: mrose@bcna.org.au or phone: 9805 2558.

Warm regards

Mikayla

Hi Heng,  In regards to the food.  I try and only eat organic food.  This can be expensive so I do the best I can.  Markets are a great place to get good wholesome food and that is what your mum needs.  I also find that having a vege and fruit juice each day is beneficial for me.  I usually have apple, carrot, celery, ginger and lime.  It really is about being as proactive as you can be to live a good life.  This includes being stress-free, eating well, sleeping well, having lots of supports and love and being monitored by the specialists.  Is it possible for your mum to visit a Chinese Herbalist to assist her with some vitamins?  I take Calcium with Vitamin D, Immune Support and some mixed herbs vitamins to assist me to have the best health possible.  If your mum's bc is hormone receptive she will be prescribed medication like Tamoxifen or Arimidex.  If the side effects are too bad then she will need to let her Medical Oncologist know and the meds can be changed.  It is really important to continue with these kinds of meds for at least 5 years.  I hope your mum will be able to find an Asian support group near where you live.  I will do a search to see if there is one. XLeonie

Hi Heng,

Firstly I just wanted to say welcome - I am glad you found your way to the online network and I hope it helps both you and your mum to connect in with others who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. 

It looks like some of the ladies have already offered some of their own experiences. 

A couple of things that might help as well - you and your mum could connect in with the online support group - 'Asian Women with BC and supporters and friends' you might want to request contact with some of the Chinese members and ask them questions.

Or there is some information on Cancer Australia's website written in Chinese which could help - http://canceraustralia.gov.au/publications-resources/cancer-australia-publications/information-women-early-breast-cancer-chinese

I hope that some other women will be able to jump in and offer some ideas as well.

~Daina

Hi guys, thanks for all your replys. Its nice to know there are people in the same boat, its very comforting. Um...shirl i think we did receive one of those packs but i don't know where it went, it was a while ago haha.

In terms of the type of BC Leonie i think the doctor said the pills she was taking was not responding and they were hormone pills she was hainvg prior to the 2nd re-occurance. So its non-responsive to hormone treatments , i'm pretty sure.

Um. just a little about myself to clear the misunderstandings. I'm 19 currently working part time as a waiter while studying at uni. I am male, i think i must of misclicked the gender during registration, silly me. We're chinese background having moved over here in 99 to explore down under!

We live in the doncaster area of Victoria. But as spoken with shril, mum's not fluent in english and the communication between people like herself would be a bit difficult and awkward for mum. Unless its cantonese because thats her strength.

The one thing mum's really cautious or supertitious is her diet. What she should eat, what kind of alternative vitamins, tablets or minerals are benefiical, what foods to avoid and of course how she should live in order to maximize her recovery back to normal.

Once again, thank you for the replys and the support.

Heng.

Hi guys, thanks for all your replys. Its nice to know there are people in the same boat, its very comforting. Um...shirl i think we did receive one of those packs but i don't know where it went, it was a while ago haha.

In terms of the type of BC Leonie i think the doctor said the pills she was taking was not responding and they were hormone pills she was hainvg prior to the 2nd re-occurance. So its non-responsive to hormone treatments , i'm pretty sure.

Um. just a little about myself to clear the misunderstandings. I'm 19 currently working part time as a waiter while studying at uni. I am male, i think i must of misclicked the gender during registration, silly me. We're chinese background having moved over here in 99 to explore down under!

We live in the doncaster area of Victoria. But as spoken with shril, mum's not fluent in english and the communication between people like herself would be a bit difficult and awkward for mum. Unless its cantonese because thats her strength.

The one thing mum's really cautious or supertitious is her diet. What she should eat, what kind of alternative vitamins, tablets or minerals are benefiical, what foods to avoid and of course how she should live in order to maximize her recovery back to normal.

Once again, thank you for the replys and the support.

Heng.

Welcome to this site.  You are definately in "good hands".  The information and support that these three above ladies have given you is invaluable.  These three Lovelies make me feel so humble because they are so special and they will always make you feel special.  As Shirl suggests, we will be able to help you further in supporting your mum when we know more details.  We all are on the same journey - but with differences.  There will always be someone who has had the same type of bc as your mum or someone who has had the same issues.  We will always be able to "be there" for you and your mum.  My story is very similar to Tonya's (we are BC twins!!!).  The types of issues we need to know are what type of bc has your mum been diagnosed with?  Does your mum have a new primary?  What location you are living in so that we can help you secure some support services for you and your mum?  How old you are?  I know that might sound a bit intrusive but it will help us to help you more.  Please ask us lots of questions as we will always try and obtain an answer for you or send you in the right direction.  I am so pleased that you are such a supportive person for your mum.  Loads of love coming your way XLeonie

Sorry to hear about your mum getting breast cancer again.A similar thing happened to me.I had a lumpectomy and radiation for breast cancer back in 2003.In 2010 it came back in the same breast,same spot. So I had to have a mastectomy of the left breast,followed by chemotherapy,then onto Tamoxifen for 5 years.Since the last operation,I have a constant discomfort across my chest scar -feels like sticky tape across my chest and it's pulling. My surgeon says it's adhesions cos I lost skin elasticity from radiation.I'm not sure if this is what your mum has? Blog here anytime for help and support -you are a thoughtful daughter and a comfort to your mum,I'm sure.Look after yourself as well.

                                  Tonya xx

Good morning Heng, I am so pleased you have joined us here ... we are only too happy to support you and your Mum in any way we possibly can, that is what BCNA is all about.

First up, did your mum receive the MY JOURNEY KIT when she was first diagnosed? There is also another set of invaluable resources available HOPES AND HURDLES. Both kits are full of practical advice and information from other breast cancer survivors, resources for partners and supporters, CDs and fact sheets which will give you both a better understanding of things that are now part of your every day life.

All of our resources are sent to you free of charge throughout Australia. You can order the kits on line www.bcna.org.au or by phoning 1800500258 (our lovely girls in the Melbourne office will give you all of the assistance you need)

You don't tell us much about yourself ... how old are you and Mum, where are you living etc etc. Your Mum is very lucky having you close by, support of family and friends is very important. Once we know your locality we can find a support group in your area.

Heng I am going to add you as a contact (please accept) ..... feel free to contact me any time even if it's just for a chat - you don't have to wait for a "reason". Give my love to your Mum and I hope to hear from you soon.

A wonderful things about our network blog is that any questions or concerns you have can be asked here and there will be someone who has "been there - done that" who will be able to answer them.

Love to you both .... Shirl x0x