Get Connected Day!

Hi Ree, welcome to the network. :)  We do have some younger users here, so one thing you can do is try an age-related search, and then click through to the different members to see who you might have something in common with. Here's the link for the search page: http://www.bcna.org.au/network/users.

Feel free to ask in this group if there's anything you're not sure of.

Di

Hi, My name is Ree. I am 33, mother of 3 young boys and having bilateral mastectomy on the 15th October. Have had small lumps appearing in my breasts for the past 10 years, the closest I've come until now was changes in the cellular appearance but they achieved a good margin and no further treatment was required. This time, not as lucky, as I'm sure you can tell, not really sinking in still. Been through the mill with tests - mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies, MRI's - it's almost like they all feel it is an affront to diagnose this and keep trying one more thing to refute the diagnosis....but I guess the more data they have to hand will help with my course of treatment?

I'm looking for any young people who have gone through this procedure and can share their experiences with me - I'm terrified on how to cope with this as well as try to keep a normal front on for my boys. How do you juggle it all and stay sane? I can't find any groups close to me - rural area outside of Adelaide - but am willing to look online for the answers and support.

Hope to hear more soon....

Ree

Hi Carolyn. Sorry to hear things are not so good but you are seeking help and thats great. I am heading to Qld for 2nd conference and one of the sessions i have booked into is depression and anxiety with breastcancer. I hope to get heaps out of this not only for myself but to share with others. Will get back to you soon as to any suggestions that the experts reccommend. I facilitate a younger womans cancer support group in my local area and we have several ladies with secondarys and most of us at some stage get very down with our lot, we are lucky to have each other for support at these times. Do you have a group near you that can give you support as often only those going through the similar ordeals really understand. You are not alone, great to see you on BCNA network and will touch base with anything I think may help.  Until then, take time-out for yourself (as mothers/wifes etc we often put ourselves last) go for a long walk, sit in a sunny spot, pat the dog, go for lunch or a movie with a friend, smell the roses, but do something just for you, everything else will still be there when you have recharged.  Good luck, Kaz

Carolyn, I can't begin to imagine what you are going through with your secondaries and your chemo but I can relate to the depression.

I guess I was lucky - if there is such a thing - with my cancer.  Because i opted for a mastectomy and removal of all the lymph glands (not for everyone but right for me) everything was contained in the one breast and hadn't travelled through the rest of my body.  i do not require chemo or radiotherapy - i will be on Arimidex for the next 5 or so years.

Would you believe, that was the cause of my depression.   You see, I wasn't sick and I felt guilty because others around me were .... they were going through their treatments and showed signs of how their bodies were reacting. 

I have now accepted two things .... (a) I have had breast cancer (2) I have had depression.  The fact that you recognise the problem and are dealing with it by getting treatment is a step in the right direction.  Talk things through openly with your doctor and psycologist - they will help you throug it.

As for the fatigue, try to keep yourself mobile.  I don't mean go and run a marathon or hit the gym ... take things slowly.  Try some warm water exercises at your local pool and maybe investigate the possibllity of participating in a Tai Chi group.  Go for a ten minute stroll each day (not a power walk, just a gentle walk around the block)

As your body strengthens so will your mind.  Just remember - stay positive, you are in charge of your own destiny.

No doubt you will get many more offers of help through these forums - we are a caring lot here!!!!  Pop in for a chat any time, there wil always be someone home .... can't offer you a coffee though!!

Cheers .... Shirl

Hi Carolyn,  I know you've already leapt in and chatted to a few people but I wanted to say 'welcome to the network'. :)

Also to let you know that there is a group for women living with advanced breast cancer (so just click on that link and request to join if you'd like to).

Just ask if you need a hand with anything.

Di

Hi Everyone,

I have already chatted to some of you but seeing as this is the official getting connected day I thought I'd tell you a bit more about myself.

My name is Carolyn (39yrs old) & I have secondary breast cancer in my liver.  The secondary was discovered first, due to pain, in August last year. I had two rounds of chemo to reduce the tumour sizes & I'm now on letrozole.  Having come through that pretty well, I'm now suffering from depression.  The worst part associated with this is the fatigue.  My GP has me on medication & I'm seeing a psychologist.  I'd like to connect with others who have had this happen. 

Take Care all of you,

Carolyn.

Hi Lynne, my daughter is 12 and is also my 'positive' ambassador! She came with me to the Shane Crawford run which was launched in Adelaide on Sunday and I was so proud of her...there she was, helping collect donations for Breast Cancer! She said.."we've got to get as much money as we can to find a cure for breast cancer mum....it's horrible and I don't want any more mums and kids going through what you've been through!"...gotta love them! lol!

Yes, one step at a time is a good way to go when it comes to getting things done. I've found the fatigue the biggest challenge, and even though I finished chemo and then radio late last year, I still get quite tired now and then which I'm told can be normal after having treatment. Sometimes I do get frustrated at the fact that I can't do all the things I used to be able to (eg mow the front and back lawns, weed and clean gutters all in a few hours!) but I just pace myself now and ask for help if I need it (hard for me cos i'm so damn independent!..LOL!)

Anyway, have a great day! Celeste

Hi There

so good to hear from you,

I wish you heaps of good Luck for Thurs

I have had 1 round of chemo & radiation originally (09)and now radiation for the spot on my hip also i started zoladex and next week a tablet but ive forgot the name!

I also have a blood test this week (Fri) and get results Monday, the last blood test before they found out is was cancer didnt register any markers.. so my speacialist told me to expect it to be much much higher so i guess this test wil be my "base line" .

i have found it all to be a bit overwelming at times, but my family is wonderful.

i started radiation on the spot in my hip last week, no relief yet but i hope it starts to feel less painful soon, 3 more radio treatments so fingers crossed.

so good to chat

More good luck for Thurs

take care

Mel

Hey there lynne

ive been off the computer for a few days so welcome i am also new to the site and ive found it really great to chat to others about their experiances.. Congrats on finishing chemo! what an awesome feeling it is to get to the last one!

i didnt find radio a difficult thing, was a walk in the park compared to chemo!

I drove myslef each day and didnt really suffer tiredness, just a bit of redness at the site but other than that i was thrilled to be doing normal stuff without the "chemo week" looming!

Celebrate that last chemo, and enjoy that champagne!

will be thinking of you on friday, sending you lost of strength to get past that last one:)

take care

Mel

Yes Lynne, life does slow for a bit. I am just gone 4 years from treatment and it's a vague memory. People ask me questions and I really have to think wether this or that happened (brain freeze/chemo head,lol)  I am back gardening, paving (last year six pallets by myself),  leadlighting etc. Have joined a gym recently so hang in there, listen to your body, take it easy and if you havent checked out a support group in your area (as I feel you will need someone with similar experiences as to share that bubbly with, lol) then maybe consider it. BCNA is really quite wonderful for getting that little bit of tlc when most needed. Hope tratment goes well on friday, be thinking of you (even though I will be at the 2nd conference for younger woman in (hopefully) sunny Gold Coast) and by the way i cant believe you have a 26 year old!!!! you look wonderful.  chat soon, Kaz