-
The Ripple Effect
My diagnosis, from a routine mammogram rather than finding a lump, has caused several of my friends in their 40s & 50s to have a mammogram themselves . Has this happened to anyone else? My best friend, the one to whom I tell all the things, and my partner in my India endeavours, got a call back 10 days ago. 10 days of…
-
Confronting flashbacks
I've just arrived to see my counsellor. Where I normally see her is really busy so I've been sent two doors up to the Breast Screen clinic where I had my mammograms, ultrasound and biopsy. And of all the rooms she could be in, she's in the very room where I got my diagnosis. I haven't been here since that day. I'm having…
-
How mental health affects physical health
Note from BCNA: The following is a guest post in a series we're bringing you this year. Dr Helen Donovan is a health psychologist specialising in initiating and maintaining long-term health behaviour change. Her experiences encompass:* health coaching with individuals and groups * developing, implementing and evaluating…
-
Is it possible for a 16-year-old to get breast cancer?
I'm 16 and have a family history of breast cancer. My mother carried both the BRCA 1 & 2 genes (and was diagnosed during her mid-thirties) from my nan, who had breast cancer three times. I've been checking my breasts regularly from the age of 13 (at my pop's suggestion), and have recently noticed a small lump underneath my…
-
Tamoxifen and depression
Hi, after double mastectomy, removing of 11 lymph nodes and 5 operations due to infection, i went on to 4 a.c. then 10/12 paclitaxel. Lost hair toe nails, immense pain in hands and feet. Always remained very positive and happy. Have been on tamoxifen for nearly two weeks and i am so down and keep crying. Has anyone…
-
Scan post treatment - YES OR NO???
My mum had stage three triple negative breast cancer. She had a mastectomy in December last year, 6 months of aggressive chemotherapy followed by a course of radiotherapy. Besides having a bone scan when first diagnosed she has not had any other scan. Her oncologist stated she does not find a scan post treatment useful.…
-
St John's Wort
Good afternoon ladies. Has anyone tried St John's Wort? I am occasionally a bit down and lately have started to have these anxiety attacks... weird. I decided to try the SJW, I have only been taking it since 30/09/17. And have actually been feeling happy often since!! (Just read my diary). And it seems to of started on the…
-
Two days ago my life changed forever
Hi everyone, just hoping to reach out and seek some advice at a time that my life feels completely out of control on two levels. Two days ago, my (very recent) fiance and I arrived home from our long awaited overseas holiday. We'd been scrimping and saving for this trip, and had the most fantastic time. Although exhausted…
-
Having one of those days or 2.........
Hi everyone, i dont know if I am just overthinking everything. I been quite anxious the last few days, nervous, worry and I don't know exactly why. It is like the mind just doesn't stop thinking and thinking of irrational thoughts, whether it is because I am just scared in general. As much as it is only been a few months…
-
Newly diagnosed and pregnant
Hello, I am very very new to this network and I was hoping to hear from anyone who may be or have been in a similar situation to me. I received my diagnosis on Monday just gone and am 17 weeks pregnant. I am going in for breast conserving surgery tomorrow and will meet with the oncologist next week to discuss chemo. There…
-
Test anxiety
Hi ladies, I had a CT & bone scan last week. My oncologist usually sends me an SMS if everything is ok (ie that the mets are stable). Not so this time. So my imagination has gone into overdrive. I am thinking the worst. I meet with him tomorrow morning. Very anxious. I hate waiting for test results! Ange
-
Breast and thyroid cancer combination
Hi everyone I was diagnosed with HER2 positive breast cancer in October last year. I had 4 courses of chemotherapy to shrink the tumours in my breast and under my arm pit. This was followed by a lumpectomy and clearance of the axillary lymph nodes. I am also on 3 weekly doses of Herceptin for 12months. I completed 7 weeks…