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lorns
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Re: Information Overload!
Thanks @Tri - yoga would be lovely, i think - I'll give it a shot. I'm trying to get out for a walk each day - helps for a little bit but then the aches set back in. I might try shifting when I take my Letrazole - currently taking it in the morning - can't hurt to try right :smile: ? @iserbrown I'll look into the reflexology!53Views0likes0CommentsRe: Information Overload!
Thanks @arpie & @Tri I'll definitely check out the forums re hysterectomy. Joint pain is getting worse so may have to try another AI to see if that helps. Panadol Osteo isn't touching it. A friend mentioned acupuncture might help - so will give that a try. I was disappointed to learn my Sozo numbers were the same so have to wear my lympho sleeve for a few more months - we're hoping it's just the heat stirring it up. I am puffy all over so could be.26Views0likes0CommentsRe: Information Overload!
Made it to 2025! I finished radiation on the 16th December and had my port out on the 17th. All done before Christmas - woohoo. My skin fared pretty well with radiation. I used the StrataXRT gel - expensive (even with onc discount code) but so damn worth it. My skin didn't blister and while it was sensitive and very red, was manageable. We had a lovely Christmas and had a week at the beach after. Note for anyone with compromised nails after chemo - wear covered shoes when walking/scrambling along rocks. I ripped my big toe nail off on the first day when I missed a step up the rocks and caught the toe nail as my foot came down. Eek. I went back to work last week. I've been very lucky to have had enough sick leave to take time off while in active treatment. Trying to get the brain going again is hard work and I get soooooooooo tired. But it's nice to be back. It's funny/weird to run into people who didn't know why I was off - and try to work out what to say to them. The new short hair is very different to my old hair cut so lots of people do a double take. I'm about to go get my first haircut to deal with the mullet that's appearing - although my nephew thinks I should roll with it 😊🤣 I started Zolodex and Letrasole last week. Chemo put me into menopause so I was already dealing with hot flushes, fatigue etc. The joint pains are the worst of it so far. I have the option to switch to another AI or Tamoxifen if side effects are too much. I'm considering having a hysterectomy or at least ovaries out if I tolerate the AI. Save me having to have monthly injections, reduce risk of ovarian cancer and I'm not planning on anymore kiddos. It's weird being out the other side! I'm supposed to be "better" but feel like shit, tired, fat and no hair - the irits from the compression sleeve. I put on tons of weight over chemo (steroids suck!) so none of my clothes fit - worst part of going back to work is trying to find clothes to wear. The "nothing fits" uniform I've been wearing all summer is unfortunately not appropriate for work.6Views0likes0CommentsRe: Information Overload!
I'm done with chemo! Yay :) I got through the full suite of Taxol and am out the other side. I have a short break before starting radiation next week. I will be done before Christmas - best present ever. I'm still super tired and feeling very "grey". The hair on my head is growing back - interesting to see my natural colour after so many years being other colours. My eyebrows and eyelashes still give me away. The last few weeks were rough on my nails - so incredibly sore. The nail bed seems swollen and quite a few are brown & lifting. You never quite realise how much you do with your nails! I expect it'll take some time for it all to grow out. Feels weird to be out the other side of chemo.8Views0likes0CommentsRe: 50/50 on chemo - what to do
Arggh that's a tough one! I had similar outcomes from surgery (left-side mastectomy) - sentinel node was positive but ALND came back as all clear. I wanted to throw everything we could at it now while I'm relatively young (45) & healthy (besides the C) to reduce the chances of it coming back later. Add to that, my cancer was detected in the lympho-vascular system on the breast so I went ahead with chemo to make sure no little microscopic bits made an escape. Did your oncologist go through the numbers with you - rates of survival based on the specific findings in your pathology and the different combination of treatments? That can help (if your a stats/numbers kind of a person) to make that decision. It sucks as you just want someone to give you the one true answer :) Hugs to you!14Views2likes0CommentsRe: Chemo after Mastectomy
Hi @Kwarb Sorry to hear you've joined this elite! I'm part way through my chemo treatment on the AC-T protocol - have finished AC and nearly halfway through the Taxol. As the others have said, it's hard to tell how you're going to react to chemo as everyone takes it differently and there are different protocols. I'm lucky enough to have built up enough sick leave to be able to take time off during chemo. Side effects wise, the AC treatments (every 3 weeks) wiped me out for about 7 days - fatigue, nausea, joint pain - then I'd build back up to the next treatment. The Taxol, I'm finding much easier on the system, I am fatigued constantly as they're weekly but could work if I had to and there's no nausea (yay). The oncology team & the GP are amazing at managing side effects - make sure you let them know about things you're struggling with so they can give you the good stuff! Chemo tanks your immune system so steering clear of people who are sick becomes a thing. It's one of the reasons I've taken advantage of my sick leave - as I work with students at uni who regularly come to class sick and spread the love. Kindy kids would be just as bad! I've managed to avoid most of the bugs that my 2 primary aged kids have brought home from school with good sickness hygiene, literally dunking the kids in hand sanitizer and getting ahead of things by going to the GP early (anti-virals for Flu A & COVID so far). Their school has had a shocking year for illness so lots of bugs have come home.6Views0likes0CommentsRe: Information Overload!
Thanks @arpie! I'm in Brisbane - I'll add it to the profile :smile: I'm thinking it might help to connect with a local group - I've been head down getting through treatment so haven't really felt up to it so far. I loved the Look Good Feel Good workshop - I'm also not a big makeup person but got some great tips - especially how to draw on eyebrows and using elastic hairbands to tie scarves! The Veoza is working for the hot flushes. My oncologist put me on the Oxybutinin to start with but I was soooo dried out that it was uncomfortable. I mentioned it to my GP and it was she who recommended Veoza. Fortunately I can claim it through BUPA and my oncologist was happy for me to try it.9Views0likes0CommentsRe: Information Overload!
Time goes by so quickly!! I'm done with the AC part of chemo (yay, no more red devil). I'm on my 5th dose of the Taxol which I'm finding a lot easier on the system. Frustratingly, I've managed to pick up a cold and a middle ear infection so have had to delay today's treatment. The week goes by so quickly between treatments, I'm mainly tired and that's starting to accumulate over time. I'm also now menopausal - yay for me. The hot flushes were awful - I'm now on Veoza (fezolinetant) for them. It's newly approved here in Australia and specifically targets the receptor in the brain that causes the hot flushes. It's not yet on the PBS - so it's $60 for a month supply, claimable on some private health insurance. I'm finding it great for the hot flushes - still have some but they aren't as intense or as frequent. I do have a dry mouth though which is a known side effect. Very annoyingly I am putting on weight - thanks to the dexamethasone which makes me soooo hungry. It wasn't such an issue when I was only getting it every 3 weeks (and the nausea put a cap on the appetite) but now it's weekly and with no nausea it's "hello appetite!". So I have to add weight gain to the list of what's f*ked about my body - hard enough adjusting to the baldness and one boob without adding extra jiggly bits. I've always fluctuated in weight thanks to growing up a 90's girl (anyone here remember the heroin chic of the time?). I had managed to get to a mostly good place with it before being diagnosed. Of course, I have no energy to actually do the exercise I need to get rid of it. I'm *trying* to be kind to myself on that front - but not having a great deal of success. Currently trying to keep the kids occupied through the holidays. Had a wonderful treat over the weekend with a sleepover with 2 of my oldest friends - we hired an apartment in the city, had a lovely lunch and then watched movies and hung out. It was so lovely to just hang out, no kids, no partners, no restaurant time-limits, no chores. I wholeheartedly recommend this as a treat. We're off to the beach at the end of the holidays and I'm working up the courage to get into some togs and into the water. I love, love, love swimming in the ocean. I recently went to Burleigh Heads and seriously struggled with getting togs on & getting into the water - especially as the place is full of stunning women with luscious hair, slim bods and both boobs. I was the only one boobed, bald chick on the beach and felt very conspicuous and very self-conscious. I sat there watching my husband in the water with the kids, arguing with myself to just get in the water. I eventually got his attention so he could come and accompany me to the water because I just could NOT do it on my own. I've got myself a swim prosthesis now so hopefully that will help a little - can't do much about the hair or the fat but maybe one less thing to worry about will help. Now that I'm recovered from surgery and feeling a little more human on the Taxol, body image really is something that I'm struggling with. My clothes don't fit right any more. I can't wear a bunch of my favourite dresses because I haven't been able to find a bra with straps that sit right. Why oh why do all the straps come straight up from the nipple??? They are also a totally different shape than I'm used to wearing so nothing sits the way that I'm used to. Sorry - this has been a bit more of a rant than an update.1View0likes0CommentsRe: Information Overload!
@Locksley yum, potato cake with salt!! You've now got me thinking of gems & gravy 🤤 Thanks for the giggle re aqua aerobics! Last Friday my hair started coming out in clumps, and I was leaving pube confetti on the toilet (haha TMI, but it gave me the giggles for some reason). By Saturday afternoon I looked like a mangy dog, with weird bald patches on my head. Gave a nod to the husband and said "I think it's time". The kids both had a go with the clippers, much to their delight. My daughter gave me the haircut from Raya and the last Dragon. We shared a tear or five and now I've a full nude nut. It's taking a little getting used to - have jumped at my reflection a couple of times! It feels amazing in the shower and I'm slowly figuring out head covers. I'm very grateful to my parents for giving me a well shaped noggin. The kids have forgotten about shaving my husband's head - which I'm secretly happy about as I prefer him with hair ☺️ I went to a Look Good, Feel Better workshop which was wonderful. I can't recommend enough - the facilitators are lovely and it was so great to meet a lovely group of ladies. You get some skin care and make up goodies and get shown how to use them. They also gives tips on wigs and show you a few scarf ties. It was my first proper 'outing' with no hair and it was such a supportive place to be. Had my 2nd AC the day after that, talk about going from a high to a blergh. Definitely finding it rougher on the second one, I now see how it accumulates 😭 At least I know what to expect now. And I'll be on my "good" week for the last week of school holidays - hoping to get some fun stuff in with the kids.7Views0likes0CommentsRe: Information Overload!
Thanks for sharing your story @unicorn3 - it is very similar! The kids have been just amazing - my 7yr old son is incredibly matter of fact (and VERY open about his mum having cancer); my daughter is much more introspect about it. We've been very open with them about what is happening and what to expect - we practised sideways hugs before I went in for surgery and they both check-in about my "sore arm" before coming in for a cuddle. My son was rather disappointed when I came back from my chemo infusion with all my hair still - he thought it would fall out immediately. He's hanging out for it to fall out so he can shave my husband's head :smiley: There's no feeling sorry for yourself with the kids around - I really appreciate them keeping me grounded and out of my head :D !9Views0likes0Comments
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Young women & breast cancer
This group is for young women affected by breast cancer. In the context of breast cancer treatment, ‘young’ usually refers to women who are pre-menopausal. Here, you can connect with others who understand the unique challenges that come with a diagnosis at a younger age. We talk about things like fertility, pregnancy, early menopause, ovarian suppression, relationships, and the emotional impact of treatment and recovery. Whether you're newly diagnosed or further along in your journey, this is a safe space to ask questions, share experiences, and support one another. You are not alone during this uncertain and overwhelming time.Choosing breast reconstruction
PRIVATE GROUP. Choosing breast reconstruction after single or double mastectomy can feel overwhelming, and deeply personal. This group is here to connect you through others' stories and images. Please respect everyone’s privacy—do not copy or share content outside this space. Information is based on personal experience and is not medical advice; always consult your healthcare team for guidance. ⚠️CONTENT WARNING⚠️ Members may share photos of breast surgeries. These images or discussions may be distressing or triggering for some. If you need support, please contact the BCNA Helpline - we are here for you.
