Cryotherapy gloves/socks for chemo neuropathy – anyone in Australia able to lend or sell?
Hi all, I have metastatic breast cancer and have been on Abraxane since September (about 6 months in). I’m starting to get early neuropathy in my feet. My hospital doesn’t provide any support around cryotherapy, but I’m keen to trial gloves/socks during treatment to see if it helps. Before I go and spend $200–$300 on a mefucal grade set, I wanted to ask: Does anyone in Australia have a pair they’re no longer using and would be open to lending or selling? Or any recommendations on what actually works (vs what’s a waste of money)? I also have Hashimoto’s disease & bad blood circulation, so I’m not even sure how well I’ll tolerate the cold—another reason I’d prefer to try before buying. I’m on the Central Coast NSW and happy to pay postage or contribute towards cost. Really appreciate any help or leads—thank you!Chemo dilemma
Hi I'm struggling to get the information and support to make a decision on whether to have chemo prior to radiotherapy. Wondering if anyone has any thoughts from a similar journey or ideas of where I can go for help? Her2 negative hormone positive 15mm grade 2 on biopsy grade 3 following lumpectomy with clear margins and clear lymph nodes. Ki67 was 5-10% at biopsy not tested on tumour so possibly higher. Would like genome testing advised to have ProSigna which is for post menopausal women I'm pre-menopause (?!) Struggling to get hold of anyone to give me answers or advice I understand its my decision and I'm in the borderline/grey area but want all info possible to make an informed decision 🤔
Grade 3 Oncotype Test Chemo decisions
Hi all, I’m in the challenging time of making decisions about chemo and would love to hear experiences from others journey particularly with any similar cancer. I have had lumpectomy on left breast results showing- Stage 2A invasive carcinoma 25mm Grade 3, HR+ PR-HER2- with lymphovascular invasion but all 13 lymph nodes sampled as clear. I am 39yo and very active and healthy (apart from this)! I pooled my savings to get the oncotype DX ordered- I am now waiting for results. (Still can’t believe we have to pay $5000 for this). I understand the Grade 3 PR negative and lymphovascular invasion detected are likely risk factors that tip towards benefits of chemo. But I have been reading more about the effectiveness of hormone therapies like OS+AI and that perhaps I could avoid chemo. I will let you all know my score when it comes back- I hope it’s low but if it’s high I’m facing such hard decisions that any similar experiences may help! thank you
Scalp cooling - tips on cap size and forehead pressure?
Hi all, I'm about to start my first of 12 x weekly paclitaxel treatments on Monday (combined with trastuzumab infusions every three weeks). I am keen to try scalp cooling to try to reduce hair loss and had gotten my mind around the cold factor (I think!). However, I had my chemo education session yesterday and got to try on a cap. I discovered that the cap alone for just a few minutes was very uncomfortable/slightly painful on my forehead and am now not sure how I'll go with this for several hours! The nurse did get me to then try the next cap size up, but this didn't seem to be as good a fit and had a gap at the back of my head - hence may not be effective. I also didn't have a headband on when I tried the first cap - so possibly this might also help a little. Just wondering if this tightness/pressure/forehead pain is normal or if anyone else has experience and tips on dealing with this? I noticed from other posts about scalp cooling that these seem to suggest the hardest period is the first 15-20 mins and then your head acclimatises/becomes numb. Just wondering if this also applies to the feeling of tightness of the cap? Or if there are any other tips on reducing pain/pressure on your forehead during the cooling process? I figure I'll give it a go anyway on Monday as I can always stop the scalp cooling if it is too much for me, but any advice would be very welcome!Anyone had TC chemo?
Hi, I am likely going to start chemo possibly next week. It’s will be TC for three months. I am very worried about it of course. I would like very much to reduce my risk of peripheral neuropathy and wondered if there’s any advice on best things to use for hands and feet. Does anybody have any other advice or experiences from this sort of chemo?
Taxol side effects
Hi all, I’m starting paclitaxel chemotherapy this week (once a week for 6 weeks). I’m wanting some insight into how I might feel. It’s a busy time of year and I’m a single mum. We have dance concerts and holidays booked. Is it like a hangover? Or more like a bad flu where I’ll struggle to get out of bed. What are the main things I will struggle with? I am going to do ice and to try avoid neuropathy and hair loss. Many thanks for your insights 🙏🏽What The Heck Radiation and Chemo? What to do and the side effects, are freaking me out.
In July, I had a mastectomy with lymph nodes out, then they found cancer somewhere else in the body with completely no relation to the breast cancer. If the breast cancer wasn't enough. So, now I have to deal with the other cancer site, which is colorectal, and I have just had an appointment with the radiation and chemo doctors at Royal Brisbane Women's, and I don't mind admitting I'm freaking out. The side effects of the 50/50 cure seem to be so much worse than the actual disease. Yes, I know that the disease, if left to run riot, equals, you know. But, after all these years of funding and funding, why do we not have something better? It's so weird that since my surgery, I have had posts popping up on my socials left right, and centre. Like the "Cure from Japan with Bee Venom" seriously makes me want to find a hive and fly into one with wanton abandon. A "Breakthrough in South Korea, scientists can turn cancer cells back to normal cells," .. Say WHAT? (frantically looking up flights to S Korea) Then there is Ivermectin, Febendazole, and something blue? I mean, I have never paid attention to these things before, but now, my ears prick to the slightest twitch and rustle, like a kid who hears a lolly bag open within a 10-mile radius. I can't help it, I am confused about everything, am I the only one? When I confronted the chemo doctor about all of my concerns and questions, he said If you don't do this, you will be in palliative care in 3 months .. What, hang on what the heck???? I mean, just like that, he said that without any pause or thought, I was never advised that before, and then said, "Whatever you decide, we start therapy on the 28th July, and proceeded to walk out. This journey is brand new; everything has happened since July, and it is no lie, akin to riding a faulty wooden roller coaster with loose nuts, bolts, and rotting timber, operated by a maniacal, crazy clown, in the middle of a thunderstorm, who looks like he has been dragged through a hedge backwards. Just to clarify, the clown is the cancer. I have questions, a thousand of them, with no end of these questions in sight. Where are the natural alternative therapies, like, singing bowls, or is humming drums? What about the milk from an Aztec goat? Yeah, or the petals from a rare flower that only grows on top of some hidden temple in the Amazonian forest, which, on recent reading, is currently swarming with giant anacondas in a breeding frenzy, ugh! Ok, I made up the goat and flowers. No, there is only radiation and chemo. Sigh! I don't know what to do with this option. I have been told my cycle will be 28 days straight of radiation with chemo. I can look forward to a burning bum hole, diareah, burnt skin, possible issues with legs and bladder, and kidneys, and all sorts of other stuff. However, I was told that everyone is different and responds differently. Well, I have to say I don't feel that comforted at all. I am overwhelmed. If anyone can share with me their experience with radiation and chemo, I would love to hear from you. And if anyone knows where I can get my hands on an AZTEC goat in Brisbane, I would love that too!! Goats are ravenous but cute.
Is there a window period that chemo should start?
I was recently diagnosed with IDC - had lumpectomy and 2 sentinel nodes removed in first surgery on 17th June, in one section of the margin they found DIS right to the edge so needed 2nd surgery 2 weeks later which was all clear thankfully. Was due to start chemo 2 weeks after that however developed post surgery infection and was in hospital for 4 days, chemo has been delayed another 3 weeks so its been quite a while since my first surgery. I'm concerened about the delay, has this happened to anyone else?Chemo treatment decision
I was diagnosed with IDC in my left breast in April 2025. I have had surgery and am now navigating treatment options. I had my tumour tested with the Oncotype DX test and it came back in the middle range for benefit of chemo being possible. I was hoping it would come back as either low score so no benefit or high score large benefit so I didn’t have to make the decision on whether to proceed. I discussed with my oncologist who was surprised it had come back as the score it did as he was convinced it would have been low. My tumour was 16mm had some lobular feature and DCIS and was also vascular but hadn’t got to the lymph nodes. So I do have an additional risk factor there. I feel like I want to know I’ve thrown everything at it so if it comes back I know I did my best as I’m a what if person. He supports this and my age he supports a decision to do chemo if I want to. I just want to hear stories of people who have had similar situations as I know the decision is individual based and that chemo won’t be a walk in the park either. thanks in advance for any insights.
