New and so confused
I am Grade 2, sentinel lymph node free, deciding if the 4 or 5% difference of having Chemo or going straight into radiation and onto tablets and with the added severe family history of kidney and heart disease. So confused ‘do I do Chemo or not’ I know it’s my decision but would like to know if other women have same or similar diagnosis. The oncologist said last week you have 6% extra chance of survival and then today said 4 or 5%.
This Christmas I will be.......
Hi everyone, This time last year I asked you all to post some Xmas tips and we put some of these tips in an article and sent it to women newly diagnosed with a link to the online conversation https://external2.createsend.com/campaigns/reports/viewCampaign.aspx?d=d&c=96F7DB74A54F2F70&ID=87D90CE98EBF5B33&temp=False&tx=0 We would like to do the same this year. I was touched last year by some of the conversations around how Christmas now had a different meaning for some of you and the decisions you made about what is important now for you at Xmas time. I therefore thought we could do something around what you'll be doing this Xmas - what is now important to you, do you now do things differently, have certain traditions, activites become more important, are there things you ve decided not to do? Would love to hear your thoughts.
Newbie
breastscreen saw something so I had biopsies last Wednesday, my gp was supposed to get the results by Monday, got a ph call from breastscreen to say the pathologist wanted to do more staining and my gp would get the results on Tuesday so I should see him Wednesday. and Im so depressed and scared and such about the whole thing. wouldn't be so bad but theres just me and my autistic daughter left now , friends I thought I had I dont and not a friendly neighbourhood I tried when we came here but was ignored. I have never felt so alone in my life
Triple Negative
Hi there, I’m new to this site and to be honest very scared. I had surgery a week ago to have a cancer removed (lumpectomy). Results are in. Clear margins and clear nodes (that’s the good news) Grade 3 Stage 1 so caught an aggressive cancer early but I’m also triple negative. For the first time since my diagnosis my doctor used the word chemo and it scares me more than the initial diagnosis. Everything I read about triple negative is scary. Everything I read about Chemo is scary. It still needs to be discussed wether chemo will be beneficial for me. Has anyone been diagnosed with triple negative and not required Chemo?Advice on ceasing treatment
Hi everyone I hope someone can help me, this journey is horrible. My mum was successfully treated for breast cancer 9 years ago. Last year it returned with aggression. It attacked her intestine, peritoneal region ending in emergency surgery. She had 12 cycles of abraxane chemotherapy and was in remission. So placed on Femaras as maintenance. Four months later, markers began rising rapidly. PET /CT showed new activity all through the peritoneal region. We opted for the Ibrance + Examestene. At this time Ibrance was $5k per month but as it had such good resulted. We paid for it. Ibrance had no impact on tumour markers, they continued rising and mum got sicker and very nauseated. Another PET/CT after 3 months treatment with Ibrance showed extensive liver mets. So many they couldn't count. And disease in the peritoneal region widespread. She was immediately taken off ibrance and placed on Eribulin chemotherapy. Markers started dropping and liver function was improving. We were told things were stabling and we shared a sigh of relief. They said she could stay on eribulin as long as it work. Then suddenly she wasn't tolerating it as well. Fatigued, dizzy, just laying on an armchair everyday with no energy and she lost 4kg rapidly. They repeated blood work but everything was fine. Then she started to feel a pulling ache in her right side so they did a CT scan and found her liver was massively enlarged, deformed and so bad that they couldn't even make out what was inside of it.. Upon seeing that image and seeing how unwell my mum was the oncologist advised he saw no reason to continue treatment. That her quality of life was poor and for the liver to be in such a bad state it's likely full of cancer and she will die soon. He couldn't say when she will die. Just soon. So he sent us home and called palliative care.to set things up for mum to die at home. This was 20 days ago. In the meantime, mum was happy to be off chemo.. Her energy returned, her apetitite returned. She began doing things around the house again, we went out, she gained 3kg.. And looks so much better. We decided for a second opinion and saw a new oncologist . He re did blood work and her tumour markers have risen, and her liver function is now very much deranged.. And has deteriorated in virtually a month . Chemo toxicity cannot be fully blamed when she hasn't been on chemo for a month. He advised she could try a tablet chemotherapy called xeloda which he said would be well tolerated and may buy time. Without treatment he said she would die in a matter of weeks as the liver function is heading toward failure. I can't understand how all this is happening when she looks so good and has had the best 20 days in a very long time. But she is dying. Mum doesn't know whether to enjoy what is left drug free, or whether to take the drugs which may buy time but how will it impact her quality of life? This is a nightmare I don't want to let her go but I don't want her to suffer. Her metastatic journey has only been 15 months . Not even the average and even with trying brand new drugs.. I'm just shattered. My dad wants to try CBD oil which we have legal through a doctor but it's apparently metabolised via the liver and can impact liver function. This oncologist doesn't want her to have it. I'm heart broken.
What to expect when coming off tamoxifen - your experience?
In a few months time I come off the hormone blocking drug, tamoxifen, which I'll have been on for ten years. What withdrawal symptoms can I expect to feel and how long may they last before returning to 'normal'? I ask because a few years ago, I forgot my drugs while on holiday, and didn't have it for a couple of weeks and instead of hot flushes reducing (which is what I expected), they seemed to get worse and I felt yuk and a bit 'all at sea'. I'm 58 now - not sure if that's relevant . What's been your experience?
Terrified of what lies ahead!
Hi, I was diagnosed with breast cancer on Thursday the 8th November. My eldest child finishes school this year and we were meant to be heading off to Europe on the 28th November for the trip of a lifetime which had been in the planning for 2 years and now I face the biggest challenge of my life and I'm absolutely terrified. My anxiety levels are through the roof and I can't sleep. I feel totally consumed by this cancer diagnosis. I saw my GP yesterday who is trying to get me into see my surgeon ASAP but I have to wait until Monday until I'll know some more. How do I get through the weekend and the weeks ahead?
