Questions to ask 'Post Surgery' of yourself - to your Specialists - Tick Sheets - Self assessment
I know that after my own surgery, I didn't always quite know what questions to ask of my surgeon and 'the team' that we all see regularly for the first 5 years following our treatment - so I set about looking for 'tick sheets' that would help me, as these appointments approached! I came across some really interesting files. They are all 'multi paged' so I've put a 'sample page' from each document to give you an idea of what is in it. The first booklet is available at most Cancer Clinics and was put out by the Cancer Council - 'Living Well After Cancer'. It is a good one to give to friends & relatives to read as well - to give them an idea of the longterm affects of cancer even after successful treatment - as they often think that once you've had your surgery, chemo, rads & tabs - that you are now 'well'. We all know that that is NOT necessarily the case! :( It really is a lifetime sentence. This booklet covers a lot of areas that concern us all - and may be able to help answer questions in many situations that we face. (sample page) The 2nd one is: "Questions to ask 'post cancer' " - a 'tick sheet' - these questions could be spread across the whole team - your surgeon, Onc and Rad Onc as well as GP. Tick the ones that are relevant to you in the lead up to your individual appointments. (sample page) The next is "Self Care Specific Symptoms" - this sheet could also be for any of your team - with the 2nd section relating more to mental health issues that may impact you. (sample sheet) And finally - a Survivorship Care Plan - virtually a ''Self Assessment Yearly Checkup'' sheet .... which has more specific symptoms that you may be concerned about and also has pages for noting yearly checkups required re Dexa, Mammograms, Colonoscopy, MRI etc - almost a 'diary' to keep re future appointments. (sample Pages) Write down the dates you've had them, and when the next one is. Add any other exams that are not already there You can use any or all of these documents to track how you feel you are progressing - date them & further down the track, you can compare them to see how you are travelling. Take care & I hope these sheets help in tracking your health - both mental and physical. xxx
Psychiatrist / Psychologist Needed - Melbourne
Hi All, I had a lumpectomy due to 3 types of breast cancers in my right breast. But for the last 18 months i haven't been able to work due to my mental health. I am looking for a Psychiatrist and a Psychologist to help me get back to normal. Does anyone have any experience with someone they can recommend in Melbourne please? Really struggling. Any help will be appreciated. Thank youSurvey on how you are travelling post treatment .... BCNA benefits too from each survey submitted!
I’ve just completed this survey ..... check it out! BCNA gets $1 for each complete survey too! https://surveys.usq.edu.au/index.php/589267?fbclid=IwAR2jUg0P6-dc2m0vBZYofwKC2fZ2oPs8LZdUFaMPql3daLiw7YitLk27c34CanCope - an online program to help those with Cancer, cope both emotionally and physically
Woohoo!! Are you feeling down and depressed with your 'post BC body & mind'? Would you like to access a Psychologist but not able to? Monash University is running 2 programs over 12 months - for people with cancer, to help cope both mentally & physically with a cancer diagnosis & treatments. This program gives EVERYONE access to quality psychological help. Tell your friends who have had other cancers too, not only those of us with BC. There are 2 modules - Mind and Physical - and both are FREE!! Matter of fact you will even be sent some $$ for taking part! The CanCope team are a group of researchers and mental health professionals with an interest in cancer. https://cancope.weebly.com The two CanCope programs The two programs are CanCope Mind and CanCope Lifestyle. If you take part, you will allocated to one of the two programs (however, by the end, you will gain access to the content from both programs!) FAQ here: https://cancope.weebly.com/faq.html You can read reviews on the programs here: https://cancope.weebly.com/reviews.html Or you can just contact the chief psychologist directly (see email address on the 'flyer' or the 'explanation sheet', Page 1) I think this will be invaluable for many of our members who normally can't access a psychologist ...... so don't be shy - give it a go! ANYONE can do the programs, so long as their 'active treatment' has been completed. Even after this program has finished, chances are they will be replaced by other similar programs.
New boob abnormality
Hi all, I first want to say how grateful I am to everyone for sharing their stories here, they often help when I'm struggling. That said I'm finding things particularly hard at the moment. I was originally diagnosed oct 2019, her2+ er-, with large lump and lymph node involvement. I had ac then Taxol, 2 lumpectomys to get clearance and then radiation along with herceptin until Jan this year. I had a good response to treatment (pathological complete response). But this year I'm finding it so much harder! I was okish last year with a few little hiccups but this year I find myself so much more depressed with life and I don't get why. My son who is 7 has developed quite severe anxiety especially when it comes to me this year and it just seems to be getting worse no matter how much support we get him and how much energy I pour in to him. And now this week, I reported to my breast care nurse some tenderness I had in my boob. I had told the surgeon about it on Nov when I saw him but he just said it was radiation side effects. This week the nurse felt my breast and said it was probably just scar tissue that is pulling now I am doing more exercise but recommended an ultrasound. The ultrasound showed some abnormality in the ducts near my scar tissue so now they want to biopsy which I'm having done tomorrow. I'm trying to stay calm and think that it's all fine until I know otherwise but I'm finding it hard. I don't know how my young kids will cope if it is the worst? My son is already struggling so much. I guess I just am hoping people can tell me good news stories of when they got a biopsy post cancer and it turned out to be ok.Coping with the 'new normal'
Hi all I'm grateful that I've gotten through invasive treatment and life has kind of gone back to normal, although I'm still working out my 'new normal'. I finished rads 6 week ago and have been on Tamoxifen for the last couple of weeks. I've been very tired, which I know could be an after effect of rads, and am also very nervous about the potential horrible side effects of Tamo. I've also been very depressed and seemingly small things set me off. I really don't care about my job anymore, which in a way is a good thing, as it means I no longer work 60 hour weeks. I'm only working a regular full-time load. But it's making me very depressed and I'm considering a career change, but don't think I have the energy to start a new job. But everyone - apart from my partner - seems to think I should be ok. I have to have a performance review with my boss next week and talk about my 'career goals'. I no longer have any! Not working 60 hours a week is it! No doubt not wanting to climb the ladder is going to go against me - and I've been told before that if I don't go for promotion, I'll eventually be sacked. Up or out. But I'm really tired of other people saying that I should be thankful for my supposedly fabulous job. A close friend also advised me to 'stop being so negative' about my work. Telling a depressed person to not be negative!! I know I should probably see a counsellor, but I don't have the energy to deal with all that emotion... So, really, just a little vent to people who'll understand. Thanks all.How can psychologists help?
Hey everyone, I am new to this community but I am eager to learn more. I am a provisional psychologist in Melbourne interested in helping people cope with the emotional difficulties that come with cancer. Whilst I am an outsider (I have not personally had cancer), I feel that the psychological side of cancer can often be neglected, especially during the survivorship period! (would you agree?) I have posted elsewhere on this forum, but please feel free to reply to this post and share your mental health journey with cancer to help me gain a better understanding of your personal experiences! Also, what should mental health professionals be doing differently? What are the barriers to accessing adequate mental health support? I am looking forward to your posts and further discussions :)
