Radiotherapy (5 weeks)
If you haven't been through it yet and are worried, please don't. It sounds much worse than it is. The receptionists, nurses and radiographers are really lovely. It doesn't hurt. It doesn't take long. I was in and out within an hour or less. My boob was a bit itchy throughout the treatment and became redder as the treatment progressed. But it wasn't sore. I felt tired for about 30 minutes after the treatment. The first week after finishing radiotherapy, you could clearly see the area and a clear line where the radio was targeted, it was a bit bumpy but not blisters. From the beginning I put sorbelene on twice a day until my friend told me about Tallow cream, I alternated them at first but after a while just used tallow because I found the sorbelene made me more itchy. Second week after finishing; there where a few changes to my skin. It was the same as the after ejects of sun burn without feeling the burn. My skin turned a darker brown, then peeled back to a nice tan colour. I've had quite a few headaches since finishing radiotherapy but I get migraines anyway so it could just be normal for me. I wish you all the best throughout your journey with breast cancer. I hope I have helped to take some worry out of the whole experience. Think happy thoughts, love Becky
Season 2: Podcast Series "What You Don’t Know Until You Do, with Dr Charlotte Tottman"
Charlotte is back with an 'unlimited' season! Season 2 of our popular Upfront About Breast Cancer podcast What You Don’t Know Until You Do with Clinical Psychologist Dr Charlotte Tottman is available now (You have direct access via the bottom of the Online Network homepage) With over 58,000 listens, Season 1 proved to be a valuable resource that shared the reality of what it’s like going through a breast cancer experience. We heard about Dr Charlotte Tottman who established her own private practice in psycho oncology, before being diagnosed with breast cancer herself. Charlotte shared her lived experience with breast cancer, exploring common psychological triggers and responses, while providing tips of what helped her. (Read the popular Online Network discussion for the Season 1 via link Upfront About Breast Cancer – What You Don’t Know Until You Do, with Dr Charlotte Tottman) This new season is 'unlimited' to reflect a broader experience from a clinical perspective, stripping away the common limitations imposed by the discomfort associated with difficult topics, while providing practical strategies to help people at any stage of their breast cancer experience. Start your day with Charlotte and Kellie as they have meaningful conversations about many topics including anxiety, advocating for yourself, causal beliefs, metastatic breast cancer, re-starting life after treatment, behavioural changes, boundary setting, different perspectives, side effects and the inevitable; death and mortality. Listen to What You Don't Know Until You Do: Unlimited via BCNA or wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.bcna.org.au/understanding-breast-cancer/bcna-resources/podcasts/charlotte-tottman-podcast-series/ Note: We recommend that listeners exercise self-care when listening to this podcast, as some may find the content upsetting. BCNA’s Helpline provides a free confidential telephone and email service for people diagnosed with breast cancer, their family and friends. Our experienced team can help with your questions and concerns and direct you to relevant resources and services. Call 1800 500 258 or email helpline@bcna.org.auClinical Trials Update
Hello members, Our BCNA Senior Policy Officer has provided the below information regarding clinical trials that may be of interest to our members. These are also being shared in our Health Professionals Network News and the Metastatic Advisory Group (I shall post in the mets private group re EMBRACE Phase II trial). Nivolumab neoadjuvant/adjuvant clinical trial The CA209-7FL neoadjuvant/adjuvant breast cancer trial continues to be open to recruitment, running in South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria for patients with estrogen receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative early-stage breast cancer. Bristol Myers Squibb will be implementing a digital advertising campaign expected to launch in October/November 2021. This will target both health professionals and patients. More information on the trial can be found here. EMBRACE Phase II Olaparib clinical trial EMBRACE is a Phase II clinical trial of the PARP inhibitor, Olaparib, in HR-deficient metastatic breast and relapsed ovarian cancer in patients without germline mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2. Patients with metastatic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) or relapsed platinum-sensitive high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) after first line/adjuvant therapy who have an eligible tumour molecular analysis result are suitable for the trial. There are 11 sites open in Australia in NSW, QLD, VIC, SA and WA. More information on the trial can be found here or by emailing embrace.study@sydney.edu.au We encourage members to talk with their treatment team in the first instance about any clinical trials.
Webcast: The Role of Radiotherapy in the Treatment of DCIS and Early Breast Cancer
Hello everyone, BCNA are holding a webcast on Thursday 9 December, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm AEDT on The Role of Radiotherapy in the Treatment of DCIS and Early Breast Cancer. Some people diagnosed with breast cancer may be recommended radiotherapy as part of their treatment. Radiotherapy is usually recommended after breast conserving surgery, and sometimes after mastectomy, to reduce the chance of DCIS and early breast cancer returning in the affected breast. Radiotherapy is carefully planned to make sure that you receive the greatest benefit from the treatment and have limited side effects. In this webcast you’ll hear from specialist Radiation Oncologist at the Northern Sydney Cancer Centre, Associate Professor Gillian Lamoury, Oncology Nurse at Genesis Care, Sophie Andrews and BCNA consumer Susan Manks. Susan will share her experience of radiotherapy after being diagnosed in 2019. We will explore the use for radiotherapy including the benefits for the treatment of DCIS and early breast cancer, current and emerging techniques of radiotherapy delivery, the planning process and the factors that influence delivery, side effects and ways to manage them, follow up care and the costs associated with treatment. To register, please follow this link, https://kapara.rdbk.com.au/landers/f19ef8.html ; Event Details: When: Thursday, December 9, 2021 What Time: 07:00 PM AEDT - 08:00 PM AEDT Local Times: - WA: 04:00 PM - NT: 05:30 PM - SA: 06:30 PM - QLD: 06:00 PM - ACT, NSW, TAS, VIC: 07:00 PM
Questions for your surgeon/medical team when diagnosed - ILC based but also relate to other BC types
This document has a huge number of questions that you may like go over - and put to your Surgeon, Onc, and/or Medical team at some stage of your diagnosis and treatment ..... Altho it is based on those with Invasive Lobular Cancer (ILC) .... many of these questions also relate 100% to all BC Types .... the more questions you ask, the more you understand your diagnosis. Go thru them and see if any may relate to you. If some questions specifically refer to ILC - you could replace ILC with 'your' BC type ..... and see if you'd like to put any of them to your own medical team? https://lobularbreastcancer.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Questions_for_My_Doctor_FINAL_-2023.03.21.pdf
Are you experiencing pain following treatment?
Register for the Persistent pain, addressing quality of life webcast on Wednesday 7 February, 7pm - 8.15pm AEDT. Register now (and if you miss it, we will email you the recording) This webcast will address types of persistent pain associated with early breast cancer treatments, strategies to manage pain and further resources and support that may be available to you. We will be joined by three experts on the night, Professor Paul Glare, Pain Medicine Specialist, Dr Charlotte Tottman, Clinical Psychologist and Naveena Nekkalapudi, BCNA Consumer Representative. Naveena will be sharing her experiences of persistent body pain and why quality of life is paramount to her. You will have the opportunity to put forward your questions when you register or during the event. For more information about the webcast and speakers, and to register, please visit https://www.bcna.org.au/event-directory/webcasts/persistent-pain-after-breast-cancer/ Please feel free to pop any questions below in the comments or get in touch with the events team via events@bcna.org.au. We look forward to seeing you there!Podcast Survey Upfront About Breast Cancer What You Don’t Know Until You Do (Dr Charlotte Tottman)
Hi everyone, We hope you all have been enjoying our 10-part podcast series, Upfront About Breast Cancer - What You Don’t Know Until You Do, with Dr Charlotte Tottman! BCNA values your feedback, and we want to ensure we continue to develop podcasts that are relevant to you, our members, and your breast cancer diagnosis. To be able to do this, we have created a survey which explores how the podcast series has currently helped you, and what you’d like to see more of. Please note, the survey is completely anonymous. https://limesurvey.mq.edu.au/index.php/157549?lang=enFree BCNA Information Forum in Murray Bridge, SA
We are heading to Murray Bridge, South Australia as part of our national Information Forum series. We are bringing leading experts to the local community to provide insights on a range of breast cancer topics. We extend an invitation to anyone located in or around Murray Bridge to join us on Wednesday 6 March for this fantastic day full of information and getting to connect with others in the area! This event will be both in-person and online. The Information Forum is for anyone who has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer, who may be living with or after a breast cancer diagnosis and supporters. Register here! We are excited to announce a leading cancer psychologist from South Australia will be joining us. With more presenters to be announced soon! Dr Charlotte Tottman, Clinical Psychologist Dr Tottman specialises in the treatment of cancer-related distress. Charlotte consults privately treating cancer patients and their family members and carers. Charlotte has her own cancer story. Several years after establishing her private practice in psycho oncology, she herself was diagnosed with breast cancer. If you are unable to attend in person, you can still join us online! When registering, select ‘Information Forum – Attending Virtually’. The online session will be delivered via Zoom, and you will receive the access link one day before the event. There will be two simultaneous information sessions throughout the day – one for people with early breast cancer and one for people with metastatic breast cancer. Please register for the session you would like to attend. Event details: Date: Wednesday 6 March Time: 9.00am for 9.30am start – 3.00pm Refreshments will be served on arrival from 9.00am and a light lunch will be provided. Location: Bridgeport Hotel, 2 Bridge St, Murray Bridge Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/bcna-murray-bridge-information-forum-2024-registration-779739320297 RSVP: Please RSVP by Wednesday February 28 If you have any questions, please email events@bcna.org.au or comment below.BCNA Information Forum - recordings available soon
Hi everyone, We are holding an Information Forum in Mission Beach on Tuesday 24 October, 9.00am - 3.00pm. This will be our last in-person Information Forum for 2023. The forum will also take place online, with sessions occurring in our main presentation room being shared live on Zoom. During the event, you will hear from - Those with a lived experience of breast cancer Medical Oncologist, Dr Michelle White Clinical Psychologist, Chloe Oliver Sexual Health Physician, Dr Tonia Mezzini Exercise Physiologist, Jody Spicer Physiotherapist, Maebh Coleman Deirdre Maunsell, Breast Care Nurse We will cover current and emerging treatments, sexual health, strategies to enhance physical and emotional wellbeing and share local services and support. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and meet others in the local Mission Beach community. You can register to attend either in-person or online by clicking here. The presentations will be made available to view on-demand following the Information Forum but we would love to see you on the day, whether that be in-person or via Zoom. Please feel free to share the registration link with friends and family. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to post them below. Many thanks, @Carissa_BCNA
