Preparing for DMX and DIEP Flap reconstruction
Hello and first of all I’m sorry that any of us are on this forum and going through the Sh-t Show…. I have surgery end of Jan 2026. I’m going to hire a recliner chair, I’ll purchase button up pjs and shirts. What else can I do? Does anyone have handy tips? High protein recipes that help with recovery? If you have a website of recipes that you can recommend that would be much appreciated. Is there any exercise I should be doing? With a month to go I’d like to do anything I can. Thank you all and with my kindest regards.
Looking for nutrition/natural medicine recommendations
Hi all, Absolutely hating this journey to be honest. Single mum of two auDhd teens. It’s been hell. I’m angry and don’t feel I’ve accepted any part of this. I’m just recovering from double mastectomy and now waiting to see if I need chemo/herceptin. Waiting waiting forever waiting. That’s one of the worst parts. Anyway, just wondering if any of you know any good online nutritional medicine/naturopaths etc who use good evidence based practice to help me navigate through this **bleep** show? I start ovarian suppression and AIs next week, before going back for more surgery because my nipple is now on the banned list 🙄 Many thanks and all the love in the world to you all xxxxx
Regrowing hair
This possibly sounds silly and vain however, I am looking for advice on regrowing my hair post chemo. I have been looking online but hasn’t been helpful. The first hair that came through was grey and crazy and is now an inch long and there is a black ‘sheen’ coming through now. Should I get number two all over to tidy up and have hair all same length and then start growing OR just persevere until it gets some length and then deal with it. I have mostly been accepting the au natural look which is looking very nutty professor at the moment. thanks in advance
Radiation tips?
Hi, I have no idea how to negotiate this platform so forgive me if this turns up in the wrong place… I’ve lobular invasive -had lumpectomy & 10 lymph nodes removed. Hellish pain with seromas after the latest op.. anyways .. radiotherapy starting next week for 3 weeks.. any tips, things to be aware of?? It’s been such a rollercoaster I think I’m still processing ..
Sad and lonely
Hi everyone. I’m new here, recently diagnosed with high grade DCIS. I had a wide excision to remove the DCIS and margins. Results showed small amounts of invasive cancer in the margins, so a week ago I had another surgery to remove that invasive tissue and a few lymph nodes. I’ve been coping with everything pretty well and have a loving supportive family. I also have a huge network of friends. However, today, I’m sad. Like tears won’t stop. I haven’t had anyone visit me this week - I get it, people have lives and are busy, but I feel forgotten and as if people think it’s all over now… I don’t get results from second surgery until 2 June so the waiting is torture. I don’t understand why I am being so unreasonable about the lack of visitors!! Does anyone else feel this way? I also have a colleague going through BC treatment. She had a double mastectomy and is amazing- turns up to work straight after her surgery and seems to be coping so well. I feel like I can’t be honest about my feelings at work as my diagnosis is not that bad. Again, this makes me feel so selfish!
Struggling with Tamoxifen side effects
Hi All , My name is Christine, I have been on Tamoxifen now for 2 years and have always struggled with the side effects of Tamoxifen...I get them all! I have had 1 breast removed after being diagnosed for a second time with breast cancer 2 years ago.The first time 10 years ago I underwent radiotherapy ... I'm 48 yrs old. I am struggling with: Hot flushes Aching legs Struggle to keep weight off no matter how much exercise i do moodiness loss of libido fuzzy headaches generally changed me to feeling crap daily Interrupted sleeping patterns Constantly going to toilet I have spoken to my doctor who suggested anti-depressants which helps with the hot flushes but i am reluctant to take them due to other side effects. I have suggested stopping Tamoxifen to my doctor who advised it would reduce my life span by 2-3%. I have a friend in a similar position as mine and she stopped them with no issues to date (8 years) and is urging me to stop. Does anyone suggest alternatives or make comment if stopping Tamoxifen is irresponsible? Any help or suggestions are much appreciated. It is really affecting my life, my personality, my thinking and made me a completey different person .. I was once strong physically, mentally and spiritually ......its also affecting my husband..anything he can take?..lol Christine xx
Tamoxifen - feeling down
I have been on Tamoxifen for a little over a month. Initially experienced period like cramps (I am 60 so forgot this feeling), tiredness & discharge which have subsided. For the last week my mood has been from being agitated to feeling low & sad then completely well balanced. Is this normal? How long will this last. Also should I just stop taking it? My cancer ended up being a grade 1 contained and all removed. I know I need to see my oncologist but wanted to know what others have done in a similar situation.Hair loss
Sitting here with tears streaming cos my hair has started coming out in big clumps. I'm on day 19 since start of chemo so I've been expecting it but that doesn't make it any easier. I feel overwhelmed by this and more distressed than I did about my mastectomy. It feels like I've barely had time to process the diagnosis, and then the mastectomy, then chemo, and now this new big horrible thing. I know I need to phone my hairdresser to book to go in and have it all taken off, I know it's time. I just don't want to. I know it grows back and I have a wig and some head coverings already. But none of that makes me feel better. I just feel this big huge grief for the loss of my hair, my look, my identity, my appearance of seeming healthy. Thank you for reading this. I know there is a whole community of us warrior women out there experiencing similar challenges. I know my emotions are spiking right now and they will settle. I just needed to vent and put my feelings into words.
DC chemo reaction change to AC
Hi wanting to know if anyone had a bad reaction to their first chemo. Within 5 minutes so much so that they stopped the infusion and are changing my regime to AC. I can’t seem to find much about the differences between the two and hoping some bright person on here may know. It has really thrown me for a loop mentally as I was all prepared maybe a little too much research but that is how I roll. Now I just feel a little lost.