Advice on how to prepare for TC chemo?
Hello everyone! First time of me starting a thread on here, hoping to get some advice from someone who’s had experience going through TC (Doxetaxel & Cyclophosphamide) chemo recently? I’ve just had a mastectomy with an implant reconstruction on my left breast after I had a recurrence after going through lumpectomy followed by radiation in 2024. It’s been very traumatic to say the least! Now I’m really freaking out about having to go through chemo as I’ve already been swapped to letrozole and Zoladex instead of tamoxifen which I was on before and I’m already having loads of hot flushes etc so adding other side effects on top of that feels very daunting! If anyone have any advice how to manage side effects that would be amazing! I’d love to at least attempt to not lose all my hair and eyelashes, eyebrows and maybe there’s some supplements I could take to make sure my skin doesn’t get too damaged during treatment? I’m going to bring in ice cubes/lollies to suck on as I’m having the treatment done but wondering also if there’s anything else I should be doing or bringing with me to the appointment? Thank you so much!147ViewsSign in to react to this post7CommentsJust need to talk to someone
I’m 59yo and newly diagnosed with breast cancer. I’m really not sure I get what is going on either because I’m just slow or it’s just not all clear yet so I feel confused, in total panic and that I’m drowning and there is nobody to save me 😢 I am waiting for an mri this Thursday. I have a 10cm Not Special Type Grade 1 something positive to do with hormones and her2 1+. The surgeon says mastectomy is the only choice because of the size. There isn’t anything clear about what happens after that… is that how it’s meant to be? I just feel very lost appreciate any words of wisdom for these circumstances? susan655ViewsSign in to react to this post15Comments
First appointment since diagnosis
Hi Lovely Ladies, I have my first appt on wednesday at Peter Mac and was wondering if anyone else went to Peter mac and what their experience was with the first appointment. Im hoping to come away with some dates of appointments to start my journey or am I being unrealistic and is it just really an information session? Thanks in advance456ViewsSign in to react to this post3Comments
Breast cancer diagnosis- did you have a Mirena in place, like me?
I was diagnosed with breast cancer 3.5 months ago and had a double mastectomy 3months ago. I am 44 years old. I started doing some research as a number of people I know with breast cancer who were young also had a Mirena. There is new research coming out of: -Europe that indicates that there is a 40% higher risk of breast cancer if you had a Mirena, and -Germany that shows that the Mirena can change hormone levels in the breast based on scans I had breast ultrasound scans that show I did not have breast cancer just before my Mirena was inserted 5 years ago, and that it developed post Mirena insertion. I had no genetic factors (based on testing), and no risk factors for breast cancer. It seems highly co-incidental. I also looked up the FDA documentation for Mirena approval and it states that "Spontaneous reports of breast cancer have been received during postmarketing experience with Mirena. Because spontaneous reports and voluntary and from a population of uncertain size, it is not possible to use postmarketing data to estimate the frequency or establish causal relationship to drug exposure..." I am keen to connect with other women who had a Mirena in place and then were diagnosed with breast cancer. If this is you, please respond to this post- I would love to hear your story!188ViewsSign in to react to this post2Comments
Post surgery Rehab options
Hi all, hope you all are doing fine. I wanted to share my experience in y BC journey and also want to get some expert advice/ help if you have been thru this already. I was diagnosed with a stage 3 Triple positive BC last July. Since then I have been going through Chemotherapy and targeted therapy as advised my Breat surgeon and Oncologist. I recently completed my 6th cycle of Chemo and have my surgery scheduled this Saturday on. 6Dec. I will need to undergo full Mastectomy on my left. This will be followed by immediate reconstruction- will be a lengthy process I have been told. While understandably we are all nervous , I am also hopeful that I have been thru half of my battle. I am also a mother of two, and younger one is only 2.5 years old. I am also really anxious about the post surgery situation. My Doctor has told that I should not be taking stairs post surgery after I go back home. Given that I have little kids at home and none of our bedrooms are at downstairs, I am really keen to see if I can stay at a Rehab after I am released from the hospital. This would allow me to heal for few more days and would not endanger myself with the little one ( she jumps on to my lap anytime she wants). That would also help my husband who is my only carer at this stage. Love to get some ideas and advice how can I avail the Rehab facilities. I was also told by my Insurance provider that I have restrictive coverage for Rehab. I am in a tricky situation ( and am sure many of you are ) and wanting see what support can I get at this very difficult time. Many thanks and wish me luck!189ViewsSign in to react to this post1Comment
2nd operation DCIS
Hi all, Was diagnosed in Feb this year with high grade DCIS, 3 small tumours. Lumpectomy 3 weeks ago. Pathology report came up with not clean edges. The surgeon said I have two options, do another re-excision with most likely radiotherapy and endocrine therapy, or mastectomy. I have a family history of breast cancer. Has anyone been through this desición before? What was your experience like? outcomes? Thanks for sharing419ViewsSign in to react to this post5Comments
3rd Op.
I had 1st op March. Part mastectomy. To remove 2x cancerous tumours. And a bit extra tissue. Told confident all goodo.No. 2nd op April. Re-excisision. Extra tissue. Because one margin not clear. Took more tissue.3rd No clear margins. Full mastectomy now.Oh my. Reconstruction. Told. Talk about it later. After mastectomy...and pathology....226ViewsSign in to react to this post3Comments
Not sure where to turn for advice
Having been recently diagnosed with a 7.7cm tumour in my B-cup breast (luminal A, invasive ductal carcinoma) and no detectable tumours elsewhere, I've been scheduled for a mastectomy next week, followed by radiation, and possibly chemo, age 43. I don't want to have a mastectomy or subsequent treatment, for a number of reasons. Psychological firstly. Not having longevity as a goal. Not feeling I can physically show up and consent to disfiguring, aggressive and permanently polluting (of body) treatments - feeling that I'd rather die a natural death. Not fearing death. Not feeling any psychological aversion to what's in my breast, not feeling any pain or physical inconvenience from it currently. And also because if it hasn't spread in all the time it took to get that big, evidence that I've found seems to indicate it's not going to spread. (i.e. cancers between about 6cm and 15cm at diagnosis have about equal chance of also having been found in lymph nodes or elsewhere at diagnosis - the 15cm cancers were once 7cm but no greater chance of spread in all that time? Seems the horse has already bolted and is just hiding out dormant elsewhere in body already, or is just peacefully grazing in its own paddock and will never bolt, so either way what's the point in closing the gate / lopping the tit anyway?) I know this is such an unusual way of thinking and I'm having so much trouble getting relevant advice. If I don't get treatment what can I expect my body to do? I'm also very worried about causing distress to people close to me who still expect me to get these awful treatments, I feel pushed by their expectations to do something major to my body I feel personally averse to, I don't know how to tell them. Wondering how to not distress others in any way, seems to be the cause of the majority of my own distress. Any suggestions for where to turn for more advice, or if anyone has had similar thoughts, or evidence/articles to contradict the idea that cancer spreads early in its development if it's going to at all, or just impressions about this situation you might like to share, I would appreciate it. (I have just started seeing a general counsellor with no cancer knowledge, and have also contacted Cancer Council counselling and made an appointment but that will be in 3 weeks. I don't think they'll have the medical answers I'm after, anyway. More support and sooner and more relevant could be so stress-relieving.) Sorry for long post and weird topic.453ViewsSign in to react to this post5CommentsRecovery times and support required following mastectomy and chemo
Sorry for long post... I'm new to this group. I was confirmed 2 days before Christmas with DCIS and suspected Paget’s Disease. I am facing a mastectomy and possible chemo, etc. I'm now looking at what my options are with respect to reconstruction. I’m seeing my breast surgeon tomorrow with my growing list of questions. So far she has suggested a reconstruction of the affected breast using a bit from my tummy. I asked about a double mastectomy - which she would support - but she said that type of reconstruction may not be possible as I don't have enough 'flesh' on my tummy. I'm still not sure what to do but I'm leaning towards a double as I don't want the anxiety of annual check ups moving forward, especially for my kids. I haven't met with a plastic surgeon yet, given the time of year. I am a 54 yo working single mother of 3 beautiful (mostly) humans aged 13, 16, 17 as well as 2 dogs and 2 useless cats. It's been a tough few years. My wonderful husband died unexpectedly in November 2023. Two months before that his mother also died suddenly and two months before that my mother had a life threatening seizure in front of me and was put into an induced coma and was in ICU for 3 days - she had had a stroke and breast cancer 6 months before that and she has Alzheimers. She then went into care two weeks after my husband's funeral. My Dad lives near by and is healthy - thank goodness. Given what's been going on, 'I don't have much left in my tank' to deal with this latest challenge but it is what it is. I am very lucky to have some wonderful friends and family (however it's not the same as having your partner support you.) So, I'm trying to prepare myself for what's coming - physically and emotionally. I'm wanting to understand what kind of help I'll need following surgery or surgeries. What will my energy be like? How long until I will be able to work, cook, clean, drive, etc? My kids are as helpful as any teens - which is OK but not great and the two eldest have especially busy schedules with lots of activities on top of doing their VCE. I appreciate that every situation is unique but knowing how others - particularly other single parents - have managed will help with my decision making and help me prepare for what lies ahead. Also, any referrals for mortality/grief counselling in Melb would be appreciated. Thank you. xx512ViewsSign in to react to this post7Comments16 Weeks Pregnant and diagnosed with aggressive hormonal breast cancer
As the title says, I am currently 16 weeks pregnant with my first child, I turn 32 in Feb and have no family history of breast cancer. My surgeon has said I will need a mastectomy in the next week or 2. To say overwhelmed and unsure about my future is a complete understatement. I have found limited people in the same position as me and really don't feel confident as much as everyone has told me to stay strong and positive. I know I'm very lucky to have the support I do have around me, but obviously it's such a different situation that no one knows how to approach.423ViewsSign in to react to this post7Comments
147Views
7Comments