What are you doing for your mental health?
This question was posed on the radio this morning. Some don't get enough sleep, some are at a stage where the roles reverse and they take on caring for parents as well as their own children and career et cetera Just posing the question for quiet reflection. Take care and take care of yourself
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.au
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 :)Mental health
We all have our health and well being to take care but I have to say I do not appreciate that some sneak on the forum, under a false name, thought it was a good idea to have a go yesterday because I showed some compassion. Please all think before you put something up as you mess with my head! Bloody unfair!
Dealing with emotions
Hello ... I'm generally not a joiner in community forums of this type, but here I am ... I was diagnosed on December 23 last year (2018) and had surgery (lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy) on January 15. I start radiotherapy on Feb 18. I've recovered physically really well: my surgeon is great, she's done a fabulous job and I don't think I'll have a scar - so probably no permanent physical reminder. I'm back at the gym and am walking regularly and I hope to start running again soon. So the physical side of things is okay. I have a wonderfully supportive husband and even though my grown up kids live in other states (as does my sister, my mother, my brother and every other family member plus my best friend) they're all really caring and fabulous. But my emotions are a bit all over the place at the moment. I don't want to think of this as a big deal, but for some reason it kinda feels like a big deal. Is it? Or am I just making something big out of something that's ordinary and routine and not really a big deal at all? Does anyone have any tips on how to deal with anxiety about returning to work? I've been working from home this week, but today decided to go in to work. I drove (for the first time since my surgery) and when I parked the car I felt really anxious. It took a while to get up the courage to go into the office and now I'm not super keen to go back tomorrow. Any advice is greatly appreciated.Slow Down Project
Hiya, I am starting a new creative project, thought it might be good place to show my efforts. With a lot of wait time coming up with appointments and treatments I was looking at a portable time fill option - so hand embroidery it is! I just wanted a small, achievable, positive to not need to think too much but focus on. Starting with straight lines (oops maybe will not do it all in 24hrs...remember the slow down being the aim 😉). Then a cross stitch, then a bigger challenge. Three simple kits to start while I learn some needlework. If I am happy with my efforts, I then have a bigger free hand in mind, using some quilting project fabric I keep not having time for.... but now do for a bit. Watch this space 🙂🩷.
Menopause - It's more than a hot flush! Recording available now
The recording of Menopause - It's more than a hot flush! webcast is now available here. We hope you find it both informative and enjoyable. Please feel free to share feedback, questions or thoughts below in the discussion. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ask the Expert: Menopause – It’s more than a hot flush! on Wednesday 6 December 2023. Many people experience changes to their sexual wellbeing associated with breast cancer treatment that can be caused by menopause or menopause-like symptoms. These can include vaginal dryness or discomfort, loss of libido (sex drive), changes to self-esteem and fatigue. Topics like these can often be difficult to discuss with your partner or health professional and it can be reassuring to know you are not alone. During this webcast, you will hear from Dr Tonia Mezzini, Sexual Health Physician based in Adelaide. Dr Mezzini is a leader in this area, with her level of expertise, she provides best practice and compassionate medical care. She presents in an open, informative and engaging way about sexual health and wellbeing. The webcast will be facilitated by BCNA Consumer Representative, Naveena Nekkalapudi. Following her diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer and the subsequent treatment, Naveena decided to re-evaluate her life and focus on matters that are important to her. She describes it as changing from being career ambitious to being life ambitious. Naveena is a consumer representative of BCNA, Cancer Council Victoria, Breast Cancer Trials, VCCC, and Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research to name a few. This webcast will help to provide you with strategies to manage menopausal symptoms and discuss the support available to assist you with your sexual and emotional wellbeing.
Feeling a failure
Does anyone know if there is a phone consult available for breast cancer mental health? I had two lumpectomies and axillary clearance due to cancer in one node in early 2019. Then rads. Then hormone blockers. Started on Anastrozole, then Tamoxifen, then Exemestane, the Letrozole. All had such bad side effects I was taken off them. My liver went mad. I had such bad neuropathy I couldn’t walk or even hold a cup of tea. I had brain MRI to rule out MS. After being off them for a few days most of the neuropathy has gone except one spot on my leg. I have many other chronic conditions so pain is usual. However now I’m feeling better, I’m starting to regret not keeping on them. I know I can’t have them, but it’s making me feel like I should have persisted even if I needed help going to the loo and eating. Off them I can go walking, shopping, visiting, cooking, etc. I certainly am more healthy physically without them and I tell myself being active should help stop recurrence more than just sitting on the lounge or lying in bed. But my mind is telling me I failed. I should have tried harder. Has anyone else gone through this? I know I can get a mental health care plan but I really want to talk to someone who understands breast cancer, or any cancer actually. Any ideas?
Life is good on holidays
I've just returned from a holiday with my husband. 2.5 weeks on a motorbike tour around Victoria. It was a holiday we planned on my 51st birthday to do the next year but bloody breast cancer had other ideas. Just beforehand I was worried it wasn't going to happen again. My nipple reconstruction had some hiccups and I was still doing dressings 7 weeks on. It only healed the week prior. My husband also hurt his back and it was touch and go if he was going to be fit for a bike ride. I booked a stay through Otis just in case. But the nipples healed. The back improved and off we went. We had a fabulous time on our 4468 km journey. (Including Mt Gambier and Naracoorte as I'd never been there) We still had our stay at the Otis retreat which gave us a lovely 4 day rest in the middle. It was beautiful and so peaceful. We managed to be ahead of the rain on all but 2 days. Being on such a long trip does allow the mind to wander though. Trip of a lifetime I thought. Well at least if the cancer comes back I had this....those bloody intrusive thoughts that just pop in your head from nowhere. Maybe my stiff hips and aching knee are really mets. Survivorship ...it sure can be hard at times. But...whatever the future holds know this...Life..I'm embracing it. Hubby and I at Blue Lakes St Judes - Otis At Port Albert having a fabulous meal and some Stout. An unflattering pic...but very happy on The Great Ocean Road
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
