Radiation therapy
Hi My first post - diagnosed with Metastatic Breast Cancer in January 2020. Have been on Chemo which is clearing the cancer from my lungs and liver, but now have spots on my brain I am having my first Radiation therapy to the 12 tumours in my brain this week- any tips on how to cope and how to deal with the fear Sonya
Adjusting to bad news, staying hopeful, changing habits
Hi, I am a 44 year old mother of two girls, 3 and 7. Was diagnosed with breast cancer on Tuesday evening after a mammogram and ultrasound in the morning. On Wednesday I saw a specialist who sent me for biopsies and scans. On Thursday afternoon I learnt that I have HER2 positive BC in my right breast (3x3cm with two smaller tumours nearby), and one lymph node biopsied because it was enlarged was also cancerous. A lump on the left was benign. It does not appear to have spread to bones, pelvis, liver etc however there were two 5mm nodules in my lung that might be BC. I am hoping they are something else but have to be prepared in case the cancer already is stage 4. I remember the doctor said it was grade 2-3 but not sure if that is the same thing as stage 2-3. I have somehow lost the reports, so I can't look over the details until they are mailed but I have an appointment on Wednesday with a different specialist to plan treatment. I am glad that things are moving quickly but am still reeling from the news and wish the appointment was sooner. I think I will be having preadjuvant chemo and/or targeted treatment, followed by a mastectomy of the right breast in several months (with optional rebuild), however I have not met with the oncologist so am not sure what to expect. I should have gotten to a GP weeks ago as I had noticed hardness over many months (which I had thought was related to it being dominant for milk production) and had a sore breast in early July, however because I was breastfeeding and fairly ignorant of BC I mistook the symptoms including a swollen lymph node for mastitis. Only when all pain went way and I noticed the boob seemed bigger and misshapen with a prominent lump did I get myself to a doctor. Waited a week and a half for the scan that showed it was as suspected a malignant carcinoma. Strange thing is it only started hurting again after I learned what it was. I don't know much yet but am trying to learn a bit without scaring myself too much or googling into the night. My youngest daughter has weaned herself, and on the night of the diagnosis she accepted bedtime without breast, understanding that I have sick boobies and the doctor said we should stop. In the middle of the night she was desperate to breastfeed, and I allowed this briefly. That is the last time I fed her, and she has been proud of herself for giving it up but has wanted to kiss it and hug it today. Next move is for me to give up smoking, a bad habit of mine for many years off and on, which is not easy when it has been a response to stress and I have been quite stressed at times. It must be done, as I understand that it increases the risk of metastasis (if it has not already happened) and I wouldn't want to invite another cancer along right now. But I am trying to be gentle with myself when I occasionally light them only to put them out shortly thereafter. I hope to eliminate this habit fully by Wednesday. I have to clean up my diet and prepare for the treatment. I was a lifelong vegetarian until my early thirties however I have eaten a tiny bit of fish in the past ten years. I eat lots of fruit and veg. However I do have too many sugary things and processed stuff so I need to cut the crap out of the shopping list. Emotionally I have been struggling a bit and I should arrange some counselling to work through my feelings. My mother and friends have been amazing, my husband has been a good support but doesn't like to see me crying, which I think is just a normal thing from time to time in such a circumstance. I am being open and honest with the kids and have been giving them lots of love and sweetness. Honestly I am sometimes very scared but I am trying to be strong for myself and for everyone around me. Sending love and understanding to others with BC, and those who have recently been diagnosed, it's pretty tough to take, huh?
Cost of MRI
I just need to vent. My oncologist suggested I do an MRI to see why I am getting numbness in my arms & legs. I have also been suffering a lot more headaches. Well the MRI cost me $1000. How much do I get back from Medicare? You guessed it ZERO! What about private health insurance? ZERO.... Why isn't this test covered? I don't understand. I have metastatic breast cancer. So an MRI is the only way to definitively test the progress of my mets. Can anyone explain to me why this is not covered. BCNA is this on your radar?
Medical Cannabis
I’ve recently met someone who had stage 4 metastisised breast cancer and given only a few months to live. She managed to use cannabis oil and the tumours have reduced and 18 months later she is alive and able to work again. I undetstand although medical cannabis is now legal there hasn’t been one prescription processed yet in Australia. Does anyone have any further information on this or know of anyone who has been successful in obtaining it please. Or any trials using cannabis. Apparently there is a huge crop growing in Lismore which is ironic being so close to Nimbin. I feel so frustrated Cannabis is illegal and it’s helped so many people, especially children having seizures. Yet the government will take children from the parents and treat them with pharmacy drugs whilst the cannabis has been stopping the seizures. I would be very willing to try cannabis in an effort to stop my breast cancer metastasising in lieu of waiting to see if it will. I know this is a “hot” topic but as a cancer patient feel we should have the right to talk openly about anything & everything we have heard/seen/tried. Looking forward to your comments. ❤️
Paclitaxel side effects
Hi all. This is my first post. I am triple negative and have had surgery to remove lump & two lymph nodes which were clear. I've finished four rounds of AC and have had three rounds of paclitaxel with 9 to go. This has been such a roller coaster ride of emotions and fear. First the AC either constipated me with a bloated stomach or made my head bang in pain. Now I'm finding paclitaxel is not too bad (at the moment) with a rash on my arms, legs & chest and I've got a little tingle in my fingers but the side effect that is really annoying is the diarrhoea. Or at times the loose motions! My oncologist told me not to have too much fibre in my diet, but if the chemo triggers this effect does it make a difference what you eat. Has anyone else had this problem and how did you cope. I've had two trips to hospital because of it!! Any advice would be wonderful.. Is paclitaxel and taxol the same thing?
"Hot Spots"
Hi everyone, My first post, I have just had my diagnosis upgraded to Stage IV following the discovery of a small hotspot in my vertebrae. I start chemo on the 10th August. Wondering if there are others out there living a long fruitful life post treatment with a hotspot. Feeling a little overwhelmed and looking for some positive news for a change; every appointment so far seems to bring a new problem and worse diagnosis. Thanks, Kari
Secondary BC
Hi, I haven't been on the web site for quite a while as everything was going just fine when suddenly I had a pain in my right side that turned out to be secondary B C in my liver, I had primary BC in 2010 with 2 lumps removed and 3 lymph nodes. I was on Tamoxifen but obviously this didn't protect me 100%. I have just finished 6 rounds of gruelling chemo. oncologist has now put me on the hormone drug Femara I am wondering if any other ladies are on this and how it is affecting them? I have only been on it 3 days and I am nauseous and not feeling very brilliant, not sure if it's the effects of the chemo still working in my body or the Femara. I would really appreciate it if anyone who is on this drug and can help me. Getzymum
6 new brain mets!
This is my first post after a considerable absence. In 2014 I was diagnosed with metastatic lymph nodes in the mediastinum of the left lung together with a secondary in the body of the fifth lumbar vertebrae of the spine. I commenced chemo (Herceptin and Abraxane). The chemo was temporarily halted in June 2014 when I had neurosurgery to remove a right Temporal lobe secondary. Subsequent CSF leaks from the surgery site resulted in more neurosurgery in August and December with corresponding delays in the chemo. Good news was that the chemo regime had worked on the lung mets but not the spine. An MRI in January 2015 now shows 6 new brain metastasies - the largest being in the brain stem and the next largest in the Right Cerebellum. I am now at Day 17 on the Tykerb and Zeloda chemo regime and experiencing some very violent digestive upsets!! I am doing this for the sake of the three most precious things to me - my three beautiful children
Can't be bothered with a new boob
Hi, being a secondary breast cancer travellor, getting a reconstruction is not a priority, if there are no nerves, body of a weather beaten 50 yr old, I'd rather have money to travel or a sports car or a yacht !!! Seriously, my prostesis is always at hand to fill that gap under my shirt.
