Post-treatment Tired and can't afford to be
Hi there, I am a 60 year old who has had a pretty-easy, early-invasive BC journey: Small, ER+, PR+, HER-; Lumpectomy with clear margins; 2 lymph nodes taken but uninvolved; Axillar seroma drained; 15 fractions of RT; Maybe some early lymphodema in breast, Letrozole from diagnosis through RT but then told I would not benefit much from it (0.6% benefit in reduced recurrence rates) and discontinued it due to side effects. I am 4 months post-surgery and 6 weeks post-RT, and have been off Letrazole for a month or more. I am back at clerical work (work from home) full-time now, after working back up gradually, and I am stuffed! I can barely get out of bed in the morning, and if I can stay upright in my seat and keep my brain focussed, by the end of the day I am completely useless. Rad Onc says the fatigue should not be RT related at this point. Now I feel like I should be able to just "snap out of it" but that's totally beyond me and I just want to cry and sleep. (For transparency, I should maybe admit (& remember for my own benefit) that since my initial biopsy my husband and I have organised a son's engagement party, done a road trip and purchased a home 1500 km away, organised renovations and done 2 more trips to keep tabs on the works, watched 2nd son sworn in as a cop, and seen no. 1 son marry. Maybe that's part of the fatigue ...along with the panic over working full-time, decluttering/downsizing, packing and moving in 3 months.) Maybe my problem is actually a dose of insanity...? 🤪 Can anyone with a similar, "straightforward" BC journey share whether their "normal" returned and how long it took? Thanks for "listening".162ViewsSign in to react to this post7Comments
Radiation burn treatment solution
Hi everyone! I just finished 3 weeks radiation. Breast care nurses gave me sorbolene which I trusted would help heal and keep my breast moisturised. The redness became redder after each time I applied the cream and I thought this is how it's obviously meant to be. A few days after my last treatment, I met some people at a social gathering. A lady who also had radiation, told me about an app called 'Yuki'. She looked up my sorbolene brand, Kenkay and it rated very poorly, 39 out of 100 and contained petrolatum which is a known carcinogen and endochrine disrupter!! I was horrified. My partner's sister got me a bottle of Lavaderm, which I sprayed on and it was so cooling, with natural ingredients. I then put on jojoba oil. The next day - I kid you not - my skin went from lobster red to mild pink!! My skin is back to normal after 2 weeks. Please check your products ladies for after radiation care!143ViewsSign in to react to this post1CommentFollow-up screening post surgery
Moderator moved @Cobi post to main discussion area of the forum: Cobi Regional QLD Member Posts: 1 New Member 10:17AM Options Hello, my name is Cobi and I was diagnosed with ILC HER2 positive in January 2023. Since then I have had a double mastectomy. 2/3 of my lymph nodes were removed. I am now well and cancer free but have lost all faith in screening. I am really curious about post operative screening for potential reoccurrence.232ViewsSign in to react to this post4CommentsDid you miss the Webcast: Managing long-term side effects of breast cancer treatment?
Hi all, If you missed the webcast on Tuesday night, you can now watch on-demand via the following link https://kapara.rdbk.com.au/landers/73f44c.html The webcast was well received and a topic that is relevant to many people navigating the side effects of breast. This webcast addressed common long-term side effects of breast cancer treatment and how you can manage them, explain why ongoing support and follow-up care is important, explore the role of survivorship care plans and why you might need one, and let you know about support and resources available to you. Registrations exceeded 3,000 and more than 1,000 people watched the webcast live. We welcome feedback from those who have already watched the session.320ViewsSign in to react to this post6Comments
Feeling different after cancer
Hi, Found a book on kindle that others may relate to, its called "after breast cancer" by hester hill schnipper. Lately ive felt a bit isolated and unable to describe to others around me what im feeling and how what has happened has changed me. Im finished with the worst (i hope) of the treatment but im not feeling like its over. Today i was in a book shop and looking at the self help books i couldnt relate to any, when youve had cancer does anything else that you might worry about make sense any longer? I tried to explain this observation to my hubby but couldnt really get the point across. Even buying a cookbook is hard. Im avoiding anything faddy and it all seems a bit pointless somehow. Anyway, maybe others will also get sonething out of this book. Michele650ViewsSign in to react to this post20Comments
recommendation
I am hoping that I can ask about this, but please delete if not. I am 18 months post treatment for hormone positive breast cancer stage 1. I had a lumpectomy followed by radiotherapy which finished in November 2019. I am no longer under the care of the radio-oncologist and see the surgeon six monthly. I am on femera from which I suffer a range of side-effects. Over the last few months I have been having increasing neck and shoulder pain on the side of the cancer. My physio, who I have consulted, is a sports physio and has very little experience in breast cancer related things, so I was wondering if anyone has come across a physio in Perth who has specific expertise in breast cancer? I tried to contact my breast care nurse who I only had minor contact with way back when, but no answer. Any assistance would be helpful Thanks536ViewsSign in to react to this post11Comments
Do I or don’t I ?
I am 66 yes old - 3 years post lumpectomy and radiation Each review I’ve had means painful mammograms ( due to dense breasts) and ultra sounds - finishing off with a mammogram biopsy - yes at every review ! I’ve just had my third year review with the inevitable biopsy - results came back today as negative So here I am - emotionally spent - if it was just the mammogram and u/s then I could deal with that but it’s the lonely humiliating experience of the mammogram biopsy and the wait for results - I can’t explain to anyone who has not experienced the impact of a cancer diagnosis - then treatment and the emotion that you go through during the reviews I want to focus on life not think every time there is pain - my mind starts thinking and while I can bring my mind into the now - this is taking it’s toll i want to have a mastectomy - I need to do something positive - take control of this monster and be boss of it - not it of me My daughter is also on this journey - I know what to expect - I don’t need or want reconstruction - I want peace My husband thinks I’m nuts going down this road - how else do I find this peace ?1.2KViewsSign in to react to this post24Comments
To remove or not to remove..... that is the question
Hi all, I am 2 years post diagnosis. Left Mastectomy, Chemo, Radiation, Oophorectomy and taking Exemestane. I looking for advice from anyone who decided after treatment was finished instead of a reconstruction have the other breast removed for "evenness". I believe that the reconstructive surgery would be a pretty long operation as I don't have enough skin to simply slip a implant in. I just think it would be simpler to remove the other breast but any advice on either the pros or cons of this option would be greatly appreciated.805ViewsSign in to react to this post20Comments
Sex post breast cancer
Liz O’Riordan a British breast surgeon and herself a breast cancer survivor has written what may be helpful information on twitter today.Here is the link and hope those interested can access it and it’s useful. https://twitter.com/liz_oriordan/status/1309148050275917825?s=21616ViewsSign in to react to this post20CommentsMuscle spasms - post radiation?
Does anyone else have trouble with muscle spasms? Prior to mastectomy and radiation I never had any issues, but since radiotherapy in Jan 2019 I have multiple muscle spasms every day under my ribs and across my chest and around the shoulder blade area (not necessarily all at once). It seems to be positional and things like bending down to tie my shoe, sitting up in bed, a low chair, twisting etc all cause really painful spasms. I can only relieve the spasm if I wriggle around and contort myself into various odd sort of counter positions and when I get the right position the cramp/spasm then ‘releases’, I can actually feel a shift, and the pain disappears instantly (until next time). Each episode is very short, but it’s stop you in your tracks, bring tears to your eyes pain. I already take magnesium and exercise daily, but this hasn’t helped. I’m at my wits end. Any suggestions?267ViewsSign in to react to this post5Comments
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