6 years cancer free...then I'm not
Hi all, just wanted to share a little about my journey and was also wanting some advice... My story begins in December 2016, found a lump in my right breast after running my first marathon (lost quite a bit of weight with all the training). fast forward 11 surgeries-lumpectomies, sentinel node biopsies, egg harvesting/preservation, bilateral mastectomies and insertion of silicone implants, removal of said implants, cesaerean section, hysterectomy, bilateral DIEP reconstruction and fat grafting and we get to 2022. I had my DIEP recon in 2021 (most horrific experience of my life-had to be resuscitated twice and in ICU for a week). After all that, I decided to celebrate the end of my cancer journey with my second marathon (great ocean road-bucket list and definitely recommend). Unfortunately, December 2022, have found out I have had a recurrence of the cancer (despite bilateral mastectomies and reconstructions) and it has now spread to my lymph nodes. I really don't know how to feel about this...so much has changed for me in the last 6 years since my diagnosis, I went from being happily married with no kids the first time around, to now seperated, single parent to a beautiful 5 year old that starts school next year, and a completely different job. I guess my question to you all is...is there anyone else out there who has/is going through the same? I know that I have both Chemo and radiation plus multiple surgeries in my immediate future. I feel...tired...like I really just don't know if I have the strength to endure this again. I am considering not going through any treatment and enjoying the time I have left with my son. I don't want to go through all the treatment and lose the quality of life I have now, especially if I could potentially die on the operating table anyway. I was 31 when first diagnosed and am 37 now, any thoughts?
Radiation on hip bone.
Hi, have metastatic breast cancer , left breast, left lymph and two lesions in hip bone, just finished six months chemo, 4 AC/T and 12 Taxol. no change , so semi good news. Have a lot of pain in my hip even if keeping very active , onc. suggested radiation for pain , now he is saying it can kill or slow down tumors in hip area. has anyone had this done and what has been the outcome .soon to have double mastectomy. Only 49 so don't want to limit treatment options but confused ......cheers Silvia
Help for Oesophageal burns
just looking for suggestions i have just completed 10 radiation sessions to thoracic spine and am suffering big time from oesophageal burns I’m on a liquid diet and using mylanta with xylocaine gel 4 Hourly but it’s waking me at night and lack of sleep is hard too soluable panadol is ok but is there any other tricks to settle the reflux like symptoms? p
Radiation treatment.
Today I finished my radiation treatment I was having to help elevate the pain I was having from my bone mets in my lower back and hip area. I'm glad that's over . I was starting to feel like a barbarqued chook,! I do feel that it has helped as I can now lay on my bed without being in pain. I seem to be sleeping much better. They same it can take up to 4 weeks to get th maximum effect. I can now look forward to a couple of weeks off , before going back onto IV chemo. Life goes on , no time to get bored. Hope to get away for a few days break. Love to you all.
Triple negative metastatic breast cancer in brain
Hi all My Mum is currently living with mTNBC which is in her bones and late last year moved to her brain. She has had one treatment of whole brain radiation therapy and continues to be treated with chemotherapy also for the rest of her body. Is anyone familiar with any trials or new treatment options available to women in a similar situation? Mum is based in Melbourne, but we are open to looking whenever is needed. I would appreciate only positive stories to be shared in response to the question, as you can appreciate it is a very specific diagnosis and a difficult one at that so we are trying to remain hopeful. Can anyone relate to a similar diagnosis and have any suggestions? Thanks
Secondary
Hi All, I was diagnosed with IBC on 18/10/11. Had the usual treatment, including Herceptin & Tamoxifen. Was going well until I was diagnosed with brain mets on 20/6/14. I had a 3cm tumour removed on 24/6/14 and 10 treatments of WBRT. I have a few lesions on my meninges and 2 on my spinal cord. My prognosis isn't very good but I have hope. A doctor told my mum because I had such a good response to radiotherapy to my breast there's no reason not to expect a good response to my brain. I'm currently very weak because of the steroids and nauseous from the WBRT. I'm just waiting for normal to kick in so I can have my quality of life back. I'm over being sick and tired and my kids who are on 13, 10 & 3 deserve a mum who can take them to school/daycare, come to their sport and help them at home. SueSecondary
Hi All, I was diagnosed with IBC on 18/10/11. Had the usual treatment, including Herceptin & Tamoxifen. Was going well until I was diagnosed with brain mets on 20/6/14. I had a 3cm tumour removed on 24/6/14 and 10 treatments of WBRT. I have a few lesions on my meninges and 2 on my spinal cord. My prognosis isn't very good but I have hope. A doctor told my mum because I had such a good response to radiotherapy to my breast there's no reason not to expect a good response to my brain. I'm currently very weak because of the steroids and nauseous from the WBRT.
pain in the...
It's comforting to be here which is the opposite of how my torso feels at the moment. The cancer has come back again in the spine yeah its bc and I'm taking analgesics for stress fracture in my t8 and t1which also has cancer in them. Ive just finished radiation and taking for the first time tamoxifen which has been about 4 weeks. At the moment my ribs are sore and today is my 2nd mental effort to eat moderately and more healthy. I know that the tamoxifen is putting the weight on and it's depressing and I thought I could wean off the pain killers but I don't think it's going to be that simple. I see my oncologist in one weeks time and a blood test will confirm more areas of infection (hopefully nothing). I am seriously considering coming off tamoxifen and going heavily into using OPC3 supplement which is what I used last time and the results were stunning. Will keep you posted. Thanks for letting me vent. Sometimes like this afternoon a friend asked how I was and yeah told her I was in pain then she offered her help I just had to call her. A hand to hold someone to just be here would of been nice for half an hour.. Bloody he'll I might as well move back to nz. I don't know it's frustrating.
