The Whole Person - the 'other' effects of breast cancer
When people hear "breast cancer", they often think of treatment plans and hospital visits. But the impact also shows up in the quieter, more personal corners of life that don’t get talked about as much. It’s the emotional exhaustion of trying to hold everything together. It’s the financial responsibilities of time off work, extra appointments, and unexpected bills. It’s the shift in identity, with pressure to keep up with your job, your family, and your own expectations. It’s the silence around intimacy, menopause, and how your body starts to change unexpectedly. If this resonates with you, you’re not the only one who feels this way—and our Online Network is here to help. Here are some groups you may not yet have discovered, where you can connect to discuss the 'other' effects of cancer: 💬 Work and Breast Cancer – For anyone juggling treatment, recovery, and career. Share tips, vent frustrations, and find support. 💬 Young Women – A place for younger women to talk about fertility, dating, parenting, identity, and everything in between. 💬 Let’s Talk About Vaginas – A real, respectful, and empowering place to talk about sexual health, intimacy, and body changes. In the meantime, please remember that our Helpline team (1800 500 258) are here for you whenever you need support and information.
Lymph gland behind ear has lump
Hi there, I’m currently on 4th round AC, after my 3rd round, the lymph gland in my neck (Surgery side) behind ear swelled up and was painful, it has slowly gone down, but a hard lump has remained behind my ear. Got an appointment w GP on Friday, but wondering if anyone else had this as well.....
Anyone had to stop their chemo ?
Hi All 👋 Just wondering if anyone has travelled a similar road to me ? Had ILC Oestrogen/Prog + HER2-ve Grade 2, Stage 3. Infiltration into 2 sentinel lymph nodes. Axillary clearance with remaining nodes clear. Tumour 6.5 cm. Margins not totally clear after two surgeries (wide local excision followed by mastectomy and ALNC). Will have 5 weeks of Radiotherapy after chemo. Commenced AC chemo early Jan 2020. Became Neutropenic after 3rd cycle requiring admission to hospital. Responded to A/B therapy but then became extremely short of breath on mild exertion post discharge and generally unwell with intractable headaches. Head CT performed and was clear. Diagnosed with a UTI, pneumonitis, exacerbation of existing sinus tachycardia and a Troponin leak. Readmitted for 5 days under care of my Onco, a Cardiologist and a lung specialist. Had a Bronchoscopy with lung washes performed whilst in hospital. A/B's via Port. Echocardiogram appeared OK but all concerned re my Troponin leak. Discharged on sliding scale Prednisone for breathlessness. Began to improve once home but my Troponin level continued to rise. Had a rigor on the evening of 13th March (Friday the 13th !!) the evening before our daughter's wedding 😢Spiked a temp of 40.2 Readmitted to hospital. Blood cultures unable to determine source of infection. IV A/B's given with effect. I was not Neutropenic. Discharged after 3 nights and have been OK until now 🤞 Troponin stabilised. They felt the Doxorubicin was responsible for the elevation in Troponin. Am now on two Beta blockers for sinus tachycardia. I was unable to have the last round of the AC chemo, therefore only got 3 rounds in. My Cardiologist does not want to risk permanent damage to my heart with any more Doxyrubicin. Had to have 10 weeks in all off chemo after 3rd round of AC. Re started chemo (Paclitaxel) last Tues and have my second session tomorrow (12 weekly cycles in all). So far so good 🤞 My worry is the extended break between my two chemo cycles. How will this affect my overall prognosis 🤔 Can't seem to get a straight answer apart from "these things happen" "can't be helped" I know this, but these comments are not an answer to my question 🙄 And also....how does not being able to have all 4 cycles of the AC impact on my prognosis 🤔 Would appreciate any feedback from anyone who has experienced similar. Much appreciated xx
Movement in arm
I had a bilateral mastectomy & axillary lymph node clearance 3 weeks ago. I’ve lost some movement in my arm & have numbness on the back of my arm. I’ve been doing the exercises the physio gave me while in hospital & was wondering how long it will take to get good movement back & if the numbness will go.Lymphedema - working with keyboard and mouse
Been awhile since I have been here but looking for some advice. I was diagnosed with Lymphedema in my hand and lower arm 13 months after breast and auxiliary clearance due to the cancer spreading to the nodes. The last 12 months I have been using compression garments, massage the area regularly and have a lymphatic massage every 3 weeks to help reduce it and keep it soft. But am having problems with it not being stable and goes up and down quite a bit. But not as bad as when I was first diagnosed. i work full time( supposed to be only part time but you know what it’s like) and use a mouse and keyboard heavily and unless I win lotto I have another 20 years or work still to go I am doing a stint of bandaging at the moment and will be getting a custom sleeve and glove to see if that helps at all Is anyone else in a similar situation with work, did you notice if keyboard and mouse usage made it worse, any tips to help flares up, etc would be really appreciatedi have had enough
only into my secodne week of radiation therapy, as the radiologist said im a beginner, i was told it would be 5 weeks of it but possibly more. and that contact type stuff they use just comes off . I its a long trip by mini bus to the rbh and back specially with spinal /hip /shoulder issues . my issues read like a shopping list. anyway, now the NDIS my daughter and I both qualify but i just cant deal with it , meanwhile niether of us get any help and daughter continues to do nothing. I was talking about needing transport to medical appointments etc and ozcare and centacare both said they couldnt do it god only knows why. I am worn out /burned out and I hurt that bus trip is agony, and to top it off this last weeked i spent battling the flu I darent ask what is gonna go wrong next
Actually sitting here laughing out loud
I've heard so much about the Zonta cushion so I went online to have a look - and I'm thinking (because I haven't had any experience with BC surgery yet - coming up on 7 April) how on earth could that possibly help? I mean, why would you wear a cushion around your neck like that? And then I googled images and I realised that it's for under your ARM!! hahahahahaha - I'm guessing someone would have eventually told me I wasn't doing it right. So please tell me lovely ladies - if I am having a double, do I need to get two of these??
first week after Chemo
The side effects from my chemo have had a severe effect on my bowels and I need to be close to a toilet. Thus I am unable to work. I understand it is only one week, but I am not coping. I see all these people who are having/had the same chemo as me and continue to work. I find this frustrating. Why can't I be like those other women who continue to work. I feel too tired and worn out now, to go to work.
A Little Embarrassing
Hi I'm Matt A male with breast cancer, I came across this site a couple of days ago, I've been reading a lot of blogs and has been very helpful wish I found this before I started my treatment :-), not sure what treatment I'm on but must be a common one, I do 4 at 3 week intervals with my 4th one this Friday then change over to weekly for 12 weeks, then I go in for surgery and if all good start my radiation so far so good on side effects not much really, lost my hair about 2-3 weeks after first treatment, a bit of constipation and sleepless nights, just last week I noticed two of my toes, one on each foot right next to the big toe went purple in colour at the top, the left toe nail changed colour to purple and the right toe nail changed to a hazy white, will I lose them, just touching base for today and introducing myself, it is a little hard for me to talk about this but am getting better
