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 more groups you may not yet have discovered, where you can connect to discuss the 'other' effects of cancer: 💬 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.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.
Work/grief/sadness
Hi all, apologies if this has already been discussed but I couldn’t find anything elsewhere. I’m 46, had a right mastectomy (Diep flap) and left reduction in early December for stage 2 invasive lobular carcinoma. My recovery went really well, no pain whatsoever. I still have another procedure to alter the flap and then have nipple tattooing but have to wait until later in the year. Started on Tamoxifen in Jan. I went back to work at the start of March and since then have felt the wheels come off a bit. I went back on reduced hours but in a different role to what I usually do (but just as busy!) 3 weeks in I was feeling overwhelmed and crying at the drop of a hat. This role was only to cover someone else and when I asked for more time on reduced hours/duties I was given yet another new role which is totally unfamiliar to me. Consequently I ended up leaving work early this morning as I was in tears. I think because my recovery went so well I hadn’t properly processed everything that had happened before (diagnosis to surgery was pretty quick). And work seems to have triggered a huge reaction that I didn’t expect. It feels like the reality of all this has hit all at once and I’m on a huge emotional rollercoaster. I am seeing a counsellor and she’s been amazing. Plus I’ve started acupuncture. I’m so used to be busy and I used to love it but at the moment, I just don’t have the capacity for it. Has anyone else had a similar experience?
Sad and lonely
Hi everyone. I’m new here, recently diagnosed with high grade DCIS. I had a wide excision to remove the DCIS and margins. Results showed small amounts of invasive cancer in the margins, so a week ago I had another surgery to remove that invasive tissue and a few lymph nodes. I’ve been coping with everything pretty well and have a loving supportive family. I also have a huge network of friends. However, today, I’m sad. Like tears won’t stop. I haven’t had anyone visit me this week - I get it, people have lives and are busy, but I feel forgotten and as if people think it’s all over now… I don’t get results from second surgery until 2 June so the waiting is torture. I don’t understand why I am being so unreasonable about the lack of visitors!! Does anyone else feel this way? I also have a colleague going through BC treatment. She had a double mastectomy and is amazing- turns up to work straight after her surgery and seems to be coping so well. I feel like I can’t be honest about my feelings at work as my diagnosis is not that bad. Again, this makes me feel so selfish!
Very confused
It is interesting reading everyone's journey's and trying to understand what's ahead. I tried going prepared to appointments with questions I found online but I'm always feeling pushed out the door and there is also an accent barrier so I'm still not clear. I have a bit better understanding in that it is the same cancer type er +, pr-and hre2- as last time, when I had lumpectomy, radiation and oestrogen blockers. 2 years later it has recurred in the lymph nodes. I had 32 removed, 2 with cancer and 15 with cluster cells ( don't really comprehend that). The oncologist said that the odds for chemo stopping it coming back was low but as I haven't had chemo that is the only option to halt it. I couldn't understand the sort of chemo as I was reading all the info on types but now I'm more confused. I thought he said DC and the information sheet says TC but then the drug names as docataxel and cyclophosphamide. I'm having 4 cycles 3 weeks apart. Everyone mentions hair loss, eyebrows etc but is it useful in making leg hair go away? I'm in an admin role so don't know what to tell work as to what I can/can't do. Sorry, lots of questions. I don't personally know of anyone with cancer to quiz.
Does life go back to normal?
Hi! thanks to BCN for putting me onto this discussion page. I was diagnosed with ER, PR & HER2+ breast cancer June 2024 at the age of 53yrs. Had surgery to remove two (R) breast aggressive tumours, three months of chemo and 4 weeks of radiation. I’m now on Anastrozole. I feel I got off lightly and just thought I’d get back to my normal life. That wasn’t so easy. I’m gradually returning to full-time work, exercise and trying to return to my once active single social life. I’m having acupuncture to help with immunity and general wellbeing. I had beautiful long blonde hair. Spent lots of money on my hair and nails. My question is… what do all you amazing women do to get back into fitness, to avoid the tiredness, and to help with your hair and nails? Are there any good vitamin supplements? Am I able to use collagen? Thank you for your advice xx
I’m new and scared
Hi everyone I’ve been reading through posts and I’m just so thankful I’ve found such a supportive group. I hate the words breast cancer so I’ve been calling this a booby disco! I’m 54 yrs old and just this week been diagnosed with invasive BC. I didn’t get a lot of information from the GP, but I did get a copy of the pathology report. From what I can interpret and from reading online tumour is stage IIA (2.8 cm, no evidence so far it’s in lymph nodes), Nottingham Grade 2 (7 out of 9). I’ve got my specialist appointment at the RAH on Thursday. I’m both relieved and overwhelmed at the speed this is moving. I’m a fiercely independent single mum to three adult boys, but jeeze it’s times like these I miss a supportive partner. I sold my house and went back to uni in my 40’s and I’ve only just paid off HECS a couple months ago and started saving for a house deposit. So while I have a decent income and a secure job the financial impact is so scary to me (second only to the health fears really). I just don’t have a financial safety net and I’m scared. I can get income protection through my super, but I didn’t realise I had to keep increasing it as my income increased over the past decade, and it’s set at around 40% of my income. I can only manage on that if I cash out my LSL and spend my savings. The other option is to keep working. I’m lucky I have a supportive employer and I can WFH. I know I should be thankful I have options, I feel ashamed that this is what I’m worried about when I’m sure there are others much worse off. I’m just so scared of being 65 and homeless! I guess I’ll know more after the first appointment when I understand the treatment plan. Is it difficult to get income protection approved for BC if I go down that route? The other thing I’m worried about is my weight and how that will impact treatment and recovery. I’ve lost and kept off 30kg for five years through keto and intermittent fasting, so while my blood markers are all very good I still am obese (I hate that word as much as cancer lol). I had buckled down again with the goal of losing another 20kg this year, and have lost 6kg in the past few weeks. So hopefully I can keep that up. I do carry my weight evenly over my body, so that may improve things as my boobs are cup D (I’ve read that very large boobs can make surgery tricky). Any advice from other larger women would be much appreciated. I know I read too much, but it’s what I do, it both calms me and scares me! thanks so much again to you all xxx
Awaiting bone scan results...
Hi there, I feel a little like I've been on a roller coaster and not a very fun one! I've been reading a lot of posts and feeling overwhelmed at times, also realising no two people have the same experience. I was diagnosed 3 Feb and had lumpectomies /partial mastectomy, (both boobs,) surgery on March 21, with sentinel node biopsies. Got the surgical report on Tuesday and it was not what we'd hoped for, they found cancer in the sentinel nodes, and so it now means chemo and a different treatment plan. 😬 Had the bone scans and CT on Friday, and then I meet the oncologist on Tuesday for the first time to talk about the results and options. At this stage they're talking about 3 months of TC chemo, after the surgery wounds have healed. I'll hopefully know more on Tuesday.🤞 I was hoping to be able to continue to work through the treatment but is this completely unrealistic? Unfortunately I don't have sick pay as I work on a casual basis. (Full time) I teach adults at a school in the city, and also take the tram , which I know isn't great for avoiding germs with lowered immunity. What else have you done to boost your immune system? Does anyone have experience of receiving chemo at St Vincent's Hospital (public)? Sorry about the long post! Thank you 😘I don't feel like myself
Hi, I'm new to the BCNA Online Network and have spent a little time today reading through some of your posts - just wanted to say thanks as I'm finding the posts useful, in some ways a little scary, but reassuring. I'm 54, I was diagnosed with early stage DCIS in late May this year - one week after starting a new contract job - and then it all just happened so fast. Thankfully I didn't need to have chemo and had radiation treatment about 6 weeks post surgery. During all of this, our family was dealing with dad's declining health (Parkinson's/dementia) and I took on the job of being with mum while working from home, visits to dad in hospital all while arranging a place for him in an aged care facility - I was desperate to get it all done before radiation treatment started. Yep I had a bit going on. I've been taking anastrozole for almost 3 weeks and the anxiety and low moods are really affecting me (hot flushes and night sweats aren't fun either but I can manage them). I'm also very emotional - just typing this makes me teary. I think my current role was a trigger for my anxiety and mood. I've lost confidence in my ability to perform the role, I feel like I'm letting my team down and myself - I feel silly for feeling this way. I'm currently off work because I had a meltdown (at work) and during this time off, I've been realising that roles with high stress/responsibility are not for me right now. My employer has been fantastic - very supportive and understanding. I'm pretty active and have a good diet and keep these practices going, even though some days are a struggle - it's one thing that's helping. I'm also seeing my GP this week to talk about all of this and about the medication - I feel like there is a lot more information I should know. But I'm not keen on treating these symptoms with anti-anxiety or anti-depressants. I'm interested to know if anyone has a recommendation for a naturopath that has experience in treating women dealing with the effects of hormone blockers. Thanks for "listening" - just sharing this has helped.
