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?
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.
I'm a workaholic - if I don't, who will?
Oft described as a workaholic, it is both a blessing and a curse to have an excellent work ethic. I have a pretty big job because of it and I manage to finance our lives because as a solo parent I have to. A big job means people rely on me to be effective. Diagnosed just yesterday, all the scary stuff ahead, and out pops from my mouth... what about my work? Give it some context... I am a solo parent with 2 boys age 12 and 15. I have a partner in life for the last 3 years, who lives 2.5 hours away so our time together is weekends as we concentrate on our own children. (He is amazing btw). Their dad (my ex) continues his struggle with alcoholism, depression and living in another state on welfare so he's no help and hasn't been for a very long time. It is not that I am in love with working so much, it is that by working hard I can support my children and give them a reasonably normal life. I have been responsible for the raising of my children financially and emotionally (the ride hasn't been that great) for quite a while now and I have an overwhelming sense of responsibility. I've read and will re-read the information on working, however I can't seem to get out of my brain chatter... If I can't work to support them, who will? Am I truly gone mad? It's only day one I know... thanks for listening :)
Triple neg grade 3
Ok. So I've just got my biopsy diagnosis and can't get into the surgeon for an app till Fri (my heads spinning and thinking ridiculous things that it'll grow by then) I'm ok. I've come to terms with it, well so far anyway. I know this is a silly question because work is the last thing I should be worried about. However I really need the cash. I don't have much sick leave. I work in a hospital and they will be super supportive and I know that no matter what I won't lose my job. Can anyone give me an appropriate amount of time ill need off? I know it varies from person to person. But am I looking at months and months? Or just a few weeks. I think this is freaking me out the most. My gut instinct tells me that I'll be ok with the ca, it will be tough but ill get through it. 💕
Post DCIS
Hi all- I’ve been going well after surgery July, radiotherapy had nasty burns after treatment so after surgery and radiation.. and COVID to move interstate closer to daughter and grandson. I had last 6 months off teaching -and just started new role 1st Feb in ACT . Sold then bought new home,flew day before Brisbane lockdown so quarantined 4 days. Lived in hotel 8 weeks while also starting new job... longer story short.....I’m tired , expectations high and I’m just sore and exhausted. Feeling isolated. Contacted breast screen here yesterday and was so lovely to hear supportive voice of BCN. My dilemma now is do I tell principal -as even my friends don’t know what I’ve been through - my mum died of breast cancer so knew responses that happen- only told my sister right up to post surgery . I hate feeling like a failure to my class at new school now. As WAS good with behaviour management so have quite a few tricky kids... Catch 22 - as don’t want them to think I’m making excuses- but student behaviour, change of state, IT and state policies/ procedures... a few challenges. Sorry for sooking but any advice ... especially if you are a principal?? Do I wait until end of term or duck it up ... DCIS 😢Calling all teachers
Ok! Here goes and sorry, I tagged it a teachers but any advice welcome! I’m a stage 4 metastatic cancer fighter. I originally had breast cancer in 2016 and was then fine for awhile. My school community knew about that diagnosis as obviously I had leave whilst I had surgery, chemo and radiation and I live locally. Fast forward to late 2018 and I was diagnosed again, this time stage 4 in bones. My hair randomly fell out last year but I managed to get a wig pretty identical to my own hair so no one knew and I could continue to fly under radar. Then covid hit anyway and I taught remotely via zoom in a beanie until nov last year. When I went back to school my hair just looked like I’d cut it short so that’s what I went with. Now randomly my hair is falling out again! I don’t want to get another wig as hair is pretty short anyway and it’s not the look I like if you get what I mean plus due to eczema’s etc I need good quality ones and can’t justify the expense for a crap hairdo if you get my drift!!!!. I’m happy to shave it all off again and wear scarves (once we determine it’s not salvageable which I’m assuming it’s not) but here’s where my question comes in. For those that are teachers, what did you do? Just say to the kids, “I’m having some medicine and it’s made my hair fall out” or just wait and see what they say??? Put a note in newsletter???? I’m not in a classroom but in a specialist role now and teach prep through to grade 4. Any advice welcome, I might just be overthinking it all but once this is out, there’s no going back. Thanks!
