🔬 Share Your Views: Early-Onset Cancer Research 💗
Have you been diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 20 and 49? Your experience could help shape future support, services, and research for others affected by cancer. 🌟 Researchers at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) are seeking people with lived experience of early-onset cancer to share their insights through a research study exploring life during and after a cancer diagnosis. A cancer diagnosis at a younger age can affect many aspects of life, including: 💼 Work and career 📚 Study and education 👨👩👧👦 Family responsibilities ❤️ Relationships 💰 Finances and future planning The research aims to better understand the unique challenges and support needs of people diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 20 and 49, helping to inform future programs and services across Australia. This study has been approved by the QUT Human Research Ethics Committee (Project ID 11485). ✅ You may be eligible if you: • Were diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 20 and 49 • Received your diagnosis and treatment in Australia • Currently live in Australia 📝 What's involved? • An anonymous online survey (approximately 20 minutes) • An optional one-on-one interview to discuss your experiences in more detail 💡 Every story shared helps build a better understanding of what it means to live with and beyond cancer at a younger age. 📄 Interested in learning more? View the QUT flyer below.25ViewsSign in to react to this post0Comments
What would you do if you were me?
Hello everyone, I have a big decision to make and need to get some different takes on it. This is my basic situation in dot point form: New primary dx. of Stage 2b ER+ PR+ HER2- right sided IDC with some DCIS in July 2026 Lumpectomy and SLNB done three weeks ago Clear margins and 7 nodes taken, all clear but extensive lympho-vascular involvement on histopathology report Previous hx. of Stage 3a left sided ER+ PR+ HER2- IDC with some DCIS in 2016 Had neoadjuvant FEC-D chemo, lumpectomy and axillary clearance, radiation and hormonal therapy in 2016 with complete pathological response Oh and lymphoedema in left arm just because why not add insult to injury My oncologist says she and her buddies all concur that I need chemo again because of the extensive lympho-vascular involvement. She painted a very grim picture to me of possibly having a recurrence or distant mets if I don't do chemo again, but only do radiotherapy and hormonal therapy. She seems to think that some cancer may have slipped through my blood or lymph vessels and could come back as metastatic disease in the next few years if I do not have chemo, and could die within 2 or 3 years worst case scenario. My cancer is grade 3, KI67 45%. I told her I have been utterly traumatised by breast cancer treatment personally, and having just lost my Mum to advanced lung cancer with brain mets last September, I am basically going to be unable to cope with the mental and physical damage that undergoing chemo again would cause. I cared for my Mum for 3 short months and threw away my whole life, work, health and everything to keep her with me as long as possible but it was not enough. I was beyond heartbroken to lose her and still have had no chance to truly grieve, due to having to now fight for my own life again. I'm 48, single, no kids. I have no extended family still alive and living near me, and not estranged due to family grudges that I wasn't even a part of. I have PTSD and have been on worker's comp for a couple of years. I have a few good friends but they live in different states, and some are actually in their 60s and 70s, some younger than me. I live alone. I have to clean out and sell my Mum's house and use the income to live off until I can figure out what the next phase of my life will be. I'm devastated to have to have this all on my plate. If you've read this far, thank you! Bear with me. Can you please honestly tell me, having considered all of the above, if you would go ahead and do a second horrifying stretch of chemo, radiation and hormone blocking drugs, knowing the toll it takes on you even in 'ideal' circumstances let alone in my particular circumstances? Would you want to live through the next 10-15 years after treatment only to most likely get cancer again and know you would not be able to fight it again? Is quality of life and actually ENJOYING life, having freedom and independence, feeling like a woman, and not being a slave to this **bleep**ed disease more important than fighting all over again with no promise of success? I'd really like to hear your thoughts. Thank you.ViewsSign in to react to this postComments💪Be your best advocate with your treating team
We've compiled the following lists of questions to help support you in preparing for those appointments where you might feel a little confused or overwhelmed. These questions are designed to help you on the path to having your voice heard during appointments with your treating team as you navigate a breast cancer diagnosis. If there are additional questions not there that you feel helped you, please comment it below so we can continue to grow our impact in empowering patient conversations ❤️ Communication Support Communication with your treating team: 🔎 Questions to Ask: DCIS Newly diagnosed (DCIS) Early Breast Cancer Newly diagnosed (early breast cancer) Treatment (early breast cancer) Finishing active treatment (early breast cancer) Breast Reconstruction Breast reconstruction – questions to ask a surgeon Metastatic Breast Cancer Metastatic breast cancer diagnosis Metastatic treatment and care team Stopping metastatic breast cancer treatment Community Support Young women diagnosed with breast cancer Men diagnosed with breast cancer Questions to get support for First Peoples Questions to get support in remote and rural areasViewsSign in to react to this postComments
Did you have a Mirena in place like me when diagnosed with breast cancer?
I was diagnosed with breast cancer 3.5 months ago and had a double mastectomy 3months ago. I am 44 years old. I started doing some research as a number of people I know with breast cancer who were young also had a Mirena. There is new research coming out of: -Europe that indicates that there is a 40% higher risk of breast cancer if you had a Mirena, and -Germany that shows that the Mirena can change hormone levels in the breast based on scans I had breast ultrasound scans that show I did not have breast cancer just before my Mirena was inserted 5 years ago, and that it developed post Mirena insertion. I had no genetic factors (based on testing), and no risk factors for breast cancer. It seems highly co-incidental. I also looked up the FDA documentation for Mirena approval and it states that "Spontaneous reports of breast cancer have been received during postmarketing experience with Mirena. Because spontaneous reports and voluntary and from a population of uncertain size, it is not possible to use postmarketing data to estimate the frequency or establish causal relationship to drug exposure..." I am keen to connect with other women who had a Mirena in place and then were diagnosed with breast cancer. If this is you, please respond to this post- I would love to hear your story!ViewsSign in to react to this postCommentsBreast cancer has seen a rise in the diagnosis of young women - awareness is key! 🔑
Growing numbers of women are being diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 40. While experts are not able to say for sure what is driving this, the impact is still notably huge on both the healthcare system and the real lives of real people. Finding breast cancer early gives you the best chance of effective treatment. Being breast aware at any age means knowing what’s normal for your body, so changes can be noticed sooner. Consider this your friendly reminder to #Know Yourself. Feel Yourself. , and that awareness and early detection are key. Don't be afraid to share the love and gently 'nudge' your close friends & family to be more breast aware ❤️ 👉 Learn how to perform a breast self-check at https://www.bcna.org.au/resources/screening-and-diagnosis/how-to-check-your-breasts 👉Watch the 9 news coverage of the issue here: https://www.facebook.com/reel/929813956177041ViewsSign in to react to this postCommentsBreast cancer has seen a rise in the diagnosis of young women - awareness is key! 🔑
Growing numbers of women are being diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 40. While experts are not able to say for sure what is driving this, the impact is still notably huge on both the healthcare system and the real lives of real people. Finding breast cancer early gives you the best chance of effective treatment. Being breast aware at any age means knowing what’s normal for your body, so changes can be noticed sooner. Consider this your friendly reminder to #Know Yourself. Feel Yourself. , and that awareness and early detection are key. Don't be afraid to share the love and gently 'nudge' your close friends & family to be more breast aware ❤️ 👉 Learn how to perform a breast self-check at https://www.bcna.org.au/resources/screening-and-diagnosis/how-to-check-your-breasts 👉Watch the 9 news coverage of the issue here: https://www.facebook.com/reel/929813956177041ViewsSign in to react to this postComments
Looking for nutrition/natural medicine recommendations
Hi all, Absolutely hating this journey to be honest. Single mum of two auDhd teens. It’s been hell. I’m angry and don’t feel I’ve accepted any part of this. I’m just recovering from double mastectomy and now waiting to see if I need chemo/herceptin. Waiting waiting forever waiting. That’s one of the worst parts. Anyway, just wondering if any of you know any good online nutritional medicine/naturopaths etc who use good evidence based practice to help me navigate through this **bleep** show? I start ovarian suppression and AIs next week, before going back for more surgery because my nipple is now on the banned list 🙄 Many thanks and all the love in the world to you all xxxxxViewsSign in to react to this postComments❓ Are More Young Women Being Diagnosed with Breast Cancer?
💡 Did you know? Breast cancer is now the most common cause of cancer death in women aged 20–39. Around three women under 40 are diagnosed with breast cancer every day in Australia. The five-year survival rate for young women has improved dramatically from 76% to 90% in recent decades. Help make a difference by joining this powerful and timely conversation hosted by Breast Cancer Trials. 📅 Wednesday 12 November 🕔 5:00–6:30 PM AEDT (7:00–8:30 PM NZST) 📍 Online Q&A Event. Click here to find out more This free event brings together leading experts to explore the rising rates of breast cancer in younger women, the unique challenges they face, and what current research is uncovering. From fertility and early menopause to emotional wellbeing and career disruption, this is a space to learn, connect, and advocate for better support and care.ViewsSign in to react to this postComments
Contreption for daughter
What contraception did people chose to put their daughter on? My cancer was both eastrogen and progesterone positive.ViewsSign in to react to this postComments
Heavy lifting after surgery
Hi all Im 17 days post bilateral mastectomy and recon. I have a 3 yr old and a 1 year old. My husband is doing all the lifting etc but today I forgot myself and picked up my 3 year old. I instantly remembered and went to sit down with her. Im not in any pain and nothing on the outside seems to be affected. has anyone done this and if so, what signs do I need to watch out for with messing up recovery? thank youViewsSign in to react to this postComments
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