One Year On

Hi Ceedee, congratulations on your achievement - yes it really is an achievement to get thru all you've had to in the last year. I am also one year on & feel so proud of myself for getting thru all the treatments. Was diagnosed in Jan2011, had chemo till May, then surgery, Radiotherapy & just finished 1 year of Herceptin three weeks ago, am also on tamoxifen for 5 yrs & am hoping to get reconstruction towards the end of this year. Am returning to work next week, part-time to start with. It's been some journey alright but not all bad as I met lots of new friends nurses, doctors & fellow patients at the cancer support centre, I found it great to talk top people who where going thru the same thing as me. You are so right about the cancer support centres there's nothing like them & if it wasn't for them I wouldn't be where I am now. It's so important to always keep positive.

Hi Ceedee & Funky Chick,
I am very new to this forum but it has been a godsend over the past few months!! I was diagnosed with BC last April 2011, had mastectomy, axillary node clearence and reconstruction of breast (LD Flap) in May, started chemo end June 4AC, 4 Taxol, got pneumonia half way through chemo but eventually got there and finished radiotherapy Jan 23rd!! I just had CT scans and bloods done a few days ago and although I am so relieved to be this end of it, I am a bit rattled waiting on scan results etc, I am in with oncologist on Monday so will know then how things are. I was scanned half way through chemo due to pneumonia and was was fine so I know everything should be ok now but I still have this little voice of panic!! I reminds me of how I felt this time last year waiting for biopsy results. Bit nuerotic with post chemo aches/pains so this not helping! Otherwise life is great and looking forward to moving on to better health for the future!!! You two seem to be well on your way so well done to your both!!!! Thank you so much for sharing your stories x x x[quote="FunkyChick":1yklvl13]Hi Ceedee, congratulations on your achievement - yes it really is an achievement to get thru all you've had to in the last year. I am also one year on & feel so proud of myself for getting thru all the treatments. Was diagnosed in Jan2011, had chemo till May, then surgery, Radiotherapy & just finished 1 year of Herceptin three weeks ago, am also on tamoxifen for 5 yrs & am hoping to get reconstruction towards the end of this year. Am returning to work next week, part-time to start with. It's been some journey alright but not all bad as I met lots of new friends nurses, doctors & fellow patients at the cancer support centre, I found it great to talk top people who where going thru the same thing as me. You are so right about the cancer support centres there's nothing like them & if it wasn't for them I wouldn't be where I am now. It's so important to always keep positive. [/quote:1yklvl13]

Girls,

Well done all. Just finished about three weeks myself and back from a holiday. Just wanted to add to the general list of stuff that I'm finding yoga a godsend at helping create energy, calm, generally help me rehab and sort out those aches and joints. Also doing a mindfulness course which is great, (though you need to stick with it), to help rehab the ol' heart and mind after all I've been through.

So I'd endorse both, if anyone is looking for a way to crawl back after the cancer-year.

Best of luck

xx

Hi Ladies -it is so lovely to see posts from others who are in and around "One year On"....I too am new to this type of forum. I was diagnosed Jan 11, had masectomy Mar 2nd - no cancer in nodes - 6 TC Chemo and 25 Rads - Cancer was lobular - Estrogen + 6 cm - Non agressive type of cancer My Mum had BC at 64 yrs now 80 and hale and hearty !! I too am fit and well, exercise most days, hill walk at weekends and am hoping to get back to tennis v soon - I have just had scan/masectomy remaining breast / bloods all normal - Yay !! BUT I have those days too when I worry about the cancer returning - I find exercising and keeping busy means I don't have too much time to think !! I have changed my diet also - lots of fruit /veg - non dairy diet - little red meat lots of fish - little red wine ! About to have reconstruction -DIEP Flap - has anyone had this type of recon done ? would love to talk to someone who has ? Tk u so much girls for posting, the support is such a help ! And will definitely contact my local cancer support group after hearing your positives stories

Well ladies, where did that year go!! Great to hear everyone is good.

@ Positive girl - I can't help you with advice on the DIEP procedure, as I had LD reconstruction. However, if you ring the Irish Cancer Society Helpline, they might be able to put you in touch with someone who had that procedure and is out the other side of it.

Maybe someone who can be of use might come along soon - take care and good luck!

Hi All

I too am one year out of since diagnosis. It most certainly has been a long year and I am slowly getting back to normal ( a new normal) but am on herceptin til August so that holds me back a bit, pesky side effects of runny eyes and achy joints but we will get there. I amalso a great believer in using cancer support groups, a great way to let off steam and also to meet new friends.
Positive girl, I had the DIEP flap reconstruction so if you want to pm me we can hook up and I can hopefully answer any questions you may have.
Keep the faith
Sinéad