Community

Hi all I am almost half way through my chemo and the more i'm reading the more i'm realising that not many people have all three treatments. I was very positive about all this when I started my treatment but now doubts are starting to creep in - maybe its the medication or maybe I should stay away from the internet but I'm just wondering if anybody else has had all three. I'm just starting to worry that this is a lot worse than I thought and half afraid to ask in case I dont like the answer. Its nice to hear from other people who are going through it as well because as well meaning other people are I thing only others in the same boat really understand. ok maybe im just feeling sorry for myself at the moment but would really like to hear something positive. Bizzybee

Hello all, I'm afraid I am new to this rather odd club of ours... I self diagnosed a lump in my right breast in late May, had lumpectomy and 2 nodes biopsy/removal in late June, the tumour was grade 1, ER +, and the nodes clear. It looks like I am one of hte very lucky ones who may even escape chemo - I am just awaiting oncotyping test to confirm, but the med team are optimistic, and thus far all their predictions have come through. I am blessed with very good health and fitness, and back running after surgery (albeit gently) as of the last couple of days. Whehey! A little more normalcy creeping in. Anyway, I will more than likely be looking at radio therapy from late Aug/early Sept, plus Tamoxifen for 5 years. My radiologist + the literature I read appear quite paranoid about skin care around radiotherapy. I am exploring suitable unscented moisturisers, and am currently using e45 to massage my scars. However if I am to slather myself in the stuff a few times a day during radio therapy, it feels a little too greasy for my liking. Has anyone any alternative they like? I have been told about Aveeno moisturiser - any thoughts? Just a random thought: I absolutely understand the value of this type of forum, but I made the mistake of reading a little of the recent exchanges about the "joys" of Tamoxifen. I stopped reading after 5 minutes. I think I'll take my chances on the side effects, rather than stress out in advance at what might, or might not, be TIA, and the very best to all, whether your day today is good or bad. Catherine

I haven't posted in ages ,I read the nposts when no have a question and I always find my answers in them .I finished my chemo last Tuesday ,yippie ,so delighted its over,have a mammogram on Friday but no MRI ,when I first got diagnosed the tumor only showed up as 2cm with the mammogram ,when in fact it was 7cm when they did an MRI .is it normal just to have the mammogram at this stage ,I am in James .thank you

Hi everyone! I'm wondering if anyone out there is on Tamoxifen and has/is suffering extreme tiredness?? I only started taking it a week ago and I am totally 'zonked' by afternoon I am currently taking it after lunch and wonder if the time you take it at is relevant?? On the plus side I don't seem to have any other SEs

I had my last chemo yesterday. I just put my son into the shower and he has what looks to me to be chicke pox. I have had it. But do I need to be worried about anything. Can I get shingles..

Hi All, Just thinking in hindsight about my choices, decisions & options.... I was 33 with no kids when diagnosed at beginning of this year. I was offered options varying from egg & ovarian tissue feeezing to IVF in the UK. Wondering what is available to Irish women in hospitals here? I count myself very lucky but in booklets I've read they seem to suggest that there's little more than moral support offered. Does it depend whether or not you're a public/private patient? Would love to hear your thoughts! xx

9 months to the day, I am heading into my last radiotherapy. I feel a bit strange to tell the truth, almost like the chapter is over, but is the book fully finished?? Anyway, all I can say is that I genuinely never thought I would get to this date last September. Those still in the middle of the storm- you do get out the other side! Xxx

[color=#8000BF:jxk3sn92]One year ago today I was on my way home in the car to break the news to my family that I had, indeed, got breast cancer. I can hardly believe I'm one year on from the diagnosis and have experienced some medical treatments that I never dreamed of having. I've also had to slow down my life, and my mind. I've started to look at myself in a whole new way. Before (cancer) I was a stressed person....woudlnt admit it then but can see now with hindsight. My life was busy and so fast at times. Then I got my diagnosis and suddenly my life was thrown upside down. The treatments were unfortunatly hard going for me and it was a long time from July '12 to my last radiotherapy in May '13. Now, however, the big treatments are over and I'm trying to settle into this new life I have now. Its not like my old life in so many ways. My arm and my hand tend to be swollen. My foot is sore with peripheral neuropahty, a side effect of chemo. And I have more breast surgery ahead of me in the future. And yet I can say I am happy.I have a quieter, slower life now which is nice. It allows me time to enjoy life rather than race through it. I am trying new things that I wouldnt have dreamed of before (cancer)......relaxation, mindfulness, accupunture, reflexology. I love experiencing new things that help me to learn what its like to make time for myself and to look after myself. I can't see myself going back to the old way of life I had before cancer. This life after cancer is pretty okay right now. I have ongoing medical issues but I feel strong now to cope with them and to still enjoy life. Nobody said life would be perfect or easy...I can vouch for that. But nobody said you can't be happy when life is far from perfect or eas[/color:jxk3sn92]y.

I finished tch chemo 3 weeks ago and have a wedding on Saturday. Am actually bridesmaid. I am kind of feelin a bit sorry I agreed to do it. Am feeling quite self conscious of my wig and pics in general. I was thinking of gettin my nails done as they a by yellow and have been painting them myself. But they are quite short. Don't seem to be growing. Was thinking of getting shellac nails or gel nails done. Do u think as I have finished chemo it's ok to do.. Hope ye are all enjoying the sunshine

[post edited by webmaster] The Irish Cancer Society does not support unfounded theories of cancer or unproven alternative treatments.