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I am starting on a treatment of interferon next week. Has anyone been on this and can give me some advice. The surgeon was happy that he removed all the tumour from my neck and the interferon is more of a precaution although it is a year long course of daily injections.

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[url:3jv9vtsz]http://www.channel4embarrassingillnesses.com/video/in-detail/in-detail-breast-and-nipple-reconstruction/[/url:3jv9vtsz] Check out the video from Ch4 Embarrassing Bodies. I'll be going through this soon and found it helpful thogh glad I'll e under anesthetic

I am looking for advice from people who have experience caring for a relative - about how feasible it is to start a full time course and look after my dad. My Dad has been diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer in both lungs. We have no details of the treatment options for him yet, but I need to make a decision regarding my college degree course that I am due to start this week. I am a mature student going back to university full time this week as the start of a complete career change, and I do not know whether to defer for a year. If his cancer is terminal I want to be in a position to spend as much time with my dad as possible, and as he lives a 4 hour drive from my home in Dublin I don't see how I could do that with a full time college course. If his cancer is treatable he will be based in Dublin and it could be more do-able. I have experience of helping look after my sister when she had (and sadly, died from) cancer last year. At that time I was working full time, and while I found it difficult to come home to be supportive of her after a days work sometime, I think I will find it more difficult to be a student in this situation because it requires alot of mental focus and energy, and it is not confined to a 9 to 5 time frame. My sister is not working and is available to help caring for him, but it is just the two of us. Neither of us have children and our own families yet, and If I was to defer I would be able to support myself. How do other families manage? Please share your experiences with me! Thank you so much

Hi All, Hope you are doing well and that the seminar in Dublin was informative. Would have loved to go but was fortunate to get picked for casting for recovery weekend in Antrim (fly fishing retreat for breast cancer survivors) Recommend to you all to apply for a place sometime. Google casting for recovery and you will see info and application form. We had great fun and laughed so much. Brill to talk to other women with the same problems and we all caught fish inspite of our rubbish techiques. Anyhow back to my question. I have not been on here for ages as been feeling rough with severe back pain. Eventually after a year of complaining of this pain (negative MRI) I asked for Dexa scan and it shows advanced osteoporosis in my spine. My Gp who I only go to when desparate is unsympathetic to various symptom issues since diagnosis and told me I was lucky I had breast cancer and not another cancer which is less treatable. I'm not feeling very lucky and would like to change to a Gp who is more understanding. Does anyone have any recommendations for a Gp central Dublin who is knowledgeable, proactive and caring? Many Thanks A

My partner is just finished his second round of chemo and has gained 2 stone in a week from fluid. His body is swollen, feet, ankles face, and he is so uncomfortable but no hair loss, other side effects are lack of taste. How long before he loses this excess weight.?

Hi I am new to this and trying to do a little research for friend needing a mastectomy and breast reconstruction. It is helpful to read about the various options and opinions on different reconstruction types. The consultant mentioned a proceedure involving a product called strattice. It allows the surgeon to create a type of internal bra without having to under go an autologous proceedure. It means she only needs one reconstruction op and does not have to sacrifice another part of her body. Recovery time is less and she gets to leave the hospital with a fully reconstructed breast. It has been used in the states for a number of years. He said it has been used in Ireland now for the past year with great results. I have dug up a lot of info (see link below) and everything seems really positive. I was just wondering if anyone in Ireland has heard of it or could recommend the proceedure? http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/foru ... 27482.html http://www.breastreconstructionmatters. ... sue-matrix (Alloderm is the American version. Same company does Strattice) Thnak you

hi heading towards my 3rd of 6 f.e.c chemo. managing ok. usual side effects no hair, wierd head and funny tummy. my daughter due date falls on the day of my 5th chemo. she lives 4 hours away and both of us are anxious that i be there if i can. dont think that i would be able to drive myself but will get there some how if only to hold her hand.b she knows no one where she lives in the countyrside. i have asked several people.... do the side effects get worse as the chemo goes on? most say yes especially the tiredness. my nurse also implied this. i know everyones different but whats your experrience? i dont want to make false promises and will need to arrange for some one else to be there. getting excited about being 1st time granny. thanks L

Hi everyone . . . I am finally back. I was hit hard with depression when I finished my chemo so have been quiet on site. i still thought about you all and any new people in our "exclusive club". I am now 14 mths since mastectomy and 7 months finished chemo. I found I really needed the counselling to lift my mood. I had to start by admitting I had cancer, I used talk about it in the third person. The hair is fully back as thick as ever lol but more curly and I want it straight. The hot flushes have calmed down too or maybe it's the weather. Have not managed to loose any of the weight I gained but I live in hope. Love to you all Evelyn Oh forget to tell ye have moved house in the middle of all this

Hi. I have just under gone 2 surgery for breast cancer. I keep telling everyone about the lady who was on T.V3 morning programme before the sschool broke up for summer. She was talking about an event that she was organising to raise money. She described how she had found out how she had breast cancer. I was trying to get the children breakfast and myself out to work (mad house!!!!!) but what she said stuck in my head. Oh thankfully it did because Aug bank holiday I discovered a lump. I want to thank this lady for her courage to go on t.v and only for her I may not have listened to what my body was telling me. so if any of ye out there know her pass on the message that I and my familly want to say a huge THANK YOU eunice