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Hi everyone, My Mum was recently diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer and her oncologist recommended genetic testing. Bloods for this were sent off for lab assessment a few months ago but no results yet. Has anyone has experience of this? I'm very anxious, obviously caring for Mum but also worried about possibility that there's a genetic element to her illness too, raising my risk. Anyone know about time frame for test results, full process etc?

Hey, Hope all are doing ok. Found out yesterday my breast cancer is now at Stage 4. I dont know what to do or how yo feel! Found a breast lump in June. Pre op scans threw up a query which docs were happy to check again after 3 months. Had a mastectomy and complete auxiliary clearance in Sept. My chemo is to start next week. I recovered really well post mastectomy and have been getting with life, getting walking and looking forward to getting back to work after chemo. The repeat bone scan has confirmed a lesion on one of my ribs so now I have gone from Stage 2 to Stage 4 overnight. Now i feel it's all up in the air again! It's like I'm living someone else's life, it's weird. Anyone out there similar story that can share their experience? Thanks S

Hi There, I had a mammogram last week after finding a lump. I had to wait 8 weeks for appointment so i just reallly want to get the results after such a long wait! I was told no news is good news. I went to vincents hospital and am just wondering has anyone else had to wait 2 weeks even if something is found. My mind is going crazy.I still have the lump and pain in collerbone. They didnt do an examination, just the mammogram. Thanks so much in advance

I've started bleeding ans its 35 days since my last period which was before I started chemo. I was told that my period will stop all together when on this drug. Had anyone else still gotten periods on Taxol? I'm starting my 3rd round of Taxol next Thursday.

Hi I was wondering if anyone has had a Onkotype test done as part of breast cancer treatment

Hi I never posted in anything before so here goes, I was diagnosed 6 years ago with dcis with mi, sentinel node clear, I had a mastectomy and no other treatment. I've had pain in mastectomy side on and off but since August it got worse. My gp sent me for an ultrasound in breast clinic. The radiologist seen a swollen lymph node and done biopsy. Got the results Tuesday, cancer cells in node. I had a ct and bone scan since, I'll get results Tuesday. Has anyone had anything similar. Im so scared. Thank you

Hi -I'm only writing this as I find it impossible to talk about it to anyone. I was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma in November 2019. I had surgery on the affected bile duct and liver re-section in December 2019. I've had follow-up scopes and bowel biopsies since then, with the most recent blood tests for tumor markers a few weeks back. As the blood tests are done in batches the results are due around now. I missed two calls from the hospital (I didn't have my phone on me) and I suspect the calls are related to the blood test results. I've deliberately not tried to ring back as I don't want to hear any bad news before Christmas. I'm due back in January anyway for more scans. I'm finding the stress very tough at the moment and I've had more or less no contact with anyone, outside my immediate family since the first Covid lockdown in March as I've been (lucky enough) to be working from home since then. Just want to get through Christmas and face up to it again in January.

Hello, I went to my GP with a small lump in my right breast and a referral was sent to the Mater Hospital clinic for review. I have been waiting 10 weeks now for an appointment and told there are delays because of Covid19. In the mean time a larger lump has developed in my left breast and I have noticed my breast is larger and feels heavy. I cannot lie on my front due to pain in both breasts. I am wondering if I should revisit my GP or continue to wait for an appointment? Also, during the clinic visit will both breast be reviewed or just the one on the referral? Kind regards.

In September 2014 at the age of 26, I was diagnosed with a rare form of Ovarian Cancer; Immature Teratoma-a less common form affecting younger age groups. It therefore is so important that we acknowledge and understand that Ovarian Cancer isn't confined to those in older age brackets and in effect can present itself at any age. When I was experiencing my symptoms Cancer was the furthest thing from my mind...Polycystic Ovaries, IBS, Allergies, anything but Cancer were being looked into. I had to persist to get a scan because on the basis of my doctors referral the hospital only viewed my case in terms of priority as low and not high. I eventually got called 6 months later and the pelvic ultrasound showed what they thought to be a cyst; being compared in size to a tennis ball. I had it removed quite promptly via laparoscopy. One month later I was called back in and to my horror told the biopsy showed it was a rare form of ovarian cancer; a tumour that actually was hiding out and growing away inside my left ovary, frightening thing is that when I had the blood markers done prior tomy first surgery they showed up as normal, so it was a double whammy to hear the opposite a month later when I thought I had put my worries and fears to bed. I was immediately referred to Cork to the most wonderful professional and empathetic doctor; numerous scans and checks followed, the first stage of treatment was to remove my left ovary and Fallopian tube. My second surgery went very well and thankfully I didn't need any more treatment after that as the cancer had just been contained within that ovary. I feel blessed that I listened and persisted, as hard as it was I went to my GP as not all the symptoms can be easy to discuss. I'm also blessed that I got it when I did. Early detection is key and I cannot stress that enough. I'd love to help raise awareness as I was only 26 when diagnosed. I did find it hard to talk about it but time has passed and I have been blessed that my check ups have been going well and I think it's time for me to speak out and help others with early detection! The scary thing is the amount of times I brushed off my symptoms and put them down to other things. I knew something wasn't right, my body was asking me to speak up, and I'm so so grateful I did. I am nearly four years in remission now and I can't express enough gratitude for that, I am on the other side and proud of myself and the journey I have put down over the past while. There is hope and I'm sharing this to emphasise that and the positive outcomethatcan be achieved when you act early. We can be bombarded by bad news and horror stories but I feel optimism and hope go a long way so I hope my piece will help other women who find themselves in a similar situation; I urge you to surround yourself withthose you love, let them in, the endless support and love I received from my family, my partner and friends got me through it #youcandoit. Women young and old need to be encouraged to listen to their bodies and persist in seeking medical advice no matter how small their concerns are. Taking responsibility for your health is imperative, the ball is in your court. Please listen to your body. My symptoms were a mix and blurred the lines into other possible conditions which again makes Ovarian Cancer hard to diagnose and catch. I am sharing the following link as it sums up the key symptoms that help detect Ovarian Cancer and is titled 'BEAT Ovarian Cancer':https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8Zr_3Bop-aA The main learning on my journey has been to listen...and to trust my body. Not an easy thing to do the best of times, but your body really does know what's best for you. Don't doubt yourself. Be proud to look after your #womenshealth I will be forever grateful to have come through this process and to be given a second chance. I am so blessed and I truly realise that. If I didn't keep returning to my doctor however it may have been different. Please don't fear being judged as an overthinker or a worrier...if something doesn't feel right for you, for YOUR body that is enough. There is absolutely no harm being done by checking in with your GP even if it just provides reasurrance with a once over. Don't feel like an inconvience or a bother because you're not. You're you and you're important. You're loved and admired more than you'll ever know. You matter and so does your life. Life is fleeting, it is a precious gift. Trust yourself. Warmest blessings and well wishes to all who read, benefit from this and share #strengthinnumbers #worldovariancancerday #raisingawareness Marian x 'Just like air. I rise' ~Maya Angelou~

My 13 year old son has been receiving black specks in his poo and I am worried for him