Breast Cancer

[specialist]

Would you believe that after months of struggling to overcome my own mental and physical demons, my lovely wife was diagnosed with breast cancer she is only just 40 :o:C.

We've just had a hectic last four months from a trip to Rockhampton for a ultrasound and core biopsy which by the way came up clear (no malignancy):o, but a lump the size of a golf ball doesn't just appear in just six weeks, we felt it was somewhat serious:no:. So a second opinion was sought, that meant a trip to Brisbane for a lumpectomy, which pathologically showed it was Cancer:~. It also had a secondary lump 5 mm just beside the large lump and had also progressed to one lymph node about the size of a match head in the space of less than 2 months.

One good thing is that we have private health cover which meant that we could get the needed treatment sooner rather than later (we could still be waiting for the public system).

So begins the saga of chemo and radiation therapy of which we are just three treatments into. We travel to Brisbane every three weeks for the chemo sessions and she will have to stay in Brisbane for up to six weeks for the radiation therapy.

Anyways the prognosis is good:2tsup:, after the treatment all should be well, even though it's a bit of a struggle at the moment.

[HazzaB]

Hey Specialist,

My Heart goes out to you mate, my wife has just finished a bout of Radiation and Chemo and I can understand where you are at the moment, I hope that all goes well for you and your wife,

Good Luck

HazzaB

[powderpost]

I feel for you and especially your wife. My wife has been down that road, but thankfully has come out on the right side. The hardest thing is to sit back and watch and not be able to do anything to help. The up side is that successful outcomes are becoming more and more positive. For what it is worth we are on your side.
Jim

[specialist]

Thanks for the supportive comments fellas. It seems that I'm not the lone ranger in all this, just in Longreach alone, it seems that every second or third has had cancer of some kind or another.

I think that the hardest part of the whole thing is the sitting back and watching the suffering that the chemo causes, pain lethargy, hair loss and a depressive state, not depression, but a loss of vitality on the whole.

Still it's better than the alternative.

Robert

[kevjed]

Hang in there mate. It sure does take its toll. Every journey is different. Many common threads but at the end of the day we just have to stay focused and +ve. We have to let the "experts" do their thing and hope that their very well educated guess works for the loved one that they are treating. That being said they can do some amazing things these days.
Feel free to PM me if you ever want to rant to someone who is going through some similar, but different, stuff.
All the best
Kevin

[artme]

Not good specialist!!:no::no:

Hang in there and I hope things go well with the treatment.

All the best to you both.

[rsser]

Best wishes for the missus' recovery specialist.

Yes, it is hard to sit by and watch someone you love suffer.

Course there's always cups of tea to make and plumping up the cushions. Also trying to share a joke and have a conversation. Just keeping on track, despite the uncertainty.

[Terry B]

Best wishes for SWMBO.
My job entails seeing lots of people with cancer of various sorts. She is not alone but this doensn't make it easier. I hope the treatment goes well.

[Chris Parks]

My wife has had it twice with episodes separated by five years or just short of a clearance from the first time. Like the OP my wife reported symptoms but the doctors refused to diagnose cancer as there was no lump etc. She insisted that they do a needle biopsy and they still reported no cancer and she then resorted to a new doctor. He took her more seriously and did a surgical biopsy and told her she was in the last stage before cancer but by the time she was admitted to hospital six weeks later it had turned to cancer, all without a lump to be seen. Doctors are like mechanics, there are good ones and better ones and bad ones.

Our experience was that the public system was fantastic in every way right through both episodes and we could not have had better treatment if we had been in private. My wife is continuing to walk this earth as proof of that BTW.

I wish you both the best in the future and given the treatment today early intervention generally sees a bright and long lived future.

[Chief Tiff]

I know your pain mate, my partner was diagnosed with breast cancer at only 35. It was caught early but she still had to do the surgery, chemo and radiotherapy (in Brisbane) and she's in her final year now of hormone therapy.

If you have any questions about her treatment please feel free to contact me, and I can give you the details of a really good oncologist in Brisbane who your missus can see while she's down there.

All the best to you and The Minister for War and Finance.

[Chipman]

Hi Specialist,

My heart goes out to your wife and the rest of your family. (We went through it last year) The good thing is that there are excellent doctors out there (some not so good sadly) and the chances of overcoming it are much better now than they were some years ago.

None the less it really hurts to see a loved one go through it all and see how the treatment knocks the patient around. My good wife has a clear bill of health but is struggling to get her strength back (probably the hormone treatment)

Best advice I can give, is as a family be together and be there for each other. We could not have made it without the help and support of our adult children and some very caring friends.


Thinking of you all,

Graham (AKA Chipman)

[Chipman]

Hi Just remembered a few things:

1. Make sure you register with medicare for the safety net (especially if you are going private)

2. See if you can get your doctor to "admit" your wife into hospital for the chemo and what ever you can eg 1/2 day. Your health fund can then pay for most of it. If not, you could be up for some large up front expenses and until you reach the safety net, you don't get all that much back. (My kids helped us out until we got the refunds back from medicare)

Someone on this forum gave me this advice and it was surely a great help so I am passing it on.

Cheers,

Chipman

[gnu52]

Our hearts go out to your wife and you, we have also been down this path recently so understand where you are.
I endorse the comments above, and would add that its a good idea to connect with your local support group, the ladies here were so helpful to my wife, I am sure it helped tremendously.
With our particular private cover we found that insuring as two singles rather than as a couple halved the amount of excess payable on hospital admissions without an increase in premium. As a couple we had to pay 5 admission excesses before reaching the $1000 safety net but as a single the safety net applied at $500. This is calculated per annum so in our case when treatment carried over the end of the calendar year we had to pay the excess again. Something to think about.
Best wishes to your wife and you from Bill and Wendy.

[Foo]

I wish your wife, you and the family all the best on this journey and hope, that there are no detours from a happy ending in the future.

Keep positive thoughts through this journey.':weeping:

[specialist]

Thanks for all you kind words.

We have just been away for our fourth bout of chemo, thinking that there were just two to go, but it seems that the type that they were using isn't working properly, her blood count is going up, not down as expected, so they have changed the drug and we have another four treatments to go. This new drug isn't too good on the patient apparently, from all the information that I can glean from the pharmaceutical sites on the internet, it is much stronger than the first lot, with many more side effects. Still it seems that we have to put our trust in those doctors.


See if you can get your doctor to "admit" your wife into hospital for the chemo and what ever you can eg 1/2 day. Your health fund can then pay for most of it. If not, you could be up for some large up front expenses and until you reach the safety net, you don't get all that much back.

Thanks for the heads up, We are "lucky" that we live so far away in that all the treatments seem to have been done as admittances and so far have only cost our excess.


As a couple we had to pay 5 admission excesses before reaching the $1000 safety net

Our health fund, medibank private has changed the program and from the 1st of June, even as a couple, a single admission only incurs a $500 excess, we ended up paying $800. Still it has covered a whole lot of expenses while getting the job done.


Our experience was that the public system was fantastic in every way right through both episodes and we could not have had better treatment if we had been in private.

Don't get me wrong, I'm in no way bagging the public system, they do a fantastic job with the resources that they have. I think that they are hamstrung by red tape and funding. I just felt that given that my wifes mother had a double mastectomy with the pathology of precancerous cells, we couldn't wait for the public system to act.

I will keep in contact over the course the new treatment.
Robert

[Chipman]

Hang in there.. I hope things are going as well as can be.


Chipman

[Cliff Rogers]

I just found this thread, all I can say is bugger. :(

[specialist]

An Update:

Well we're three quarters of the way through the chemo, just two to go. This new treatment quite severe with many side effects namely: increased nausea, dizziness, increased tingling and numbness in fingers and toes and EXTREME tiredness. And the steroid based anti nausea drugs are causing almost uncontrolled weight gain.:C

My better half now can't work, as she sleeps at least 3 1/2 hours in the afternoon and then a good 12 hours in the night. Peaceful for me I guess:;

Still spirits are still up, the prognosis is still good. After the last treatment we saw the radiation oncologist and that was all explained to us. Not as scary as it was at first, however it will mean that she will have to stay in Brisbane for 7 weeks as this therapy is delivered daily, it apparently only takes about 10 minutes per session. But it seems that if it's done, the odds of the cancer coming back go from about 25% to around 8% so I guess it's worth the effort.

Anyways, we're back to Brisbane on Thursday for the next treatment, we'll see how that goes.

Robert

[watson]

Hope it all goes to Plan Robert :2tsup:

[Ricardito]

I sympathise with you and your wife having to go though all this treatments keep in mind that this may be only short time but stay beside her she needs you more than ever.I too have experience in dealing with cancer for thirteen years through my wife who is now a four time cancer survivor after 11 operations, chemo and radio and officially death according to medical records late 2009 but still very much alive and walking around. on a wing and a prayer since apparently we have reached the end of all treatments. Last cancer was pelvic bone cancer excruciatingly painful condition but she cheated death twice the first time was ovarian cancer stage III followed by breast, agnocarcinoma 2008 bone cancer 2009 . So you and you wife hang tight and give her lots of support and ecouragement there is still a lot of hope and pray, pray, pray.
May God Bless with you both

[kevjed]

Keep +ve
My good lady had 6 weeks of radiation and chemo therapy at the same time. Like your good lady the EXTREME tiredness is just part of it. The rest is doing her good.
Good luck and keep strong and have faith.
Kevin

[Cliff Rogers]

Fingers crossed.

[Foo]

I do hope that all goes well for your wife, and the end result is good!

[munruben]

All the best for your wife and yourself. :2tsup:

[artme]

All the best to you both mate!!

PM me if you feel like a chat or just a a bit of time off!

[Ricardito]

One thing I have learned about cancer over the years as you can see in my previous post is DO NOT TAKE THINGS AT FACE VALUE or TRUST ANYONE IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. I know that is an individual and personal thing however professionals do not have to time to fully dedicate themselves to every patient. Bearing that in mind ask the questions and do question everything look for alternatives within the medical profession as much as possible.Please read my previous post it will be useful to you and PM if you feel the need to do so.
Thank you

[specialist]

Thanks for you support at this time, our second last treatment is over, due to fly home tomorrow. All seems to be fine at the moment, so our fingers are crossed.

Robert

[acmegridley]

I can never forget the past, the second time driving home with tears in my eyes ,the first time was when FIL was dying and saw him for the last time,second time was when my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer,we arrived at sister in laws place they both broke down in tears.She had a full mastectomy of the left breast 2 weeks later much anguish was felt at that time, why her?Non smoker,country girl,lived a good life did not drink,etc etc
But waiting for us at Figtree Private hospital was a nurse from the breast cancer support unit in Wollongong, Sister Gloria Swift,she waited till we were settled in and quitely came in,explained what would be happening ,gave my wife a little cushion to wear under her arm when she got out of hospital,along with a few other goodies,lifted our spirits greatly. We both joined the Support group and now attend fund raisers,bus trips, shopping trips and the companionship is just great, a really nice bunch of people.
The help is there just reach out for it,Glenn Mcgraths' foundation is placing more of these nurses where they are needed.
Wishing you and your wife rainbows.:2tsup:

[specialist]

Thank's for all you thoughts, The last chemo treatment was last week, and it was the worst for after effects, although she has been able to cope with them better knowing that its the last. In two weeks time, the radio therapy will start and we will be apart for close to 7 weeks, but it's supposed to cut the reoccurance down from 25% to around 8%. In that time there is apparently another raft of tests that need to be carried out, scans etc.

At the moment we are just living day to day until then and hopefully there will be good news when it happens.

Robert and family

[Foo]

Day to day is even better than the alternative Robert. All the best to you all.:2tsup:

[Ricardito]

Glad your wife finished chemo with hopeful markers. Radio is not as invasive as chemo it will only make her more tired but that will show after the treatment . Anyway, six to seven weeks of 5 days a week radiation is the standard treatment otherwise treatment is divided in blocks if radio penetration is deeper. My prayers go to her for a complete recovery then after treatment is the wait and the self healing the body does this is perhaps the crucial stage and if you are a strong believer then it is even better FAITH and mental healing are the best weapons in the fight against this disease.

[specialist]

Just a quick update

Am currently on my way back home after picking my wife up. Will have updates in a few days.

Robert

[Foo]

Hope the results are good!

Foo

[Cliff Rogers]

Fingers crossed.

[specialist]

Hi everyone, it's Robert's wife here. Thanks you all for your heartfelt thoughts and concern through this journey. I have been very worried for Rob as I thought he was doing this alone, but he told me this morning to read all the posts and I can not thank you all enough.:C.

I have not had any new tests as yet but, as Robert has let you know we are now at home and getting back to our lives. We are back to Bris in Feb for our first reviews and mammogram. Test will be run in May for bone density etc, once the other treatments have run their course, as they keep working for a period after treatment has finished.

I think what helped me with my treatment is that after each chemo session, we had a habit of going to a shopping centre for exercise. You could walk around in the shade for 10 mins or 2 hours, depending on energy levels of the day. I think we used to spend about an hour after each treatment, then back to the accommodation to rest. Robert seemed to know what I needed better than I did, and still does. He has been such a trooper and I can not thank him enough for his support through all this.

I am still waiting for the nausea from the chemo, I think that things moved too fast for it to catch me:D. The anti-nausea drugs that I was on were great. With the Radio I mostly walked to the bus, to treatment, to the shopping centre for my exercise for between 1 - 3 hours, time flies when you have all these shops around you know, and then returned home via the bus. I could never buy more than I could carry and most days that was not much anyway, so not huge amount of shopping done.:wink:

I ended up with minimal burning, like a tan, not dark but very light, from Radio and depleted energy levels naturally. The oncologist described it as 10% 1st degree burn (no blistering).

Our best guess is that the cancer has gone. I believe that it was gone with the lumpectomy. But now we wait for our team to come to the same conclusion.

I am looking forward to getting back to life. I will be making the most of the time I have off work to get the rest I need and learn again how to look after my beautiful husband.

Thanks again for your wonderful support for both of us and we will keep you posted. If anyone has any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

[Cliff Rogers]

Good on ya. :2tsup:

[specialist]

Forgot to mention that Robert still has it up against him.:- My oncologist has put me on hormone treatment as well, and warned Robert that I will be hell to live with. So please be kind to him!:U:lmfao:

[KevM]

That's great news.

Another step along the path to normality, whatever that may be!

[rsser]

Thanks for the news Specialist.

Maybe ask the onc guy for some hormones for Robert too ;-}

[Foo]

That's very good to hear Mrs Specialist. :D

[kevjed]

Good on you Mrs Specialist.
All the best
Kevin

[specialist]

Hi everyone,

A quick up-date. Had our first review last month. Docs a very happy with haw things look at this stage. Back for review again in mid May. Will be having tests to see how treatment has affected my bones.

Feeling well at present. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

Mrs Specialist

[acmegridley]

Just received news that my nephew in New South has brain tumour, cancer everywhere and is in Wollongong hospital not expected back home.Is there no end to this disease?.Just got over losing sis inlaw 12 months ago.We are fighting this disease with stone age tools according to a specialist friend of mine.:(

[artme]

Acme, that is the worst possible news. My thoughts to your family.:):):)

My first wife died from a brain tumor. Rotten thing to happen.

[Cliff Rogers]

Hi everyone,

A quick up-date. Had our first review last month. Docs a very happy with haw things look at this stage. Back for review again in mid May. Will be having tests to see how treatment has affected my bones.

Feeling well at present. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

Mrs Specialist
:2tsup: Stay positive.

[Cliff Rogers]

Just received news that my nephew in New South has brain tumour, cancer everywhere and is in Wollongong hospital not expected back home.Is there no end to this disease?.Just got over losing sis inlaw 12 months ago.We are fighting this disease with stone age tools according to a specialist friend of mine.:(
Erk.... not good.

[Ricardito]

Forgot to mention that Robert still has it up against him.:- My oncologist has put me on hormone treatment as well, and warned Robert that I will be hell to live with. So please be kind to him!:U:lmfao:
Well that is a very important warning I wish I had known this after my wife's first operation since then she changed HRT four times because not all of them were suitable hrt's. Anyway it was very hard to live with my wife suffering blackouts and borderline aggressive behaviour. Hope itis all cool for you both. Don't know if you know my wife med history Mrs specialist but she is a fourth time cancer survivor and her last was pelvic cancer so we've had a very tough fight against cancers since 1996.:- One day I may even write a book about this believe me our experiences are beyond belief since she was given for dead two times firstly in 1996 and 2009.

[Bushmiller]

Well that is a very important warning I wish I had known this after my wife's first operation since then she changed HRT four times because not all of them were suitable hrt's. Anyway it was very hard to live with my wife suffering blackouts and borderline aggressive behaviour. .

Your wife may like to consider NHRT (Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy). It has worked exceptionally well for my wife.

Advantages:
Tailor made for the individual from blood tests or saliva sample.
Derived from plants (not animals). Not strictly natural but not synthecised.
Reduced incidence of side effects. (No side effects in our case)
Formulation easily changed or rectified.
Also available for males (Different prescription!:wink:)

Disadvantages:
Not well received by pharmeceutical companies
Not recognised by many doctors, but has to be prescribed by a doctor (work that out)
May have trouble finding a doctor with sufficient knowledge/experience.
Cost: Not sure on this one. Around $400 per year for us


I can help with contacts in either Toowoomba or Newcastle. Otherwise google NHRT.

Interestingly, if you google NHRT side effects, the search just brings up HRT side effects.

Ricardito. Very sorry to hear of all your troubles.

Mrs Specialist. Stay strong

Regards
Paul

[Ricardito]

Sorry I should have read it better

[specialist]

There is a misconception where the hormone treatment is concerned. What my wife is on, in not HRT. The breast cancer that she has is hormone driven, so the drug is to suppress the relevant hormone so that it doesn't feed the cancer. It is very similar to the testosterone treatment that Sturdee is on if you have read his thread.

When they suppress the hormone that feeds the cancer, it prematurely brings on menopause, that is what she was getting at.

Thank you for the HRT info, I will file that away for future reference.

Robert

[Bushmiller]

I appreciate your concerns with natural versus not natural but we see no difference right now so long as she is OK. Now we live day by day and everyday is a bonus she really is in the hands of God.

Absolutely. Go with what works, which is really a variation of don't fix what ain't broke.

All the best
Regards
Paul

[Bushmiller]

There is a misconception where the hormone treatment is concerned. What my wife is on, in not HRT. The breast cancer that she has is hormone driven, so the drug is to suppress the relevant hormone so that it doesn't feed the cancer. It is very similar to the testosterone treatment that Sturdee is on if you have read his thread.

When they suppress the hormone that feeds the cancer, it prematurely brings on menopause, that is what she was getting at.

Thank you for the HRT info, I will file that away for future reference.

Robert

No problem. I read a little more into the issue, not that there is not plenty already.

Regards
Paul