Hi, I am new to this so not sure if I am replying correctly?  yes, just done 160 gene panel that includes all brcas, Lynch and heaps of others. Family history of ovarian, breast in cousins under 50, prostate, bowel - big family on my mums side. Have always been monitored regularly due to extended family , however came back with something recently that needs a little closer monitoring, and possibly  surgery, then in the midst discovered the family is of ashkenazi decent which adds another layer. The cousins were brca neg ,but that was in 2010 before all of these extra panels were available. My geneticist is hurrying from results through from Finland as they will guide surgery timings wtc. ... View more

Hi all,   I am off to the hospital with mum tomorrow as her mammogram has shown something, this has happened in the past and she had a biopsy which fortunately was all OK. My concern is that I have heard from a few different women that in their opinion having a biopsy is like poking the bear and can cause benign to become active 😳 and if there is a lump found that it is best to just get it removed without having a biopsy.  Can anyone help me out with this one? I have to be the strong one and make the best possible choices in my mums interest 😌 🙌  ... View more

Hi Ashes    are you still there?  ... View more

Hi Alli   I was recently diagnosed with stage 3 Anal cancer.  How did your treatment go?  I’m not sure what to expect?  They removed my tumour and heading into 6 weeks but chemo radiation.   DF ... View more

I just finished reading this wonderful book. Two days it took - says it all. Thank you Harker for so eloquently telling the world how it was/is for you and while each of our experiences is different, the similarities are there for each of us. My experience has not been nearly as fraught as yours but for all of us the common threads are there. The line "I sensed for the first time that I am changed" resonated completely with me. For me it was the day I had my picc line put in and then asked directions to the oncology unit. I had no-one with me, and as I walked towards the sign I realised that I was no longer someone who had only had major surgery - I was now a cancer patient. Nothing is ever quite the same again, is it? Once again, thank you. ... View more

thanks for sharing your story with me Susie. It's still amazes me to see the number of different people, adding their stories and experiences within the one topic word:cancer on this website. But its also the variety of stories that is incredible! You're a lucky trooper Susie! ... View more

Hello to all I'm new to this site, To Paul, I was just reading ur story its no different to what I felt when I was told of my condition that long wait the fear ur story had brought back memory's I had a baby that was 6 wks couldn't hold or feed but now i'v survived for 22 years,and that's how old my son now. Paul live life to its fullest and enjoy been wth ur family all the best.:-) ... View more

Glad you're going ok Silly. Walking around the lake sounds nice. Hope you enjoy your new exercise class. I am feeling ok. I have been quite tired the last couple of weeks so I am making an effort to catch up on some sleep. I get hot flushes from my medication and they are usually accompanied by feelings of panic. The counsellor was actually quite helpful in her advice about this! ... View more

Hi Peta, Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I'm not in exactly the same situation but i was diagnosed last year at 31 (triple negative with no family history and negative gene testing) whilst 31 weeks pregnant. I also attend a young womens breast cancer support group with women who are in similar situations to you. I guess everyones experience is different I know to start with i went into project management mode trying to sort my way through appointments, information and decision making. I was lucky and have a very supportive husband and family who have been with me every step of the way. It is such a scary time and one thing i realised early on was that it was a journey rather than something that will be cured over night. Having a newborn was helpful as it gave me something else to focus on at times (when the whole cancer thing can be overwhelming) but also challenging as i wasn't able to always take the time out for myself that i think would have benefited me during treatment and recovery. I hope you have a medical team you are happy and feel confident with and have been put in touch with a breast care nurse - they are truly invaluable. I have also found seeing a psychologist really helpful, i managed to get in with one who specialises in cancer patients, is there anything you want specific advice on? Happy to ask my support group what their advice is. Happy to help in anyway i can, hang in there. ... View more

Hi Glenys, it has been a while since we chatted. Hope things are ok with you. I do have the latest copy of the Beacon. It is good how it says that not everyone comes out of cancer having learnt wonderful lessons about how life is a gift and everything is super fabulous. It is usually full of inspiring stories that just make me feel cranky. It is good that people liked a story last time that was about how difficult it is. I don't know how people find their inner strength. I think it's just that when you're forced into a hard situation you do what you have do. If you have worries that are unhelpful you just have to try to let go of them. Easier said than done - I am a great worrier myself. But sometimes the worries are so big and crushing that there just isn't room for them in your head any more and you have to push them out. There's no use thinking that things could have been better if I hadn't had cancer. Because if we're talking about "if" then that opens up so many possibilities that it's no use considering them. Things could have been a lot worse cancer-wise. And even "if" I hadn't had cancer then other things could have wrong - they could have been better but they could have been worse. I missed quite a few days of work due to cancer - for all we know if I had gone to work on one of those days I might have been in a terrible accident. I don't meant that it's good that I had cancer because it's not, just that it's what happened and so I have to accept it. It's unfair that I got cancer and it's unfair that you got cancer. But life is unfair and that's just that. This is how I cope. Also, I have a sweet little cat who helps me just by sitting with me. ... View more