Hi - I have a family history of cancer and have been advised to have an op to prevent me getting it. I am doing it but think that being part of a group fighting this thing would help me. Also want to help other people. Just a 'hello' really.:)
Welcome to Cancer Chat! I'm sure that some of our other members will pop along soon to say Hi and to introduce themselves.
It's lovely that you want to support others going through a similar thing and I know that you will get lots of support here through your operation and recovery.
One thing that you could do to make contact with other members is to change your post title from New member to something a little more specific about you and your situation. It just helps people to link up together more easily. You can change the title by clicking on the edit post button (but any problems please do let me know!)
Thanks for the advice, I didn't know where to start really. I didn't think that saying I'm a bit scared and feel really alone so please talk to me someone was a good start! Then again, even with an amazing husband and a supportive family, that is exactly how I feel.
Hi Bird, You've made such a difficult decision. My view is based on hearing a talk given to my hubbies support group for prostate cancer by a genetiologiest (sorry about spelling). She was of the view that as soon as a woman had had her children that double mastetomy was the way to go, better than hoping to catch cancer early by scanning - the cancer had often spread by the time it was picked up. Alarming our local hosp only had funds to scan every two years and not yearly for woman who had a strong family history and a more than 50% chance of getting cancer early in life.
I met a young lady at a 'show and tell' breast reconstruction group who had had a double mastectomy, I think she was only 32, as she said it means never having to worry about sag as she got older and hopefully she will get to she her grandchildren.
Not an easy decision I would think but a very brave one. I wish you all the best, take care, gardenlady.
Firstly what a lovely name! Thank you for coming back to me and making me feel welcome. How is your husband doing? I saw a dear friend of mine yesterday who has had two sets of ops for prostate cancer and he seems remarkably well. He thinks that they have got it all now but it sounds like he went through a lot.
As for me, it is an easy decision because I know what I have to do but it really scares me. I've never let fear stop me but this is a little different! I have three step-children and even from a young age I have never intended on having children of my own. The stupid thing is that having my ovaries removed and going through the menopause seems worse than the mastectomy but that is just me being daft. At 35 I sort of agree with your 32 year old friend, I'll try and get the catalogue and choose a nice pair :)
Hi, Ithis is the first time I have used this site. I am waiting for news about whether I have lung cancer. It's my left lung they have pocked up. I'm not even sure I should be on this site or if it's meant for someone like me who doesn't know the results yet? Thanks.
Hi Bird, My hubbys fine now thanks - 6 years post cancer, still has PSA to check it has not returned, so still looking over our shoulder from time to time. The good thing is that he still gets checked out, as we know how important it is to be picked up early should it return. Glad your friend is through the other side of his cancer.
Have you allready had your ovaries removed? Mastectomy for me was a doddle compared to menopause symptoms - I decided not to have reconstruction so quiet a short op and recovery time for me. Such a personal decision, luckily my hubby is not squeemish about these things!
How far along are you, is your op soon? Take care, gardenlady.
Good to hear that your hubby is ok and yes, looking over your shoulder isn't wonderful but is something you have to do. Just in case.
I have to have an MRI soon just to confirm that I'm OK at the moment. After that I can talk dates - I was thinking January but have to see what the Dr says. I'm lucky in having a husband like yours. He just wants me to be around as long as possible regardless of how I go about doing it. I'll have the second op later, when I'm in my 40s, they told me that was the probably the best way and I want to put the menopause off as long as I can!
Hi Bird, I'm fine now (nobody tells me any different!!) thanks. Don't take my memopause as the norm, everbody is different. Some people I know just walzed through without any HRT others say their not sure how they would cope without it. Does the type of family breast cancer enable you to have HRT when you have your ovaries removed? I was offered this in my early 40s when I had an ovary removed with a large cyst - my other ovary was shrunk from having another large cyst removed from it in my teens. Drs warned I would have a medical menopause - I did not take HRT so can't blame my breast cancer 10 years later on that. I must admitt, I (and my family) did go through several bad years. Wether this was all down to the menopause I'm not sure, lots going on - Both daughters leaving for uni, major work decision to make, husband at work and out a lot in the evening and having problems which I interpreted as relationship problems, silly me! I now know this was a sign of an enlarged prostate gland not doing its job!! The lack of sleep from the hot flushes was so **ackering, just did not cope well. I now take a low dose of an anti=depressent (side effect assist sleep) which has given me back my old self - should have gone to my G.P. earlier, not waited 6 years!!! Never thought that the happy-go-lucky, bubbly me would need help in that area, but I ticked a lot of the G.P.s check list. Homones have so much to answer for. Luckiler my marriage survived.
The side effects from homone treatment for breast cancer are similar to the menopause I'm told. Ironicly either way you won't be avoiding but choosing when, which must feel very strange and scary decision to make. Things will feel a lot better when the result of the MRI are known. I do hope they is nothing of concern, I'll keep everything crossed for you.
