http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion en-us http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/05/07/optional-surgery-or-not-axillary-node-dissection http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/05/07/optional-surgery-or-not-axillary-node-dissection Mon, 07 May 2012 18:06:21 GMT Felicity http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/05/01/aremedex http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/05/01/aremedex Tue, 01 May 2012 17:09:38 GMT Linnypoo http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/05/01/triple-negative-breast-cancer http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/05/01/triple-negative-breast-cancer Tue, 01 May 2012 12:59:13 GMT not2yys http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/04/26/cancer-free http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/04/26/cancer-free Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:56:11 GMT Girl Lee http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/04/21/good-news http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/04/21/good-news
The surgery went well, however I was unable to keep anything down so I had to go to Emerg late last night to get some medication.  Is everyone aware if you are in Ontario and have homecare you can receiveve a medication card for persriptions (only pay $2 per fill)? The nurse in the Emerg informed me of this service, not my access centre.  You just need to request a card through your case manager. This is a huge blessing for us, hope it helps someone else.]]> Sun, 22 Apr 2012 00:44:00 GMT Jen http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/04/18/prosthesis-shopping http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/04/18/prosthesis-shopping http://www.mlam.ca/products/been-a-boob-spirit.  Highly recommended place to anyone looking for post-mastectomy lingerie and breast prosthesis.  Located in Hamilton ON.  

Another place to get unusual prosthesis: http://www.titbits.ca/v1/tb_faq.html

Suzanne]]> Wed, 18 Apr 2012 19:48:15 GMT SueCis http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/04/16/can-someone-ease-my-nerves http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/04/16/can-someone-ease-my-nerves
Tanner]]> Mon, 16 Apr 2012 22:59:40 GMT Tanner http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/04/15/wig-shopping http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/04/15/wig-shopping
Tanner]]> Sun, 15 Apr 2012 13:06:32 GMT Tanner http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/04/13/hamilton---ywca-encore-program http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/04/13/hamilton---ywca-encore-program This program is free to post surgery breast cancer clients. 
It offers gentle floor exercises, followed by a time of group discussion, special guest speakers an pool time (gentle and fun oriented exercise time)  Wear comfortable clothes and bring your bathing suit.  There was an orientation yesterday (April 12). 
If interested, call 905-545-6249, ext. 118

I have registered and do not know anything more about it but I am looking forward to it --- maybe we can get some more out to it ---- it sounds like a great opportunity to have fun together as a group as well as gain some valuable information.]]> Sat, 14 Apr 2012 02:57:18 GMT Joanne_53 http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/04/13/the-verdict-is-in http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/04/13/the-verdict-is-in My nerves were the worst meeting with the chemo medical oncologist and my worst fears were confirmed. I have to have quickly (like next week) very aggressive chemo. I get a dose every 2 weeks ( the usual is every 3) with what he tells me is the best meds that are out there. So, 8 treatments every two weeks. I have to have the pcc catheter put in to take the chemo, sounds so gross I can't even think about it. Anyway, I haven't thrown any medication names out there because quite honestly I have a few days worth of readings here on all the different kinds and what they are doing that I need to wrap my head around it before I can speak of them all. So needless to say this wasn't great news, even after all of this treatment, my percentage odds of getting cancer elsewhere is still to high for my liking but I do feel like I'm in good hands and I'm going to fight this with everything that I have. I am only 37 ( as of April 11th) and I have a 17 year old daughter getting ready for prom, graduation, college. She just left today for a trip to Chicago for a few days. She has health problems too that she is fighting. Actually she has surgery next week. Ugh, but she is a tough cookie as well so I have high hopes that she will be fine. So, that is that for now. I will let you know how my appt next week goes. Fight, fight, fight...]]> Fri, 13 Apr 2012 10:54:41 GMT Tanner http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/04/11/call-for-the-dr http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/04/11/call-for-the-dr Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:26:36 GMT jobkat http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/04/09/angry http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/04/09/angry
I was diagnosed with triple negative invasive ductal carcinoma in Feb 2011. This type of BC accounts for less than 15% of breast cancer diagnoses. The drivers are unknown, so there is the usual treatment is to simply hit it with the full hammer (surgery, chemo and radiation) and cross your fingers. I finished treatment Nov 29, 2011. I had several complications, allergic reactions and still suffer from some issues. I have been quiet for 13 months about how I feel about a number of things and I am hoping I am safe expressing how I feel here.

I can't help but notice the overwhelming dominance of happy, positive and pink-ribbon laden rhetoric in cancerland.  Does anyone also feel angry about the lack of focus on prevention when it comes to cancer? Am I the only one who wonders why there is so much emphasis on "cure" and precious little on "cause"?

I often feel angry about the fact that there are known human carcinigens in the thousands of products that we use and that many of the companies selling these products do so in the name of breast cancer research/fundraising. Am I the only one who feels frsutrated by this? Am I the only one who worries about her child in light of this?  

Despite living in Canada, having provincial health insurance (OHIP in my case), having a  job with benefits, having breast cancer still cost my approximately $20,000. This number is made up of lost income, special treatments, travel, parking, food cost increases due to several food intolerances brought on by chemo, lymphatic therapy and so on. I am in serious debt now. Many are in a much worse financial position than I am.
Am I the only one who is frustrated by the injustice of this?

For me, cancer treatment wasn't a "gift", an experience that "made me a better person" and it certainly wasn't a rite of passage accompanied by loads of pin acoutrements. I do not deny that I have had incredible moments of calrity and earth shaking perception shifts, but it has simultaneously been horrific, painful and awful.

My brain no longer works properly since chemo. It has been 6 months since my last treatment. It is frustrating. I am struggling to see the "positive" side of this side effect of treatment.

Am I the only one that feels this way?

d]]> Tue, 10 Apr 2012 01:56:33 GMT dani http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/04/09/looking-for-advise-have-fibrmyalgia-and-considerin http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/04/09/looking-for-advise-have-fibrmyalgia-and-considerin Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:30:27 GMT hunnyb http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/04/09/looking-to-connect-with-others http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/04/09/looking-to-connect-with-others Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:37:01 GMT Scottie http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/04/03/surgery-overwaiting-for-next-steps http://cancerconnection.ca/groups/breast_cancer_survivors/discussion/2012/04/03/surgery-overwaiting-for-next-steps
I had my partial mastectomy on March 20, it was alot more painful than I had anticipated but it is starting to feel better now. I find that I still need to put some ice on the area because it is still swollen. I got my pathology report last week and I am happy to say that the margins were clear and both lymph nodes were negative.
I was referred to the Cancer Clinic and I am now just waiting to get my appointments for the next leg of my journey. My surgeon seems to think that I will definitely need radiation but will let the medical oncologist decide whether I need chemo or not. All this waiting is really hard!]]> Tue, 03 Apr 2012 12:51:22 GMT Rachel