Breast Cancer

Join the Conversation on
Breast Cancer
58.5K people
0 stories
913 posts
About Breast Cancer
Explore Our Newsletters
What's New in Breast Cancer
All
Stories
Posts
Videos
Latest
Trending
Post

20 year breast cancer survivor

Having cancer was intimidating for me as I went through it primarily by myself. I hated all the male doctors touching me all over. My secret dream was that more women would go into cancer related surgery, treatments etc.

1 reaction
Post
See full photo

I’m okay

So earlier this week, one of my breasts turn bright red with a rash, and I’m already a survivor of three crazy things that happened four years ago, including breast cancer. So I had three days of terror that I had the most aggressive form of inflammatory breast cancer. No sleep. Husband couldn’t sleep and I found this group. Made the appointment and went to see my doctor. I’m OK.

it’s just a rash. And then last night I woke up the night with gas pain, heartburn and pain in the chest cavity. Being an aortic dissection survivor, you can’t get more triggered than that kind pain. So I just laid there and felt gratitude that my breast is fine. My aorta is fine, but I need to acknowledge that these triggering episodes are real and they’re hard. #heart #Cancers #PTSD

(edited)
9 reactions 2 comments
Post
See full photo

📚The Names They Gave Us” by Emery Lord 📚

I read a great book recently called “The Names They Gave Us”. It’s a young-adult book, but I would consider it a great read for adults as well. My grandmother had metastatic breast cancer, so I was really able to empathize with the characters.

When it all falls apart, who can you believe in? Everything is going right for Lucy Hansson, until her mom’s cancer reappears. Just like that, Lucy breaks with all the constants in her life: her do-good boyfriend, her steady faith, even her longtime summer church camp job. Instead, Lucy lands at a camp for kids who have been through tough times. As a counselor, Lucy is in over her head and longs to be with her parents across the lake. But that’s before she gets to know her coworkers, who are as loving and unafraid as she so desperately wants to be. It’s not just new friends that Lucy discovers at camp—more than one old secret is revealed along the way. In fact, maybe there’s much more to her family and her faith than Lucy ever realized.

#themightyreaders #BreastCancer #Cancer #Trauma #Christianity

(edited)
4 reactions
Post

#Bipolar #MentalHealth #Anxiety #ADHD #PTSD #PostpartumDisorders #Cyclothymia Nighttime Brain Dump

My life is so stressful and chaotic. I personally suffer with #Cyclothymia #Bipolar #Anxiety #ADHD #PTSD #PostpartumDisorders #Adjustment Disorder with #attachmenttrauma
I also suffer from #Co -depenency
My current husband has #NarcissisticPersonalityDisorder
#BorderlinePersonalityDisorder .
My Mom has #Bipolar and My Dad has #Bipolar and #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder
I believe I was born as an Angel and a Child of God. I’m Christian. At 5 and 6 years old I was physically abused by my Uncle. At 14 years old, I had to pack my bags and be taken away from my Mom who was #Manic at the time. She has attempted suicide several times by pills. The last attempt was November 2023. My sister, was diagnosed with #BreastCancer November 2023. November is also my birthday month. My best friend, Ashley, died from a head on collision on the freeway from a Drunk Driver, on my birthday, at 19 years old.
I come from a long history of abuse and trauma. In High School, my Dad and Stepmom would lock up food and other essentials in their room. They withheld food from us. I have food scarcity issues to this day. On May 4, 2023 I found out that my Husband of 13 years had been cheating on me throughout our relationship and marriage. I got a Restraining Order for Emotional Abuse. My only child and I were in hiding for about 6 weeks until my court hearing that my husband filed for Emergency Custody Rights and Legal Separation. He filed in the paperwork that I was Unstable, not taking my medication, and supervised visits. He wanted to pay me zero spousal support and zero Child support. We settled out of court in June 2023, the day before the hearing. My husband was an #Alcohoic and #Addiction to bad behaviors. He lied, cheated, and spent money that was supposed to support the family. To say I’m devastated is an understatement.
My #MentalHealth is suffering because I am still in the same house, in the same bed, with my Husband.
How can I go on like this?
I’ve never been suicidal but I’m exhausted. I’m current seeing my Psychiatrist and Therapist for treatment. I’m even doing IV #ketamine Treatments.
I know I deserve better in so many ways. Any ideas or suggestions on how to move on from here? I’m suffering even though I know I deserve a life that is better. 🙏

3 reactions 1 comment
Post
See full photo

Communicating with loved ones who've passed? Who knows.

I found this glare/white light on this image after I had taken it.

Just before I was taking pictures of the art on the wall made by my fiancee and some by her mom.

We had spent the day hanging the diamond paintings she makes.

Later when I was alone I wanted to get some pictures of the finished displays.

I was talking to the spirit of her mom just before this picture, just saying things like "you'd be real proud of her" and "she misses you a lot".

I know it's not really a 'ghost' but it is a pretty cool coincidence that this random trick of light appears after saying some positive things into the atmosphere about her mom and her (and touching something her mom made).

Doesn't matter what it is, I thought it was a cool picture and it gave me a positive emotion when I saw it. Proud I was able to help my fiancee in her therapy a bit too.#Grief #Caregiving #BreastCancer

1 reaction
Post

5 Young Adult Books Featuring Characters With #Cancer

Being diagnosed with #Cancer is really hard. Finding a book with characters to “guide you” along the way shouldn’t be. So here are 5 YA books featuring characters with #Cancer :

1.”Ask My Mood Ring How I Feel” by Diana Lopez

This read combines the challenges of growing up, Tex-Mex culture, with facing a mother’s cancer diagnosis and how to cope. The author’s aunt was diagnosed with #BreastCancer , so readers should hopefully find this might align with some of their experiences (I hope). It’s the summer before eighth grade, and Erica “Chia” Montergo is feeling so many things that she needs a mood ring to keep track of her emotions. She's happy when she hangs out with her best friends, the Robins. She's jealous that her genius little sister, who has #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder , skipped two grades. And when Erica's mom is diagnosed with #BreastCancer , she feels worried and doesn't know what she can do to help. When her family visits a miracle room in a famous church, Erica decides to make a promise to God in exchange for her mom's health. As her mom gets sicker, Erica quickly learns that juggling family, friends, school, and fulfilling a promesa is stressful, but with a little bit of hope and a lot of love, she just might be able to figure it out.

2.”Brave Enough” by Kati Gardner

Author Kati Gardner tells her story authentically, as she had a #LimbAmputation and #Cancer . *This might be triggering for readers who are battling addiction. Teenager Cason Martin is the youngest ballerina in the Atlanta Ballet Conservatory. She never really had a choice of whether she learned to dance or not. Her mother, the conservatory's artistic director, has made all the decisions in Cason's life. But that's about to change. Cason has been hiding an injury, and it's much worse than anyone imagines. Davis Channing understands all too well what it's like to give up control of your life. He's survived #Cancer , but his drug #Addiction nearly killed him. Now he's been sober for seven months and enjoying his community service at the hospital. But just when he thinks he's got it together, Davis's ex-girlfriend, who is still battling her #Addiction , barrels back into his life. Cason and Davis are not friends. But, as their worlds collide, they will start to depend on one another. Can they both be brave enough to beat the odds?

3.”Finding Balance” by Kati Gardner

Jase Ellison doesn’t remember having #AcuteLymphoblasticLeukemia when he was three years old. His #Cancer diagnosis only enters his mind twice a year. Once at his yearly checkup at the oncology clinic and when he attends Camp Chemo in the summer. No one in his “real” life knows about his past, especially his friends at Atlanta West Prep. Mari Manos has never been able to hide her #Cancer survivorship. She wakes every morning, grabs her pink forearm clip crutches, and starts her day. Mari loves Camp Chemo—where she’s developed a healthy crush on fellow camper Jase. At Camp, she knows that she’ll never get “the look” or have to explain her #LimbAmputation to anyone. Jase wants to move on, to never reveal his past. But when Mari transfers to his school, he knows she could blow his cover. That’s the last thing he wants, but he also cannot ignore his attraction to her. For Mari, she only wants to be looked at like a girl, a person, and not only known for her #Disability . But how do you move on from cancer when the world won’t let you?

You can find author Kati Gardner’s blog at authorkati.com.

4.”The Fault In Our Stars” by John Green

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at #Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten. Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green's most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.#LungCancer

5.”Don’t Die, My Love” by Lurlene McDaniel

Julie Ellis and Luke Muldenhower have always been school sweethearts. Now both are in high school and deeply in love. Luke, a talented football player, is almost certain to receive an athletic scholarship to a top college. And no matter what her parents say, wherever Luke goes, Julie intends to follow. When Luke can't shake what he thinks is a virus, Julie persuades him to see a doctor. Luke's test results are alarming, but Julie believes their love is stronger than anything. Can love survive, now and forever?

I hope that every reader can find a book to relate to in this list 💞

#themightyreaders #Cancer

(edited)
4 reactions 2 comments
Post

I’m switching Chemo Drs, I’ve had enough

During this time where I’m going through chemo should be stress free as possible. What happens when the oncology Dr and staff is your stress point?

It all started with the day before my first (only so far) chemo treatment. I was called at 2:35 pm, the nurse saying I have to go the hospital right now and get labs completed. What. I never travel up to that area past 1pm. Traffic is horrendous. Well I toughed it out and went and got them. The next morning, Wednesday, we show up for my first treatment, sign in and sit down. A lady comes out and tells me “I dont know how this happened but I didn’t schedule you to come in to get a tour, answer questions, tell you about labs and give you this notebook”. Then hands is to me. Hubster and I were like, ok.

During chemo treatment the Oncologist comes in does his talk, saying he’ll prescribe anti nausea medication for home. I reminded the nurse about it cause I checked my pharmacy before we left, no rx phoned in. She said he’d do it by the end of the day. Friday comes. Still no anti nausea medication. I call the office leaving a message about the medication and my increased migraines since treatment. No call back that day. Saturday morning he calls. Tells me to call my neurologist regarding migraines. Said he call in anti nausea meds and a rinse for the thrush I’m fighting.

Now we’re on Thursday (8 days since treatment) and I call again in the morning. Where’s the rinse and the anti nausea medicine? No call Thursday or Friday. No medication phoned in.

Besides all that mess. Treatment morning I stated I have rides to chemo but not to these labs before every appointment. She was real dramatic about how they “could” do it BUT a staff member would have to drive it over to the hospital. Her tone made it clear to my hubster and me that it was very discouraged.

All of this is causing me such anxiety and stress.

I called another cancer place under the same Piedmont umbrella today asking if they’d take me on. Monday I have to call and have my records sent over to them. In the meantime I’m to go to my next treatment on Tuesday the 27th.

I really hope they take me. A plus is they have on site labs, hematologist and more

Anyone else experience things like this? What would you do?

#Cancer #BreastCancer

(edited)
4 reactions 1 comment