Welcome to the forum that nobody really wants to join. I am so sory to hear about your secondary diagnosis. Is this your first diagnosis or have you previously been diagnosed with primary cancer?
You will find this site hepful to support you as you travel your cancer journey. There is always someone here to talk to whenever you feel the need.
thank you for your kind and helpful reply. Unfortunately this is my second diagnosis as I had breast cancer in 2014 and was then in remission. I was a bit shocked to get a second diagnosis so quickly but treatment is already started working.
How about you? Is this your first diagnosis? If so, I hope you are not feeling too scared.
I think this is a good idea for anyone who really has no support or feels unable to worry family members.
No, this is my second bout too. I was first diagnosed 7 years ago and had a lumpectomy followed by Tamoxifen. I was told that my particular cancer was a very rare form – only 1% of people get it and I was fortunate that it was a non-aggressive type. You could have knocked me for six when I found another lump in the same breast almost a year to the day of the first, but fortunately it was another primary. This time I had a double mastectomy and then took Letrozole for 5 years. I have a lot of other co-morbidities, so it has been a rough ride.
My Mum also died of breast cancer after fighting it for 12 years. I nursed her to the end and have been involved in caring for other family members and close friends too.
This is a great site for talking to people who have first-hand experience of what you are going through. It is good to have somewhere to turn to outside the family circle. With the best will in the world family do not always appreciate what we are feeling and we don’t want to worry them any more than we have to.
I'm really sorry to hear that you had a secondary diagnosis so quickly. After going through surgery and chemo, you kind of expect to be free of it for a few years. You've certainly had a tough time and nursing your own mother with breast cancer for so many years.
My cancer is treatable but not 100% curable so at the beginning I had a few 'dark days', mainly because I was scared of leaving my two boys (college & school ages), without a mum. However I decided to change my diet and eat as healthily as I could in the hope that it will help keep it at bay for a few extra years.
I am lucky and have a very supportive family but there are times, as you say, when some thoughts and feelings you have to keep to yourself.
I am currently on round 5 of 18 weekly chemo sessions and so far it seems to be having a positive effect so I'm keeping hopeful.
Thank you for sharing your story with me. You've been incredibly brave and sound like a very strong person so I hope you, too, can continue to beat this terrible disease.
Fortunately, I didn't have a secondary, both of my cancers were primaries.Like so many on this site, I dread the day that I am diagnosed with secondaries. This is why it is you who is the brave one in all this.
I am glad to hear that a change in diet has been beneficial. What sort of changes have you made? I sincerely hope that they continue to work and keep you here with your two boys for many years to come.
I understand that although the chemo cannot cure you it can halt the growth of further metastesees and hope that it does what it says on the tin.
I am glad to hear that you have good family support, just remember that there is always someone here to discuss the things that you don't want to burden family with.
Thinking of you as you complete your chemo and praying for success.
i decided to change my diet by eating as healthily as I could - lots more fruit and vegetables. Apples are supposed to be really good. The good old cliche of 'an apple a day .... ' is a good start. Lots of fruit juice and homemade smoothies. I've also tried staying away from dairy products I.e., changed over to rice milk, and milk free products. I don't know if it'll be the miracle cure but I don't think it can harm to be as healthy as possible. If felt if I was only putting good things in my body instead of products doused in chemicals and pesticides then it can only be a bonus. I also try to use as much organic food as possible too.
I had good news from my oncologist today that my body is responding well to the chemo. I've still got quite a few more yet but so far it's going in the right direction.
Thanks again and I pray that you too manage to keep your illness at bay.
I have made similar changes to my diet and must say that I feel much better for it. I haven't changed to rice milk, but I take black tea and coffee, so it wouldn't change things much. I have always cooked home made meals and seldom use convenience foods. Instead of refusing to eat vegetables, my children have always fought to finish off any veg that was left.
We have also always eaten a lot of fruit, but I have increased this in the last couple of years. I don't have too many smoothies because I am trying to lose weight, but I do drink a lot of fresh orange and lemon juice.
I am really glad to hear your good news toay - you must feel very relieved.
Long may things continue to move in the right direction!
