Community Connection: Ovarian Cancer Canada is looking for volunteers! Could you help?
OVdialogue – consider joining our team in the role of Peer Support Volunteer. Over a few hours each week, you would be part of a team that helps connect people, support conversations and are thought leaders for OVdialogue. This is your opportunity to give back to those who have/continue to support you through the tough times, share your unique experiences, and help celebrate successes. For more details of what this entails, please reach out to @Mfallis ([email protected]).
OVdialogue – consider joining our team in the role of Peer Support Volunteer. Over a few hours each week, you would be part of a team that helps connect people, support conversations and are thought leaders for OVdialogue. This is your opportunity to give back to those who have/continue to support you through the tough times, share your unique experiences, and help celebrate successes. For more details of what this entails, please reach out to @Mfallis ([email protected]).
Intermittent breast discomfort during treatment cycle
Hello! I’m new to this group but don’t feel like I’m new to ovarian cancer anymore. I was diagnosed Stage 3 in April 2023. Had 3 cycles of pac NAB/carbo pre surgery, surgery done, & am now mid-cycle of my 6 post surg treatments. Everything is responding as it should. I was supposed to have intra-peritoneal chemo but my port was unfortunately a flop so have switched to a yearish maintenance of bevacizumab. Other than a case of COVID at the moment, I feel well & healthy.
I have the usual chemo side effects…upset stomach, constipation then diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fatigue & oh those aching legs & joints! I go to reflexology before & after treatment & it works wonders. Also a magnesium rub & CBD oil as needed.
My question is does any one have breast discomfort, much like maybe laying wrong on it, sometime in the chemo cycle & then disappears? I only found a discussion on this once on an American Cancer Society forum. I have it same place every time for the last 3 cycles. Don’t worry, I will be asking my FPO or my oncologist. My chemo brain forgot the last time. I’m 62 yrs old so menopause happened long ago so can’t blame on that.
Thanks to any of my teal sisters who can add some insight. 🩵
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@leanfries Hello and welcome to the group. Thank you for your post. I had only one cycle of chemo 2 yrs ago and am LGSC. I will leave this to the HGSC ladies to answer. If no answer is found here, would you be so kind to post what you are told at your next appt? It may help someone else currently or in the future.
Where in Canada are you located?
Sorry to hear you have CoVid. Are the symptoms mild in nature for you?
It is a bummer what we go through both pre and post surgery and chemo. How are you doing with the physical and emotional/mental symptoms? Have you continued with the reflexology now that you are finished?
So many questions I ask...only to get to know you better.
If you would like to share, of course.0 -
@leanfries Good Morning, I am checking in to see if you were able to glean any info on your question you were posing. If you have, do you mind sharing with the group?
How are you doing these days? Have the CoVid symptoms gone away now? How has that left you feeling?0 -
@Strongwoman
hello! Sorry for the wait to reply but wanted to get my information first. So I’m in Brandon, Manitoba. My oncology team is located in Winnipeg but we have an amazing & beautiful CancerCare center here in Brandon where I have treatments & am supervised by a family physician trained in oncology.I got over COVID quickly thanks to 3 IV treatments of remdesivir. I think also because I went to emergency as soon as I tested positive & got the ant-viral on board, it lessened symptoms. I was negative in 6 days & symptom free. Everyone was doing their best so I didn’t have to delay my chemo!So I saw my FPO this Monday & had a breast exam. Breast pain is not a usual chemo side effect. She has requisitioned a mammogram as can feel a little,what seems to be,fibroid. I do have a history of breast fibroids - have had one removed previously - & had to have my uterus removed due to them. At this time, there is no sense getting upset with the unknown.We all know you can have more than one cancer but that would be 3 so no thank you. Lol! I have a very small & so far stable, neuroendocrine tumour in the head of my pancreas. Protocol is just monitoring at this time & hope it stays same. Ovarian trumps all for treatment.I’m sorry I can’t give you any more specific medical info about my cancer besides I’m stage 3. Genetics are neg. It’s not that I’m keeping my head in the sand but my approach was it doesn’t matter, I’m beating this no matter what. I know all the pertinent information, the spread, surgical results, etc. & have actually requested all my records for after my last chemo cycle. It’s odd for me because I’m a researcher. My oncologist at my 1st appointment told me they had hope & that’s all I needed. 🩵I completed chemo 7 of 9 this Wednesday! 2 more than on a 21 day maintenance cycle for a year. My oncologists say back to work in spring/summer depending on my side effects from the maintenance. I love my job, clients & co-workers so can hardly wait!
Thanks for reaching out. Everyone stay strong!
Leanne0 -
@leanfries Hello and thank you for your response. It does sound like you have HGSC. It may be in your clinical notes/testing that you have requested. It will help to know for sure though. That way your research into possible treatment options/clinical trials is more successful.
Thankful that you were looked at and further testing is being obtained. I have my fingers crossed that the neuroendocrine tumour stays as it is and maintains its current size.
It sounds like you are getting closer and closer to finishing up the chemo cycles. I bet that will be a relief in many ways. The 21 day cycle may seem like a breeze in comparison. It sounds like the glimmer of returning to work next year has you excited and determined. That is great and a wonderful goal to set. It will give you incentive (not that you need it) to get to where you want to be. I, too, (at times) miss my job, colleagues and clients and other times I am very content where I am at. It will be nice for you to return to work.
Take care and hope you have a nice weekend.0
