Friend's DD diagnosed with breast cancer & about to start chemo - any tips on how to cope?

[misspiggy]

My friend's DD aged 27 was diagnosed approx 3 weeks ago and starts her chemo next week.

She has had lots of support from her MacMillan nurse and has also been in touch with the Lavender Trust but does anyone know where else to look for help or information on the best way to deal with chemo and the other issues she is trying to deal with such as possible loss of fertility due to the treament?

Any help would be much appreciated. TIA

Bump

most areas have local support groups. Try BACUP online I think they're very good and may link to local groups. ALso try Breast Cancer Care charity, have heard good things about them too.

This organisation is great Cancer support

Hope you find the support and strength you need for your friend.

Hi there

Just wanted to acknowledge your post and say how sorry I am to hear your news. My sis was diagnosed at 31 and had a mastectomy and lots of chemo - she's now 35 and has just started ttc.

I think a lot depends on the type of cancer and the treatments you're given. If it's DCIS, I understand the recovery rate is excellent, however my sis's was a more invasive strain and had progressed more - they give you a scale of 1-5 - she was in the middle. She took tamoxifen for two years (think they advise 4 or 5, but she wanted to start a family and was told the first two years are the most crucial for preventing recurrence). So far, so good, in that it hasn't come back and her AF is virtually back to normal.

She found the Lavender Trust good, and I think she also found Cancer Backup very useful. I think they both have talkboards where you can exchange info with others.

There may also be something local in her area - wherabouts is she?

I do hope all goes well - 27 seems so young for all this. However, I think there are a lot of positive stories around.

So sorry not to have come back to this before now - the last few days have been horrendously busy at work where I do most of my posting from.

Thanks so much for your replies, I will pass them on to my friend when I see her this week.

Frieda - so pleased that your sister is doing well and TTC. I think in a strange way the fertility question may have been one of her biggest concerns when friend's DD was making a decision on the treatment.

Her tumour is enclosed in a "capsule" (is this DCIS? - I know very little about this subject) which is apparently good in that they are hopeful it won't have spread. 27 does seem so young for this doesn't it, but hopefully as she is young and healthy her age will be on her side.

Thanks again for replying everyone.

my uncle had Lymphoma (sp?) so although not the same as BC he had to have extensive chemo.

he is now 4 yeras into remission and doing well.

his top tip for surviving the chemo was Guiness...when he could keep it down.

Its very rich in iron aparantly and because the chemo makes you feel so ill you dont eat much so if you can stomach it the Guiness provieds you with some important minerals apparantly.....even his nurses approved.

In a capsule does sound very much like DCIS, so her chances are very good indeed (not that I imagine that makes much difference when you're 28 and facing breast cancer). There have been a few threads on here by breast cancer survivors TTC, and supportive posts by people who have gone on to have children. I hope all goes really well

When I worked on an old people's ward the doctors often prescribed Guinness if a patient wasn't eating (it was a very happy ward after Drs Rounds! )but I hadn't thought of it in this case so thanks for that BATtymumma - love the halloween name BTW!

I really hope so taMummy - thanks for your good wishes.