I have been battling breast cancer (ER+ PR+ Her2- no BRCA) since June 2024. I found out I was pregnant a month before in May 2024. I got my mastectomy with my daughter in utero July 2024. Started AC September till November. I gave birth in December and then started taxol February 5, 2025. My husband and I are soooo busy with our kids. I’m a walking toxin so I haven’t had sex in 8 weeks (I know we can use condoms but we don’t like them.) recently I’ve been binge eating cookies at night and other snacks. He made a rule that no snacks in bed. So I ate snacks in the couch and fell asleep last night. I woke up and all my cookies were crushed in the sink. He didn’t apologize. He went to a meeting and then came upstairs and told me that he’s sorry he threw away my cookies, however, “I’m starting to lose physical attraction to you.” I’m dealing with no boob, losing my hair. I don’t know who I am. I feel awful.

Edit; also on meds to help stimulate my appetite.

Also haven’t had sex in 8 weeks because of the Taxol making me a walking toxin.

Got diagnosed with colonic cancer last week out of no where. There are zero symptoms. I am getting admitted tomorrow to the hospital for surgery to remove part of the large intestine. Further treatment to follow including chemotherapy.

I am 43 and diabetic but under good control. Have a 9 year old kid.

Please let me know what to expect. What are the dos and don’ts.

Trying my bloody best to stay optimistic

I learned that I have blood clots and will have to live with blood thinners. Has anyone with blood clots from the beginning had a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placed on your arm instead of a Mediport placement in your chest or did your doctor allowed you to go straight to having the port placement? I have not started chemo yet.

1. They are based on previous 5 years generally, or even beyond that since takes a lot of time and effort to put such a study together after those 5 years patients are identified, since dozens or 100s of hospitals to gather info from, and often death certificates have to be reviewed. This means that median survival of the group of people diagnosed today is certainly higher than those people diagnosed 5-6 years ago, since treatments improve. There are too many cancers and stages to use a blanket rule, but for say stage 2 of many cancers median survival could be improved by years (ie will now be years longer than you read). Or put another way the percent of people who achieve 5 years will be higher. Likely less improvement for those cancers with already high survival rates like early stages of many cancers, including colon, prostate, breast, lymphoma, and others, since harder to improve on excellent.

2. Most of the time the statistics are based on "overall survival" aka "total survival" aka "observed survival", and not "disease specific survival." The difference is that "overall survival" considers people with a certain cancer who die of anything in the next 5 years, even car accidents. For the disease specific survival the rates are probably low by 10-20 percent (of the % of people who make it 5 years). Example, if 5 year median overall survival is 50% (ie half of people survive 5 years), then disease specific 5 year survival is likely 55-60%. Varies a lot, and a big factor is older people develop cancer more frequently than young people, and they often die of other stuff obviously...heart disease etc.

Mentions "car accidents.":

https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/health-and-medicine/survival-rates-cancer

PLEASE NOTE: Please only respond to this post if you have either gone back on an ORAL or PATCH form of estrogen or are considering it. Thank you.

I had a 1a ER positive breast cancer removed in October last year. I have been completely miserable since I’ve been off my estrogen patch. I have numerous related health problems that are not responding to the Band-Aid approach to treating them.

I would love to hear from other breast cancer survivors who went back onto their estrogen pills or patches, and how you found a doctor to prescribe it.

I have been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma. I have a tumor on my lymph node in my neck and in an unbelievable amount of pain tonight. I dont know if ill make it through the night without putting a bulket in my head

Hello. I am 24 and after a d&c I got a call from my Obgyn saying I have cancer cells in my uterus. I wasn’t given much information but was told I needed an appointment with an oncologist for further testing. I do have an upcoming appointment with my ob in a few days to go over my d&c. And I have to wait until the only oncologist in my area calls me back for an appointment. I just have so many questions I’m sitting with. What should I expect to hear? What are my steps? Would I have to have another surgery for samples? How long will the process of testing alone take? When will I find out? What do I do if it is malignant? Can I have children? Can anyone please help me? I cry everyday because I’m so worried about my unanswered questions

Starting on Tuesday, and I'm not sure how I feel about it since I’ve never experienced anything like this before.

I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma (Classic, Stage 4), and I have a PICC line, which I got three days ago.

I know everyone’s journey is different, but I can’t help feeling stressed and worried about what lies ahead.

I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences with chemo or other treatments.

Just finished six rounds of chemo for Non Hodgkin’s lymphoma, my eyes started burning after round three. Literally every minute of being awake my eyeballs are burning. Manageable but not pleasant. I get PICC line dressing changes every week (one left!) and all the nurses state they have never heard of that happening. My eyelashes mostly fell out, I guess it could be that. Anyone else have this happen and have any insight (no pun intended). Thanks!

I 29f completed 5 cycles of immunotherapy (nivolumab) before having treatment pulled due to excessive side effects. I know immunotherapy can affect your allergies and oh my god has it been kicked my butt.

The last month and a half or so my normal allergies have been awful. Dogs, cats, pollen, etc. I haven’t had a clear breath since January (CT and chest X-rays are all clear, I promise it’s just allergies lol) and I’m losing my mind.

I did two rounds of antibiotics when they thought it was a stubborn sinus infection. I have an inhaler now to help clear the mucous out of my lungs/airways. I take Zyrtec and a prescription grade nasal spray every day and nothing helps.

I’m so congested and I’m losing my mind!!!

Hi everyone!! My fiance has squamous cell in his tonsils and currently under going both chemo and radiation. He also had to have his teeth removed for the procedure so eating has been difficult. We knew he would lose his sense of taste. He currently can't taste anything at all and he's always wanting to eat. Some of the nurses and doctors have told us a few different things to try and help with water, baking soda, and salt but it hasn't really helped. I know it's a long shot but was wondering if someone else had some remedies that may help. We know it's a slim chance but it never hurts to ask. Thanks again!

My mom was diagnosed with large B cell lymphoma and she just had her first chemo treatment. She has 5 more treatments to go, spaced 3 weeks apart. The reception at the infusion clinic warned us that chemo is very expensive. My mom has Medicare Advantage insurance so she will have a 20% coinsurance. She doesn't have a Medigap supplement plan. I was told that 20% can end up being very costly. My mother's only monthly income is social security and a small IRA disbursement. Are there any resources to assist with chemo costs? Does anyone have an idea how much each chemo treatment will cost?

The symptoms I started experiencing shortly after finding the tumor (rhabdomyosarcoma) didnt disappear after successful treatment.

I've seen numerous rheumatologists and neurologists including a neuromuscular specialist and they're only guess is it has something to do with cancer but my oncologist was previously unfamiliar with it as well. The tests that seek to detect specific blood markers are also largey unavailable in my country (Canada). Any similar stories or recommendations?

Hi all—posting here for advice, perspective, or just to get this into the air because it’s been a long, awful road and we’re trying to move forward.

(this is putting a year-long saga into a tiny nutshell)

My partner was diagnosed with a mixed germ cell tumor in February 2024 following an orchiectomy at a local hospital. Based on that pathology, he received four rounds of BEP chemo, experienced permanent lung damage from the bleomycin, and underwent thoracic surgery to remove tumors from his lungs.

The treatment was brutal—he couldn’t work, lost his job, and has dealt with serious fatigue and depression since. One of the drugs (bleomycin) permanently damaged his lung function. After chemo, and a major lung surgery, there was a suspicious lesion on his pubic bone, and the new plan was to move forward with high-dose chemo with autologous stem cell rescue. The prognosis was bleak. So we sought a second opinion.

That’s when everything changed.

We went to Mayo Clinic. Their team reanalyzed the original orchiectomy and bone biopsy pathology and found that both diagnoses were wrong. The dominant tumor wasn't a testicular cancer—it was a primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET), a rare sarcoma. This means the chemo he received was not appropriate for the disease, and we lost a year on the wrong treatment plan. That year will probably cost him his life.

That was confirmed again by MD Anderson today, when they confirmed the original pathology was wrong, and where we’re now trying to pursue the correct care. PNET is extremely rare, and treatment options are limited and time-sensitive—so we’re racing to make up for lost time.

Since learning about the misdiagnosis, we’ve:

• Filed a formal grievance with the hospital system
• Been escalated to the hospital's general counsel
• Been passed to the general counsel for the malpractice insurer for the pathology group (the hospital used an outside pathology group, even tho the address for the Path group is the same address as the hospital)
• And now, passed again to the personal attorney of the pathologist who signed off on the misdiagnosis

We’ve contacted multiple medmal attorneys, but earlier in the process (even with Mayo’s findings), we were told the case was “too complex” or “difficult to prove”. Now that it’s been escalated through multiple legal channels and we have documented confirmation from two world-class institutions, we’re trying to re-engage legal help—but still haven’t found someone to take it.

My partner is still dealing with serious medical and financial consequences. We can’t afford to keep flying around the country for consultations, but we also can’t ignore what’s happened. We’re trying to pursue a settlement just to get him the care he needs to survive, and to care for him as his disease progresses.

If anyone has been through something similar, works in medmal law, or has advice on how to keep pushing—we’re all ears. We’re not interested in vengeance, just resolution and healing. He wants the hospital/pathology group to be held accountable, so that hopefully they don't miss this the next time it appears. I will do anything I can to get him the care he needs and keep him healthy as long as possible. He's only 33.

Thanks for reading.

Getting CRS/HIPEC in a couple weeks but the local pharmacies do not have the HIB vaccine. Where did you get one? Losing my spleen.

Are any of you taking Modafinil to help with the fatigue associated with Keytruda?

I have fatigue, along with ADHD, which is untreated.

My psychiatric nurse practitioner offered me Modafinil, but I’m reading that there’s a rare risk of developing Steven’s-Johnson Syndrome from it. While I wouldn’t be too concerned, I know that Keytruda is also associated with a rare risk of developing Steven’s-Johnson Syndrome.

Do you think that using them together would increase the risk even more (vs using one by itself)? I’m also on Entyvio.

Unfortunately, my oncologist doesn’t have too much information or guidance regarding this. I figured that I’d reach out on her to see if any of you have taken, or take both in conjunction together?

Thank you 🙏🙏

Hi everyone! I (28M) was diagnosed with stage 4 Burkitt's Lymphoma last July. I went through 6 rounds of very aggressive chemo and I am now considered to be in remission. My question is for those that have gone through long rounds of chemo: When did you get your energy back?

My last round of chemo was in December (4 months ago), and I am still exhausted all the time. I have gotten some energy back, but I'm still tired a lot and can pretty much sleep all day if I let myself. I'm interested in your stories and experiences with chemo in the matter. Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I’m a 27F who was diagnosed with a rare type of T cell lymphoma in May of last year. In November 2024 I was in remission. But I relapsed in January. Now, I face getting an allo SCT from an unrelated 10/10 donor.

I’m terrified. I signed those consent papers and just felt the world crashing down on me. I’m hoping to hear some words of encouragement, or success stories. I feel the best I’ve ever felt since diagnosis, and it’s hard to know that will soon get taken away from me. I’m in remission right now but my oncologist says this is the best way for cure. I just don’t even know how to feel. I’m scared. I have some hope, but the statistics scare me. I just don’t know.

I had initial symptoms including bloating, generalized stomach pain, and postprandial pain, leading to a suspected H. Pylori infection in December 2024, which tested positive. Treatment with triple therapy began in January 2025, with some initial symptom improvement, but bloating persisted.

Additional symptoms such as constipation developed in March 2025, Despite testing negative for H. Pylori, symptoms worsened, leading to severe back pain, difficulty breathing, and some chills. An abdominal ultrasound revealed ascites, resulting in emergency hospitalization and paracentesis to drain the fluit from abdomen area. It was quite a big buildup... about 2.5L fluid.

Further tests, including CT scans, blood work, and an upper GI endoscopy, were conducted and all came without any sign of worry. Ultimately, fluid analysis revealed cancer in the GI tract.

Immunohistochemical stains performed on the cell block are positive for Ber-EP4, ESA, cytokeratin-7, cytokeratin-20, and CDX2 and negative for calretinin, WT1, PAX8, and TTF-1 in the groups of atypical cells.

Calretinin and WT1 appropriately react with clusters of and single mesothelial cells. A PAS with diastase histochemical stain performed on the cell block is suggestive of intracytoplasmic glandular mucin in rare atypical cells. These morphologic and immunohistochemical findings support an adenocarcinoma of gastrointestinal or pancreaticobiliary origin.

I met a oncologist yesterday and he ordered PET/CT for me. The oncologist referred the radiologist with remarks "INTRAHEPATIC BILE DUCT CARCINOMA" for PET/CT. As cancer cells were present in abdomen fluid, by definition its stage 4 (has spread beyond its original location to other parts of the body). My previous CT scan (from last week) were very clear and no evidence of cancer in lymph nodes.

Lymph Nodes: No lymphadenopathy in the abdomen or pelvis.

All my other body stats, including liver function tests, are normal. However, I feel that doctors/providers sometimes present potential health concerns as more severe than they actually are, possibly to avoid legal risks. Given my overall normal results, should I be genuinely concerned about this issue, or is it more of a precautionary measure? How can I better interpret my results to understand if this is truly a cause for concern?

My husband has stage 4 esophageal cancer. This month is 3 years since diagnosis. He's had chemo and Immunotherapy and overall has responded well. He's had periods of NED but it always comes back. August and November had NED scans and then February scan showed cancer back in his stomach and "diffuse peritoneal carcinomatosis" His oncologist refuses to talk about prognosis. He has bloating, abdominal pain, fatigue and just general all over pain. Just this week they put him back on chemo (he's never been off immunotherapy). Irinotecan only because he can't tolerate the side effects from oxaliplatin, folfox, folfiri, etc. He is not interested in a prognosis but I need to know what to expect. I know everyone is different and will respond different to treatment but I need to be prepared for whatever may happen. I am terrified but the constant wondering is killing me. I would appreciate any shared experiences including time frames. I'm so sorry for anyone who has had to experience this.

Getting a CT scan with contrast in a few weeks. I remember after my first time feeling pretty nauseous and tired the rest of the day. Anyone have any solutions? I would like to be somewhat functional the rest of the day.

Has anyone dealt with potential thymic hyperplasia? I am 27F, my last treatment was May 2024. I did 6 rounds on chemo for Non Hodgkin’s with a mediastinal mass

I have terminal brain cancer (Astrocytoma) & spinal tumours. Plus I was diagnosed with diabetes later on. I was in the Ambulance Service before my diagnosis. The one thing I learned was never give up & keep fighting on. Live life day by day...