Information for ALL Breast Cancer Patients
Including a mastectomy, lumpectomy or breast reconstructions
If you are reading this then you have been diagnosed with breast cancer and either facing or already going through treatments.
That’s usually stressful, scary and one of life’s biggest challenges for you to face…
whether you are expecting to recover or if sadly, your news is not so good.
Research has proved that to make the best recovery after treatments you need the right information and positive, ongoing support for
as long as you need it...which is probably much longer than you think! At least as long again as your treatment phase.
That’s usually stressful, scary and one of life’s biggest challenges for you to face…
whether you are expecting to recover or if sadly, your news is not so good.
Research has proved that to make the best recovery after treatments you need the right information and positive, ongoing support for
as long as you need it...which is probably much longer than you think! At least as long again as your treatment phase.
Initially you will focused on the breast cancer treatments.
The Mastectomy Recovery Centre offers information on what to discuss with your doctors, helping you to understand and be at peace with their
recommendations. We do not advise or discuss treatments with you.
To be forewarned is to be forearmed.
Breast cancer is probably new territory for you ... like COVID-19 was to the world ... an unwelcome health challenge that went on longer than anticipated.
Knowledge in advance and during your breast cancer journey about the common (and often unexpected) issues that your medical team doesn't
have time to talk to you about can sometimes be more troubling than the treatments.
We aim to help you to prepare and tackle these secondary challenges with practical tools and confidence.
Our multi-media Resource Library and Private Facebook support group are designed to help you to make the
best recovery possible ... physically, emotionally and sexually. We also offer support to you (and the ones who love you)
as you travel through this journey from your breast cancer diagnosis onwards ... for as long as you need us.
We understand that many women are single or their partner is unable to be supportive.
This is not the time to 'do it alone' and we hope to fill that gap for you.
'The long shadow of breast cancer' of unresolved issues can last for months or years after treatments are completed, depending on how the recovery is facilitated.
Have a good look around the website and the value of the Pink Ribbon Kit.
Knowledge is power...and gives you the empowerment to travel your own breast cancer journey ... in the driver's seat.
The Mastectomy Recovery Centre offers information on what to discuss with your doctors, helping you to understand and be at peace with their
recommendations. We do not advise or discuss treatments with you.
To be forewarned is to be forearmed.
Breast cancer is probably new territory for you ... like COVID-19 was to the world ... an unwelcome health challenge that went on longer than anticipated.
Knowledge in advance and during your breast cancer journey about the common (and often unexpected) issues that your medical team doesn't
have time to talk to you about can sometimes be more troubling than the treatments.
We aim to help you to prepare and tackle these secondary challenges with practical tools and confidence.
Our multi-media Resource Library and Private Facebook support group are designed to help you to make the
best recovery possible ... physically, emotionally and sexually. We also offer support to you (and the ones who love you)
as you travel through this journey from your breast cancer diagnosis onwards ... for as long as you need us.
We understand that many women are single or their partner is unable to be supportive.
This is not the time to 'do it alone' and we hope to fill that gap for you.
'The long shadow of breast cancer' of unresolved issues can last for months or years after treatments are completed, depending on how the recovery is facilitated.
Have a good look around the website and the value of the Pink Ribbon Kit.
Knowledge is power...and gives you the empowerment to travel your own breast cancer journey ... in the driver's seat.
Hi, I’m Trish Duke (About)
I have over 40 years’ international, clinical experience as a Physiotherapist, facilitator for local cancer support
groups, holistic health & wellness coach, best-selling author of breast cancer e-books on Amazon and founder of the Pink Ribbon Kit.
The kit includes a comprehensive, multi-medial Resource Library and a private Facebook support group.
Let me help you with finding the relevant information for you and the type of support that suits your lifestyle and personality.
To save YOU time and frustration…..I have spent a great deal of my own time and money to compile a package of information with the top international breast cancer organisations as well as bringing you a unique package of breast cancer experts, cancer survivors and loved ones who share their expertise
and wisdom through videos, radio interviews, e-books, articles and webinars etc.
There is also an option for one-on-one support for you and your loved ones through email, phone and Skype etc
I have over 40 years’ international, clinical experience as a Physiotherapist, facilitator for local cancer support
groups, holistic health & wellness coach, best-selling author of breast cancer e-books on Amazon and founder of the Pink Ribbon Kit.
The kit includes a comprehensive, multi-medial Resource Library and a private Facebook support group.
Let me help you with finding the relevant information for you and the type of support that suits your lifestyle and personality.
To save YOU time and frustration…..I have spent a great deal of my own time and money to compile a package of information with the top international breast cancer organisations as well as bringing you a unique package of breast cancer experts, cancer survivors and loved ones who share their expertise
and wisdom through videos, radio interviews, e-books, articles and webinars etc.
There is also an option for one-on-one support for you and your loved ones through email, phone and Skype etc
If you choose the option of ‘one-on-one’, Trish Duke is your key support person and recovery coach who can communicate with you by email, WhatsApp, Skype, phone, Messenger etc.
Trish has been a qualified cancer support group facilitator for many years and treated breast cancer patients over four decades as a physiotherapist. (About)
This option has limited places to ensure adequate care and time for each person.
Applicants for 'one-on-one' support are accepted only after a chat with Trish to make sure that it's a right fit for you.
Contact Trish through the contact form to request a phone call to discuss the opportunity to take one of the five one-on-one slots available per year.
Trish has been a qualified cancer support group facilitator for many years and treated breast cancer patients over four decades as a physiotherapist. (About)
This option has limited places to ensure adequate care and time for each person.
Applicants for 'one-on-one' support are accepted only after a chat with Trish to make sure that it's a right fit for you.
Contact Trish through the contact form to request a phone call to discuss the opportunity to take one of the five one-on-one slots available per year.
It’s quite possible that those people who are close to you are just as stressed and frightened as you!
They want to find information for you, but believe me, from long experience working with cancer patients; your loved ones also need ongoing support as they can feel side-lined, overwhelmed, scared and exhausted. People ask how you are doing, don’t they? Rarely do they enquire about your family’s well-being as you progress through your cancer journey. I would like to help them too…they can then help you better. Over the years I have treated many, many ladies with breast cancer. Initially, my professional focus was to help ladies to deal with post-operative swelling and pain; then teach a program of gentle progressive exercises and stretches to regain movement and strength in the arm on the same side as the surgery. I found it both satisfying and heart-warming to take ladies from the traumatic early days post-op through to the ability and confidence they needed (just a few weeks later) so they could play golf again, hang out the laundry and fix their hair. However, down the track I met some of these ladies, as well as others who had not been my patients immediately after cancer surgery. 
|
Many of them came for treatment of the usual Physio musculo-skeletal ailments, but others came with l lymphedema or aches and pains that were linked to their physical and emotional challenges lingering after breast cancer.
They were often angry about their lymphedema as they had not been informed adequately by the doctors (who were often too busy or thought it better not to worry them).
Many ladies were not able to follow the exercise sheet they had been given resulting in long term poor functional use of the arm and shoulder adjacent to the surgery. Unfortunately, they just accepted it thinking “at least I don’t have the cancer any more”.
As I chatted to my patients while treating their ailments, I discovered a common thread in their lives. Many of these ladies had not fully recovered emotionally, and were struggling with depression, poor self-image and relationship issues. Often they had not regained the energy they had before breast cancer raised its ugly head.
Truth is that if they had been educated on the common issues, they would have been able to avoid or minimise problems by catching them earlier.
They were often angry about their lymphedema as they had not been informed adequately by the doctors (who were often too busy or thought it better not to worry them).
Many ladies were not able to follow the exercise sheet they had been given resulting in long term poor functional use of the arm and shoulder adjacent to the surgery. Unfortunately, they just accepted it thinking “at least I don’t have the cancer any more”.
As I chatted to my patients while treating their ailments, I discovered a common thread in their lives. Many of these ladies had not fully recovered emotionally, and were struggling with depression, poor self-image and relationship issues. Often they had not regained the energy they had before breast cancer raised its ugly head.
Truth is that if they had been educated on the common issues, they would have been able to avoid or minimise problems by catching them earlier.
The breast cancer treatments were over... but they still had ‘unfinished business’
that needed dealing with as it cast a 'long shadow' over their lives.
It troubled me that I didn't have the counselling skills to support my patients whose physical ailments were probably made worse by what was going on inside of them. They often shared intimate details on how their sex life had stopped and it obviously had an impact on their relationships. Many of the ladies were single or didn't have a supportive partner.
They worried about how a new partner would react to scarring or a missing breast.
So, what do you do as a health professional? Shrug your shoulders and say “not my problem” or get some training…
Because I see me patients as a whole person and not just a body part to treat, I chose to go on several counselling courses and also sought out health professionals and breast cancer survivors who had the wisdom and experience to help my precious ladies… and were more than willing to share it.
(It's all in our Resource Library).
As a trained cancer support group facilitator for all types of cancer, I would love you to benefit from the resources that I have compiled to help YOU
to have the best and fastest recovery possible…in every area of your life... from diagnosis onwards.
Do you want to settle for an incomplete recovery emotionally, physically and sexually or spend the rest of your life feeling like a cancer victim or a 'lesser woman'? Of course not!
The Pink Ribbon Kit contains the Resource Library and a private Facebook support group that will help you to finish YOUR marathon breast cancer journey with life skills and inner strength to help you to tackle any challenge that has the nerve to show up in your life!
Check out a summary of the Resource Library contents
YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN OUR BREAST CANCER RECOVERY COMMUNITY!
You don’t want masses of information that will overwhelm you, but you do need a package of informational resources that you can access 24/7
to answer your questions and find solutions to what’s bothering you at that particular time.
You may have many questions to ask, but don’t want to worry the busy doctors or feel stupid asking about what may seem like trivial issues.
It’s more than likely that you and your loves ones have been frantically searching the internet for valid information and bombarding you with articles and websites to look at. It can be far too overwhelming…
Our aim is to save you time, stress and money by bringing you relevant information and confidential support.
Research shows you will do much better with the right information and compassionate support.
One of the resources in the Library is a list of links to all the best global breast cancer websites and organisations so you don’t have to hunt all over
the internet for months or years to come until breast cancer is just a memory. You probably don’t have the time or energy anyway…do you?!
You are welcome to stay in our private Facebook support page for as long as you need to for yourself...and then maybe stay on to help others through their journey! Most support groups expect you to leave when your treatments are completed. However, enlightened health professionals know that to get the best holistic recovery with ongoing support at least as long as the treatment phase lasted.
No matter how independent and capable you might normally be .... is not the time to 'go it alone'.
They worried about how a new partner would react to scarring or a missing breast.
So, what do you do as a health professional? Shrug your shoulders and say “not my problem” or get some training…
Because I see me patients as a whole person and not just a body part to treat, I chose to go on several counselling courses and also sought out health professionals and breast cancer survivors who had the wisdom and experience to help my precious ladies… and were more than willing to share it.
(It's all in our Resource Library).
As a trained cancer support group facilitator for all types of cancer, I would love you to benefit from the resources that I have compiled to help YOU
to have the best and fastest recovery possible…in every area of your life... from diagnosis onwards.
Do you want to settle for an incomplete recovery emotionally, physically and sexually or spend the rest of your life feeling like a cancer victim or a 'lesser woman'? Of course not!
The Pink Ribbon Kit contains the Resource Library and a private Facebook support group that will help you to finish YOUR marathon breast cancer journey with life skills and inner strength to help you to tackle any challenge that has the nerve to show up in your life!
Check out a summary of the Resource Library contents
YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN OUR BREAST CANCER RECOVERY COMMUNITY!
You don’t want masses of information that will overwhelm you, but you do need a package of informational resources that you can access 24/7
to answer your questions and find solutions to what’s bothering you at that particular time.
You may have many questions to ask, but don’t want to worry the busy doctors or feel stupid asking about what may seem like trivial issues.
It’s more than likely that you and your loves ones have been frantically searching the internet for valid information and bombarding you with articles and websites to look at. It can be far too overwhelming…
Our aim is to save you time, stress and money by bringing you relevant information and confidential support.
Research shows you will do much better with the right information and compassionate support.
One of the resources in the Library is a list of links to all the best global breast cancer websites and organisations so you don’t have to hunt all over
the internet for months or years to come until breast cancer is just a memory. You probably don’t have the time or energy anyway…do you?!
You are welcome to stay in our private Facebook support page for as long as you need to for yourself...and then maybe stay on to help others through their journey! Most support groups expect you to leave when your treatments are completed. However, enlightened health professionals know that to get the best holistic recovery with ongoing support at least as long as the treatment phase lasted.
No matter how independent and capable you might normally be .... is not the time to 'go it alone'.
Pink Ribbon Kit
The Pink Ribbon Kit gives you access to an international multi-media Resource Library, a private Facebook support group and an option
for 1-on-1 support.
From diagnosis onwards, we aim to give you information and resources to assist you throughout your breast cancer journey.
Learn tips and solutions that address the common issues...and others that are often swept under the medical carpet!
for 1-on-1 support.
From diagnosis onwards, we aim to give you information and resources to assist you throughout your breast cancer journey.
Learn tips and solutions that address the common issues...and others that are often swept under the medical carpet!
Note: What we can't offer you is personal treatment advice, but we can show you how ask your medical team the right questions
and research your options. Then you will have the confidence to know that you have the right treatment plan for you.
Everyone's cancer is different and your doctors have access to all your tests and available treatment options.
Item # 16 below is the excellent article with all the questions you need to ask your doctors about treatments, tests, possible trial drugs, side-effects etc
Below are some of the multi-media contents in the Resource Library
1. Links to the best, relevant, international breast cancer organisations. (This will save you hours of searching)
2. A female breast cancer surgeon gives a five part radio interview and patiently explains the medical terms, treatment options and issues that her patients want to know about. How invaluable would a whole hour consultation be to you?
3. A lady family doctor talks about coping with cancer and how patients find the courage. She also talks about how the carers cope and what help they need.
4. A male doctor wrote man-to-man about how to help their wife to regain her self-esteem and sexuality….wait till you read the intimate letter from a cancer survivor (twice) sharing about her experiences!
5. A four part radio interview series with a breast cancer nurse gives insight into breast cancer surgery and treatments, lymphedema, how much to exercise, bras and clothing…and so much more.
6. Breast cancer survivors and family members share how they coped…valuable insights.
7. “Mastectomy Recovery” 7 Ebook series (best sellers on Amazon.com). They teach you about physical recovery of your arm as well as your fitness, emotional and sexual recovery, what to wear, lymphedema, treatment options, finding courage and pain management.
8. Another resource is a video I produced for you. We filmed a mastectomy/breast reconstruction patient called Jan. We follow her easy-to follow exercise program from day one at home to the golf course just a few weeks later. You can copy her exercises and stretches to get your arm functioning well…
meet Jan on the testimonial page.
9. The award winning documentary series “Dying To Live” includes families who talk about their journey from diagnosis onward. 3 x 1 hour special programs.
10. “Rest & Restore” meditation/relaxation MP3 has a simple relaxation technique and comforting Scriptures to lift your spirit and soul.
11. “50 Ways to Feel Better with Cancer” video is packed full of easy options to make you feel better and find your ‘get up and go’ when it has
‘got up and gone’.
12. Information and treatments for lymphedema
13. Special help for ladies who are victims of past sexual and/or emotional abuse
14. Axillary Cord Formation: Research paper on why your armpit can be excessively restricted post-op and the best treatment options.
15. Bathing and dressing after a Mastectomy: Article
16. Questions you should be asking your doctors: Article
17. How stress affects breast cancer: TV program
18. New research on how to increase the uptake of chemotherapy by 50%: TV program
19. Research on how prayer improves your recovery: Article
20. How past sexual, emotional or physical abuse affects your breast cancer recovery and where to get help
You would also get ongoing updates and new resources...
and research your options. Then you will have the confidence to know that you have the right treatment plan for you.
Everyone's cancer is different and your doctors have access to all your tests and available treatment options.
Item # 16 below is the excellent article with all the questions you need to ask your doctors about treatments, tests, possible trial drugs, side-effects etc
Below are some of the multi-media contents in the Resource Library
1. Links to the best, relevant, international breast cancer organisations. (This will save you hours of searching)
2. A female breast cancer surgeon gives a five part radio interview and patiently explains the medical terms, treatment options and issues that her patients want to know about. How invaluable would a whole hour consultation be to you?
3. A lady family doctor talks about coping with cancer and how patients find the courage. She also talks about how the carers cope and what help they need.
4. A male doctor wrote man-to-man about how to help their wife to regain her self-esteem and sexuality….wait till you read the intimate letter from a cancer survivor (twice) sharing about her experiences!
5. A four part radio interview series with a breast cancer nurse gives insight into breast cancer surgery and treatments, lymphedema, how much to exercise, bras and clothing…and so much more.
6. Breast cancer survivors and family members share how they coped…valuable insights.
7. “Mastectomy Recovery” 7 Ebook series (best sellers on Amazon.com). They teach you about physical recovery of your arm as well as your fitness, emotional and sexual recovery, what to wear, lymphedema, treatment options, finding courage and pain management.
8. Another resource is a video I produced for you. We filmed a mastectomy/breast reconstruction patient called Jan. We follow her easy-to follow exercise program from day one at home to the golf course just a few weeks later. You can copy her exercises and stretches to get your arm functioning well…
meet Jan on the testimonial page.
9. The award winning documentary series “Dying To Live” includes families who talk about their journey from diagnosis onward. 3 x 1 hour special programs.
10. “Rest & Restore” meditation/relaxation MP3 has a simple relaxation technique and comforting Scriptures to lift your spirit and soul.
11. “50 Ways to Feel Better with Cancer” video is packed full of easy options to make you feel better and find your ‘get up and go’ when it has
‘got up and gone’.
12. Information and treatments for lymphedema
13. Special help for ladies who are victims of past sexual and/or emotional abuse
14. Axillary Cord Formation: Research paper on why your armpit can be excessively restricted post-op and the best treatment options.
15. Bathing and dressing after a Mastectomy: Article
16. Questions you should be asking your doctors: Article
17. How stress affects breast cancer: TV program
18. New research on how to increase the uptake of chemotherapy by 50%: TV program
19. Research on how prayer improves your recovery: Article
20. How past sexual, emotional or physical abuse affects your breast cancer recovery and where to get help
You would also get ongoing updates and new resources...
