Hi @sassy3 I bought a post surgery M&S one in my regular size, I also got post surgery Primark ones in soft fabric and zip upfront. I am 6 days post lumpectomy and the system that works for me is seamless contour high support Tesco bra followed by compressing post op Primark bra on top. The compression really helps with tugging pains etc. I just made my own security system to tuck it in. When I wore just one right out of hospital I started bleeding when I got home then it stopped they said it was a vessel but I just felt it was too loose. Going to A and E and not being seen after full day at Surgery Unit knocked me down not gonna lie.X
Ladies any tips when that tugging pain under arm from sentinel lymph node eases off xxxx
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I started Kadcyla BEFORE radiotherapy so there was overlap for me. I didnāt really think about it much at the time (didnāt know it wasnāt the norm) but I was absolutely shattered by the end of the 15 days of radiotherapy. Maybe having it on its own may have been nicer and less tiring?
Like @caz591 I had one day where I had radiotherapy and Kadcyla the same day.
Bit worried seeing people saying itās been advised against and reading it could damage the lungs further is making me wonder if thatās why I had breathing issues and have dropped an octave.
Hope itās not made anything worse.
I have my 6 month follow up with my surgical team next Wednesday so need to make sure Iām on the reduction waiting list and also see if they can perhaps fix the unsightly and uncomfortable skin flap the surgeon left on my back in minor surgery.
I wish I understood why some get put on Zoledronic acid (or however you spell it), as I havenāt I worry if Iām missing out on something that will stop reoccurrence.
Oh @bellbert I did exactly the same as you after my first chemo and went marching round the Titsey Estate and power cleaned the kitchen before having a massive steroid crash. Sorry to hear the Ondansetron doesnāt suit you but itās great that you have been able to pinpoint what is causing that reaction so early on so they can switch you to other anti-sickness meds. You sound as if you have a ācan doā attitude which I think is the perfect way to approach chemo. All power to you. Number Two - 
So good to hear from you, our @sooz1. NEVER think we donāt want to hear your updates, however depressing you may think they sound. I am so pleased to hear that your oncologist is optimistic. You are never far from my mind and I am keeping everything crossed that the little sod of a met is well and truly obliterated.
@rainbowbrite10 that is not good, having your results delayed. A day in the office for them but untold and almost unbearable stress for us. I rang my breast care nurses repeatedly when waiting for results and @carrie5 is right, there is only so much they can say but what I was able to get from mine was the results. They werenāt allowed to interpret those results and tell me that it definitively hadnāt spread or give me staging, but they COULD tell me that there was no uptake in areas that were of concern. I say phone and explain how much anxiety this is giving you and that you need to know what is happening. Be calm but push for answers. Good luck. Iāve just read your next message to say the results werenāt in yet but maybe find out when they can be expected?
Welcome back @boobitis. Iām sending you a gentle hug as you sound like you are having a rough time of it but well done on getting that surgery out the way. Every step is one bit further along the path. That sentinel node area was the most painful part of surgery for me. Have you got your V pillow and painkillers?
@sassy3 I found that a snug fit was good as it held everything in place. My favourite one was the front fastening post surgery bra from M&S. I canāt bring myself to throw it away as itās like an old friend now! Body Softā¢ Recovery Post Surgery Bra A-H | Body by M&S | M&S
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Thank you. It is hard when you just want to carry on as normal, but unfortunately canāt. Yes I am so relieved to have pinpointed the anti-sickness tablet culprit, I was dreading chemo number 2, but today so far, much better. Feel like I have been hit over the head and low key nausea, but after the last 2 days, marvellous 
! Even having got home at 3.30am from hospital Monday, we still had to get up and inject the diabetic dog ( we all overslept to 7.00am, should have injected at 6.00am but her blood sugar readings were normal and we had had to wake her up for it! Well they did sit in the car with my husband outside the hospital most of the night) So in a way, normal life keeps you on the straight and narrow through this.
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@sez Do you think it could just be down to the individual oncologists or like @sooz1 said depends on the amount and where you are having the radiotherapy. I really didnāt want to cause worry to anyone else and it canāt be the norm as I have seen where several have started Kadcyla before which I would have felt better doing. X
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Definitely could be. The fact my echocardiograms have started going down (Iām at the lowest I can be before they delay my treatment 
) and I had breathing issues (slightly improved now but still being monitored) makes me wonder if it caused any damage. They warned it might.
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I asked my oncologist about this as from my chemo starter group one of us started Kadcyla before and I started after radio. I had phesgo all the way through by leg injections. My oncologist said that even though the cancer was on the right side, radio still had a low risk of affecting lungs (apparently only a sliver of it may have been affected) in my healthboard area their policy is to be more risk averse and not give Kadcyla at the same time as radiotherapy, due to the potential for both Kadcyla and radio to cause lung issues. I was told the risk is small but they prefer to avoid doing both at the same time. They did say itāll vary area to area (Iām the Edinburgh/Lothians NHS area).
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Thank you for responding, it sounds like youāve had the same op as Iāll be having on Monday so your comments are very helpful x
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Thank you for your bra suggestions, I had one of the M&S already but I purchased another this afternoon with the next cup size, so I shall take both to hospital on Monday to see which feels best after surgery! X
I have scarring on my lungs from rads and min was on the right? I am still on Phesgo. Iāve had 16 now.
I developed a cough 3 weeks after finishing radiotherapy and it lasted for 8 weeks, i put it down to getting radio and kadcyla at the same time but fine now and just had my 8th kadcyla infusion. During my planning scan they found scarring on my lungs which couldāve been an old chest infection or chemo, i get lung function test next wednesday at respiratory so going to ask if they know what has caused scarring x
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Sorry to hear that 
they just said to me it was unlikely/low risk but it was still a risk so thatās why I had to wait to get my Kadcylaā¦ I only mentioned the right side as the most common thing is the heart at the left side but think sometimes you donāt realise what else could possibly be affected too (I didnāt even think about lungs before she mentioned it)
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Hi ladies, query for you if I may please. Has anyone during chemotherapy has the sensation of what I can only describe as feeling like Iām wearing a corset? Feels better when I stretch out but also isnāt there constantly? Xx
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Thatās not one Iāve come across @emma-jayne so can I suggest thatās a call for your Breast Care Team or even one of our nurses on 0808 800 6000. Always better to put your mind at rest. x
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Morning Ladies,
I decided to go into work today after feeling so disheartened after my meeting with the oncologist on Tuesday. Work & colleagues have been incredibly supportive & mentally it is helping me to carry on as ānormalā
I work in an admin role at a hospital which I love, unfortunately due to the nature of my role Iām unable to work from home.
After discussions with my manager earlier today. They have sent me home as they want me to prioritise myself & my family & want me to be as fit as possible for my treatment, which is due to start towards the end of next week.
I feel so deflated & desperately want my life back. I have only worked in my role for 10 months & Iām now panicking about our financial situation as I think I will only be entitled to SSP. I feel Iām now grieving for the job I love & panicking Iām going to lose it. I know I should be thinking of getting myself through this awful situation & focusing on my treatment. Sorry, just needed to get this off my chest 
xx
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Hi @fairycake. Itās ok, itās absolutely natural that you should feel this way. I fully understand as I had the same worries and was hugely grateful for being able to work from home as it afforded me some normality in the midst of the maelstrom. @galdiolus and @carrie5 both have knowledge of the NHS and some of the other ladies too. I hope they may have some suggestions. Are you able to ask the hospital whether there is some work you could do from home or speak to HR about it? You may decide you would rather not be working once treatment is underway but it would be good to know where you stand in the meantime. Itās early days for you so you are still reeling but this awful time and feeling like this doesnāt last. You are in the worst part at the moment. Hang in there, our fairy cake. X
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Hi @fairycake I retired from the nhs a while ago so Iām not anything like up to date. Its very clear from this thread that how people are during chemotherapy is incredibly varied and some people are able to work and others not ( think about public facing roles and bugs as you are likely to be more prone to infection) I personally have been able to do most of my usual things during my chemo phase and welcomed the distraction so I get how you feel about working if you can. Do you need another meeting with manager/ HR/ union rep if you have one to discuss the job and ā reasonable adjustments ā which they must make . Obviously you need to be able to do the job but there might be some adaptations possible. Then consult how you feel and what you think is best for you, accept that might change but donāt let others decide for you! Best wishes
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Hi @fairycake
Are you working for an NHS hospital? The amount of occupational sick pay you get depends on your overall length of NHS service, but I think even in your first year you will get a month full pay and 2 months half pay. Then I think you can continue to receive SSP if youāre still off after that.
As @carrie5 said, you could also ask if there is another role you could do from home for a while as part of reasonable adjustments to allow you to continue to work. You might want to see how you feel during chemo and what you think youāll be able to do.
The MacMillan website has information about work and also about benefits incase youāre entitled to anything. Worth giving them a call.
Hope this helps š«¶š»
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Thanks @salbert for your reply. I called the team they said to take paracetamol and see if that helps. If not or it gets worse to callback. I did wonder if it would be linked to my phosphate levels again but will follow what they say. Xx
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Hi @fairycake, just to add to what the ladies have said, you may be entitled to claim pip, but also contributions based ESA. Have a chat with McMillan. But also agree that your employer should be able to make reasonable adjustments for you to be able to work from home. Xx
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