I hope you are well and enjoying the weekend so far.
@Beeza66 I have always tried to motivate myself to keep fit by doing charity challenges. I try and do a bit for every charity as I did not until recently have any personal/family ill health reasons to undertake these challenges. It feels good to do my bit.
Glad to know you are almost at the end of your chemo (yay). You are right we are all amazing. I personally feel I did not have a choice in the matter so had to do my best.
I have my surgery date now 8th November (therapeutic mammoplasty with SLNB). I went to have my breast tagged last week as the lump (thankfully) is no longer felt or visible on scans so the chemo as much I was against it, did it’s job.
Its amazing the surgeon will use a magnetic equipment that beeps when close to the ‘tag’ so they know where the location of lump was to remove tissue.
A bit nervous about the radioactive injection (for the lymph node) pre surgery and surgery itself. I will try not to pre-empt too much and hope for the best.
I have been enjoying post chemo time and I am hopeful for the future. I have gone back to weight training but will stop for a few weeks (continue walking + yoga + arm exercises) when I have surgery.
Take care everyone and keep posting your journeys and I wish you all well xx
@Beeza66 great news your near the finish line with your treatment. Cold capping is not easy to wear and the extra time needed before and after but it can allow you to keep your hair and that I feel has a very positive affect on your well-being.
Well done with all your family situations, it’s not easy without cancer. Being vulnerable and asking for help especially when you’re the one that does that for others is hard. I apologised to my husband he for being needy with 3 visits to Cardiff this week 70 mile round trip each time. He works full time, luckily for home, each week he books half day holiday for my chemo but the extra trips and time have been problematic especially cancelling meetings at the last minute. He said it ok but I can see it is causing a strain. Weekly treatment is intensive and time and effort.
I’ve got a CT scan letter for my radiotherapy and guess what day they sent yes a chemo day, I don’t even know what time my chemo is until the week before so yet again another phone call to rearrange. The radiographer had said she’d request a Wednesday as it one of my good days, obviously somebody just offered me first appointment rather than reading that! This has been one of my pet hates with all of this having to chase and push for things that should have been put in place for you. I spend so much of my time of a Tuesday one of my good days trying to sort things out! It’s not fair when you don’t have many good days. Also with husband working we can’t plan to do anything on my good days but only 5 more sessions to go which 3 weekly Herceptin for the rest of the year, so our time will come soon.
Hi @Dhillman
Such good news that your tumour has shrunk. Treatment works😁
I had my surgery in July with wired guided and tag as one tumour was so far back they want to make doubly sure they could find it. Not the most comfortable the wire but the tags hardly felt. The injection of radiation do sting, I’m not going to lie. I had to have it in both breasts and they inject near the nipple so very sensitive area. But needs must and it works to help find the sentinel node, which for me were clear.
Will be thinking about you on 9 November. One more step forward.
I have been trying to keep active doing the 100 miles in October for cancer research but this week with 3 70 mile round trips to cancer centre I’m a bit behind. Have to do 60,000 steps I. 4 days, it not going to happen, I’m wiped out Saturday Sunday, so I posted on my that I might need another day or two. But I’m determined to do the full 100 miles if a little late, if having chemotherapy doesn’t give me an extra coil,e of days I don’t know what will!
Thank you @naughty_boob it is good news indeed but will wait for post surgery path results of nodes/margins before I get too excited. It’s a step in the right direction.
Thank you also for thinking of me on the 8th. I was told it would be a 3 hour operation in day case. After that it’s radiotherapy and up to a year’s worth of monoclonal antibodies for HER2 +.
I have it relatively easy compared to most of you with children, people you care for etc. that you have to consider. Not sure how I would cope with dependents.
Well done for committing to the steps challenge and you will get there even if it’s slightly delayed (can’t be helped).
I am uncertain if they expect people on treatment to take up these challenges but where there’s a will, there’s always a way.
Chemo brain 8th not 9th! I see, to have to read and re read loads of things and then still any retain the information. So annoying when my job is teaching and my brain is letting me down.
My operation was 3 hours for both sides and home later that day, albeit not til 8pm due to sickness. But home is better for rest.
Yes the pathology wait is long and could mean more surgery if lymph involvement and no clear margins. Mine took 4 weeks! My chemo is due to finish 30 Nov and they wanted to do radiotherapy 3 weeks later but that would hit Christmas bank holidays with a 4 day break so they’ve moved it forward to 18 Dec for that full week hoping I will have recovered from 12 weeks of Paclitaxel. Like you I have Herceptin every 3 weeks for a full year with added aromatase inhibitors such as Letrozole.
It appears I am due to meet my target for the 100 miles in October, some days I can’t do much but as I wear a FitBit walking around the house still counts as it’s in 24 hours a day. The fundraising page had a blip yesterday and I thought I was 60,000 short with 4 days to go so I looked out and back in today and it’s just over 7400 steps to go which I will do easily before the 31st. I found it has helped my mental health encouraging me to do something for others not just for me. Having cancer can be a bit ‘me me me’.
the dye can turn your boob a bit blue but that wears off honesty nothing to worry about it’s easy do get front fastening pj’s and do rest up after op and let things knit back together get some senokot ready as meds from op can block you up Shi xx
thats good that you are nearer your goal than expected - with the steps and treatments. I am hoping that the op for just one side don’t take as long as they suggested. Our treatments are mirroring each other it would seem. I don’t think I need any hormone treatment as they were negative.
Yes it’s good to distract ourselves by concentrating on projects, someone outside ourselves and work if we can.
I have a touch of the chemo brain too or that’s just an excuse for me (and I am claiming it ) I have been trying to learn a language and do crosswords etc.
@Shi thanks for the tip on the pyjamas. I never thought of that. All mine are over the head arms up etc. I was warned about the blue dye colouring the area and also peeing blue .
primark have done a good range of post op bras etc, also M&S zip front bra with racer back go and have a look and see what you think, if you are having a drain or drains a dressing gown where you can tie bottle to can help or hopefully your trust will provide you with a little bag that you carry it in while you have it Shi xx
Soft bra tshirt bra to wear after the op. I bought pack of 2 from Asda. I wore them 24 hours a days for several weeks, was told to wear them until post op check up 3/4 weeks. I found with bilateral and bigger chested I needed the help. I then went to M&S for non wired bras to give better support, i, looking at getting some more and have posted a website on another post. I was told front opening are only needed for mastectomy.
As @Shi said front opening PJs and shirts or zip up jumpers or cardigan that can have buttons done up the front for daytime are also helpful not being able to be flexible with your arm movements. I bought linen shirts from Primark but my op was summer.
I can recommend evenly bra balancers, I use and Kate Taylor the owner and founder of Evenly is wonderful and working on developing her range even further Shi xx
Rachael60 carry on as you have been one day at a time, hanging onto the magic carpet ride no one wants to be in your doing amazing even when you think you are not and anyone having a wobble you are still doing amazing so remember that you are and if you don’t recognise yourself when you look in a mirror, look deep into your eyes, you are still there still fabulous and amazing it try’s to take your joy, don’t let it, tgat bear at the top of the mountain is going to rush the mountain lion as In strawberry blondes mountain lion post Shi xx
I posted on the September thread about acupressure points for intestinal, nausea and anxiety from a www.pennybrohn.org.uk treatment programme on well being. Click link above for info.
I’ve found the nausea one helpful when I’m a hour or so from next tablet.
Thank you @naughty boob @Shi for the great bra/clothing tips.
When I went for my tag, they also fitted and provided me with a front fastening bra to bring on op day. I also bought some M&S ones.
The lady at the cashier told me you get tax off and that set me off crying (I haven’t cried much). I said oh there are some benefits to this blasted ‘C’. I wasn’t expecting to be emotional but they come out in mysterious ways and when you least expect it!
My husband regretted not coming in to the store with me for emotional back up but he was also hoping to pick some nice lingerie for me and I told him to forget it.
It’s going to be ‘stays’ like the old days and some functional scaffolding
I will need the balancers as I think it will be smaller - asymmetrical. I was told they will do the other one next year for symmetry after my scan. How lovely - another freebie thanks to breast cancer.
My breasts are medium sized and fighting gravity so will be a bit awkward with where the wound is/friction etc etc.
You are right neither our diagnosis, hair nor breasts defines who we are inside. We are still the very same person pre diagnosis if not better and .
It’s so much easier when you have lovely support on here (with individuals who have been through it, are going through it and also facing recurrence). You are never ALONE.
@rachel60 I agree one day at a time and hopefully you obtain positive outcomes and/or manage whatever outcomes comes your way.
Take care all, much love & best wishes and have a good Sunday xx
Hey guys, it’s been nice reading everyone’s updates! I have my final scheduled chemo this Friday, which feels like a big milestone! It’s also the day after my 30th birthday (I’ve decided to postpone this big birthday milestone until next year when I can celebrate properly and hopefully feel well!!).
I meet with my surgeon tomorrow to hopefully get a date in the diary for surgery. For those ladies who have had a ‘mag-seed’ magnetic seed inserted, what is it like and did it hurt? I’ve got a titanium clip already in the tumour, but they also want to place this magnetic seed aswell to help them locate it during surgery. I found the biopsy’s during diagnosis pretty painful… assuming it’s the same?
My exercise has slowed down as I’ve further through treatment, I’m just really tired alot of the time now - still walking each day, but perhaps only 20-30 mins. Every little helps though!
@rachel60 I’ve been to future dreams house a few times, and it’s lovely, I’d really recommend it. They do younger women’s meet ups which made me feel less alone. I also did a writing workshop which they ran virtually and it was brilliant to get all my thoughts onto paper.
I did a look good feel better workshop today at a hospital close to me, would definitely recommend, it was a nice morning and got to speak to some other ladies and came away with some lovely products to try out.
Fantastic news you are at your last Chemotherapy in Friday.
I had a wire guided wide local incision with a tag that beeps in one of the breasts as the tumour was nearer the chest wall. The wire was not comfortable at all but the tag was like a biopsy. Quick and sharp prick. Not sure if the magnetic is placed like my tag. Maybe you could call the breast care nurse and have a chat about it to reassure you.
Hi @naughty_boob ,
I’m glad you had a good time with your son despite the rugby! I hope you have a really good time with both your son and daughter. You’ve got through a large part of the chemo now. Keep ticking the sessions off, knowing that you’re getting closer to the end.
It sounds like you’ve had a some real ups and downs due to the
PICC line and catheter problems. Have they now been resolved? You’ll have to celebrate when you get them out.
I’ve finished chemo now. The side effects are beginning to lessen. My hair still hasn’t started to grow, but I’m sure it will soon. I have had six out of 15 sessions of radiotherapy, which has been fine, but I had problems today, which mean I can’t have the full range of treatment that I would have liked to have done.
Keep in touch and take good care. Keep being kind to yourself. Sending love. x
So glad you found us @naughty_boob! I would be very happy to extend a 10% discount to you (and any other forum members) with code BCNEVENLY. Please let me know if I can help at all with any questions you may have about the products or which size to get. I also agree - Royce post-surgery bras are wonderful
Kate founder of Evenly - www.evenlybreasts.com
the dye can turn your boob a bit blue but that wears off 
) I have been trying to learn a language and do crosswords etc.
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