@pat So pleased to hear your surgery went well, best wishes for your recovery. I met with my surgeon again this morning and 2 weeks today I too will be having the same procedure as you so I’ll eagerly await hearing how your recovery (and yours @charlie22 ) progresses.
@charley the cake your Goddaughter made you looks lovely!
Anyone got any idea how long eyelashes and nose hair take to come back? I’ve had a cold for nearly 2 weeks and I’ve realised how useful both are to stop your eyes and nose streaming!
Hi hope you dont mind me popping on here from the july group. I was trying to find anyone struggling with their nails and i saw your post. Im 4 weeks post chemo and start radiotherapy next week. Only when i finished chemo my nails started to lift. Some feel loose and a couple of toe nails are very bruised looking. How painful are they come off altogether. They’re mainly just tender atm. I was told polybalm was good but very expensive and i thought it was probably too late. Also someone said vicks vapor rub? Any tips would be appreciated. Take care. Debbbie xx
@donna_51 Im on letrozole too - for a mere 5 years - it’s bonkers! I just burst out laughing! I’ve been on them for a month and my body is still trying to get used to them …. I’m not sleeping great as a result and therefore think it’s contributing to being tired. Trying pears and prunes to keep me going - I don’t want any more drugs so I’m determined to find a happy medium and then move on! The GP now prescribes them and they were advised to prescribe additional calcium etc which I’ve got used to. I’m not going for bisphonates although got to have final conversation with onc - it’s just more drugs.
Anyway it’s Frisky Friday - have a good weekend all x
Hi
Long time no text from me.
Congratulations to everyone who has completed another stage recently. We’re slowly getting there.
Just thought I’d share my moan of the week with you all. Onc advised me to see my dentist prior to 6 monthly bisphosphonates infusions so I went yesterday. I now have to cough up £600 for a crown. The crown is going on a tooth that had a root canal 10 years ago!!! I know I said cancer was expensive but this is in another league. Moan over. Better not eat cake as i don’t want tooth decay .
Xx
@debi1 i had/have the same issue. Ive just cut my nails short and am rubbing a natural nail oil in when i remember…they havent got worse…
@ljlj no idea on the hair growth sorry…just feeling like a little chick with my fluffy head hair atm. (Not as cute as that sounds, otherwise i feel a mess today with rashy face, black circles from poor sleep and for some reason on the verge of tears today the whole time, so watery red eyes…!!)
@donna_51 we must be in similar area…im in Eastbourne. I looked at the course for January but weve booked a holiday (yay! Somethingtolook forwardto, but i do feel a bit scared!) when thats on, im doing the online one in January instead…
The moving on course is also available online if you can’t or don’t want to do a face to face. I have my first session this afternoon and my last one in a weeks time. I’m hoping it’s good. I’m struggling with getting my head around the fact that I’m living with this forever now. I think it was easier in some way being in active treatment, you always had something to do and felt that you were fighting. Now it feels like you’re just waiting for it all to happen again. Very odd.
Hi all, just catching up on all the messages. So good that others are getting through their radiotherapy and even moving onto long term drugs (albeit with mixed feelings).
I had my single mastectomy and axillary clearance on Wednesday. Came back home in the evening without a drain or dressing and so far so good. Managing with pain meds and started exercises yesterday. Another tick on this cancer ‘journey’ done.
@alig1961 just noticed you having the bisphosphonates and wondered if you were given the choice and if so what were your thoughts on it? I’m due my dentist checkup too - it’s very expensive . Good luck with your treatment! How was the course today? Who runs it please as I might be interested?
It’s run by breast cancer now…
I’m having the bisphosphonates as infusions. There was a choice but they recommended it. I’ve had 2 already with my chemo and luckily no side effects with those two.
Really pleased to hear that you’re doing ok post surgery.
I had my pre-op assessment today and as I drove away I realised I’ve not really thought about my operation, and I had a moment of panic as I’ve totally been putting it to the back of my mind.
This may sound stupid, but I don’t think I’ve really got any clothing I’ll be able to wear after, are button up/zip up tops best? Any tips gratefully received!
The nurse talked about me needing to try and sleep upright in a V shaped pillow, have others of you been told to do that?
Hi @collywobbles
The course is run by breast cancer now. It was really good. I know that some ladies on here are going to be doing the face to face sessions but I don’t believe that there are any close to me hence opting for the online version. It runs over two sessions. There’s normally 5-15 people on the course, so it’s quite intimate. I think all of us felt the same, worried about reoccurrence and feeling that we’d coped well whilst in active treatment but now in limbo and concerned that we’re not getting our heads around it all. I know that we have this support on here, but so lovely to talk about experiences rather than texting.
The second session will start with a BCN answering all of our medical questions. I’m looking forward to that.
As for bisphosphonates, when I found out that i was post menopause the oncologist offered it me straight away. By having it, it increases my stats by another 1% and he said I could have the infusions rather than the tablets as I know that the tablets can be harsh on the digestive system.
A lovely lady on the course said that the chance of the bisphosphonates effecting the jaw is 1 in 2000 and anyone can get this jaw issue following dental work. It isn’t something that just happens when having bisphosphonates. I thought that was good to know. She said that her doctor has said that it was a no brainer.
Hope that’s useful xxx
Hi
I got a v shaped pillow from the range. I used it when i was struggling with chronic indigestion. I didn’t need it for post op. After op I used a heart shaped pillow that rested under my arm. I had a lumpectomy not a mastectomy. I love my v shaped pillow as it props me up in bed to watch I’m a celebrity when I can’t get past 9pm on the sofa. I think a v shaped pillow is a sound investment for life in general.
I wore a baggy buttoned shirt for hospital so it was easy to get in and out of. Xxxx
@ljlj I had a lumpectomy and axillary clearance with a drain. I bought front opening pyjamas. At home I’ve been wearing vest tops and cardigans though today I wore a front buttoning shirt to go out. I’ve had no problems getting dressed at all but I feel a front opening and a vest top makes life easier. I havent been wearing a bra as yet though i was given one by the breast nurse.
I have used a pillow in bed and when sitting on the sofa to support my arm. I didn’t get a v or heart shaped one and have found a pillow comfy. I wasn’t told to sleep upright.
I’ve had quite a bit of oozing from the axilla incision despite the drain so several vest tops a day are necessary!!
I was given a bag to carry the drain in by the breast nurse which is brilliant. It goes cross body so your hands are free and can by hidden under a coat when out!
Thanks @alig1961, I’ve got a v shape pillow from when I was pregnant/for nursing and I am very partial to using it, but can’t imagine sleeping well upright!
I’m having a lumpectomy too and asked the nurses about the heart shaped pillow, but they suggested I’d be ok without! I may get one anyhow, just in case, and given you used one!
Pleased to hear the looking forward course is good-I think I will end up doing one online too, as the one near me is scheduled for when I’ll be going through radiotherapy and I think I’m probably best to do it when all active treatment is done!
Thanks @pat, really helpful.
I’ve been told I’m not having a drain & that I have to wear a bra 24/7 for 6 weeks post surgery-it’s so interesting how different consultants do different thinks and give different advice! I was thinking I could step into a vest, but it’s so blooming cold at the moment I started to worry I may need more layers than just a vest with a cardi! Maybe I just need to keep my heating on 24/7-or start wearing some of my hubby’s shirts!
@ljlj that’s interesting. I was told to wear the bra when I felt comfortable. I have had literally no pain from the lumpectomy. I wouldn’t even know I’d had it done. There’s a bit of discomfort from the drain, but none from the axillary incision and I feel a bra may irritate where the drain is. The worst bit for me has been that I have some nerve irritation/damage from the axillary surgery which is causing pain in a tiny area of my upper arm Soooo annoying as without that I don’t think it would feel as if I’d had an operation at all!!
I’ve not been cold, not a cold person usually, though I’ve not gone out in the 2 days I’ve been home, until today when we went to see Paddington in Peru
It’s so good to hear this-I’ve got myself in a bit of a tizzy tonight worrying about the op! (And I’ve still got nearly 2 weeks to go until it happens!)
I hope the pain from your nerve damage clears up soon.
Was Paddington good? I was thinking about taking my 3yr old to see it soon!
Yes we enjoyed it. Not as good as the other two I don’t think but had all the Paddington elements and he was as adorable as ever. Olivia Coleman was a hoot! Tissues required as usual
So I finally had my last radiotherapy after 3 weeks today. It’s gone really quickly and has been fine. Bit of an achy shoulder and tired this last week. Apparently side effects can continue for a few more weeks so will see how we go, but so far no sore bits. Have been using the MooGoo cream.
Feels strange to think I’ve finally finished my physical treatment. Will look at doing the moving on course at my local Maggies in the new year. Here’s me in another dodgy picture and another bell to add to the collection.x😉
- I don’t want any more drugs so I’m determined to find a happy medium and then move on! The GP now prescribes them and they were advised to prescribe additional calcium etc which I’ve got used to. I’m not going for bisphonates although got to have final conversation with onc - it’s just more drugs.
.
. Good luck with your treatment! How was the course today? Who runs it please as I might be interested?
Soooo annoying as without that I don’t think it would feel as if I’d had an operation at all!!