Is anyone receiving treatment from the Nottingham City Hospital Breast Institute?..if so it would be nice to hear your experiences of your treatment there and any comments…look forward to hearing from you xx
Hi Melek
Sorry you’ve had to come here but you’ll find lots of support.
I was diagnosed on January 10 with DCIS (lump in the breast but no where else).
I had my initial tests done at the City and when I got the diagnosis I decided to use my health insurance. The main reason for this was that a friend died last year on the same ward that I would have surgery and I just couldn’t face it! She had very good support so that wasn’t an issue for me.
Anyway, The chappie I had for my WLE is brilliant - he works at the City and where I went. He had photos relating to my surgery which I found very helpful. Gave me an idea of what to expect and what was possible 1/2 years down the line.
Do you know what treatment you’ll be having?
I’m due to start radiotherapy there soon - no date yet.
I ordered the resource pack from Breast Cancer Care and that’s brilliant - it arrived yesterday (could have done it with sooner but didn’t know about it!) and I’ve read it all. Very helpful stuff and place to write your own notes.
Sorry, rambling now!
Hope you can enjoy the sunshine.
Lynne x
Hi Lynne well I was only diagnosed a few days ago…Valentines Day!!! so as yet I have to wait and hear I have 2 small lumps and they said if both are cancerous I will have to have the breast removed if not just a partial removal followed by chemo but thats all i know as yet I go back this Tuesday for the results and to be told what they will do!! I have already ordered the resource pack that should be here next week thankyou…Im thinking of taking out a health insurance policy at this time not sure yet I have been treated well so far but its something to think of i guess thanks for yyour advice i hope all goes well for you in the future xxxxx
Hi Melek, I replied to your other post to say I had been treated at Nottingham and found them great. Although I had private health insurance, my insurance company advised me to use the National Health at Nottingham City as they have loads of experience with breast cancer, and follow up treatment. They agreed to make a payment to the City Hospital if I was treated there. I went that route and am really glad I did. I had a very positive experience. I also met some lovely ladies on the ward going through a similar thing and keep in touch with some of them.
Will be thinking of you on Tuesday, but remember, whatever the result you will cope, we all do. The worst bit for me was the waiting to hear the result.
Stay positive. We are all here for you. Take care Heidicat
Hello Melek
I have been under Nottingham City Hospital for 9+ years and have had very good treatment throughout the whole journey. I am now undergoing chemo as I have secondaries and still getting the same care and attention as i got on first diagnosis.
I have had mastectomy chemo radiotherapy, and I have had breast reconstruction (Mr Mc Cully) and all on the NHS.
Only problem I have found is waiting times on clinic days…always overun.
Good luck with your treatment
Ann
Thanks Heidicat thats good to know then a lot of people have assured me that its one of the best units in the country outside London so thats reassuring to know I think that my consultant will be Mr Macmillan but im not sure yet thanks for your kind words and support…Also thanks to you Ann I agree about the waiting but i find the staff so kind and caring that that outweighs it really and the coffee is lovely in the cafe ha ha are you pleased with the look of your reconstruction? love to you both xxx
Hi Again
Yes I am really pleased with my reconstruction, I waited 4 years before deciding to have it done but its great. I am under Prof Robertson…but Mr Macmillan is lovely.
Do you live in Nottingham ? I am only 5 minutes from the hospital so its very handy for me.
Love Ann x
Hi again Melek,
My consultant was Miss Bello, but I understand they are all good at the City. At the time of my mastectomy they put an ‘expander’ in. Basically, they left my skin (including my nipple) in place, and when the scar had healed, they injected some saline solution into the expander a little bit at a time over a few months. I used to say it was like going to have a flat tyre pumped up. Gradually, the skin and muscle stretched enough for them to take the expander out and replace it with a softer, more natural filling.
I am quite happy with the end result. I looked a bit mishapen before the expansion was complete, and now my nipple is a little off centre, but it isn’t that obvious. A lot of people have their own nipple removed and have a false one or even a tattoo of a nipple. I am sure they will explain all the options to you, and they will know what is best in your case.
Thinking of you for tomorrow.
Love Heidicat. x
Hi Melek
My consultant is Mr MacMillan. He’s very nice and has a very easy manner. Don’t be afraid to ask him any questions you might have.
Hope it goes well for you tomorrow.
Lynne x
Hi Melek
Just wanted to wish you good luck for today…and let you know I’ll be thinking of you.
Love Ann x
Thanks ladies for your input went to the hospital yesterday and they told me i had cancer in both lumps but were very pleased i caught it exceptionally early i check my breasts every night and they literally came up overnight!!! I had prepeared myself for the very worst outcome so that i wouldnt be shocked at the news the lumps are about hald centimetre each but have a 4 cm gap so they want to do a masectomy…I have already decided i want breast reconstruction straight away which they agreed with but now i have the dilemma of do i let them take the tissue from my tummy or back Mr macmillan said tummy is best but after looking at the pics I personally felt that to look at scar wise the back looked a better option please can anyone advise i have to go back this Fri hopefully with a decision…Oh and Ann I also live 5 mins from the hospital just off Hucknall Road xx
Hi Melek
You might find it helpful to look at the Breast Cancer Care information booklet on reconstruction. It can be found at the following link:-
breastcancercare.org.uk//docs/breast_reconstruction_dec06_web_0.pdf
I hope this helps.
Kind regards
Sam
BCC Facilitator
Hi Melek, I’m Nottingham way too.
I had the back flap - it was only 4 weeks ago but so far so good. I’m not sure now just how I came to that conclusion, but it seemed less of a big deal than the tummy one somehow, looking at operation and recovery time.
Are you looking at the pictures in the Breast Reconstruction booklet they handed out or have you got some others? I expect the scars are different depending on your shape etc, so I sugggest you ask what your own ones would look like if that is very important to you. I guess you have to be guided by them really, so maybe you could make a list of questions rather than feeling you have to have the answer by Friday? It all seems a bit of a mad whirl doesn’t it?
Lots of love. xx
Hi Melek, Sorry to hear both lumps were cancerous, although it is good that you had prepared yourself for that.
My reconstruction was done by inserting an expander to stretch the skin and muscle, and later inserting a silicone implant. That way I didn’t have to have a second operation scar to remove a flap, and the operation didn’t take so long.
I am sure they will advise you what is best in your case.
I live quite close to the City Hospital as well. At Redhill near Arnold. Perhaps we could all meet up one day. I believe they hold a meeting at the Breast Clinic once a month for people to meet and chat. I will try to find out what night it is on.
Love Heidicat x
Hi Heidicat yeah that sounds great it would be nice to meet up with you and others in the same boat as it were Im at the hospital tomorrow for more talks i will ask also its funny because the only time i feel relaxed is when i walk in that place as i know its full of women who are the same as me when im at work or shopping etc you dont know who has it and that makes me feel all alone and also coming on here helps I will ask about this expander tomorrow as a few women i have spoke to have had it although it wasnt mentioned to me possibly because its not an option in my case I dont know but worth asking hope to speak soon take care xx
Hi Melek
I too have been under the Nottm BI for just over two years. I have had on the whole good treatment but I have had to be assertive to speed things up.
I have to say I haven’t been impressed by the organisation in the Chemo Clinic, yes I have had all the chemo I have needed but oh boy what a lot of waiting or cancelled appointments. The Oncologists have sometimes forgotten to send crucial info to the chemo clinics but I have always stood my ground and made folks chase things up. I had a very bad experience having a portacath fitted and wrote to the hospital and received a letter of apology agreeing with me!
This is all a pity really because the staff are great I think its the systems that appear to let them down
Today I have my first ‘at home Herceptin’ I expect someone at 1.30pm, lets wait and see.
Hey girls, perhaps we should wear pink carnations when we are at the Breast Institute with our user names pinned to us otherwise we will be wondering if one of us is sitting amongst the crowd in Clinic 1 & 2!
Take care
Carol
I like the idea of wearing a pink carnation, Carol!
I’m at the radiotherapy department tomorrow for tattooing. Is anyone else doing time there at the moment?
x
lynnietom,
I had a really good experience with the city’s radiotherapy department. If the whole hospital operated such a good system it would be the best in the country. You may experience a change of appointment if one of the machines breakdown but it is always the sameday.
The clinic only ran late one day out of my 30 days and then only by 20 minutes. The team were fantastic
Pink carnations it is then
Take care
Carol
Hi Carol and Lynnietom the carnation suggestion is a great idea only i dont have one at present i must get one then!! Im at the Institute tomorrow at 2.15 for more chats with the docs I normally get there half hour before and have a coffee in the reception area just to chill out and relax a little so if anyone is round then it would be great to meet up…Carol what is an Herceptin? sorry BC is like learning a new language at times but I hope it goes well whatever it is…its good to know you are both happy with the City on the whole xx
Hi Melek
Herceptin is a drug that is given to folks with BC if they have the receptors and their cancer is classed as aggressive (Usually every three weeks for a year for primary/ local cancer and longer with secondary cancer) This test is done as a matter of course when first diagnosed in Notts.
It is the drug that caused a lot of headline news because it is a postcode lottery as to whether your health authority will prescribe it. Luckily in Notts we get it. When I first began treatment the test for the HER2+ receptors proved negative so I just had slash poison and burn (Surgery, chemo and radiotherapy) When my cancer reappeared I was retested and this time I was borderline so I have been given this treatment.
Other folks on this site can give you much better info on Herceptin if you want to know exactly what it is, just type in Herceptin in the Search button JaneR helped me out on this one many moons ago.
By the way the nurse turned up at 1.30 on the dot, there’s private health care for you ( I haven’t gone private its subcontracted by the City)
Cheers
Carol