Starting chemo October 14

[nicnac15]

Amazing news debtex what a relief hope I can come on here tomorrow and say the same xxx

[nicnac15]

Fab news bexter and good luck lainieg for tomorrow xx I'm sat drinking my cup of tea in the garden watching the hubby clean up. I'm seeing my consultant tomorrow for the first time since stepping on the podium and also get my mri scan results please keep your fingers crossed me I'm trying to think positive but it's bloody hard xxx

[Debtex]

Well ladies I saw my lovely surgeon . He was pleased with everything and had a good rummage and found nothing . My heart pounded with fear . He advised to leave mammo for 4 months as so soon after radio . I happily obliged .... Woos ! He encouraged me to place 'it' at the back of my mind . Good advice , I will try ! Went to pub with hubby on way back , 11/2 glasses of rose and was mashed ! X

[LainieG]

Good luck today Peta and Debtex. Thinking of you both. Xx
Hope your mri results are good nicnac xx
Madam welcome to the podium. It's lovely to be able to shuffle along and give you a wee space xx
Well done geeG for managing the walk to your office. Definitely a big step forward. You're getting better yay! Xx
I'm a believer in the angel theory. If I hadn't had my mastectomy they wouldn't have found my lump and if I hadn't had a chest infection they wouldn't have found the candida in my blood and that's fatal in more than 40% of cases. I definitely consider myself very lucky. I often wonder who is looking out for me.xx

[Peta]

Thanks for the good wishes today, I'll let you know how I get on.  Debtex I hope your mammogram today goes well too!  

Bexter, oh my goodness, well I'm with the angel theory, thank goodness you are well and here.  I'm sorry that you've missed out on your holiday though.  How about Last Minute.com or one of those?  Maybe you can get a special late deal, I hope so, we need lots of holidays!  

[Debtex]

There's an angel on your shoulder Bexter I'm sure . X I had similar thoughts when I found my lump a year ago . Am I unlucky to have it , or lucky because I found it .? Something made me glide my hand across my breast that night and bam there was the lump . I like to think it was my angel or maybe my mum who passed away a few months earlier who guided me to it . Thank goodness you are safe at home xx

[bexter77]

Good luck for tomorrow Peta! I've been massaging since the appointment and haven't yet seen much of a difference, although my consultant said it could take some time.

I was supposed to be on hols today...in fact i should be on my way to the hotel right now! Only the hotel is in Sousse...I got a phone call from my other half on Friday and he simply said 'we're not going'. I put on sky news and just stared at the screen for what felt like hours! We've had a full refund which is great but we didn't book with a package type agent so looking for a new holiday has been too hard. Flights are full and those that aren't are ridiculously expensive. I keep thinking about how it so easily could have been us there on the beach. It's so scary. I can't imagine what people affected are going through.

It did start a bit of a debate yesterday...Do I have the greatest guardian angel ever or is someone determined to finish me off?! I like to look for positives so I will say I have the best angel, although I'm beginning to wonder! 🙈

[bettypoppit]

P.S. good luck Mon/Tues Peta x

[bettypoppit]

Hi Debtex, that's great to hear that your feet have really improved now and fingers crossed not long before the tingling and soreness goes too.  It makes me chuckle every time you mention throwing yourself to the floor dismounting....sorry 😉.  Good luck on Monday - hope your appointment goes well on Monday. Xx

[Linzz]

Welcome to the podium Madam - hurray! Is that all of us now? Or is anyone still in active treatment?

Good luck for Mon/Tues Peta, hope they can get your discomfort sorted asap. By the way, you need to update us on Facebook on how your concert was other night 

[Debtex]

Congratulations madam at long last you are on the podium -welcome !
I have my yearly check up on Monday which includes a mammo . I'm bricking it tbh but it has to be done I guess . My feet still a bit sore and tingly but mucho improved now . I'm going to the gym 3/4 times a week and it has helped . Riding my horse for short bursts and no longer throwing myself on the floor when I dismount . Those extra pounds I put only during chemo are proving hard to shift , I've never had a problem losing weight before . It's only 6 pounds but they don't seem to want to leave me ! Xx

[Peta]

Hi Lainie, Well at least you're on the first steps to getting it all sorted now. I hope your boob isn't too sore and I'm really pleased you and Bexter have both been reassured. We're getting there ladies!

And Madam! Whoop, you're on the podium too, you've got there, that's such good news. 😄

[Peta]

Hi Bexter

Thanks so much for letting me know. I think it's really likely that I have breast oedema too. My left arm swells at the same time as my boob and it's all very painful. I've been exercising it lots and that does seem to help.

I've got a mammogram on Monday now, and I'm seeing the Oncologist about it on Tuesday, so not too long to wait now.

My arm is complete cack though, it's so painful to move and lift it, and the pain wakes me at night, so I think I'm going to have to have some sort of treatment on it to get the darn thing working a bit, it's my left arm, but it's my dominant one, so I really need it back, please!

I love the story of the surgeon teaching your husband to massage your breast. We'll be looking forward to our appointment now. 😄

[geeG]

We can always find space for another one of us on the podium - Welcome!
Friday night; tired as tired - but pleased I managed to walk from the car park to work this morning! This used to be my daily walk… but not for the last eight months since starting chemo (I think I even managed to do it a few times after my DIEP before chemo started). My Beloved OH has been taking me to the office door all this time… getting back to walking the distance has been another milestone along my way… so once this week… hope at least once next week … then a weekend away to Loch Earn (unexpected gift of an Unknown Benefactor - Thank You So Much). X,

[nicnac15]

Hi all you lovely ladies I'm back off holiday and back to normal routines all ready, a week sure does go quick !
Sorry to see some of you are still struggling it's about time we all started feeling better and getting our lives back I do hope this can happen for us all soon with been through enough. X
I'm back at hospital for my Mri scan results and my first meeting with oncologist since finishing rads middle of April, don't know where the time has gone. Trying to keep positive ive not been feeling to bad few aches and twinges but compared to some of you I can't complain.
Well done madam on joining us on the podium it's a great feeling isn't it ! Xx

[bettypoppit]

Madam that's totally fantastic.....shuffling along on the podium 🐧🐧🐧....get on board 😀😀😀. Enjoy the bubbles and wallow in the lack of back & forth, back & forth - that's now come your way xx

[jingo_x]

Shuffling along...come and join us.  High 5, congratulations and enjoy the bubbles!  Hope your skin now behaves! x

[Madam]

Ladies! I am done! Last Radio zapping done! After ten months, the major oncology weapons have been fired. Had pink bubbles at lunchtime. Now going to put more aloe Vera on the boob and lie down! Is this the point where I join you on the perch? Ledge? Podium? Xxx

[bettypoppit]

That's a relief LainieG but sorry that you are going through the mill. Hope you can get sorted really soon. X

[LainieG]

Well I've had my scan and it wasn't clear whether the swelling is a seroma or a leak from the implant so the doc doesn't want to drain it. She's writing to the plastic surgeon to ask if I can have the tissue expanders replaced with permanent implants as soon as poss and clear the fluid at the same time. So stuck with the big boob for a wee while longer lol. The breast surgeon looked at the scan and assured me it's nothing to worry about anyway so that wee fear at the back of my mind is gone and I feel much better about it. Peta hope your scan goes well too. That's Bexter and me reassured so keeping my fingers crossed for you too. Sending hugs 💖 💖 💖

[Junash]

Lainie hope scan goes well and the drain provides relief - think happy thoughts x

[riversidedawn]

I cannot imagine my thorough (but 12 year old!) Oncologist teaching hubby to massage. What a laugh!!

[LainieG]

Great news Bexter. You must feel relieved. My scan tomorrow and hopefully it'll be drained tho not looking forward to that part lol xxx

[Junash]

Brilliant news Bexter and loved the husband consultant lesson scenario !!!

PETA and Lainie - am thinking of you - hang on in there.

Xx

[bexter77]

Hey everyone,

I've been to see my consultant today..he said I have breast-oedema and it is extremely common following surgery and radiotherapy. I've been advised to use cream and massage the breast area every night for at least 10 mins. He was actually showing my other half what motions to use, which I couldn't help but giggle at!! He was so sure that everything was fine, I didn't even have to have a mammogram!! Yippee!! He said that it can be months and even a year following radiotherapy that this sort of thing can happen. Oh and I need to go 'new bra' shopping.

I was so pleased coming out of there I instantly went shopping and but only bought holiday items!!

Keep us posted on your results LainieG...must be stressful waiting for them. Hope you get them before the 23rd! Peta, I hope you're feeling better. Good luck with the scan! Fingers and toes crossed for you both xx

[LainieG]

Peta that sounds awful. I hope you get some relief soon. It is possible to get a seroma a long time after surgery. It's almost a year since my surgery and they think it's a seroma I have so could be. Good luck for your scan and you too Bexter. Hope you're both feeling better very soon. Xxxx
I had the ct scan of my brain yesterday. Just waiting for the result now. I don't see the neuro opthalmologist until 23rd July but not sure whether I can get the results before then xxxx

[bettypoppit]

Nice to hear from you GeeG and good to hear you in good spirits. X

PETA and Bexter77, fingers crossed you both get answers and help soon.....sounds very uncomfortable Peta and you don't need this.  X

Hope all the Posse are doing OK xx

[Peta]

Hi geeG

It's lovely to see you back here!  Sorry to hear you're still having problems, but it's good to hear that you had a good holiday. 🙂

I'm going for a scan on Monday now and seeing the consultant on Tuesday.  My boob has gone down a little, but it's still hugely swollen.  My armpit is so painful now too, it's waking me up at night and I just can't get comfortable.  I had several seromas after surgery, I wonder if it's possible to get another one so late on? 

You're having a scan tomorrow I think Bexter?  I hope yours is a bit more comfortable after the antibiotics? Good luck for tomorrow, I hope it all goes well. 

[geeG]

Hi Heroes - O Lord, some of yous are still having to deal with so so much… I knew I'd not called in for a while but geeeeeee… I am still struggling with tiredness, chemo brain, sore feets and hand and knees, unpredictable gut, forgetting to take drugs… forgetting loads of things… and working full time! Yup - all much as loadsayous here - and nothing like so much to cope with as as someofyous … so sorry I've not been here alongside yous all … my week in Budapest was lovely … much too late before going to bed tonight … can of cider and friends staying a few days…much too tired to post really - but had to say "Hello" and "I miss y'all" and "I'm still here"… and "I love yous" … hang on in there… back soon… hugs… x x x

[bettypoppit]

Happy anniversary Murphy - hope you have a fantastic evening celebrating. xx 🍸🍻🍹🍷🍹🍻🍸🍷

[LainieG]

Happy Anniversary Murphy. Have a lovely night. Xxx
I haven't had my scan yet ladies. It's next Thursday. I did have a review with the plastic surgeon and she's now saying the left boob can't be leaking because it would be completely flat. It was her who told me it was leaking and it wasn't completely flat last week???? I would think it would depend on where the leak is lol. Any way hopefully I'll get the right one drained on Thursday, but then I'll be lopsided again since she sent me to have the 'leaky ' one filled up last week lolol xxxxx

[Linzz]

Happy anniversary Murphy Hope you have a fab dinner

[Murphy1963]

Aww PETA, so sorry to hear about your sore swollen boob. You will be desperate to get it seen to. I also have had to wait for an appointment after complaining to my BCN about really sore ribs just under my bad boob. I've got an appointment thro for the surgeon on 30 June so I've probably had to wait about 5 weeks by the time I go!!!

Lainie I hope you got on ok yesterday xx

Hubby and I are off through to Glasgow tomorrow evening for a wee early anniversary dinner, 10 years!!! Happy weekend posse xxxxx

[Peta]

Thanks Jingo

Maybe I can adapt it a bit - okay a lot - so that it will look like some kind of sexy corset.  I understand that this may take months of work, but...  😉 

Have a good weekend, and you too AMD driver.  The weather is nice now, but it may not hold throughout the weekend down here according to the forecast.  I'll go and do some one armed gardening to make the most of it now!  xx

[AMDriver]

so sorry to hear of all the troubles and sore boobs. We've all been through so much - it's time we had a break from all these things.....

Have a good weekend ladies and hopefully the weather will stay good and give us all a reason to be happy.

xx

[jingo_x]

Peta - it sounds like you might be lucky enough to get one of the very glamorous compression bra/vest things I have for the lymphoedema in my chest wall.  They are spectacularly unattractive 🙂

have a lovely weekend with as few worries as poss xx

[Peta]

Thank you all for your reassuring messages, that really helped, thank you all so much.  I think I'm going to have to wait around 2 weeks as they're bringing my post treatment scans and doctor consultation forward.  I was scheduled for the one year check at the end of July, but they'll do it all now, but it does mean I'll have to wait.  

The boob isn't getting any bigger which is good and cheering.  The doc thinks it might be a big, fast, lymphoedema flare-up , which seems very possible as the swollen area is quite extensive, it's not just on my boob, it's down my side and under my arm and round my back, which is where I had the worse lymph swelling problems earlier.  I've been told not to wear my lymph arm sleeve or attempt to do anything to it, just to leave well alone until they can try to work out the cause of it.  

Lainie, I think your thought is a good one, "it's unlikely a cancer would grow as fast as your boob did" - yes, that makes sense, I'd expect a tumour to be a bit more suble, so I'm holding that thought... 🙂

Did you have your scan yesterday Lainie? And your check with the plastic surgeon?  How did you get on, any news?    

Have a good weekend ladies, with as few side-effects and end-effects as possible!  It's nice to have you with us Bexter.  🙂    I think we should aim to be the healthiest group with least side-effects by October, just to counter our reputation as the 'hospital girls'.  

Love to you all, thanks for all the positivity when I needed a boost up!  xxxx 

[bettypoppit]

Oh my, really sorry to read about your problems with swelling painful boobs and the worry and messing around getting appointments to be checked out. Who'd have thought it so soon or perhaps so long after treatment ends!  Sending you all hugs and good thoughts you all get seen and sorted soon. xx

[Linzz]

Oh Peta - so sorry you're dealing with something so scary. You had SO many weeks of rads though, it makes sense that it might be related like your bcn said. I hope you get a quick appointment xx

[LainieG]

Peta I know how you're feeling. My boob is still swelling. I went up a full cup size last week and now it's bursting out of my biggest bra. I have my scan on Thursday and can't wait. I'm going back to the plastic surgeon tomorrow to check the leaky one. I'm also having lots of side effects nearly 4 months from my last treatment. I thought by now I'd be feeling more normal but it feels like there's one thing after another. It's depressing isn't it. I'm constantly having to ask for time off work for appointments too. Thought I was finished with them and could just work normally. Let me know when you get your scan and hope it goes well. The comforting thought I held onto was that it was unlikely that a cancer would grow as fast as my boob did. I know that's not enough to make you feel better but I hope it helps a wee bit. Hopefully we'll all be back to feeling normal again soon xxxx

[Junash]

Peta just echoing what Baxter said - BCN should hopefully get you in for a scan quicker than a referral - I know when I was getting fluid build up they would scan me within a few days - this has happened between chemo & rads.

Hope you, Lainie & baxter get scans and answers asap. Hate the fretting xx

[bexter77]

Hi Peta, 

I had all that issue with a letter from the doc being faxed and having to call and chase etc... and in the end the BCN said (when i finally got through) i didn't need it - that she could get me in at the first available appointment if need be. "there's no need for a re-referral" she said...

Let us know when your scan is!  Sending all positive thoughts.  My boob has been a bit achy today - i keep getting like a shooting pain through it, which i know can be from the radiotherapy.  I'm just struggling getting my head round having side effects 2 and a half months since i've finished treatment! It seems i'm having more troubles now than i did during the chemo and radio!! It is still bigger than the other one and feels quite heavy. Can't wait for Wednesday to get looked at properly.

Hugs xx

[Peta]

I've been to the doc. She said it wasn't an infection, so all I can do is get myself in for a scan at the hospital as soon as possible to find out what's going on. She's faxing them a letter today to see if she can speed them up a bit. 😕

[Peta]

Thanks for coming back so quickly Bexter, that's a bit re-assuring. It really helps to not be alone out there, maybe this happens to quite a few people if it's happened to us both within days. 😊

I just spoke to the breast nurses at the hospital and they're going to get me in there for scans within the next two weeks. I'm going to see the doctor later this morning. The breast nurse was pretty re-assuring, she said it could be a delayed effect from the radiotherapy and said it was fairly unlikely to be a new cancer so soon after radio and chemo. I'm still really fretting though, it's very obviously lots bigger. I haven't got any sort of implant in my boob, it's all still 100% me - they just rearranged it quite a bit - so it can't be an infected insert, so I'm hoping it's an infection started by those lovely dissolving stitches again, or maybe some lymph type infection.

I hope yours continues to improve Bex, Please keep me posted, your news really helped calm me down a bit this morning, thank you!

[jingo_x]

Aargh! Can't believe it Peta. Hope you get sorted soon. Glad to hear your redness has gone at least Bexter
Xx

[Junash]

Oh Peta - keep us posted - what a rotten end to a lovely afternoon. Aagh!!!

[bexter77]

Hi Peta,

I was back at the docs yesterday and was given more antibiotics. My boob is still larger and much heavier but no longer red. I'm starting to think I had an infection along with fluid retention but if I'm honest I'm still worried. I called the BCN line and got my appointment for a scan. At first, she was quite flippant about the symptoms but when I said my doc was going to refer me she got me an appointment.

I'll keep you updated! Let us know how you get on today speaking to the doc and BCN xx

[bexter77]

Hi Peta,

I was back at the docs yesterday and was given more antibiotics. My boob is still larger and much heavier but no longer red. I'm starting to think I had an infection along with fluid retention but blind I'm honest I'm still worried. I called the BCN line and got my appointment for a scan. At first, she was quite flippant about the symptoms but when I said my doc was going to refer me she got me an appointment.

I'll keep you updated! Let us know how you get on today speaking to the doc and BCN xx

[LainieG]

Oh Peta. Hope you're ok. I'm still waiting to have my scan and have my seroma drained. I've stopped worrying so much about it tho now that I know what it is. Hopefully yours will be the same thing and it'll be dealt with quickly. What a rotten end to such a lovely day. You all look fab in the photos. Can't wait to meet everyone xxxxxxxx
I'm starting to get really confused with all the appointments I have. I was at the docs this morning having a blood test because the eye doc discovered that I'm anaemic. I have an appointment with the plastic surgeon on Fri to check my leaky boob then my brain ct on Monday then the breast clinic to have my seroma drained then on the 23rd July I'm seeing the neuro opthalmologist about my optic neuritis. Lol have to laugh really. I'll probably mix up the appointments and turn up at the wrong place because of the chemo brain. 😊😊😊😊😊😊

[Peta]

Hi Bexter, please keep me up to date as you go on. I went out for a lovely lunch with some of the girls from this forum and when I got home I realised that my breast was really swollen. It's sore, but it doesn't look red and it's visibly larger in size than it was. I'm really worried. I'll call my breast clinic and doctor in the morning.

What a bad end to a lovely day. It was good to meet you ladies! Xx