Breast Cancer Now Forum

Yeh! Just had last radiotherapy session!!! 🙂   Slapped on sudocream, so soothing aaahhhhhh 🙂   Now got next two weeks to hopefully get through without getting worse, then see oncologist about swelling, which possibly fluid build up.   I took cakes and chocolates into unit so was like party time for all, bought a smile to few peoples faces 🙂   And after my written suggestion they told me they getting a Bell for the unit!!! So thats a result.   I will still be going back but just for massage, counselling, workshops which in same building.   I feel so releived, now I am crashing!!! Thanks all for your support, hugs to all, gentle ones especially for those struggling like me, we will get there and does mean radiation is working on killing those cancer cells 🙂 ... View more

Yes using cold gel packs, but get hot so quickly as my boob so hot 🙂 ... View more

Thanks Ladyblower and others, congrats go all who finished sessions 🙂   I have my last session with booster today.   But oh I am so sore and swollen. I am taking stronger painkillers as its so painful inside as well.   Nerves so stretched they gone numb under breast.   Nipple is red raw and oozing, last night as in so much pain slavered nipple with Sudocream which soothed it so much phew.   Washed off now as told not to use it but taking with me for sudocream bath when finished!!! LoL 🙂   I see oncologist on 12th July, I have dressings, but radiologits thibk swelling so much caused by fluid build up again.   All I know is every day it gets bigger and tighter and more sore.   Any reccomendations re creams, dressings apreciate.   Thank you ... View more

Three more to go 🙂   Breast fit to burst as so swollen, all radiologists worried as also hot and red.   Got Oncology appt on 12th July so hoping she can reassure me nothing too nasty happening inside.   Must admit to tears as its so painfully stretched, nipple area so tender, lost skin sensation under breast wierdly too.   Using dressing for underneath breast as skin tearing 😞   But nearly finished and after the two weeks add on effects hopefully will be on road to recovery.   Thoughts with you all 🙂 ... View more

Hi all   I started Tanoxifen couple months ago , was not so good but here few tips that helped if you get side effects.   Breast care nurse sugests taking half morning and night always after food  this helped so much to even out reactions.   I am 61 so post menopausal but did still have few hot flushes every day, they got suoer charged on Tam so I thought I would try out the LadyCare magnet and was totally surprised how much it helped.   I was getting nasty surges of dread and anxiety and the magent stopped all that too.   Some think its a placebo effect, so ruddy what! it worked!   I did get lot of nausea and indegestion, also sore mouth and lady bits. Aparently Tamixifen blocks estrogen to breasts but can increase to other parts of body, so can change ph of vagina, leading to thrush or irratation.   Wish I was warned about this. It seemed to get worse linger I was on drug.   Nausea and soreness got so bad by seventn week I got quite ill so told to have a break till after Radiotherapy settles and my body heals. But then I face Tamixifen or another hormone blocker in few weeks.   When faced wth side effects, if any, as so many seem to be ok, its worth checking how much benefit you will get from drug by using the NHS PREDICT online tool.   It tells you five year and ten year increase in life expectancy if on drug, you answer few questions re your cancer so its personalised.   http://predict.nhs.uk/   I am releved to be off drug and am considering if its worth it or not but will discuss with oncologist in few weeks. I hope all of you, like many, have no or minor side effects.   🙂 ... View more

Deoderant - normal deooderant can be used, reserach has shown it makes no difference to radiotherapy.   Radiologists at my planning session told me about new research when I asked about Pitroc, so save your self the money and use what you like 🙂   One I don't understand is why we can't use a little antiseptic cream for soreness and blisters.   I thought a little sudocream or savlon would be ok but aparently not.   Has anyone had any nausea, I have had a little after sessions, told its not related but info here says it can happen.   Good luck everyine, I have five sessions left, heres hoping boob does not burst as so swollen! 🙂     ... View more

Hi all phew what hot few days 🙂   I so feel for you re cellulitus.   I had to go to see surgeon today as radiologist and GP think I have cellulitus again but surgeon says no.   My breast has swollen so much all measurments have to be changed for radiotherapy.   Skin breaking down under breast, given stick on dressings for this as where bra rubs too, even though its very loose.   All due to affect of infection before rads.   Feel like have to be bull dog, chew bottom lip and press forward.   It literally feels like boob will explode as so swollen and sore. I have blood blisters do any of you?   I knew in advance new lumps may form due to rads.   Off to10th session in a minute, try and soothe radiologist anxiety re infection 🙂           ... View more

Hi Mediagirl, I recently stopped taking Tamoxifen due to side effects, only lasted 7 weeks.   Tiredness, constant nausea and indegestion, thrush in mouth and lady bits, so sore.   It felt like my body was a dead weight.   I knew I could not tolerate all this as already have health issues, pain from spine injury.   Its wierd how some get no side effects of note and others get lots.   In then end its our choice what we can manage.   Have you looked at the NHS PREDICT online tool, it shows how much drugs help improve life expectancy for BC or not.   I see oncologist in month or so to discuss other drugs but I don't think I will cope, I want to try, but have limits.   Its worth exploring what benefits you will get. ... View more

Is'nt starnge how we all reactso differently to rads.   I saw GP this morning, he not happy, and to top off my day found new lump formed above surgey site 😞 which will now need investigating.   I spoke with Breast care nurse, she speaking with Oncologist and surgeon tomorrow morning re looking at it.   Got more little blisters, asked for dressings at GP, he refused, and radiologist who said no till I seen as may be infection.   I so do not want more antibiotics, I just finished three weeks of these two weeks ago. 😞   For the first time after rad session today I nearly passed out when sat up, so drinking more in case its that, but as I need to take strong pain killers and diazepam before sessions for spine and shoulder thinks its all that together with heat.   I find the sun on breast, even through clothes extremely unpleasantly sore, using shawl for extra cover.   No way want to be outdoors in this heat, like you say its bit too much.   Hugs to all feeling rough, this will end, then we heal! 🙂   ... View more

Thanks Soobe   I had another review today to check skin, blisters definately developing, very hot too but its not spread so hopefully just inflammation from rads.   I see GP tomorrow morning to double check.   Had 6/15 session today.   I using mild antiseptic sudocream to dab on blisters, seemed to help at weekend.   But with this hot weather, hot and sore boob I just want to sit with cool pack 🙂 ... View more

Hi, explore Ladycare magnet as helps hot flushes and anxiety too.   its really helped me.   I also use Kalms, which are the herb valerian. Oncologist says fine to use.   Hope this helps  🙂 ... View more

Mine was drained as I had infection, they wanted to test fluid but as so much of it decided to remove what they could, though warned it could return.   It was like my boob deflated like a balloon 🙂 and revealed big dent where growth removed.   I noticed swelling under arm also deflated which was interesting.   I was also assured it should be reabsorbed but if get infection or find it an issue you can ask for drainage but tjere is risk of infection through procedure.   I looked up exercises for lymphodemia which did help.   Hooe it resolves for you 🙂     ... View more

Went out and got some E45 and little Savlon as seem to have few little blisters eeek!   Hot weather does not help hot boob!! LoL 🙂   I think my skin extra sensative due to infection, bit today inside is hurting, achy burning feeling.   I keep forgetting to do exercises, like my mind thinks well I did those for weeks, now can stop. But know I cannot but brain fog creeping in me thinks.   Just took some pain killers, giving in a little.:( but will survive 🙂   So ladies have any of you got any redness ? heated boob feeling?   🙂         ... View more

I think we all need to say to ourselves its ok to feel sad, upset, angry etc   Yesterday I had review from radiology practitioner and she thinks cellulitus is back 😞   Told me to go to a&e over weekend if gets worse, I cannot think of worse thing to do on hottest days sitting hours in a&e so not doing that.   She has emailed oncologost.   So breast hot, sore, I feel whacked and dreading more antibiotics as only two weeks ago finished three week course, als Thrush just easing off 😞   Had wrapped ice pack and fan on chest all night.   Radiotherapy will continue but feel like boob will explode! quite a funny thought LoL! 🙂 do you think we get dark humour through all this happening?   I am disabled, a wheelchiar user, spine injury, nerve pain, now having spasms in shoulder, back and legs after just five sessions BUT this is a most important part of our treatment so no matter what I will continue.   I wish I could hug all who struggling, a great big group hug!  Healing thoughts to you all 🙂     ... View more

I just recently had Tamoxifen stopped due to side effects making me so ill.   I know Letrozole will be next option, though got six week break as having Radiotherapy at moment.   But I found the NHS tool called NHS PREDICT useful, my oncologist used it and showed me   Just go to the website put in your diagnosis etc and it will show you how much or how little difference hormone drugs make to survival in 5  and 10 years.   Mine is only 2% improvement so honestly cannot see point of having less quality of life via side effects.   Its one bit of info to have to discuss with doctors. ... View more