Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Helena,   You're so right about the sun making us feel better.   I phoned my manager this morning and he was fine with me just contacting him again once I have seen my GP who has already said that a phased return to work will be needed. I had an op on my foot a few years ago and was off for nearly 4 months and the Occupational Health kept in touch to see how I was recovering and they looked after my phased return to work but this time it sounds like we don't have their input at all now for some strange reason. My manager knows that I will be having the phased return and has just said I will need to go into work to see him and HR manager once my GP has signed me off to sort out my hours etc.   I might actually ask my GP for another sick note for a week or two as I really don't think I am fully ready to return just yet and the last thing I want is to go back to work and then go off on the sick again. I just feel a bit guilty that I have been off so long as I have been off since end of November.   Thanks for your reply and glad to hear that your mammogram results were good.   Kaz xx ... View more

It certainly is a bit of a rollercoaster! I got myself all ready to go out to do some shopping as all the family are coming around for dinner tonight for a late birthday celebration and my car has died!!! Oh dear these things are sent to try us!   Hope your day has been a bit better than mine Liz.   Kaz xx ... View more

Thanks Liz,   I am feeling much better today, I think I was just tired and had a bit of the post holiday blues.   Kaz xx ... View more

Hubby and I had a wonderful time in Lanzarote, the weather was lovely and it was so peaceful at the villa but only 5 minutes drive to the resort centre, definitely what the doctor ordered but now back to earth with a bump.   Before we went away, apart from the problems with soreness and split skin after the rads, I was thinking that when we got back I would be ready to go back to work but I am now having doubts about that. It all feels a bit daunting and I am not so sure I am ready now. The problem is my sick note runs out tomorrow and I can't get an appointment with my GP. I have to ring up at 8am Thursday to see if there is an appointment available for that day so I guess I will have to ring my manager at work but even that is a big deal and I have to psyche myself up before I do it! I feel like an emotional wreck to be honest and everybody thinks I am ok which makes everything worse. I used to think I was quite a confident person but every ounce of confidence has been knocked out of me, how ridiculous am I having to pluck up courage to go out of the house to the corner shop? I need to give my head a wobble I think, sorry for moaning again but it does help a little.   Kaz xx ... View more

Thanks Ali and Helena, got my factor 50 at the read but I think it might be warmer here!    Kaz xx ... View more

All booked, going to Lanzarote in a nice villa for a week. Fly out tomorrow just after lunch so I better get some packing done!   Have a good weekend everyone.   Kaz xx   ... View more

Thanks for all the replies about going on holiday. I rang my manager today and he said he would authorise a holiday for me no problem. Missed out through dithering on a lovely place in Sicily which is now no longer available so back to the drawing board and running out of time as hubby is due back in work Monday 23rd. On a plus side I had my hair cut and coloured today so I am almost ready to holiday, just chuck a few things in suitcase lol   Thanks for all of your support, you are all wonderful and I will keep you posted.   Kaz xx   ... View more

Just catching up on this thread. I love how you call it the Mentalpause Ali, sums me up to a tee lol ... View more

Thanks Kerry,   Still not decided if we are going away. We did think about going abroad for a week but apparently because I am off work on sick leave that is not allowed so unsure if its allowed to go away in this country either?!?    Glad all went well Helena and fingers crossed for good results. Thanks for recommending the Polymem dressings, they are fabulous, work just like magic!   Kaz xx ... View more

I have heard about cabbage leaves when you have sore boobs from breast feeding but not for anything else.   Helena, I hope your mammogram went well today.   Kaz xx ... View more

Thanks Helena,   I rang and spoke to one of the skin nurses on the rads team and she has faxed through a letter to my GP so I can get a prescription for the Polymem dressings. She told me to stop using any creams until it heals as well.    I keep forgetting about increasing my fluids so I will have to make a concerted effort to do that.   I need to sort out my annual travel insurance as I have not informed them yet about my surgery and treatment for bc  before we book any holiday but I am quite tempted to go away even if its only for 3 or 4 days.   Thanks again Helena, you are always so kind and helpful.   Kaz xxx ... View more

Well done Otter on finishing your rads.   I am now 10 days post rads and my skin has split underneath my boob so will have to contact either my bc nurse or the rads team tomorrow. The fatigue has somehow just floored me too, I slept for 14 hours last night/this morning and I still feel so tired so I think I need to up my fluid intake. Hubby is off work for a week after next week, originally he had two weeks booked off because we were going to have a two week holiday but I really don't feel up to it. We are now thinking of just going away for a few days but not sure whether it is a good idea. I don't know what to do for the best, just not feeling good at the moment. Sorry for moaning.   Kaz xx     ... View more

Thanks ladies, hope you are all having a lovely Easter.   Kaz xx ... View more

Thanks Helena,   Hubby and I were planning on going out for a nice meal but I wanted to watch the ladies on The Full Monty so we had a takeaway and some champagne and we are now going out for a meal tomorrow night.    I blubbed all the way through watching The Full Monty, I am so emotional now I can cry at the drop of a hat but I did notice that the ladies that had actually had bc were also far more emotional than the rest of the very brave ladies.   Kaz xx ... View more

Well I rang the bell yesterday for the end of my treatment and also got the all clear from my lovely Surgeon/Consultant and now just have to have annual mammograms for the next five years. Started with the itchiness a bit yesterday so the radiologist organised some hydrocortisone cream for me to use when needed, so far have managed with E45 and Aloe Vera Gel but nice to know I have a back up.   Hope you all have a lovely Easter weekend and good luck for the rest of your rads.   Kaz xx ... View more

Hi everyone,    I can officially join you all now in Club Tropicana, I rang the bell today (Thursday) for the finish of my rads!    Happy Easter!   Kaz xx ... View more

Well done Roxanne doing your 10,000 steps every day, hope you enjoyed your Easter egg.   Otter, it will all be over this time next week then and a nice reflexology session to look forward to. The tiredness has definitely hit me now, I don't even have the energy to turn over in bed lol   I have my follow-up appointment with my Consultant/Surgeon today and then its my very last radiotherapy session at 7pm. I am a bit apprehensive but excited as well.   Have a great day everyone.   Kaz xx ... View more

Thanks Roxanne,   We got to my appointment early and I was called in more or less straight away so we were finished by the time of my appointment. Had a fantastic night watching Sam Smith but think the tiredness is suddenly hitting me.    14th session later today then my final one tomorrow, feels a bit weird but nice to be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.   Have a nice day everyone,   Kaz xx   ... View more

Hi everyone,   12 of 15 today and also had my review which i should have had last week. The Radiologist and the review nurse are very happy with how my skin is at the moment, lets hope this continues and I don't have too many side effects. Feeling a bit more tired but thats always been expected anyway.   Tomorrow they have promised to have my appointment on time as I am going to see Sam Smith with my daughter, hopefully we won't get stuck in the rush hour traffic.   Can't believe quite how quick these sessions have gone even with having delays with broken machine.   Good luck to everyone.   Kaz xx ... View more