Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Cyclingsoo - sounds like you do amazingly well with your exercise - good luck with your training for your long bike ride. I am trying to find my level still - I can walk for longer now but I find if I walk a long way one day I need to rest for a few days. I’ll get there ⛰ ⛰ I hope - just frustratingly slow at the moment. I carry a light rucksack and get hubby to carry more lol. Hoping once I finish Herceptin (3 to go) it will help with my energy levels as well - it makes me v tired for a few days after I’ve had it so maybe it has a longer effect as well. It’s all a learning curve . ... View more

MHaz how is your rib pain - I had radiotherapy last October but have started with the same kind of pain this last week - interested to hear anything to help.  Thanks Bibi ... View more

Hi All,  - I have had Dr Reddy’s, Accord and Crescent and haven’t noticed any difference in side effects between them . I asked doc if I could have more than 1 months supply at a time - just a pain having to get them every month, he gave me a repeat for 2 months at a time - better than 1. Have had the first lot - will see how it goes.  ... View more

Just caught up with all your comments about how you are doing - my first chemo was 1st Feb 2018 - it feels like it’s been a long year! Still having Herceptin injections- weirdly they fall on exactly the same dates as my chemo sessions last year - due to finish in June and feel like that will be a final letting go- well apart from the  Letrozole but hey ho.  I’m lucky I’m retired so don’t have to face the work issues - your boss sounds horrible Chrissy - hope you manage to sort out your days. Flora hope you recover from your further surgery issues quickly.  Also have curly locks - I used the cold cap so didn’t lose all my hair - wasn’t expecting the chemo curl but I’ve got it - hair now really thick again but definitely wavy. Trying to get fit and doing lots of exercise - have aches and pains from the drugs but loving life and glad I’m here. Hugs to you all and glad I had your support last year xxxx ... View more

Hi Jay  yes I had chemo (FEC then Docetaxol, Herceptin and Pertuzamub) I’m still having Herceptin injections - got 4 more to go.  You are right it’s probably a combination of all of it - It’s hard to pin down which drug causes which side effect. Just trying to reach a new normal that allows me to do my favourite activities.  ... View more

I’m just trying to get to grips with travel insurance after completing my treatment ( apart from the Herceptin injections) A couple of companies I’ve tried won’t give me any 🤷🏻‍ ♀️ ( Insure with and couldn’t get any quotes off Compare the Market) at the moment we have an annual policy with our bank who will continue it with an exemption for BC. I suppose I am unsure whether this is enough - my worry is if I was on holiday and I had anything heart related or bone related they would say it was related to BC through the drugs ( Herceptin and Letrozole, and I have discovered after dexa scan I am borderline osteopenia) and I wouldn’t be covered. Also if we had to cut holiday short because of anything BC related would they cover my OH or not? We are off to Bruges for a few days and I’m hoping my travel insurance with bank and EHIC card will be enough - any thoughts?  Any recommendations for a good company if I decide to go outside EU later in year?  Thanks  ... View more

 M and S have some nice non- wired bras that are not too expensive and there is a fair bit of choice if you are anything upto an E Cup - above that there is less choice but this one is nice - smooth and quite supportive https://www.marksandspencer.com/flexi-fit-non-padded-full-cup-bra-a-f/p/p60090766?OmnitureRedirect=02723259&krypto=iFbZirZWf7u6fQoCt8OLapQQzRre3pS1P3QMAVrNxXAdjsJQy7nMB0rPiqWIrKiZy1aw%2BGh2F9HS2b%2Fwwktq5Q%3D%3D A bit more expensive is the Royce Maisie bra which Bravissimo sell - or online but I like to try bras on. It’s £32 but you can take the vat off as its post surgery which makes it more affordable. It is a bit more padded but is v comfy.  https://www.bravissimo.com/products/maisie-bra-blush-pink-ro103blp/   Good luck finding one you like. ... View more

Hi Thrplummer- try Aveeno cream for the itchy skin - it has helped me and I’ve found it does lessen with time. Hope your pain does the same - try taking an antihistamine tablet with Loratadine in ( Clarityn is brand name but can get generic ones cheaper) that helps with bone aches. Good luck with your treatment  ... View more

I think the evidence is inconclusive- when I have looked the research results  the advice is maybe in moderation it is OK . https://www.wcrf-uk.org/uk/blog/articles/2017/10/could-soya-products-affect-my-risk-breast-cancer https://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/soy-may-turn-on-genes-linked-to-cancer Its hard to decide - especially if you are a vegetarian like me and are looking for protein - I tend to have it occasionally.  ... View more

Hi Anxious Loved Unforgotten and Hinterland - like cop dramas, Been looking at travel insurance again and think I will be alright with EHIC for medical bit in Europe and my bank insurance covers the travel bit just got an exclusion on breast cancer. Do you think I’m right?  Our poor doggy has to have an eye op next week 🙁 so will be having a few quiet days while she is convalescing and we recover from vet bill 😲 ... View more

Sun and a pool sound very relaxing Green Damsel - enjoy ! 🌞 🏊🏻‍ ♀️ Will look at those insurance ompanies thanks and see what they can do for me.  It was a play called Allelujah - about the NHS - very topical and very good - it was the live streaming they do at cinemas which is great if you don’t live in London - get to see some good stuff. Have a good week everyone  ... View more

Hi Maria - I have no experience of Letrozole shrinking tumour before surgery- am on it now post chemo, surgery and rads. However it had spread to my Lymph nodes and this was picked up on my very first appointment with ultrasound and fine needle aspiration. This was monitored through my chemo with ultrasound - my lymph nodes responded to FEC , tumour responded more to T + Pertuzumab and Trastuzumab.  Good luck with your decision.  Bibi x  ... View more

Hi everyone- hope your holiday is a real rest and recuperation for you Green Damsel - have a great time. Hope you managed to find a jacket for this weather Anxious. Im still feeling good, skin is almost back to normal , didn’t have any effects from last Herceptin so keeping 🤞 that continues. I have rejoined my gym and am really looking forward to getting back to yoga and swimming regularly 😊 Just enjoying having no regular hospital appointments and spending time with friends- have booked a little trip to Edinburgh with one of my daughters so I’m excited about that.  My bank travel insurance won’t cover me for anything related to breast cancer so I’m going to look for another policy - did you find a good one Green Damsel? I figure since I’m on Letrozole if I did have any problems with bones they would say it was related to that, and if I had a heart problem they would say it was the Herceptin so I’m just going to look for a different insurer.  Been decorating the bedroom - felt the need for a fresh start so starting there- just going to put all stuff back in this afternoon and then off to see the Alan Bennett play on at cinemas today with some friends.  Have a good day everyone xx ... View more

Hi Zena Its completely normal to want to run away. It’s really hard even when having all the information to make a decision - I know for me I wanted the information but still wanted to be told what to do if I’m honest. I had a couple of weeks really struggling with a decision whether to have a mastectomy or a lumpectomy and it took a lot of talking, and reflecting, and asking questions before I could decide. So don’t think you have to decide in a day - try to ask questions, I found writing it all down helped me to organise my thoughts. Some of your decision will be down to your own personal circumstances about family and age etc. I have had chemo, then surgery and radiotherapy and am on Herceptin till next June- it’s a tough journey but just thinking about each treatment as I was going through it helped to chunk the time and make it not seem so daunting. I was diagnosed just after Christmas last year  and feel like I’m just starting on the road to recovery and things are getting back on an even keel again. Good luck with making your decision xxxx ... View more

Thanks Anxious - will check it out. Had a fun filled weekend with family - so good to relax and know you have no appointments to attend.  Hope everyone is doing well - my skin is pink but not breaking or sore. Little red patch on my collarbone hasn’t got any worse - in fact looks like it might be starting to heal so 🤞 should be able to start swimming again soon.  Trying to increase activity and build fitness back up - taking it slowly .  Take care everyone xx ... View more

Hi Anxious - had Fitbit for several years and never had problem with skin.  Glad to hear your work meeting went well - take your time and recover well. Hot flushes 🙁   Take care all xxx ... View more

What a beautiful morning - been enjoying my garden - before this I would  have carried on all day but I am realising I need to pace myself otherwise I am too tired for days afterwards. So that will also be my plan for decorating Green Damsel 👍 small sessions and enjoy them. I use my Fitbit to track my distance or even the phone using Map my walk - I like the Fitbit to track steps as I don’t have to carry phone around the house/garden then. Walked about 6 miles in Dovedale last week and that was just about right at the moment. Going back out with my walking buddies tomorrow for the first time since before surgery in July - but will probably be a short stroll and lot of cake and coffee and chat to catch up- looking forward to it. I must admit I forget to do the exercises now as I feel I have full movement back with only very occasional twinges.  Red patch on collarbone looking a bit iffy and skin breaking down a bit - is it best to still keep using Aveeno do you think? Enjoy the sun while it’s here everyone xx ... View more

Glad to hear you are all getting energy back. Today waking up felt great knowing there was no more rads - had a nice day mooching around the Motorhome Show at NEC for a few hours - didn’t buy a new one though - mad prices - but always fun having a look. Decided I’m going to decorate next week and have a good clear out - fresh start coming up!  I do have a bit of a red patch developing near my collarbone ☹️ So am moisturising madly but trying not to rub.  Take care xxx ... View more

Thank you all - will be around for a while - hoping I don’t get any adverse reaction and start to get energy back- how are you all coping after rads? ... View more