Breast Cancer Now Forum

Congratulations York75! Hope the radiotherapy & tamoxifen goes well.  Keep in touch!  Jo xx ... View more

Hi All, I completely agree with you both, msjobo & Maire. I was diagnosed this June and had 2 IDCs grade 3 and had a lumpectomy after which they found grade 3 DCIS, another lumpectomy and still no clear margins. I am now going through chemo which I never want to repeat. I have to have a mastectomy in March or so and as I have dense breasts, which didn't show the DCIS at all during the mammogram, I also feel very strongly that I want a double mastectomy. I feel it's very unfair that they make you fight for this route certainly after you have had time to think it through. Best of luck and I for one am right behind you. xxxx ... View more

What a shame SU, I really understand the wish to get out and do something normal and as you say you protected yourself as best you could. Hope your symptoms are mild and you feel better soon. xxxx ... View more

Crikey NAJ, that sound's like a nightmare. So sorry you are going through that. Fingers crossed they let you home soon. xxxx ... View more

That's awesome York-75, you sound really upbeat! My husband had radiotherapy for prostate cancer and he was nowhere near as tired as me going through chemo so your oncologist is probably right, albeit flippant! lol Re the vaccines I'm pleased you have said that as I was worried they would force us to have it and as it hasn't been tested on anyone clinically vulnerable, I am not ready to be a guinea pig yet. Please don't get me wrong, I am not an anti-vaxxer at all, just happier to stay indoors isolating until my body is strong again. I'm really pleased your end is in sight York-75, you're nearly there !!! xx ... View more

Hi Scott, I just wondered how your partner is doing? Well I hope after her surgery. Take care and feel free to ask for advice 🙂 Jo xx   ... View more

Wow thanks for posting your video NigelAnn26. Very brave, really helpful and I'm sorry that BC has returned. Best wishes for you & your next treatments. Take care. Jo x ... View more

Hi Whiters14, Sorry you're feeling crappy. I had a real downer after my 3rd session of EC but it did end after about 10 days. Not sure if its the oestrogen production packing up as I'm premenopausal or what? I'm trying to keep upbeat too but you're right it is hard especially with Xmas being so different this year, im not feeling festive at all despite decorating the house, buying gifts etc. I think maybe Xmas to me means seeing people & thats just not an option this year. I also like to get out and about so have found myself at a loose end quite often in the house! 😁 So I've worked a bit and tried to sort out cupboards as I'm not a big tv watcher but some boxsets have kept the boredom at bay.  I hope your spirits lift lovely.  Jo xxx ... View more

So sorry to hear this NAJ, wishing you a speedy recovery and exit from the geriatric ward!!! Xxx ... View more

Hi SU & everyone, Not posted for a while as have been working, which has been great! 4th cycle EC on Thursday so back to a week of fatigue etc. as we all know well.  SU, I'm so sorry to hear you have had sepsis & covid but im so glad you posted & I hope your symptoms improve quickly. I have been desperate to get out and was thinking of having a Christmas shopping day in a week or so at meadowhall! But maybe not now!  My boys both came home yesterday one from work in Germany the other from St.Andrews amuni and I desperately want to hug them but again feel I should be ultra careful after your post.  Lots of hugs SU & hope you feel better soon xx ... View more

Hi UMLydia and all, Sorry just catching up after a nasty 3rd round, horrible sickness the day after but through it today - phew! UmLydia -There are certainly lots of options for the reconstruction and not all on offer at all the hospitals. I agree that getting into a bikini and feeling somewhat normal is important for me too. NAJ - Thanks for replying about the Omeprazole they gave me some on Thursday. When did you start taking it and did you take with with the metoclopramide and/ or Ondansetron? Or just when the acid reflux started? Thanks for the nativity link, will be nice to get christmassy I'm not feeling it at all yet. CBB - Good luck if you do brave the shave, I agree the wig may be easier to wear without any hair although thanks York75 for the tip on the sock thing! York75- Glad the itchy scalp is calming down, one less thing to be dealing with x Linflo - I feel bad after round 3 as well but hopefully after day 3 it seems to subside and then just acid reflux. The Crown is well worth a watch!! Mrs Q - Yes week 1 bad then weeks 2 &3 are good although like you I had an awfully crappy mood after round2. Not sure if that is just covid related though as the lockdown makes it so hard to be anywhere near normal. Has everyone had their clinically extremely vulnerable letter from the NHS?  Take care and happy weekend all.  Jo xx        ... View more

HI Scott, Sorry to hear your partner is going through this but great that you have found this forum! I had 2 lumpectomies in July & August this year for IDC grade 3 tumours & both of them failed as there was cancer found in the margins.  This was mainly DCIS which was almost invisible in all the scans I had. I now have to have chemo and a mastectomy. As Evie says earlier the team will always choose the least invasive treatment that they can. In their mind if they can get away with lumpectomy it is best as it is a much easier surgery to recover from. If you are being offered both you probably do need more expert opinion.  When I have my mastectomy next ear I have chosen immediate reconstruction but I have a friend that chose to delay in case she changed her mind. It is such a personal choice and not an easy one at all. I wish you and you partner well and do always come back for more advice or call the helpline. Jo x ... View more

HI CBB, I'm really with you on that. I had an awful headache too and I wouldn't say its saving my hair. My husband thinks I should shave my hair too but there are still some bits that make it look normal with a hat on so I'm reluctant and not brave enough yet. Hat off to you if you can do it. 🙂 How do you find wearing your wig? Mine seems to itch after a few hours and I wonder if it's because I have hair? Do you wear the wig/ scalp cap thing? I bought some hygge headbands to wear around the house which are more comfortable but I know everyone is different. Best of luck if you choose the shave xxx ... View more

Oh York75 I really agree with you. The impact of my hair loss has been really surprising too! I think for me the hair loss is such a visual and constant reminder of what we're going through even though I'm feeling ok at them moment. I'm sorry your scalp is itchy and sore, have you tried cera ve its supposed to be really good, I think its recommended for eczema etc. Are you going to cold cap next time? I think you are right it is good it's winter and to some degree that covid is keeping us all inside more than normal. There is certainly no fear of missing out. But on the flip side we aren't getting to see friends and family or go out for dinner as a treat and I feel like that has a very big impact on happiness levels.  Keep strong everyone xx   ... View more

Hey UmLydia, OH yes I've been thinking about it for weeks! I was diagnosed in early June and wanted mastectomy then but they wouldn't do it and then had 2 lumpectomies which failed. So yes after all that I want implants as I need to feel like me. I can't use any of my own fat as there isn't enough and I don't want the back flap one as I love paddleboarding and it really affects your back strength. I don't know if that matters for you playing the clarinet? A couple of people I know have had immediate reconstruction but it does depend on your surgeon. A friend in the states chose to wait in case she changed her mind. If you have it in the lymph nodes they will no doubt remove those during the surgery and then you just have to keep doing the exercises they give you which seem hard to being with but they soon become easy. How nice to be in France, is the treatment going ok so far? Hopefully when you are better covid restrictions will have lifted and you can get back to normal!!! As can we all!! Acid reflux has gone very suddenly just stopped but its cycle 3 on Thursday so its like getting on the rollercoaster all over again! Take care. xx ... View more

Well done on getting past number 2! I have the exact same in my back & shoulders, really sore after the injections and still are now even though I stopped over a week ago. I actually thought I'd been on my phone to much so stopped using it for a couple of days!  I'm the same as you with the cold capping so I've decided that I'm not going to have it this time (3rd cycle on Thursday). I just feel as it's left a big patch of baldness that I won't have my own hair visible for a while so might as well be comfortable during the treatment and not be there so long! But each to their own its a hard decision isn't it. Hope you continue to feel well. 🙂 xx ... View more

Thanks NAJ, they did give me some of that right at the beginning but I didn't feel that I needed it then. I'll try it after this weeks session. I'm doing 6 cycles last one on Jan 21st all being well then 6 weeks recovery before surgery so they say. How many more have you got? xx ... View more

Hi UmLydia, I haven't been on for a while as I struggled after my 2nd EC too. I had awful acid reflux which has now thankfully gone, I had a couple of really down days but they may have been COVID related and now I'm back to feeling ok. So I would say 10 days to feeling better for me. I too am having mastectomy after EC as I had 2 failed lumpectomies in July & August. Its daunting to think there is more after all of this isn't it. Very rough going.  Whereabouts in France are you? I'm on the edge of the Pennines in Yorkshire  so its starting to get cold now! xx ... View more

Good idea Shi, thank you xx ... View more

Awesome, thanks Shi & Karen19! That really helps. Yes it is filgrastim and its good to know you had no side effects Karen but great advice on the epsom salts baths Shi. Thank you both. I'll try and do it now! Jo xx ... View more