Breast Cancer Now Forum

Re Nooshkas comment 🙂 Maybe we should have a threat: Ask the June Girls ! Together we probably had most variations and seemingly fulfilling answers 😄 ... View more

Hi, I can also add to post op comments now 🙂 They removed my drains after 4 days ( op on Mon, drain removal on Fri). The drainage bottle was getting still way more than they wanted to see. After 8 days I heard sloshing / water in hot water bottle sound. Checked with bcn, who said if it causes lots of discomfort, come in they ll sort it, but if it's not uncomfortable, it won't be a problem ( - I suppose unless it leaks and then gets infected, as experienced by Lorna). I came of all painkillers on day 9 - the sloshing continued and it was more uncomfortable, but no definite bulging spot as such. Phoned bcn again, same answer and she reiterated, that the body can reabsorb the fluids, also that by removing it, the body will continue producing it - of course if it hurts/ is uncomfortable, do get it removed. I don't like the idea of more needles either, but the surgeon said that that area is still numb from the op and that helps. Today, day 10 - the sloshing continues, but still no one definite spot and it doesn't seem to be as sore overall as yesterday. That's where I am at - not sure what the next days bring, but I really hope it will go away by itself... Nooshka, it must have been a hard decision to have another operation! Good luck with the recovery! Rexi xxx ... View more

Totally agree with BB - re surround yourself with supportive people. Sandytoes, your sister - uncalled for behaviour Aaah - I was waiting to get my whinge of my chest. 🙂 Another loss due to BC - but maybe bc was just the catalyst to the divorce of a relationship already in jeopardy. In the end I am extremely happy and grateful to my husband and how fantastically he has been dealing with everything, and to have his love and support. And that of Other family members, old friends and new friends that have unexpectedly turned up due to bc. Feel blessed to have all of them :). ... View more

Whilst on losing friends - I have two sisters, both live far away in Germany, so I don't know really how they would have dealt with the dirty details on a more regular basis. However, I have a closer bond with my younger sister and she's been great - normal, straight forward, supportive, she has been here and was great in that week. The other one is more air heady and doesn't seem to get it sometimes. I have a neutral ish relationship with her anyway- would generally not talk greatly about feelings etc - we are on a different wavelengths. But, she got closer to my BFF of 30years, they live in the same area in Germany. Since June my BFF became more and more distant and disinterested and after a weird email exchange in Nov, when the tension got to me totally, I received a lot of ridiculous accusations: the way I behave towards my sister was unacceptable (seriously nothing had happened, but yes, I didn't want her suddenly as my new best friend, there is history and I don't trust her - and so? - its MY relationship with MY sister, what's it got to do with my relationship with my BFF?), my need to get attention and demands to be pitied by everyone? - which apparently is the only reason why I am going to work?!, publicising my 'situation' on Facebook should be rethought?! -- Accusations based on mails and text message contact since dx, since she has not actually seen me or talked to me on the phone (another story) since before the dx! I really couldn't believe that after 30 years she would think of me that way. I am not that person she portraits. I did even start to self doubt and checked with my closest friends here, and hubby and no, absolutely not - it's not the way I am seen or there is nothing I have done wrong in the way I am dealing with everything. I decided I don't need a person like that around me - not now when I am quite vulnerable or ever. So - I am no longer in contact with her. I feel better than second guessing for months what the problem is, which was making me sad and upset in the process, but I still can't believe the circumstances... ... View more

Hiya, My rest came to an end when I finally got home on fri eve ( op was on mon). They were reluctant to let me go as I was draining still loads - after it looked like I was following some textbook on wed morning when the fluid measured only trickles. a couple of hours later the bottle was up to almost 200ml! Some gunk seemed to have blocked the drain, got pushed out and it was a steady flow from then on.. So much to 30ml in 24 hours. On fri they let me go home despite the, I don't know, 150/180ml in the previous 24h? They explained several times that the drains themselves sort of produce fluid, also a bit of fluid buildup can be absorbed by the body itself, it sort of has to figure it out. It felt fine for the first few days at home, but I think I did to much ( cooking dinner, moving stuff about, i did rest too, honest, but it makes me feel like a lazy cow, when there is so much to do in our new house!) and yesterday I decided I need to do less - couple of places in my underarm scar are slightly bleeding :(. And I have the sloshing boob syndrome - freaky! So obviously there is fluid sitting around making noises! I phoned the bcn, who said not to worry until it becomes really swollen or uncomfortable. I just don't exactly know, when that point is - will I know? How long can you hang around with this before it could become infectious? Does it become infectious? BB - what a bummer - another op! Totally feel for you 😞 - it sucks. Another lumptectomy, right? Will it hopefully just be a day patient job? I had my results this week too: got clear margins of 16mm, 4 of the 20 lymph nodes had cancer cells or scaring - which is pretty good, as we already knew about at least 3 nodes affected! The lump was still sizeable, despite some misleading info before that it was almost gone. But it's out now! Have good arm movement and am using my arm almost normally, but need to do more exercise as everyone says that's the big downfall - to do less of it when it goes well. Sandytoes - super - one more big step done! Pam - awh - your son is so nicely protective, but poor little mite :(. It's a huge thing for them. I only get glimpses in what's going on in my children's head, when I hear from other people that my children have commented on something, which shows how much they do think about bc, although they might not have mentioned anything at home. Lorna, good luck with the radiotherapy! Katie - enjoy enjoy enjoy! Love to everyone else! Rexi xxx ... View more

Hi I had a lumpectomy on Monday for tnbc with node clearance. Am still in hospital with the drains. I don't find this as bad as tax, that's for sure 🙂 I found a good selections of button up pjs at Marks & Spencers. Really comfy fabric and in a good range of sizes (needed size 20). Starting radiotherapy in Jan and also need to travel 1 1/2h one way to get to the hospital. Was it bbb who has to travel far, too? Which hospital are you having radiotherapy at? Rexi x ... View more

BB - you were out so quickly - well done! How are you after a week now? Super trouper - will you get the lymph nodes out, too? I think that's when the drains are mainly used. I reckon better out than in. A little bit of liquid can be absorbed, but with lots they try to get the most out with drains. Sandytoes - did you have lymph nodes out as well? I can't remember? And no drains? I had loads of liquid come out since the op - all together over 400ml - gets measured regularly and removed daily, can't imagine where that would have gone instead... Katie - oh your holiday is just around the corner - you will have a wonderful time! Linda - definitely taking your advice to heart. Exercise, exercise, exercise... They don't want to start radiotherapy, if the moving range is not good. My surgeon injected a blue dye into my arm - the idea seem to be that the 'arm' lymph nodes are then blue and he will avoid taking them out, whereas the 'breast' lymph nodes are being removed. It may help reduce the potential occurrence of lymphodema, but apparently it's not proven. I am sure somebody mentioned a blue nipple before, was that for the same reason? Has anybody else had that procedure? Rexi xxx ... View more

Hiya, Yes operation is over. With the moving last week, I gave myself barely time to think about it and only packed the eve before. It got delayed by a bit on the day and was back in the room in the evening. Had lumpectomy and node clearance, with drain and I am still in hospital. Looks like I am going to stay till fri, as there is still a lot of liquid coming out and they won't send me home with the drains or if it's more than 30ml in 24h or so. My children are well looked after and we have been talking on FaceTime every evening, so we have seen each other. I don't mind hanging out here - whatever it needs. I have a quite nice room with view of the Thames, nicely cooked meals, telly, books - bit like a mini holiday 🙂 Pain is controlled by various tablets, which I started to reduce a bit today, it seemed like there was a constant stream of tablets coming my way today, I want to see how many I really need. Rexi xxx ... View more

Super Katie - finished with the treatment ! Oh and your hubby sounds so sweet! We have moved house today. My OH is in Spain on a business trip, so it was down to me, a very very good friend and my au pair - well ok, and 5 young lads from the removal company. Although most of the packing was done before yesterday , there was still loads and loads to do. How much stuff does one accumulate in 11 years, 2 children, one au pair, 2 cats and various hobbies? I can tell you - lots and lots. The lads turned up this morning at 8:30, we cleaned the house as it got emptier, I directed the stuff into the new house and at 6pm they were done. Amazing. My back is agony, everything is still packed, but more or less in the right rooms, we have bedding and clothes for tomorrow, i even figured out how to switch on the hot water and central heating, couple of the new neighbours have already come around with their name, number and even cookies and we live in this really nice house now. Woohoo. I think it worked quite well that my hubby wasn't here - he would have already unpacked more and plugged in the telly , set up xyz etc, but I really like it bit slower and it's nice and quiet. And this all keeps me from worrying to much about next week ( op on Monday ). I quite like the idea of having a few days 'holiday' now after a job well done :). And I cannot imagine to have done this fresh out of hospital though, so glad it worked out. Hope you are all well, Rexi xxx ... View more

Good evening girls I have a date for the op now - Mon 5th Dec. Lumpectomy (local wide incision thingy ) and anx node clearance. Ooh, and they have to put a wire in 2 hours before to guide the surgeon to the lump - urgh. Somebody else on here had that as well, can't remember who. I am sure it won't hurt, but the injection in the boob and the thought - yuck. Who had it? And how was it? 6 weeks ago at the last ultrasound, the sonographer said, that she couldn't see the tumour anymore, but there may be a small cyst. We were cautiously happy of course by these news. This week though a diff lady did the ultrasound and we also had the results from the MRI and the lump is still there. It's the size of a broad bean, compared to the original lime size, it's pretty good, but still, they shouldnt say stuff like - it's gone, when they are not sure... Funlady - I don't have that type of bc, however an MRI can give much better detailed and slightly different information about the bc than a mammogram or an ultrasound. I had an MRI right after dx, in the middle of chemo and after the last chemo. It will help your consultant to understand your bc status. Lorna, doesn't sound great, but it's healing! That's good. And the weight thing! Bonus! I have my taste buds back and my body wants to use them a lot. You went to work - how did that go? Emotionally, physically? Was that the first time since ages? Or did you pop in in between ? Are you phasing in? Linda and Sandytoes et al - how is the radiotherapy going? Linda - Have you bought all Xmas presents from John Lewis yet ;)? BB - all prepped already for Xmas? House - We finally exchanged contracts yesterday. Woohoo! We are moving next Wednesday. I have a removal company of course, but bit daunted by the fact that my oh is in Spain on a business trip till fri, and now the teachers decided to strike too! On that day! Typical. I l be fine :). Looking forward to a few days rest in hospital 🙂 Hope you are all well! Rexi xxx ... View more

Katie, your hair looks great on the picture. Fab the cold cap worked for you. Actually your hair on the pic looks better than my hair has ever looked - well jel 🙂 Oh and your girls are so cute! Sandytoes, a whole weekend without Internet access - how disconnected did you feel or was it quite liberating :)? BB, so impressed you can prep Xmas already! I think my op will be w/c 5th Dec, but not sure. Will find out tomorrow when I see the surgeon. And get the results from last weeks MRI. As long as one of my arm work well and I can click on stuff on my iPad, I think I l be fine with online shopping 😉 No contracts have been exchanged yet :(. My OH did get quite stressed last week. Every day a bit more - accompanied by comments like: this is all to much, something gotta give (stress at work, house move and bc and up coming op, which could coincide with move). I tried to calm him and make him see the move less black and white. Honestly, he can be such a drama queen. Finally, he saw sense - when he saw one of the 'children in need' documentaries on Fri eve - about a boy living in poverty in Leicester. It put it all in perspective again, he got up, donated money and since then is much calmer about the situation. Last immediate SEs seem to be receding ( had last tax 2 weeks ago ) - have my tastebuds back ( bad news for my weight again), got slightly numb toes on one foot ( warmth helps), eye lashes and brows hardly exist ( a few are hanging on), head hair is growing, but I ll be sticking with my wig for a while longer. The lump is on the right, the port on the left. Will they remove the port at the same time, you reckon? I suppose I ll find that out tomorrow too. Xxx ... View more

Morning, off to work in a mo. Just having a breather after getting ready 🙂 A lot of things seem to take way longer than a few months ago with the pauses in between. In my last throws of direct SEs from last mondays last chemo. Bit iffy tummy, numb toes, leaking, bleeding nose, that sort of stuff, but fatigue and general exhaustion has not hit. Loving it 🙂 Still haven't exchanged contracts on the house - I need to be calm for my OH, too. I think it's getting a bit to much for him: house wobblies, stress at work and worrying about me. Lorna, a good cry is surely allowed? Super, that you could pick yourself up again :). I think, too, it helps to let it out here. Big virtual hug (( HUG )) for you! How is everyone getting on? Rexi ... View more

Good evening Girls  Its day 5 after my last tax and it's been ok... I was prepared for a horrible Thu and Fri, but it sort of didnt happen... I was ok, I am on the voltarol and codein tablets, so the pain side is covered. I have even eaten bread today, which last chemo I couldn't stomach till day10+. Toes are bit numb this time, which I didn't have before, but I certainly don't feel as tired/ fatigued as with the last taxes.  Am slightly surprised, as didn't expect any positive change at the last chemo - did they give me less poison ( not according to my notes), my blood counts were similar; did I eat / drink anything different that makes it so different? I don't know. I would love to know, might be a miracle SE help waiting to be discovered 🙂 Let's see how I ll fare in the next few days - notorious for bad constipation followed by the tax trotts. Sandytoes, you look great on the pic! So happy the cold cap worked! Lorna, don't worry - you can't be the last one on radio therapy. I won't start until January and ( depending on the pathology report ) I may have 6 1/2 weeks of it! Linda, I didn't realise that there is more complimentary treatment avail in Harley street - I had some at London Bridge :). It was lovely, foot massages and facials. My face has never been so well looked after. I want to try reiki, might consider continuing with pampering once this is over. Never had much time for it - must spare this time in future though. Moving - 😞 - something happened on Wed. I really haven't understood exactly what, but somehow the exchange didn't go as planned because of some issue with our buyers mortgage contact/solicitor. So we have been sitting on hot coals ( figuratively ) and in between loads of boxes ( literally ), hoping for the issue to be resolved, so far nothing... We are hoping to exchange on Monday now, then we may just be able complete on Fri. Or the Monday after, or... Watch this space 🙂 Rexi x ... View more

On day 3 post tax4 - last one!  Expected today to be the worst, but still managing ok. Even cooked semolina pudding for breakfast, which tasted ok and welcome change from porridge, but bit lumpy.  I can't stand bread and wheat etc - I usually looove bread and pasta, but most foods are horrible, so it's yoghurts, porridge for me, some fruit and white fish with white sauce ( and cold tomato slices ) as savoury.  Cackles - weight gain - I gained about 2-3lbs on every one of my 4 EC, however the bad taste on tax got me back to my pre dx weight. I am a big girl anyway (size 20-22), so pleased I didn't need to buy even bigger clothes 🙂 I also got weight each onc appointment, but the nurses didn't seem worried about the initial gain. They kept saying don't worry about it.  I now have to make sure I don't go nuts over Xmas when taste buds are all good and put on loads more - just because everything will taste nice again! Supertrouper - shame we cant share - I could easily provide two size D boobs from my belly 😉   I am going to have a lumpectomy ( now that the gene test results have come back good - ie I don't have the mutated cancer genes) - not mastectomy, therefore no need for well fed tummy to make a boob reconstruction. Have to find another way of losing my belly 😉  Alesta - I have had loads of nose troubles since started tax. Crusty, runny, blocked, easy bleeding when blowing... Not sure it's because of the hair, slightly annoying. Rexi x ... View more

Just saw on the breast cancer care Facebook page that a bunch of girls went to the wall of china for a walk/ charity event. Now that I would like to do! Or machu pichu - dream destination for me - once I am good and fit enough to walk in thin air - maybe in a couple of years? Are any of you planning to make a walking statement in the near or far future? Seems like walk of life etc is the thing to do...  Cakes - lorna, sandytoes etc - I really like making cakes. I get such a kick from achieving cool looking cakes,  people making nice comments and they like eating them too :). I make other cakes too, that don't look quite so flashy, but taste even better - like black forest gateaux or recent fave cinnamon bun cake, mmmh. Really happy to have any June girls around for cake 🙂 just let me know.  Living in Surrey, but am in London a lot, maybe we can arrange a little get-together ? The cakes on sticks - they are called cake pops. Found them in the US, when I went to Vegas in January. Great presents and they taste wonderful. They have them now in Starbucks as well, but mine taste way better 😉 And, no, the cake is not baked in the ball shape 🙂  There is no big secret - if you like to try- look for the book by Bakerella on Amazon and have a look on YouTube, where she demonstrates how to do it, that's what got me started. Rexi xxx ... View more

Pinkypam - so good to hear you had your operation. The metal thread sounded bit yucky. Didnt remember your gremlin had disappeared, so great! They couldn't find mine on the last ultrasound either. how big is then the lumptectomy incision?  Sandytoes - you are sounding much better again compared to a few weeks ago. So Glad you made it out of your blue days. Hair - I have a quite furry head and still holding on to eye brows and some lashes, enough that when coloured in, I look 'normal' :). As yesterday was my last tax, I d hope I ll keep the last stragglers...   Splendablenda - hope you are much better now re side effects!  Lorna, so glad you bounced back from that inconsiderate onc comment.  Sandytoes - nice speech there 🙂  a real pickup, I didn't know about the %s and tamoxifen effect etc ( not that  I ll get any - have tnbc ). When will we see the dyed hair and new eyebrows :)? Lorna, how did the party go? And - Cant believe you have a 21y old son! You dont look old enough!  Did you find an outfit you were comfortable in?   Hope it's healing now? Soupertrouper - cooking shows! I am loving masterchef Australia at the Moment. Books - i still read , but find it more difficult to find books that keep my attention, so rereading old faves. I am unsure what happens with the port? I assumed they take it out when I have my op in about 4 weeks - don't have a date yet, will get it in 2 weeks - but it was put in by a different surgeon. Slightly under informed at this moment in time... Rads - I still have a long time to go, but we finally decided yesterday after the consultation to go to the Harley Street clinic. Posh or what 🙂 They have the latest and greated in technology and the radiotherapist recommended it because the treated area is near the heart. So 3h return journey it will be in Jan/ Feb.  Is anybody else in Harley street around that time? Most of you will be finished, right. Linda, you are there now, right? How is it? One lady on the ward on Monday said, the worst about the location is, it's next to a John Lewis and she spend loads of money there 😉 Welcome queenie - the more the merrier 🙂 congrats on finishing chemo. Since you are starting rads soon, you must have had an op before?  Rexi ... View more

Hi everyone, I have not caught up with all of your posts for several pages! But I will in the next days, as *drumroll* I am finally having my last chemo tomorrow! Again had busy weeks - # had consumer unit ( fusebox ) changed and no electricity/heating for days (daytime), # lots of packing - moving on the 18th Nov, total mess in the house! As I am rubbish for most days my hubby, au-pair and a friend are actually packing, I only sort papers and point 😉 #, then our hot water tank decided to have a leak ( my husband noticed it, I wouldn't have ) - first we thought it was just the washer, then we got the plumber out, after cleaning and checking it turned out to be a pinhole in the tank itself - boohoo - £720 !! And we are only here for another 2 weeks 😞 # what else, went working for just a few days - difficult to really get motivated unless I get dragged into meetings, must admit. I am mostly going for chats and change of scenery - oh and I made a bunch of cupcakes , Halloween themed , with that and another college bringing in cake, and a pink friday they organised, we raised close to £300 for breast cancer charity - so cool # my sons birthday on Thu and the birthday party yesterday - another time consuming cake - based on the Dragon Vale game in the iPad. Great birthday and party 🙂 # had all neighbours around for coffee and cake today to say goodbye - they are so nice, sad to leave them And # I had my gentest result on Thu - I don't have a mutation of the BRCA genes. Big relief - especially my children and sisters! And I just made some cake pops in red with pink breast cancer ribbons drawn on for the lovely nurses on the chemo day ward tomorrow. Too Much? Cake is deffo My way of expressing thank you for being nice and supportive during the treatment. I need to go to bed - but full of steroids... Chatting more in the next days - hope you are all well! Rexi ... View more

Hi, I have daily disposable ones and seem to wear them as before,maybe slightly drier eyes on some days. However I do sleep much more during chemoweek and don't bother with them very much then. On day6 after tax2 I fell asleep for a few hours with them in after a morning out and i ended up having a painful eye infection for about 5days - not conjunctivitis, the pharmacist at local boots didn't want to give me anything as didn't have the right symptoms - I got away with wearing my glasses while my eyes didn't feel right and that was enough, wearing them again on 'normal' days. Rexi ... View more

Ooh, the topic of this thread changed! I read it a few weeks ago and now it seems all current tax ladies are here for a little get-together 🙂 Sorry to hear that some of you had a recent very tough time and even ended up in hospital! Hope you are getting better soon! I was wondering - with the funny taste buds during tax - what is the food that still tastes ok. Is it different for everyone or do we end up eating the same food? Today is tax3 +8days for me. I love my food, but after 3 taxes, I am hardly eating at all in the first 12days, cannot find much that is palatable. The first 2 days are fine, then I like chocolate a lot, after about 5/6 days I can't stand most foods I usually like. Most horrible are bread, pasta, soyasauce, rice, lots of stuff. For the last few days I coped with porridge with banana in the morning and yoghurts like mueller corners, and some fresh fruit like pineapple, mango, melon. Tonight I finally found a savoury dish - smoked haddock with white sauce, added sliced tomatoes! Yeahy. I mean it's not bad for my figure - back to pre-dx weight after EC added 2lbs each round, but it would be interesting to see if we dislike/like the same foods.... ... View more

Sandytoes, lorna and ninja, Its a bit futuristic for me ( op in about 6 weeks), but uberinteresting to follow your post op discussions. I did not even know that something called seroma exists. I hope I wont get one either. Sounds scary and painful. Ninja, has your arm stopped swelling after the draining? Sandytoes, shrinkage down to 2cm is great! Considering it didn't show up during chemo, the result is so much better, right? It also proves that although the ultrasound doesn't show shrinkage, it still happens! What do you mean with complete pathological response? Does that mean- no bad cells in sight? Do they check each node they take out? How many nodes do they take? Sandytoes - 14. Lorna, ninja? Is the recovery worse with more nodes removed? Lorna, things will get better. Soon you ll be plucking away extra eyebrows, wishing some were invisible 🙂 Am coming out of tax3 - day5. I have slept ridiculous amounts this time, and feeling better for it - deffo took the easy route this week and did not try to push myself, just sat back, slept and let them ( hubby, children, au pair ) get on with it. Deffo better than the last two - although I have now been inside the house for 3 consecutive days - but -- who cares? I ll be out tomorrow, the day after, ... No rush 🙂 ... View more