Breast Cancer Now Forum

I'm currently on a brand called Zentiva...I'm wondering if this is the Teva brand you are talking about. Just been told yesterday I'm on Letrazole for another 5 years. I've already done 1 and did 3 1/2 years of tamoxifen before that. Really need to get a proper brand sorted out to deal with the side effects. ... View more

Hello ladies, I've been CP'd since last year and together for 13......had a civil ceremony(official) and then a beautiful humanist ceremony and full blown service and a ceilidh in the evening, set in a beautiful old converted church.....to be honest it was everything I would have wanted, I'm not religious but agree that it means a lot to some people to be included in their own faith....in our eyes we are married and no one I've met regards us in any other category. Breast cancer gave me the courage to be open and come out to all our family and friends, all of who came to the "wedding" including 20 of my breast cancer buddies.......Strangely I have a lot to thank breast cancer for. Fee xx ... View more

So sorry to hear this, I remember her well......RIP Nicky65 xxxx ... View more

Hi Jaxette, I have had the same diagnosis as you. I was diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago. I have had 6 chemo's, 4 weeks of radiotherapy and herceptin too. There are a lot of ladies like us on here too. I'm am healthy and life is returning to normal. I know it's such a shock to begin with but you need this treatment. My life has changed forever now but it isn't all bad. Try to take each step as it comes and deal with it one step at a time. You will get through this. This site was a wonderful place for support and advice. Best wishes Fee xx ... View more

Hi Lulu 🙂 I had T-FEC due to trial and yes my hair did fall out. I did have a covering of fluff left but not enough to cover my head. I never went completely bald either even when I went onto FEC and some more did come out. Hugs Fee xxxx ... View more

Hi, I have been on Tamoxifen for 2 years now..I had 3 periods last year and then in April this year I started taking terrible pain, mainly at the end of my period and mid cycle. I was diagnosed with cysts on my ovaries but my uterus looked normal. After much discussion with my gynaecologist he has decided to remove my ovaries and tubes but leave my uterus and cervix...my operation is in 4 weeks time...I'm not looking forward to any side effects as I have suffered terribly with chemopause too but all those side effects have now left me..I'm 41 too so a bit worried about osteoporosis.....on consideration though I hold no bond with any part of my body which could potentially turn nasty so I'm probably better off without them. Fee xx ... View more

I live in Scotland but the same rules should apply and I would fight for your right to have a prescrition...If you pay national insurance then that automatically entitles you to a prescription..you have paid into this scheme and therefore it makes no difference if you then go onto use PMI...many businesses and companies use PMI over and above national insurance, so you are still entitled..I am a wig supplier and have had to fight for the patients in my local private hospital to get this..we have a macmillan advisor in our NHS cancer hospital and we put the private ladies in touch with her and she sorts them out with a prescription..all she needs from them is their CHI number which every one has, it should be at the top of NHS hospital letters or else your GP will have a note of it on your records....hope this helps. Fee xxxx ... View more

Hi Rozita, I am 2 years post treatment and I too was a mobile hairdreser..I took 7 months off work and was forced to go back to work as I would have lost all my tax credits as well as the wages I had already lost through not working..being self employed is so difficult when this happens an I too lost most of my business as clients had settled for a new hairdresser, this fact was also distressing as I had done a lot of these clients for many years and I felt I had also lost their loyalty..I have built my business up slowly but it is nothing compared to how it used to be, I am tired and find it very hard to be motivated...I did start working in a local wig shop one day a week and it was great to learn a new skill...also the experience I had made such a difference to the clients who came in, sadly the girl I worked for had to close the shop and go mobile herself, now I don't know if I'll get to work with wigs as her business is only busy enough for her at the moment...I'm seriously thinking of getting another part time job...just to take the pressure off being self employed..all the best, and I hope you manage to buld things up again... Fee xxxx ... View more

Hi, I took part in the sold trial in 2009 in Glasgow..I was put onto the long arm of the trial in which I recieved 3 Taxotere with 3 herceptin together then I had 3 FEC...I was then supposed to go on and have another 15 herceptins but I had to stop after 4 as my heart function dropped to 42 and I was taken off study..the saftey level was 45....heart problems are rare but can be more of a problem after FEC which is an anthracyclene based chemo which reacts with herceptin....I have had about 10 friends who have all went on to complete the full herceptin course....so it's just been my bad luck that I fall into that 10% of people who can develop heart trouble...thankfully to say 2 years on I am fully recovered, heart back to normal..hope this helps.. Take care Fee xxx ... View more

Hi Jo, Just wanted to come on and say Hi, I am 2 years past treatment now comfortably out the other side, I don't come on here as much now a days but I noticed you and Erin's posts and just wanted to say hello, been with my partner 13 years and she has been my rock...I honestly couldn't have got through all this without her and we sealed it all with our civil partnership in June..I know your head will be all over the place at the moment and I hope this forum will be of great support to both of you in the coming months....please feel free to PM me if there is anything you need to know, you mentioned living in Scotland, we do too.. take care Fiona xxx ... View more

Hi Erin, I am 41 and was diagnosed with breast cancer in Jan 2009 aged 38..It wasn't IBC but I feel I wanted to come on and talk to you when I read your post. I do not actively take part in these forms much now as I have completed all my treatment but I do visit now and again, life has moved on and I am trying to get back to normal...I have been with my partner 13 years and this year we managed to do the right thing and make it legal!! My partner has been my rock, my soul mate and has been there heart and soul throughout my diagnosis, treatment and beyond. You and Jo are where Sandra and I were 2 years ago...Yes it has been tough, and it has been one heck of a journey...no one asked for this and it is totally normal for you to be feeling the way you do..as the patient, I probably feel more in tune with Jo but over the last 2 years Sandra and I talk about how this has effected her, talking has been our bond and I have tried so hard not to shut her out and to make this all about me....for a time it was, when it was treatment, medication and all that stuff...but we have came out the other side and are happier and closer than ever before...you will experience so many different emotions and you sound like you know what jo needs..just be there for her, talk, laugh, cry because that all needs to happen at times...just take one small step at a time, don't look to far in front, just deal with this week...and the puppy....we have 4 kids, 2 cats, 2 bunnies and a hamster...all fantastic distractions may I add!!....please come on here and rant away!! you need this as much as Jo does, and Jo needs you as much as you need her....be strong and take it easy.. lots of love Fiona xxx ... View more

Hi, I am a wig supplier and currently 2 years post diagnosis and treatment. Human hair tends to be Indian or Asian...yak hair is known to be used where White/pale blonde is hard to source...one suggestion I have is to ask the manufacturer of the wig you intend to buy, they should be able to help you and have a code of practice for sourcing hair. The 2 British wig manufacturers are Trenco and Dimples. Fiona x ... View more

Scotland???? ... View more

So sad to be saying goodbye to you my dear friend, you started this thread 2 years ago Sharon and you supported me through all of my treatment...some rough times and funny times, you mean the world to me and all your buddies.....Thank you breast cancer care for bringing us together..xxxxx ... View more

Oh I'm liking those statistics Lulu...making me feel much better, I have no bleeding but a lot of pain and cramps. Got my ultrasound and possible biopsy on Thursday. So glad to have came across this thread. Fingers crossed its all ok for me. Fee xxx ... View more

Seeing my lovely 17 year old son play with his band on stage for the first time......so proud and so happy to still be here 2 years later, makes all that treatment and recovery worth it to enjoy the happier things in life. Fee xxx ... View more

So very sad to hear of Jennifer's passing. She was of great support to me when we were going through chemo together 2 years ago. A beautiful person taken too soon by this cruel disease. Rest easy Snoogle..... Fee x ... View more

Sorry Girls just need a moan...........I'm well and truly sick to the back teeth of bloody cancer!!!!!!!!!! That's my forth friend who's been diagnosed with secondries...is there no end to it??????????...I want to go outside and physically scream my head off!! who cares if it scares the neighbours!!..I'm bloody angry!!! Cancer you wee bugger!!! why don't you just sod off and leave us alone!!! ok rant over......... Fee xxxx ... View more