Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Theresa, Just wanted to come on and send a big hug!! I'm not posting much these days, getting back to a bit of normality but I do come on and read the posts every couple of days. No wonder you're feeling the way you do, it's all cumulative and coming up to no 6 means you're just about at your limit. I wasn't worth a button getting no 6 and I can sympathise with the thought of a no 7!!!! The heat really won't help things either, I found gargling with cooled boiled salted water several times a day a big relief to my mouth and kept all the sores at bay. I had 10 ulcers with first chemo and was only able to eat smoothies!!!! You are doing so well with treatment and hopefully you'll feel better soon....I'm looking forward to seeing you in Sept, and Sharon too.. She isn't too well right now...I'm hoping this new chemo will halt her progression... Are you on facebook by any chance? There are a lot of us from this site all friends on it now and it's a great way to keep in touch. Big hugs for now take care Fiona xxxxx ... View more

Sharon Honey, How did you get on at the Oncologist today?... Big Hugs Fee xxxx ... View more

Hi Sharon, Like Hazel I replied on FB too....thinking about you everyday and I hope you're ok? If you need anything just let me know. Big hugs sent to you as always. Fee xxx ... View more

Hi, I am a hairdresser and work in a hair-loss/ wig salon..I suggest you use something like baby shampoo and simple conditioner..Hair that grows back is new hair like a baby's even though the follicle is old..this is why it can be curly but then straighten out after about a year once the follicle has recovered..also skin can be sensitive and baby stuff is very mild. We advise this to all our clients and I use this myself as my hair has been growing back for about 6 months now.. Take care Fiona xxxx ... View more

Hi Mec, I've had real problems with this since stopping treatment and starting Tamoxifen...I have a fissure too and piles which aren't healing at all...I have been taking a sachet of movicol every day since last July and it's the only thing that sort of keeps it at bay..well it's preventing it from getting any worse..there are also suppositories with steroid cream in them available from your doctor which will help heal the fissure. I was at the doctors yesterday and I was discussing what to do now and basically she told me to carry on what I'm doing...only other option is back to hospital for things like anal stretches and banding for piles!!!! well as you can imagine I'm keeping with the movicol and suppositories!!! I'm just hoping that through time it will all get a bit better.. Best wishes Fiona xxxx ... View more

Hi Girls, Edinburgh was fab!! loved going through there, the sun was shining and the food was yummy but the company was great!! Sharon, how do I go about getting tickets for your fundraiser? It would be great to meet up with everyone if they can manage to go..I'm really busy during June with the 12th being my only free Saturday. Sorry to hear you've been feeling a bit down lately...you are doing so well girl, we're all here for you!! Well I did the scarves all by myself on Monday and I really enjoyed it. I won't feel so nervous next time but it's mental how your confidence takes a right old battering with treatment!! Also had to go for Lumbar Xray as my sore back is still here and not going away..results in 10 days, so here we go again!!! I'm gearing up for the big 40 on Friday!! looking forward to going out for dinner Fri and Sat...just to be greedy!! and London the following week....Yay!!! Hope everyone is doing ok? hopefully the summer will be here soon and cheer everyone up.. Take care for now Fiona xxx ... View more

Hi Girls, Sheila, good to hear from you, good luck with next week and more treatment...hope it all goes well.. Hope everyone is doing ok?...I've been quite busy so not on here a lot these days...I'm going solo at Maggie's next Monday for the scarf tying so wish me luck!! nothing like being hurled in at the deep end for keeping your mind occupied!! Also is there anyone wishing to go on a wee trip through to Edinburgh on Saturday to meet up with the girls from the Edinburgh thread...we all met at the YWF.. We are meeting up in Hamilton's on Hamilton square about 1.30pm for lunch.. Me and Maggie are going so far, if anyone else fancies going just let me know and we can all meet up....we're all on facebook too so if anyone wants to hook up, PM me and I'll get your details... Hope all the girls on chemo are doing ok? Lynn, sorry to hear your having it tough with your Dad, it must be a big worry to you. Annie, good to hear you're finally starting to get some energy back...I think after all the treatment you've had it'll take a wee while.. Sharon is doing fine, her friends are organising a wee do for her in June in St Columkille's hall in Rutherglen, to help raise funds to help with all her costs travelling up and down to London..it's on Sat 19th June...If anyone wants to go let me know and I'll get you the details..Tickets are £5. Take care Everyone Hugs Fiona xxxx ... View more

I was very sorry to hear of Sally's news yesterday...I can't believe how she managed to play the role as she did whilst going through this herself...I did watch it and thought she had played the part so well..I wish her all the best in her future recovery and return to work...we all know what a challenge that can be.... Fiona xxxx ... View more

P.s have you tried buying decaf tea and coffee. I have and it's fine. You have to cut out all caffine which is in so much stuff these days.....soft drinks ect. Fiona xxx ... View more

Hi Elinda, I was on 20mg to start with...to see if that helped, the onc said he didn't feel it was radiotherapy related, he told me to go to the GP if it didn't settle down. Meanwhile I was due at breast surgeon for annual check and he asked me about the symptoms I had reported. He told me to go up to 40mg and he would order up an endoscope. It was the endoscope dept that told me about the diet restrictions. Now that 3 weeks have passed I am going to phone breast surgeon or visit GP to confirm whether I am to stay on the 40mg. I think I probably will have to if it's keeping things under control. Fiona xxx ... View more

Hi Elinda, I had chemo, rads and some herceptin finishing in Nov 09. I started with pain in my gullet which felt like I had something stuck. I also had pain between my shoulder blades. I was sent for an endoscope 3 weeks ago and was diagnosed with a hiatus hernia.I am on 40mg of omeprazole and I have been told to cut out tea, coffee, cholcolate and fried food from my diet. 3 weeks on and I'm starting to feel much better, symptoms have nearly all gone. I was worried that it might have been something else but whilst the endoscope isn't very pleasant it is all over in a few minutes and they were able to tell me there and then what was wrong with me so it put my mind at rest. I hope all goes well with yours. Best Wishes Fiona xxx ... View more

Well done!!! what an inspiration to us all.....I love to hear great positive stories like this, Just makes me smile...:-) Best Wishes Fiona xxxx ... View more

Hi Van, Sorry to hear that you are feeling quite wobbly with the chemo at the moment. I think it is quiet common to feel like that half way through, I know I did. I found chemo to have a build up of tiredness and fatigue, I was pretty tired by the last one. Best thing is to listen to your body and get as much rest as possible if you're tired. You will get there, I'm a year on from starting chemo and I'm much better now..There is no doubting that this can be a long haul, but it is doable...coming on here really helps on the difficult days...we are all here to listen. Regarding the coil. There have been lots of discussions on here as to whether the mirena causes breast cancer. I know that it has been mentioned on the leaflet. Being triple negative, your cancer isn't triggered by hormones so I don't think having a coil in would cause it..The coil has progesterone in it..I am positive for progesterone and my surgeon and Onc made me have it removed immediately. Wishing you all the best for Tuesday, hope it goes smoothly for you. Fiona xxx ... View more

I wish Bernie all the best for her treatment...we all know what a tough road she now has to tread, I hope all goes well for her...and treatment isn't too harsh. I watched her recently on pop start to opera star and thought she performed fantastically..she is a very down to Earth Lady with no airs and graces and funny too.. Fiona xxx ... View more

Hi Everyone, Hope you are all doing well? Congrats Annie on becoming an Auntie again...they sound beautiful babies... Sheila, sorry to hear you ended up in hospital again. It will be good to have a break for a few weeks. You certainly have had a lot of problems to deal with recently... Good to hear baby Murray is doing well. Anne, Good to hear you're still doing ok with the chemo.. How has the wig been? have you got used to it? will they give you an ultrasound before changing your chemo? Bet Thomas is getting big now.. Helen, Did you get results yet? how is work doing? Sharon is back down to London today, Treatment is going fine for her at the moment... Lynn, How is your chemo going? Has your mouth settled down? Tiny, How is the wig? Sharron was telling me you'd been in to see her.. Wee Annie, How are you coping with treatment..has chemo been ok? well been pretty busy this week, so tired out today...am off till Tuesday so I'll need to recharge the old batteries for then. I'm starting in Maggies with Sharron doing the scarf tying sessions, so I'm really looking forward to it...I'll probably be covering holidays and Day's off so it'll mean Maggies will always have someone there on a Monday.. Big Hugs to everyone and keep well Fiona xxxx ... View more

Hi Di, This has got to be the worst time, waiting for the appointment and then any results..At least you have been referred quickly by your doctor..better to be safe than sorry..Doctors are encouraged not to take any chances with lumps and send patients to the breast clinic even if in any doubt..I am no expert so couldn't say what the difference between cystic and not would be. You'll most definitely be given a mammogram and possibly an ultrasound, if needed they might do a biopsy as it is the only way of checking what's in the lump.. Feel free to come on here and voice your worries, better out than in!! We've all been where you're at now and know what the waiting feels like. I wish you all the best for Monday and hope all goes well, Please come on and let us know how you get on.. Best wishes Fiona xxx ... View more

Hi Teresa, I still get pains on and off even though I finished my treatment in November, only feels like yesterday..I think because it takes us months to get back on our feet, the time passes so quickly...just on tamoxifen now. Had a endoscope last week as I've been suffering with "something Stuck" in my gullet, turns out to be a hiatus hernia, probably caused by the chemo and all the throwing up I did on FEC.. So I'm back on omeprazole and I'll hear officially from the Onc just exactly what I have to do with it..sometimes we get a bit of collateral damage to deal with from treatment but I'm hoping it'll all settle down soon. I've actually just sent Sharon a wee text, I heard from her about 10 days ago, and she had been suffering from a bad stomach but she said it wasn't to do with the treatment..hopefully I'll hear from her soon and I'll let you know.. Take care Fiona xxxx ... View more

Hi Everyone, Haven't been on in quite a while, I'm finding now the rigours of getting back to normal are keeping me busy and I don't get onto the site as often as I used to... Welcome Tiny, you really have had an awful time with this and I hope that the medication they have you on now continues to improve your mets. I was diagnosed last Feb and finished herceptin in Nov..I am back working now, although still not up to speed but I'm improving every month..I went to Sharron (masthairpiece)for my second wig last Sept and because I am a hairdresser, Sharron offered me a job working with her in Paisley..(I'm in the shop on a Thursday)I have found having gone through all this process and experiencing hairloss and wigs a major reason for wanting to help provide a better wig service..Sharron has had 6 years working as a hairdresser in the Accord hospice and does the scarf tying sessions at the Maggies centre on a Monday afternoon..She and I both feel very passionate about the work we do, feeling good about ourselves when getting treatment really helps us to cope better.... We also provide after treatment cutting, colouring and scalp and hair advice..Sharron also does a drop in service at the New Victoria hospital on a Thursday 10am-3pm, so you do not need an appointment... There are hundreds of wigs so don't worry about getting it in Grey/silver, even if you like a certain style, we can order it in your colour...Hope this helps and look forward to meeting you if you decide to visit us... Annie, Good to hear you're getting out in the garden. I was lucky to have my Dad and Son take care of the necessaries last year but oh dear it is needing work done badly...How's your cat doing? is he fully recovered now? Sheila, the sun has been good...nice to get out in the fresh air, I've started riding a bike...here's hoping it shifts some of my chemo weight!!! will you be getting a wee break from chemo soon? Lynn, hope treatment is going ok for you? hope you managed to get a wig on Friday... I hope everyone else is doing well...I've had a couple of days off work seeing as the kids are off and my baby becomes a teenager on Thursday....so god knows what I'll be waking up to!!!! if his brother is anything to go by... Take care and keep well Fiona xxxx ... View more

Hi Teresa, I have had a lot of pain in breast, sternum and shoulder on and off throughout my treatment...It has all subsided and I think pain is quite a common occurrence..It is good to see that your onc has ordered scans to be on the safe side and I hope all goes well with them.. Best wishes Fiona xxx ... View more

Lots of Luck and best wishes for the time ahead....one step at a time and you will get there... Best wishes Fiona xxx ... View more