Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi glad to hear you are recovering well. When I had my mastectomy & SNB I had waterproof dressings on & was told not to get the area wet. The original dressings weren't changed until I went for my results appointment - smelt a bit like an old fox by then!! As for Bio oil was advised not to use until wound fully healed. Look after yourself - Hugs x ... View more

Oh Jane what a beautiful baby!! Congratulations to you and your family ... How lovely to hear such wonderful news. Love & Hugs xxx ... View more

Right handed - cancer in both sides - Right side ductal Left side lobular ... View more

I have had a history of breast cysts since my 20s and have always had them aspirated by our local breast surgeon. However on a visit 5 years ago I saw a different doctor who was quite derisory of my numerous visits to the clinic and told me that it was something I'd have to put up with until menopause and that I was wasting everyone's time by constantly being referred, as the cysts would only fill up again. Incidentally this was reiterated by the radiographer when I mentioned his comments to her. So although I could feel new cysts in my breasts I followed his advice until last November when I noticed my right nipple was slightly inverted. I asked to be referred to a different hospital as I didn't want to see that surgeon again. Result - bilateral mastectomy as tumours in both breasts, chemo, SNB followed by full node clearance. Fortunately I only had 1 node involved - could have been so much worse. I constantly worry about how long the tumours had been there. Like Rugbygirl I am advising anyone who will listen to go to their GP with ANY breast changes and if they have a cyst get it checked out. ... View more

Hi Lynne, I had a short holiday abroad during chemo and then went away 2 weeks after last lot so you should be fine going Dec/Jan. If you are holidaying in Spain the E111 will cover you for medical care should you need it - hopefully not! Hope you manage to get away and have a wonderful time x ... View more

Hi Chris - so sorry to hear you are still waiting for an MRI appointment - hope it comes soon! The waiting is unbearable isn't it? Have you rung the hospital to see if you can hurry things up? I was told I'd have to wait 2 weeks for results of MRI but rang after one week and was told the results were in, so I made an appointment with onc for results or goodness knows when I'd have heard. I had no back pain at all - I was initially sent for a bone scan because I mentioned painful shoulders - this was just 'wear & tear'. However like you, once I heard there was a suspicious spot on my spine I felt discomfort - probably my mind playing tricks on me! Hugs xx ... View more

Hi Chris, I'm sending you big hugs because I know exactly what you are going through. I had a bone scan recently after mentioning shoulder pain to my onc at my end of chemo follow-up appointment. The scan showed wear & tear to my shoulders and hips but there was an area on my spine that was difficult to diagnose so I too was sent for an MRI. The waiting was dreadful - I was sure this was the start of bone mets. I was worried that it was obvious what was wrong with my hips & shoulders but not my spine. I was sure they'd seen something suspicious and I was having an MRI to assess how bad it was. I got the results last week - I've got a prolapsed disc - apparently difficult to see on a bone scan - so delighted to hear that! As I sat there with tears of relief rolling down my cheeks he said,'I told you not to worry.' Obviously never had to wait for results then! I will be thinking about you and hope you are not waiting too long for your appointmant and you get good news too. Love & hugs xxx ... View more

Hi Bethy Wanted to share my good news with you ... results of spine MRI show a prolapsed disc! Can't describe the relief after 5 weeks of dread. We are walking on air this weekend. Hugs x ... View more

Hi Naz I'll be really interested to hear how you get on. I'm going for an initial consultation at the beginning of November when hopefully tight curls will measure 3 inches! Vickie - when the Hair in Recovery consultant rang me I was given 2 salons to choose from within 20 miles of my home - I live in a small town. I think it's early days yet because I have been into 2 local salons who do Raccoon extensions and they said they had been recently contacted about Hair in Recovery Extensions but hadn't started the training yet. Good Luck today Naz - is it the 15th today? - feeling bewildered as usual! ... View more

Oh Bethy I cried when I read your post - what wonderful news - it's strange isn't it that we are grateful to hear we've 'only' got breast cancer. You must be SO relieved. I had my MRI last Thursday but unfortunately have to wait 2 weeks for the results - taking a day at a time. Your news has made feel me so much more positive. Hugs x ... View more

Hi Oh I do sympathise. I've had exactly the same problems as you. Following bilateral mastectomy and sentinel node biopsies I had to have seromas under my arms drained many times. Three weeks ago I had full node clearance on my right side and kept the drain in for 7 days but have still had to have seromas drained 6 times already - as soon as they're drained they fill up immediately again. I've been told that eventually the body learns to absorb the fluid - I wish it would hurry up I'm really fed up of having a tennis ball stuck in my armpit! From my experiences following my initial op I know that eventually it will stop - so hang on in there shouldn't be long now. x ... View more

Hello Beth, I'm sorry I'm not replying with any advice but just to say I know how you're feeling as the same thing has happened to me. At a routine follow-up appointment with my onc, almost as an afterthought, I Mentioned niggly pains and now I'm having an MRI scan on Thursday too. After feeling happy and positive after bilateral mastectomy, full node clearance and chemotherapy, I now feel as frightened as I did last December when first diagnosed. I will be thinking of you on Thursday Lots of hugs x ... View more

Oh great - I'm 8 miles from Brigg! ... View more

Hello I'm from North Lincolnshire - any good? - Lincs is such a big county. ... View more

Hi - I had my 3rd FEC yesterday and started feeling nauseous as soon as treatment started. Had to go to bed when I got home as felt so ill - dizzy, achey, extremely nauseous and had a splitting headache. Woke up this morning still feeling rubbish - certainly much worse than 1st 2. Hope doesn't get progressively worse! Hope you start to feel better soon x ... View more

Hello Ruth, How I empathise with you. I had a similar diagnosis to you in December and had a bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders and will have the reconstruction completed after chemo and rads. I wish I'd had the opportunity to talk to someone in the same position as the fear I felt before surgery was overwhelming. In fact the fear of the unknown is nowhere near the reality. I was relatively pain free after the op - take any painkillers offered even if you feel you don't need them! My underarm felt stiff and numb - still does in fact- where the lymph nodes were removed. Keep doing the post-op exercises as they really help and I have full movement on both sides now. As I had the tissue expanders in when I woke up I was not completely flat chested, but to be honest I was so relieved to have got rid of the tumours that I didn't care what I looked like at that point. At first I could not believe that there would be a second in the day that I was not consumed by fear, sadness and dark thoughts but believe me it gets better. I'm taking one step at a time - op over - tremendous relief, now chemo - every one I do is a step further along the road. Not thinking of what comes next, can only cope with one thing at a time! I have found a brilliant blog this week which has helped me - alrighttit.blogspot.com - the author is in a very similar situation to us and its great to read her brilliantly written thoughts of her journey from diagnosis (June 2008) to present day - I hope it helps you too. I will be thinking of you and hope all goes well. Take care of yourself Love & Hugs xxxx ... View more

What a brilliant idea! Unfortunately not at the end yet but promise that as soon as I am I will send your friend EVERYTHING - wigs, fringes, scarves, books, the lot! ... View more

Unfortunately not a ... View more