Breast Cancer Now Forum

Lisha Please stop blaming yourself for any of this. We all do things in life that we enjoy and that is what life is all about. There is so much more to this thing throughout our lives, and from the moment of conception which raises our individual risk but would not necessarily mean we get breast cancer. For me, I could tick the majority of the list for risk factors - early onset periods, babies at 29 and 30years, inability to breastfeed though I tried, years of night working and now I see that being tall is possibly a factor (I am 5 10). Yes there are some aspects I could have changed if i had that crystal ball but I didn't and we live life through whatever are personal circumstances are. Like you, I have made a decision not to drink alcohol and thats no biggie to me. I am in the process of looking at diet but will only make changes that can be implemented allowing me to continue to lead a happy life. Prior to diagnosis. i joined a gym and trying to lose weight due to family history of diabetes and heart disease. I will continue with this once past the effects of chemo. Any changes I make will look at taking better care of myself, not just with bc in the mix but all other common ailments that hang over us as we get older. Try not to waste all your emotional energy on the blame game. Terribly, BC has happened and you need brace yourself for the months ahead. You can't change whats happened but in the future make changes that will hopefully support your body to get to old age. I think, like everyone on here says, when you get a treatment plan this will really help you. It may take months/years to get your head around all of this, with appropriate support. very best wishes Karen x ... View more

I think the crux of is whilst you don't have to mention your health conditions actually at interview, the HR health assessment form would need to be completed as accurately as possible. If you omit any details (and hr often ask permission to contact your GP, don't know if they ever do) and you have illness at at later date specifically connected to the ailment omitted, it may land you in hot water, especially if the condition means you are unable to perform the job adequately. Definitely seek advice on this so that you can make your mind up what you want to do. Karen x ... View more

Hipchick, have you tried spelt pasta. I ordered some amongst many other gorgeous foods from an organic farm in italy. Looking at it dried I though what have I got myself into but it was the business. Much nicer than the other brown pastas and tasted great. Unfortunately my husband does have the habit of licking his plate, he saves the finger squishing for when we are out. Karenx ... View more

Hi Runa my understanding is that employers have to make reasonable adjustments under the equality act, which includes hospital appointments. However they are not obliged to pay you for this with the expectation you use annual, make time up etc. Where I work, gp and dentist we take in our time but when we are under the care/attend hospital this is in work time as a kind of authorised leave. I am going to Penny Brohn at beginning of July for 3 days and my boss deems this as treatment for my health so I don't need to use my own leave. Are you able to discuss with your manager? Do they have a real understanding of you, this treatment and its aftermath. I luckily have a job and a manager which does though I am careful not to abuse this. hope you get it shorted out karen x ... View more

I would love to say that my thyroid is underactive and thus blame my being overweight on this. Alas though as far as I am aware my thyroid is okay (so I must just be big boned!!) Karen ... View more

Elinda/melakar please believe me that I appreciate your and others research contributions, especially due to the fact that whilst undergoing chemo I have not had the strength or inclination to look at research myself. My last chemo is tomorrow and when up to it, I fully intend to look back at the thread and look in more depth at areas that interest me. This, in addition to making more changes in my diet in addition to the more obvious lifestyle changes (lose weight, increase exercise) that will benefit me in my health overall, not just with regards to BC. Thank you for your replies Karen ... View more

Hi Stressy-messy I totally agree with you. I have followed this thread for a number of months and it has been informative from both sides of the arguments. I do find, however, that their are some on here who attack Linda, saying that she is not prepared to listen and is totally blinkered in her views. Sorry ladies, but this is pot, kettle, black. I am personally grateful to all contributors who spend time on looking at research and appreciate the fact that there are different sides to the argument. I am able to look at the information and try to make informed choices that are right for me and my situation. Feel free to attack me on this, but then it is only my view which may well be unimportant to some, but at times there is almost an 'evangelical' air to some posts which rejects and belittles others opinions and research/information that are posted. I am sure that there are others, like me, who would like to be party to discussions that questions and discusses information within a safe and supportive environment but unfortunately, for me this is not that thread. Karen ... View more

Agree with Elttiks about bandanas being almost a chemo uniform - to me they scream cancer. i bought a multitude of scarves, hats etc but in the end just thought blow it and haven't worn any headwear for the past 3 months (of course I realise that going commando is a lot of womens nightmare). yes i do get people looking quickly (human nature and I am sure I have done previously) and I can tell if people are going to prolong the stare or look back at me - to this I maintain a starting at them, usually works! I have had no adverse comments. Little kids may look and prod each other to look but 'from the mouth of babes' and this is perfectly natural. i realised the other week that I have forgotten that I have no hair and don't give it a second thought when I go out. Thats not to say that I am happy with no hair. I have my last chemo in two days and last night was the first time I dreamed about having a few centimetres and had to check my head when I woke up! Karen ... View more

Hi Emmasquarepeg, I feel your pain - literally. I started with constipation 2 weeks ago just after last chemo and bank hol Monday I had to resort to emergency GP and hospital because I couldn't bear the pain anymore. If they had offered me a colostomy I would have bitten their hands off. Now 6 days of movicol, Nefopam and local anaethetic to the fissures, I now have liquid poo which although is burny burny is such a relief to the feeling of passing shards of glass. Last chemo this week and going to ask that I remain on movicol for the whole of the cycle. The thought of going back to the solid stuff fills me with dread! Karen ... View more

For me it has been about the frequent meals to ease the nausea, the steroid munchies that I got about 4 days post treatment and the fact that I thought sod it, I deserve this(bit like during pregnancy). Just before my last treatment I was worried about the impending tamoxifen and possible weight gain. So I joined slimming world and 3 weeks later have lost over half a stone and managed to eat extremely well. I think that tamoxifen, like other meds increases your weight because it increases your appetite. I am a firm believer that if calories, in doesnt match calories out (exercise also in the equation) that we put weight on. Anyway I will be putting this to the test at the end of June when I should be starting tamoxifen Karen ... View more

Hi there I guess there are many factors to be considered and your situation is always unique to others. I was off 'sick' from January 7th when I had my mastectomy. My chemo started February 16th and I was able to negotiate going back to work on March 17th having just had the 2 cycle of chemo. I have been very lucky in that my GP has put me on amended duties and that my manager is being so fantastic about it all. I am a social worker and it has been agreed that I am office based only with no casework specifically assigned to me. I work at home 2 days a week. I am not short of paperwork/projects to do and it won't matter if I am not in to do them. I try to go into work as much as possible but am able to go in a bit later and leave earlier according to how I am feeling. I also take days off sick as and when I need to with no questions asked (I am still on full pay), that with being able to get up and think to myself, I feel well today but I don't want to work so I take annual leave. At times, especially as I am due my last cycle I wonder how I still manage at times, with tiredness and nausea being my main problems. However I couldn't bear the thought of not working and becoming a daytime tv drone. Going to work is more than 9-5 and performing tasks, it is the social aspects and being part of some 'normality' that I value the most. I realise that I am extremely lucky in being able to do what I do and this is not the case for everyone. Best wishes Karen ... View more

Hi Branston I am currently receiving treatment at Derby Royal Hospital. I have had a few blips with delays but these were ultimately out of the breast clinics control - ie all surgical beds being taken up with swine flu patients which delayed my mastectomy. My surgery was performed by the onco-plastic surgeon there and everyone who sees the scar says it is 'beautiful', which I have to agree with, just have to get rid of a seroma. The Breast care nurses are lovely and will guide you through with as much support a is needed. I am having chemo at the moment and again I cannot fault them from the Consultant oncologist through to the blood test nurses. I guess the only thing I have found is that when things are being requested from other departments there can be a wait for procedures. I have needed to contact them to hurry things up and things have moved a bit faster. From what I understand this is the same with all hospital where it can be worse. Karen xx ... View more

Hi Maria I probably wouldn't have chosen to have cold cap but due to my history of headaches I felt that it would definitely be asking for trouble. Glad I didn't. Have taken the pizotifen an hour ago and the pain/fuzz is going so I would agree that it was migraine, the first in over 6 months. Guess the stress of the past few months and chemo cocktail have triggered it off. Karen x ... View more

Rang the chemo unit, with nurse saying that headaches are not usually expected. Suggested I go in to get checked over by doctor. Had to wait a few hours when there but bloods taken and neuro exam with doctor thinking it is simply migraine, although he has booked me for CT scan as precaution. Given pizotifen tablets so hopefully they will work. Its been a bit of a palaver today but had my mind put at rest. Karen x ... View more

Thanks SCACO, I will phone the chemo unit. Guess I have been reluctant to as I don't want to bother them with something as 'trivial' as this. I have been trying to drink as much as possible, white tea has been my saviour and I always have a glass of water near by to sip on (me drinking water previously unheard of!). I see from a previous post that you are being treated at Queen's - do you go to the support group there. I am between derby and BoT, treated at Derby Royal so will go to the derbyshire one but thought I could go to Queens as well. Karen x ... View more

Hi Mel I asked for my path report and the consultant made such a thing about why should I want it and that I wouldn't even be able to understand it. She said that all I needed to know was that I had a couple of lumps and that I was having appropriate treatment. I was so shocked by her manner (as well as when she expressed such surprise to why I couldn't possible want silicone implants when I had reconstruction) that I just cried. Despite the fact that I am quite a strong person I just felt so belittled. However, following asking what the report said and also the oncs summary letter I know the main gist of the path report. Normally I would just keep saying I wanted the path report but have decided that when I am through chemo I intend to apply under the access to info and patient records for ALL of my medical notes since being at the hospital (this includes previous neg mammogram and gynae consults. I have to pay for this info, which I think for my pct is £50 but that will be the same cost whether fo one page or the whole of my notes. I am aware that many others on here were given the reports no problems. Perhaps you might just want to say that if you dont get given freely, you will get them anyway by going through the access to records. Karen x ... View more

Hi Elttiks Please don't get your hopes up following this email from your fb friend. There are a number of points that she is wrong on from what I know as a social worker but also from looking at the numerous threads posted on here regarding income support. When diagnosed with BC you do not automatically become registered disabled. What you are, is now covered under the auspices of the Disability discrimination act. In order to get DLA (my son has autism so I am used to these forms) you must have the underlying condition (and effects) for 3 months prior to application and expected to have for at least a further 6 months. Such is the criteria for DLA that you are pretty much dependant on others for many aspects of your care. For mobility, you pretty much cant walk far or are a danger to yourself if out unattended in order to get this. Attendance allowance is for the over 65's. (same criteria as DLA but awarded after person turns 65). You are entitled to free prescriptions. Ask your GP to fill in prescription exemption form and you get small credit card type certificate which entitles you to free prescription for ALL your meds for next 5 years. Such is the effect of government changes, criteria for access to social support has heightened, but you would not have been able to access such support even before this, based simply on BC diagnosis. Obviously we don't know if you have any other underlying health and social need which the bc diagnosis could further impact upon. Go to the library and they should have a book of charities and grant givers. It can be worth applying for things such as clothes and household things. Often the person applying needs to be professional but they will be used to this. You wont get reduced council tax - other than the usual discount rules ie one adult in house hold etc, One example is for families that have needed to make full adaptation to a room for the benefit of predominantly physically disabled person can apply for discount. It wont matter how insistent you are, if you dont meet criteria you wont get the benefits. My advice is do your research, talk to people that do this for a living so that you don't keep banging your head on brickwalls. preserve your energy for your own health. Hopefully others can chip in with this, but it sounds like you have already had husband wage taking into equation regarding thresholds for benefits. best wishes Karen ... View more

Please please please get it checked out. Make an emergency appt with your gp so that a referral can be made to your local breast clinic. I waited 2 weeks after finding my lump at the end of November last year in case it was cyclical, it didnt go away and following seeing GP, went to breast clinic a week later - 2 cancerous lumps found, mastectomy and I start chemo tomorrow. However, my sister in law was diagnosed last spring after finding a lump and like you, did nothing about it for months. When she did get it checked out, such was the nature of the lump that she has needed to have quite intensive treatment. I really don't want to scare you any more but you must stop hiding your head in the sand. Think it this way, there is every chance that it is nothing and normal changes. By finding this, you save all the anguish you are going through. However if it is, at least you will know for definite and start to have it treated. Do you have someone you can confide with who could support you to make the first step? Karen xx ... View more

Hi Alleycat I am going to the half day taster next week and plan to book the three day course as soon as possible after that although I think there is a bit of a waiting list for it Karen xx ... View more