Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Ladies Sorry you have had to join us Ninja, but if you can make it on the 5th it will be great to see you. Karen, Im glad you are home at last and hope you are doing well. Sal, who's crazy ?? lol hope no4 has gone well for you and you are not feeling too bad. Alison,,,, did you have no6??, I hope you did and it all went well. Jo, please don't tell me these side effects will last that long, I finished chemo in november and still having problems with my feet!! Deb, get some "hair, skin & nail" tablets from asda/tesco/holland & barrat I swear they made a difference with my hair and they are ok to take I checked with the dr first. Looking forward to see whoever can make it on the 5th Tracey xxxxxxxxxx ... View more

Hi Ladies, I hope you all had a lovely easter weekend. Sorry I haven't been around latley but been feeling really anti-social/depressed and don't know why. Been keeping busy with work and daughter has just added an extra day to her working week, so I have the grandaughters now on a tuesday morning, I am so outta of pratice with them - I'm exhausted but it was lovely. I go away with my sisters a week on friday so have been busy making maxi dresses, as fast as I make them the disapear into Kirsty's wardrobe so they must be ok but it means I need to make myself more. Nell, no dobut you have gone already, but I hope you really enjoy your holiday. Right I best go and catch up with what everyone has been upto Lots of love to everyone Tracey xxxxx ... View more

Morning Ladies & welcome Sibohan 🐵 Isabelle, goodness, you are all going to be busy for a while, I hope you will not be too exhausted by june to enjoy your holiday. Heather, I have sent a friend request on FB, my piccy on there is of tatty teddies - I must do a new picture now my hair is coming back. Iam so glad you took everyone's advice and went to the doctors, I hope you manage to get your leg sorted soon. Nell, hope the rads are going well, you half way yet?, its a pain when one of the machines goes down, hope you don't have to wait long today, you need to be out and enjoying the sunshine coz we have no idea how long it will last! Sandra, I like the idea of your all singing all dancing chair, I wanted one like that when we got our new sofa but it wouldnt fit in our living room, had to get a corner suite instead. I hope you are getting lots of sun shine down there and toby is enjoying it. Carol, I think Oulton Hall have been very unfair, they could at least give you a discount for next time, just a thought, you don't have annual travel insurance do you ? this would cover you for cancelling your break. Hope the back is getting better. Have a great time in scotland will keep my fingers crossed for good weather for you. Jackie, I hope the weather stays good for you while you go visiting your son. Karen, thinking of you. Sis just phoned her lab has just had 8 puppies during the night, so dashing off now to go see them Lots of love and hugs to all sorry I havent mentioned everyone Tracey xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx PS I hope you all have a wonderful sunny day xxxxxxxx ... View more

Hi Ladies Thank you all for the birthday wishes - I've had a lovely day, been spoilt rotten, taken out for lunch with my family and chilled this evening. Its nice to be back on here with everyone, it was nice to keep intouch through FB, but not the same when there are some of us missing. Heather, I do hope you can get in to see the Dr tomorrow, especially since you have not been well today too. I hope they get you sorted out soon. Sandra, my mum used to have a rocker years ago, when she moved into this bungalow there just wasn't room for it, it was so relaxing sitting in it and looking out of the window, I wonder if its in the garage as my dad NEVER throws anything away - thats my job for tomorrow, will have to look and see. Nell, I'm sorry you had a bad day yesterday, I hope its been better for you today. Yes we are on a similar time line, my diagnosis was april and first op may & second one june. Carol, I hope your back is less painful and you are taking it easy. Vickie, how did the run go ? Anne, great weight loss, wish I could lose weight, but like my chocolate too much now I've got the taste for it back. Keep up the good work!! Kanga sounds like you were flying around all over the place, glad you had a nice time, I do hope we get to see the pictures of you and Jackie. Isabelle, sorry you lost the quad bike, last september one of the local farmers lost a 2 week old tractor, I didn't realise how much those things actually cost till he told me. I agree with our Nell, there are some horrible people about. Gill good luck for your appointment on friday Dancing on Ice has just come back on, so will send you all my love, hope you have all had a lovely weekend, hugs to all that need them Tracey xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ... View more

Sonja, Fantastic news hun, I'm so glad everything was fine, hope you had a large drink to celebrate Tracey xxx ... View more

Wasn't sure I would be able to post this morning, just wanna wish Suze luck I'm sending lots of positive vibes & hugs and hope all goes well today. Vickie, hope you managed to get a better nights sleep. Heather hows the legs ? Jackie have a great time and lots of rest. Lots of love and hugs to everyone on this cold moring, have a great day Tracey xxxxxxxxxxx ... View more

10am is great for me, can get a lift in with other half when he goes to work. Looking foward to meeting everyone who can make it Tracey xxxxxxxx ... View more

Nell, what am I like, its all that scrolling making me dizzy!!, I'm a bit of an organiser too when I go in shops. Everyone is nice on here! Yes I'm on facebook, do I look for you as Nell ? lol, will have a look and see if I can find you and the others. Tracey xxxxxxx ... View more

Morning Ladies I hope you are all enjoying a nice peaceful weekend. Vicki, I do hope your son is better, I know what its like to suffer ear infections, normally I have 5 or 6 during the year due to having eczema in my ears (this has been on holiday since starting peachy and I hope its got lost on its way home). I hope you managed to get a decent nights sleep after your googleing - I was told that research that is published is normally 10 years out of date by the time it gets to press/internet so not relavant at all because treatments etc have improved so much over the last 10 years. Jill, I know what you mean about being frustrated at work, I just want to get on and do things, I went "hell for leather" last week to get things done at work in my 2 days in our shop, but am still paying for it, I'm totally exhausted again - I will never learn!. I go away on the 6th May and want to start packing NOW but there aren't many summer clothes in the shops at the mo, so I am going to make some ...... well try, its 20 years since I have made anything other than curtains. I am so excited as I havent been away for more than a long weekend in the last 10 years (due to work, not allowed to close our shop and can't get cover for more than a long weekend) Maria, I had a conversation with my friend who was diagnosed a week before me, yesterday about wanting to feel well, we thought that we had given our treatment a decent amount of time and should now be feeling 100%, she had a word with her bc nurse on friday and she said it takes at least a year for peachy to leave you and then maybe another year before you feel like you are anything near 100%. Its so frustrating. You didn't upset me at all, you just voiced what I have been thinking all week, I wish we didn't feel like this, but it is nice to know I'm not the only one thinking this. Heather, I do hope that your anti b's have sorted your legs out, it must have been so scary for them to come up like that - we tend to think the worst when anything happens, well I know I do. My grandaughter is out of hospital and much better thank you, Nell, Good luck with your fitting and your rads, I hope you don't have too far to travel each day, are you having a recon when things have settled down?, my friend said she wasn't going to bother, but is now thinking about it as she hates the way she looks too. When are you coming to Leeds?, is it a shopping trip?, will you have time to meet up for coffee ? Sandra, The Green Mile made me cry and that was before bc, I dare not watch it again as I will be in tears from the titles!, but I do like that film alot. I'm so glad that your mum is doing well, I've had mine at the hosp last week, she had polyps in her womb and had to have them removed under a general anesthetic - she was an utter nightmare and convinced she had cancer again, ex nurses deffo make the worst paitents!, anyway we are still waiting for the results but they said they were prob caused by the 5 years on tamoxifen so another thing I have to look forward to. I still wear my hat in bed, but its on and off all night - flippin hot/night sweats!, I have also been brave enough to take it off at work when I get a flush, I now have a nice covering of hair, still very short but no bald patches but why does it come back grey ? 😞 Isabelle, I had frozen shoulder a few years ago and although it didnt take it away I found that accupunture helped with the pain alot, it was done in the physio dept at the hospital here. I hope you don't have to wait too long for your scans. Kanga, while you are over here you should get your dil to put a piccy of you on here. I hope you have a great time visiting your family. Lots of love and hugs to everyone, I am thinking of you all, just going dizzy trying to scroll and post something for everyone. I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend and that the sun is shining where ever you are Love and hugs Tracey xxxxxxxxxxxxx ... View more

Morning Ladies, I have just realised that this site is going to be down for 3 days, monday through till wednesday, It might be an idea if we swopped email addredsses/facebook adresses/mobile numbers so we can contact each other during this time. So if anyone wants my contact details please send me a message. Tracey xxxxxxxxx p.s. sorry for short message, slept in, should have been at work an hour ago ..... ooops lol ... View more

Hi ladies, yep, next thursday is good for me too, don't think we have to book or anything. Sal, well done for no2 going well, I had a hickman line in and thought it was fantastic - I have really deep veins so it was a nightmare to get the canular in. The only pain was having it flushed once a week (having to wait in for district nurse) so it didn't get blocked. I hope that everyone is as well as can be expected and is looking forward to a lovely weekend Tracey xxxxx ... View more

Afternoon Ladies, I hope you are all as well as can be expected. Sally, hope you didn't have too much hanging around at the hospital today and that No2 went well. Chinook, well done getting to the 5 year point. You can still come to the haven for coffee/fruit tea eventhough your treatments have come to an end. I do understand what you mean about rocking in a corner, the haven was a real sanctury when I was diagnosed. Mary, welcome and sorry you have found yourself here, this site has helped me so much since my diagnosis last april (feels like years ago now). Treat yourself to a nice bath with lots of nice smelly candles to help you relax - if that fails you can take a leaf out of my book and try the LARGE vodka route. Good luck for tomorrow, try to stay positive, I really do hope your results are good Tracey xxxx ... View more

Hi J, Its not an easy decision to make, I have 2 friends (sisters) who have the BRCA1 mutation, one had a mx aprox 10 years ago (no recon) and the other had a WLE 18 months ago. They were both tested after the second one got breast cancer. One has decided to go ahead and have a double mx and recon, where as the other is going to wait and see, they have both had their overies removed they are both under 45. You have to do what you feel is right for you hun and like Lulu says, you can always change your mind if you dont want to have the surgery at the moment. I have been tested and have a BRAC1 gene mutation which is non specific - they don't at this point know if it causes breast cancer or not, but I have joined a study in london to see what they can find out. My genentics team don't seem to want to test the rest of my family (I'm no4 so far, all surviving) so I am waiting to see my consultant at post rads check up for more information, my breast care nurse is fantastic and is getting me into see a consultant who spends alot of time with the genetics team so we can discuss where we go next. Lulu, I don't think you are crazy, I would love a job like yours, I'm one of those people who crave information, and dig into everything. I come from a family of nurses but fancied it myself. I hope everyone has a good day Tracey xx ... View more

Morning Ladies, Lets hope the sun shines like it did yesterday - it sure does make me feel better. Alison, which chemo regime are you on ? I had 3xEC and then 3xDocataxol, I have to admit that the first 3 were quite easy, not many side effects at all, but no4 (the first tax) hit me like a double decker bus going at full speed - BUT everyone is different and I was always a big baby lol. Sally, drinking lots of water does help with the chemo, but drinking lots of tea/coffee helps with blood tests - warm fluids "fluff" up your veins, I was told that on more than one occasion. I had horrible veins before chemo, just getting blood was a nightmare so I had a hickman line fitted, it made life so much easier and less stressful. Good luck with your bloods, hope all goes well. I work part time, Fri/Sat and every other wednesday morning - any other time for coffee @ the haven would be great for me. Here's hoping that everyone has a good day Tracey xxxxxxxxxx P.S. Alison, I'm short, fat, and have v v short hair (its coming back grey!!!! grrrrrrrrrrrr lol) ... View more

Hi Ladies, Sorry I haven't been back for a while, count me in for coffee too please. Sally have you had chance to go to the "Haven" in leeds yet, its a fantastic place and I for one could feel the stress leave as soon as I walked in. I have been a few times, and still have 6 more treatments to have but not sure what to go for. The last one I had was an aromatherapy massage before chemo started last year, it was sheer bliss ............ untill the fire alarm went off and I ended up standing outside in a big fluffy dressing gown! Debora and the staff there are great, like one big family and they make you feel so welcome. Kaz, I too worked through my chemo (I only part time tho) I had to as its our business and no work means no money! I hope all you ladies going through chemo at the mo are doing well and not suffering with many side effects. Tracey xxxxxxx ... View more

Nell, I'm taking "hair, skin & nail" tablets from asda - for £2.80ish thought I would give them a try, I'm onto my second packet now and I'm sure they have made a difference with the hair, not sure about the nails tho as mine are "peeling" quite badly from the "tax" lines. As the Gp said, they can't make anything worse and from the looks of my hair they seem to be working, I'm not brave enough to take a piccy just yet. My friend finished her chemo the week before me but is on herceptin till september, her hair has only just started sprouting while I have quite a good covering (think all the bald spots have gone now) xxxxxxx ... View more

Nell, Thanks hun, good job I got new glasses last week, I'm gonna be reading for a while! Im glad your "cording" is getting better, how many rads do you have to have ? Wooo hoooo at your hair sprouting, mine is coming through very quickly now (I'm sure the "hair skin & nail tablets are helping) xxxxxxxxxx ... View more

Hi Ladies, At last I'm back, I managed to kill the netbook and OH refused to let me use his laptop, I seem to break everything I touch just latley! I have thrown myself into work instead of being on here, trying to get the shop sorted, things have slipped since I have been ill and OH seems like he has just been marking time in the shop, I didn't realise how bad it looked till the other week, too busy focusing on getting well I guess. Mum has not been too good, uncle has been admitted to hospice, grandaughter been in hosp with bronchitus again - its all been bad news just latley - on the upside, my sisters are taking me on holiday in may as a treat, look out furteventura here we come!. Right now I have the big old desktop computer going again, I'm off to catch up on what you have all been doing, I hope you have all been keeping well Lots of love and hugs to all that need them Tracey xxxxxxxxxxxx ... View more

Hi Sonja, Sorry you have found yourself here, but you are in the right place for help and support. The good thing is that you noticed it early, before it got bigger - early action is always the best action. Last April I noticed a dimple in exactly the same place, I only got it checked because my mum, aunt & cousin have all survived breast cancer. I am 47 too with 2 daughters, one aged 14 the other is 22. After a lumpectomy and a sentinal node biopsy it had spread to my lymph nodes, which I also had removed in another op. Because of my age and the fact that lymph nodes were involved I then went on to have chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which I finished 6 weeks ago. I have stayed very stong and very positive all the way through my treatment (I'm sure this helps - eventhough its hard). I have good role models with my mum, aunt & cousin all surviving. I hope this week passes quickly for you and that you get some answers quickly. Waiting is the worst part of all of this - the not knowing drove me crazy, but please feel free to message me if you want to chat. Try not to "read up" on things, it can scare the sh*t out of you. Try to keep busy - I know thats easier said than done, but you will get lots of support on here, I know I did and it helped me so much and if I can do anything to help, please let me know Tracey xxxxxxx ... View more

Hi Jo, One of the first things I asked before I had my radiotherapy was can I still see my granchildren (aged 4 & 12 months) I am happy to tell you that they said I would not be radioactive at all and it was fine to see the girls - I do remember my mum having radiotherapy about 6 years ago and was advised then not to take my daughter round because she might be radioactive. I worked through radiotherapy, it only took half an hour out of my day - I am lucky to live very close to my hospital. I was still tired from my chemo, don't think the radiotherapy made me more tired, but it effects everyone differently. My mum (68 when had treatment) was very tired on radiotherapy, her sister (70 when had treatment) was fine, and I have been fine (I'm 47), and I finished treatment about 4 weeks ago. Hope all goes well Tracey xxx ... View more