Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Ladies, I'm in Leeds, had my WLE & full node clearance at LGI last year and chemo & rads at St James, finished rads 2 weeks ago. Tracey xxxxx ... View more

Hi Marym, I had WLE & SNB followed by a full node clearance. I had 3x EC then 3x Dosetaxel and then radiotherapy which I finished last week. I'm not sure what the "norm" is or if there is a set regime, but hope this helps Tracey xxxxx ... View more

Hi Ladies, Just a word of warning to you ladies, my last radiotherapy session was 8 days ago, skin was pink and was told to carry on with the aquaeous cream for 2 weeks, which I have ,,,,,, I have just developed a blister, its only small and I have a dressing for it - they gave me a couple just incase. Its under the breast so very sore, so becareful and keep on with the cream for 2 weeks,,,,,, I am sooooo looking forward to a nice bubble bath once this has cleared up. Hope you are all having a good day Tracey xxxxxxxx ... View more

Nannadeb, make sure you ask for a local anasthetic, my younger sis had her biopsies done before she had chance to ask so didnt get one, where as I had mine done under an ultrasound and had lots of local before they took them, guess it depends on hospital/staff (we have same hospital different consultants/clinic days). Good luck and I hope the results come back as normal for you Tracey xxxxxxxx ... View more

Suze - that was just what I needed hun ............. THANK YOU xx Having a sh*ty day with nothing but bad news, so won't hang about here today, don't want to depress you all (more than you may be already) But Do want to say I'm thinking of you all and sending positive vibes too love Tracey xx ... View more

Hi Ladies, its been a bit of a week, I've been up and down, reading, but not posting, have managed to kill the boiler and the microwave this week, but on the upside radiotherapy is finished and skin is still intact but a little sore. Nell, thinking about you hun, bet it was great to get on the bike again, even if it was a bit cold, just what you needed to try and take your mind off things. Sending you lots of hugs and positive vibes to take with you. Maria hope you have worked out if you are here or there, just as long as you are ok, that is the main thing. Heather, my doctors are like that if i want to see MY gp, most of the time (before bc) I didnt care who I saw, but now I will only see 2 of the gp's in the pratice so normally have to wait a week to get in, have an appointment at 8am tomorrow with my gp, not seen him since he sent me to breast clinic - I could be in there a while tomorrow. I do hope they get to the bottom of what is causing you the problems. Sandra, children grow up so quickly now, bless, 7 being too old for story books. Vickie, hows the training going? Carol, how did you get on down at the allotment ? Kanga - will we ever be back to normal?? don't think I was in the first place!! Taxi, my friend was triple neg too hun - it did the same to her too, scared the life out of her, Well lovely ladies - my cyber family, I wish you all lots of love and am sending you all lots of positive vibes, nite nite, god bless you all Tracey xxxxxxxxx ... View more

Nicky, I had my results last week from my genetic test, by letter and was feeling lost. I do not have the BRACA1 or BRACA2 gene mutations that they usually associate with breast cancer,,,,, BUT I do have a "non specific" change to BRACA1 gene and they can not tell if this change causes cancer or not (mum, aunt & cousin all bc survivors not gene tested grandma died of ovarian cancer aged 49 ish). I am classed as high risk so will be asking about prophylactic surgery, according to my bc nurse I have done everything possible to prevent another cancer happening elsewhere (op, chemo, rads & tamoxifen)but if I have a gene mutation, what is the chance I might get bc again ? - no one can tell me as my change is not a common one and they do not have enough information about it yet, So, I'm with you, wishing you all the best and hoping your op went well Tracey xxxx ... View more

I keep mine at the side of the bed, and take one before getting into bed,,,,, has worked for the last 3 weeks, so am hoping I've cracked it Tracey xx ... View more

I only work part time but did manage to work 2 full days a week when having EC, treatment week I had EC on a tuesday and worked fri & sat (sometimes had to go home early on the sat) but weeks 2 & 3 managed full days. My Onc thought I was mad as I work in an indoor market so lots of chance of infection, but I was fine (slept lots on sunday & monday). All I will say is listen to your body, and do what you feel is right - I'm just pigheaded and was determined not to let this bl**dy thing beat me - it did when I had Tax, I wasn't very well at all, but I put up a good fight!!!, I'm nearly at the end of my radiotherapy now so its all behind me now. Onwards & Upwards!!! Good luck and be kind to yourself, remember everyone is different and our bodies cope in different ways too Debs, rads are a doddle compared to chemo, I've had 12 of 15 so far and just a little tired in the afternoons Tracey xx ... View more

Eliza, Thanks for your reply, I was a bit lost when I got that letter - I guess I just wanted to know one way or the other Iam almost at the end of my rads, and have a clinic appointment on monday morning, will ask to see consultant. I tried to ring my bcn but her mobile battery was kaput and kept cutting out, she promised to get back to me shortly, bless her, she is a bit dippy so might forget. I guess my sisters will be put on yearly mamograms to monitor them as they are considered high risk now with our family history. They didn't want to test my mum, aunt or cousin when they tested me, I guess I won't know any more till I talk to the professionals. Once again thank you for your reply Tracey xx ... View more

All you ladies having a hard time at the moment I am sending you megga hugs and wishes that you feel more positive soon. Lesley, hope the peachy went ok today and that the side effects are minimal for you,,,, almost there now hun. Vickie, sounds like that you have the "bug" the boys have had, hope you feel better soon. Isabelle, I know what you mean about memory - or lack of it, think mine went with chemo and now I'm on tamoxifen I'm not sure it is ever going to return. I went to work this morning, only did half a day, when I came home there was a letter from Genetics dept, after testing my blood for 3 months they have found a fault on the BRACA1 gene BUT it has come up as an "unknown variant" so they can't say if it causes breast cancer or not, they have not offered me a follow up appointment so its yet something else to ask the dr on monday ..... what to do next/will it/won't it come back? I was kind of hoping for a definate yes or no re the gene mutation so everything would be clean cut and clear, but yet again its seems I'm on muddy ground! I did phone the breast care nurse - who I may have mentioned is lovely but quite dippy - its her day off and she was on her way into the hairdresser but she promised to phone me back later to talk to me about it, but that could be next week knowing her, bless her tho for giving me her personal mobile number when I was dx just incase I ever needed it,,,, day or night Oh for the simple life ! lots of love and hugs to you all Tracey xxxxxxxxxxx ... View more

Hi Lazydaisy I'm on tamoxifen but my friend has been on arimidex since finishing chemo at the begining of november, she was on a trial too and took it 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after her mx and she has had no side effects at all so there are lucky people out there Tracey xx ... View more

Evening ladies, Jackie, sent you a pm hun, sorry I didn't respond yesterday, but sis went away at lunch time and I was back on dog/animal duty (kennels re-opened after xmas now) so by the time I fed the animals/dogs/OH/daughter & lodger (who was taking care of the horses) I put the netbook on and realised that I had left my tamoxifen at home so had to dash home and get them. I was so kna**red by the time I eventually sat down, I fell asleep!!! Anyway, am back home now, have had a nap this afternoon and am feeling so much better - don't think I'm up to looking after all those flippin dogs just yet, it was a nightmare as one of mine is in season and I don't want her to have puppies just yet - would love the money, but not upto all the work. Lesley, nice to see you back, hope the blood test went ok and you can get your last peachy out of the way. My 75 year old uncle started chemo last week for lymphoma, a very very low dose as he is not a well man anyway and he had a heart transplant 15 years ago, they are going to increase it a little each time. Hope your OH is feeling better - you need to get him well so he can run around and look after you after your peachy. Saffronseed, thanks for explaining the walking co-ordinator thingy, I think thats a great idea, never heard of it before. OMG, 4 stabs to get the injection stuff in?, I would have been on my way out of the door!, hope you don't have to wait too long for your results. Could the lumps on your neck be infected hair folicals?, I'm only asking because a friend went to dr with a couple of lumps the other day and the thats what the dr thought it might be, will see after some anti b's. Think positive hun x Nell, will be thinking of you hun, hope the pre-op went ok today and you have everything straight in your mind about what they are going to do (well as straight as you want it to be) Vickie, well done on your first of many runs, 1.3 miles, glad it wasn't as bad as you expected it to be, you are gonna be super fit by the time you do your 10k run. Kanga - rats !!! I hate them, hope you have seen the last of them now, maybe you should get some tin boxes to replace the plastic ones, then you can laugh at them when they can't get in them - it might make them pack up home and move somewhere else, I always remember my hygene training from when I worked at "little chef" years and years ago (where else could a short a*se like me work lol)..... deny them food and deny them shelter and they will p**s off, errr I mean move on. Sandra, Heather, Maria, Carol and everyone else, I hope you are all well and those having treatment/tests this week are coping ok Love and hugs to EVERYONE Tracey xxxxxxxxxxxx ... View more

Hi Ladies, I have just started tamoxifen at the age of 47, I was told I would be on it for 5 years and the prob be moved onto arimidex for another 2 years after that - deep joy !! Tracey xx ... View more

Morning Ladies, Jackie, hope you don't have to wait too long for the safe arival of your new g-c, and that all goes well. I think it would be a great idea to head off to Saffronseed's house while she is away, its about time we all got together again..... we promise to behave Saffronseed .... honest Jill, Good luck with your bone scan today, I'm sure it will all be fine. Maria, welcome back hun, sending you lots of hugs. Sandra, I didn't get to see Dr about my boob, but did ask when I went for radiotherapy, they said "oooh, we haven't seen one like that before, does it hurt?" and "no, don't think that's due to radiotherapy", it doesn't hurt so have decided I will not panic, I have a clinic appointment next monday so will get it checked then. Your day at the zoo sounds like it was fun from start to finish, I am glad you all enjoyed it. Saffronseed, well done in volunteering to do breast awarness talks and the walking cordinaator . I'm sure you will find time to fit it in. What a lovely idea to have a bleated christmas dinner with all the family. No you are not pathetic, now I have a bit of energy I also keep myself going at full pelt so I don't dwell on the negatives too, by the time I stop I am too tired to think about anything. Vickie, good luck with your training today, hope you had a better night with the boys and that they are feeling much better. Isabelle ..... OMG I just don't know where you get all your energy to do all that lot! Well rads no 9 today, almost there now. Results for genetic testing should be here soon (I hope) its been 3 months now and I am starting to worry a little. Younger sister has been for her genetics interview but they won't do anything till they get my results, and only then if I am positive for Braca1 or Braca2 gene, older sister has been reffered but still waiting for her appointment. I have to contact all my cousins (sometimes having a big family is not an advantage) to tell them we are all now classed as high risk (should have done this ages ago, but didnt want to spoil their christmases), but again they will not test them if my results are negative. Denise, no way are you selfish!!, I also threatend Kirsty that she wouldn't go to her dads this last weekend as she had been playing up - I hate teenage girls!- but gave in at the last minute, I also needed "Me" time. We all have so much to cope with, it does us good to be able to relax sometimes and not have to worry about the kids for a while. Hope you are doing ok hun. Heather, hope you managed a decent nights sleep hun, and that your hubby is doing ok. Right its time to kick daughter out for her school bus - I'm sure she gets later every day! lots of love and hugs to all my virtual family, hope you all have a wonderful day Tracey xxxxxxxxx ... View more

Hi all, Sandra, my friend had peachy to shrink her lump, then lumpectomy and node clearance, because it was in her nodes she has to have peachy again (but hopefuly only 3 of the dreaded tax) to "mop up" any stray cells that may have escaped during/after the op, she had 5 FEC before and had every side effect listed including a DVT so she is not looking forward to Tax. Vickie, april 2012?, you won't want to go back to work at all! I hope you eventually managed to get your nice relaxing bath. Will be thinking of you on tuesday night (and coming out in a hot sweat in sympathy) Hannah my oldest (22) has just started "combat fit" with the marines in a local park - she swears blind they are trying to kill her, but she is determined to get fit - hope your training is a bit more gentle. Nell, sorry your hands and feet are so bad, how are your leg muscles holding up?, mine are still not good, but I can now go upstairs without having to stop half way for a rest. Isabelle, 7 down, 8 to go, thank goodness I don't have such a long trip as you had, I do hope that you are taking it easy at work. Heather, am glad you are feeling better, but it's not good your sleep pattern has gone out of the window again, hope you have a better night tonight. Karen, sending you lots of hugs hun, hope things are not as bad today. Maria, nothing I can say will make things any easier. My condolences to you and your family at this sad time. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. Salsasuzi, now I'm hungry thinking of your xmas pud, home made mince pies (with brandy in them) and fresh double cream for me ....... diet starts when treatment finishes lol Lots of love and hugs to you all, hope you are having a lovely weekend Tracey xxxxxxxxxxxx ... View more

Hi all, Sandra, Well done for getting that out of the way, mine won't be due till April, so not even thinking about it yet. Kirsty walked in looking like a snowman because it was snowing and school closed early at the request of the bus company - an inch of snow and everyone goes into panic mode!. My boob seems to have what looks like a scar line/indentation going down the side of it - my op site was under my boob so it can't have moved overnight can it, I can only assume that is the radiotherapy but will get it checked out on monday. Vickie When are you due to go back to work?, thought you had a while left yet. Just think of all the training you can do before you get back to work - I have to admit, I break out in a cold sweat at the thought of exercise so I think what you are doing is fantastic. I had some lovely Molton Brown bubble bath for christmas, but can't use it for a few more weeks yet because of the Rads, its well hidden so Kirsty doesn't get her hands on it (grrrrrrrr teenagers!!) Heather sorry you have been ill hun, and hope you are feeling better now. Kanga, love the story, think I would be scared to go back in the garage never mind the fridge! Nell, hope you are recovering well and that you have seen the back of the Tax truck & trailer, a friend of mine had her chemo first, it reduced the lump from 10cm to 2 cm so she was able to have a WLE instead of a mastectomy, the only bad thing is now she has had the op she needs chemo again as it was in her lymph nodes, but as she says she has done it once she can do it again! ..... Onwards & Upwards. Hope you are all having a lovely restful night Love & hugs to all Tracey xxxxxxxxxxx ... View more

Hi Ladies, Just checking in quickly. Rads going well, although my boob is changing shape a bit, will ask about that on monday, had to rush off for work this morn. Sandra, hope all went well. Maria, am thinking of you and sending you lots of hugs. Karen, Iam sorry you are in a dark place at the mo, I hope that you feel a little brighter soon Saffronseed what wonderful news hun, may you be as happy all 2011 as you feel today I have to dash daughter just walked in looking like a snowman, will try and get back later Thinking of you all and sending lots of hugs to each and everyone of you Tracey xxxxxxxxxxx ... View more

Maria, I have only just found this thread, I was so upset to read about what is happening around you. Iam so glad you got to have some quality time with your mum. All I can say is my heart goes out to you, you and your family are in my thougts and I am sending you lots and lots of virtual hugs Tracey xxxxxxxxxxxx ... View more