Breast Cancer Now Forum

Did they give you any indication of grade at your diagnosis?   They SHOULD have a good idea (even though it can't 100% be confirmed) from your biopsy. I was told at my diagnosis (a year ago tomorrow!) that it was most likely a grade 1 slow growing cancer and that the ultrasound showed no enlargement of lymph nodes so it was unlikely to have spread there.   Did they take any biopsies from under your arm?   I waited just over 7 weeks from diagnosis to surgery as we had a holiday booked and as we came back, the surgoen was going away. He assured me that a 7 week wait would make no difference whatsoever as I would have been happy to cancel our holiday if necessary. Also bearing in mind that I found my lump in early April so took nearly four months for a diagnosis as the breast clinic kept mucking up my referals for scans etc - so nearly 6 months from finding lump to having it removed.   At our hospital, they try to give you the results from the sentinal node biopsy the same day - anyone having this is sent down to theatre first and kept under the aneasthetic while the biopsy results are rushed through. So I knew as soon as I woke up and didn't have a drain under my arm, that the biopsy was clear which was such a huge relief. Maybe your hospital will do the same?   This is the hardest time, things will feel better once you start your treatment. Please try not to let your mind run away with you, take one day at a time.   Sending hugs   Lu xx ... View more

So glad you have now got a start date I'm sorry you're having to stay away from home but I can imagine this must be better for you than waiting even longer.   Good luck   Lu xx ... View more

Hi Pennypig   I have only been on tamoxifen for 9 months. I had no bleeding at all for the first 6 months and since then have had light bleeding for a few days every 2/3 weeks. I didn't think anything of it as just assumed it was the tamoxifen still settling down in my system, but when I mentioned it in passing to my BCN she told me I must see my GP and get a two week referal to a gyneacologist as there is an increased risk of ovarian/endometrial cancer and endometriosis which would need to be ruled out with an ultrasound.   I saw the gyneacologist and the scans were clear - she told me she is amazed by the amount of women that she sees with abnormal bleeding while on tamoxifen, but it is always best to get it checked out.   Good luck   Lu xx ... View more

Hi Atat   I was wondering how you were getting on... SO pleased the results of your second op were good, at least that's ONE thing ticked on the list.   So sorry you are still waiting for an oncology appointment, it really does seem like an interminably long wait. I like to think that the oncologists know what they're doing and would sort something out if they thought the wait was too long for treatment - but that really doesn't help when it's yourself doing the waiting and worrying   Lu xx ... View more

It's difficult to say what will happen tomorrow as all hospitals seem to do things differently.   Where I am, you are given your diagnosis and proposed treatment plan at the same time by the surgeon.   Presumably, you have already had biopsies taken so this should give an indication of stage and grade (although this can change once the tumour has been removed and looked at more closely) if you haven't already been given this information.   My children were a bit older, 13 and 16, when I was diagnosed. They knew right from the beginning that I had found a lump and was having tests. The day of my diagnosis, I sat them both down after school and told them that I DID have cancer but that I would be fine. I told them that things may be tough for a while for all of us and that they may need to help me a little more. I also told them that I would never lie to them and that they can ask or tell me anything. I'm their mum and that will never change, even if I'm feeling rubbish.   At 9, you may have to play things down more, but as you say, he is already picking up on things. The link on the previous post gives some excellent advice specifically related to different age groups. Anothing thing that may be useful for him is to appoint someone he is close to that he can go and ask questions to or talk to as he may be too scared to talk to you - an aunty, uncle or grandparent maybe?   It can be hard telling people as it just feels so weird. I copped out and put a post on Facebook, it was amazing how quickly the news got round (and I left the rest of the people for my mum to tell, as her mouth works pretty much non stop!)   Good luck   Lu xxx ... View more

Hi Julie   So sorry to hear you are going through this.   Most people find the waiting for results the worst bit - I know I did. Once I knew what I was dealing with and had a treatment plan in place I felt better. I could work through each stage in my head and plan accordingly (I AM a bit of a control freak!).   I know you've already done it but PLEASE don't google - it is just plain scary and until you know what YOU are dealing with, totally unnecessary.   Spend the time until Friday doing things that make you happy and will hopefully distract you a little bit... Be kind to yourself, let others know how you are feeling so they can also try to distract you.   Good luck for Friday, do let us know how you get on.   Lu xxx ... View more

Hi Murphy   It's not a stupid comment, everyone faces things differently and no two 'cancer experiences' are the same. Seeing your mum come through it so well is a really positive thing and it must help.   I was surprised myself how calmly I took it - I even went back to work in the afternoon. Worry has hit me at odd times though, sometimes when I least expected it. I think sometimes these things take a while to sink in, maybe our brains way of coping, it only lets us worry about so much at a time?   Anyway, however you are feeling is totally normal - even if that changes from day to day. They're your feelings and you are entitled to them.   Good luck for Thursday   Lu xx ... View more

Not sure if the link will work on here but you can always copy and paste it into Ebay...   http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-CHILLOW-COLD-THERAPY-COOLING-PILLOW-SLEEPING-AID-PAD-MAT-MUSCLE-RELIEF-/321452720050?pt=UK_Health_HealthCare_RL&hash=item4ad8133fb2   Hope that helps xx     ... View more

Hi Toulula   So glad you're home and resting - you sound like you have a wonderful husband and son.   I couldn't wee after my op too and was so desperate to get home. I drank jugs and jugs of water and eventually after a few hours managed to squeeze a little one out! I had my discharge papers in my hand and was in the car within minutes and poor hubs then had to stop the car twice on the 20 minute journey home for me to wee   Gentle hugs xxx ... View more

Hi Toulula   Hoping everything goes well today and you'll soon be home with your feet up on the sofa with everyone at your beck and call.   Lu xx ... View more

Hi Atat   My 8 week wait was from the date of surgery - so 6 weeks from the oncologist appointment.   Yes, it is perfectly normal to feel tired - a general anaesthetic can take weeks to totally leave your body and you've had two in quick succession. Also don't underestimate the emotional trauma of what you are going through. Be kind to yourself and rest when you need to as this will aid the healing process.   Lu xx ... View more

Hi Atat   So sorry that you've got the worry of this on top of the 'normal' worry about treatment.   The guidelines that hospitals use are purely guidelins based on the 'ideal' time frames. I had a long wait for my radiotherapy as I had a holiday booked, the oncologist was happy to delay radiotherapy (even though I made it clear I would cancel the holiday if he thought it best) until I got back. He told me my 8 week wait was still 'well within' the time frame for treatment. I guess it all depends on the type of cancer, grade etc to how quickly they NEED to do it.   I would talk to your BCN for some reasurrance and/or advice on how to go about requesting to be transferred to a different hospital. One other thing to bear in mind as that most private hospitals don't have their own radiotherapy units but use the NHS ones so you may find even going down that route it wouldn't be much quicker - but certainly worth checking out, even if only for your own peace of mind.   Lu xx ... View more

Oh Jo, I'm sorry but that I've just spat tea all over the screen laughing at the thought of you being stuck to the checkout   Lu xx ... View more

LuckyLass, I think the driving depends on your hospital as they all seem to give different advice. Mine told me that I was not to drive for two weeks, my friend was told one week and another was told as soon as she felt she could. The thing to also check is with your insurance - as it was clearly stated on my notes that I could not drive for two weeks, I would not have been covered, even though I felt well enough to drive earlier.   I can't remember if it was on this forum or the macmillan one but one lady drove herself home from her WLE the next day and the hospital were totally fine with that! ... View more

Hi Babycakes   Sorry to hear you are struggling with the radiotherapy - it's pants isn't it?   I'm another one who burnt badly and was prescribed flamazine cream which really helped - also anti-histamines for the itching.   I also had 15 sessions plus 5 boosters and if it's any consolation, didn't find the boosters any worse than the normal doses.   Hope you get some relief soon   Lu xx ... View more

Hi TLJ   Sorry that you find yourself here but rest assured, you will get LOADS of support from the wonderful ladies here.   I was 44 when diagnosed last year and my daughter just turned 14. I told my daughter as soon as I was referred to the breast clinic but kept it fairly light so as not to worry her as much as possible. As soon as it was confirmed and they gave me my diagnosis and proposed treatment plan (lumpectomy, sentinal node biopsy, radiotherapy and tamoxifen) I sat her down, told her what I had ahead of me and put as much positive spin on it as possible. Do make sure you notify her school as it may affect her and they can keep a closer eye on her. She was my saviour throughout the whole process and made me smile every day.   It will all feel very unreal at the moment, but generally once treatment begins, things start feeling a bit better as you feel like you're on your way to getting shot of it.   Good luck   Lu xx ... View more

Hahaha Michele - I know exactly what you mean about a rainforest!   It's a magnet that you wear inside your knickers day and night and supposed to help with hot flushes - they were talking about them on the macmillan forum yesterday and on a facebook page I am on. It seems some BCN's are getting these in for women now but they can also be bought from Boots or Amazon, but at £29 I'm a bit sceptical!   Lu x ... View more

Hi LuckyLass   Looking back through your posts, I presume you are having a lumpectomy? My experience was that it wasn't nearly as painful as I was expecting. For me the worst bit was getting over the anaesthetic (I felt wiped out for days) and not being able to drive for two weeks.   It's good to get organised beforehand as the less you need to do afterwards the better. Lifting heavy things is obviously a no no. I didn't find cooking a problem but if you can prepare meals in advance for the freezer then that's great.   It's important to do the exercises they give you for after surgery - they really help to get the movement back quickly.   I bought some really stretchy crop tops from M&S - they were stretchy enough that I could get my arm in without stretching it above me head and I lived in them night and day (obviously, I did remove them to wash!). I would put my good arm through first, then head, then bend my surgery arm and lift it as much as I could and stretch it over to get it on. I also bought a post surgery bra from amoena that has hook and eye fastennings up the front as I was worried I wouldn't be able to get the crop tops on - I shouldn't have bothered, it was expensive and unnecessary for me.   Clothing wise, I wore a pair of joggers and a vest top with a zip up hoody over the top for the first few days. I found pulling up jeans hurt and was difficult to do one handed. I HATE joggers but they did become my best friend for a few days!   I found trying to sleep was uncomfortable so I banished hubby to the spare room and used pillows to prop me into a comfy position - for me, lying on my back with a couple of pillows under my bad shoulder was the most comfy.   As you live alone, it might be an idea for you to try to do your normal activities one handed for a day and see what things you have difficulty with.   Make sure you have a stock of painkillers in as hospitals don't always send you home with any - I found over the counter ones to be more than adequate but my GP gave me a prescription for some stronger ones in case I needed them.   Take a towel or a cushion with you for the trip home from hospital to give you some padding from the seatbelt as these can hurt at first.   As your surgery is on a Friday, make sure you have the phone number of who to contact over the weekend if you are worried about anything.   And the most important thing is to make sure you have a HUGE supply of chocolate, crisps, cake or whatever floats your boat, put your feet up on the sofa and relax for a few days!   Lu xx   ... View more

Thanks Michele   I was looking at the Chillows yesterday and trying to work out if hubs will go mad if I spend £30! But at £5.99, even he can't moan too much at that!   Now I just need to find a cheap lady magnet as these hot flushes are driving me insane....   Lu x ... View more