Breast Cancer Now Forum

If you need  hydrocortisone tablets, ask your GP for a prescription, this way it will be free.    Mowser, Good luck for tomorrow.  ... View more

Mowser,  I went to Mauritius 22 years ago, it is just beautiful and peaceful . My Brother is law is Mauritian, I would love to go back.   I am also using euro tunnel annual insurance. They asked me if I was terminal, I asked them to define terminal, they told me 4-6 months. I told them that I was not told I was terminal. They said as long as you get a doctor's note saying you were fit to travel when you booked (if you need to cancel) and another one that you were actually fit to travel when you went if you need to claim while away.  Now Lynnq you mail me spit my pear when I read the price of your insurance. actually not the price but the word after! :smiley lol:    ... View more

Mowser, Hoping things do settle, I was sitting next to you on Thursday in Oxford. I found that overview day run by BCC very useful. Come and join us for our monthly meet up, it is very a relaxed and supportive group. I read all the posts religiously but don't find the time to post. For those wondering about Lulu, from a photo that I saw on FB, I can tell you she was busy having fun lately. I read with interest everyone's thought regarding Christmas. It can be such a stressful time for many. I am really looking forward to it. my girls will be back from Uni; and in our house, it is a very relaxed affair, with no politics or pretend. It is my family in my mother in law only. We really cherish that time, just the six of us. We have our little traditions. On boxing day, they are all off to a football match, and I can rest. Work has been bonker lately, I need this holiday. Xxxx ... View more

Hi Carolslav, I hope your onc has some good news for you. I don't post often but read this thread religiously. The reason why I haven't got time because of work. I have to say work is my saviour. It allows me to think of something else. We are all different, your stamina will be different to mine. I have bone mets and am onherceptin, leletrozole and ibandronic acid. I work full time but also have about 10 days a year of unpaid leave on top of my 25 days. Your employer has to make any reasonable adjustments to help. You're officially covered by the disability act. Why don't you ask for a phased return? How demanding is your job? You want to factor in your commute. ... View more

Good eveneing ladies,  I never took any letters with me, just a copy of my prescriptions. My meds never left me, all of them in my hand luggage.  I would not put them in my suitcase.  Just go and enjoy the sunshine.  Re radiotherapy, it is used for both pain and killing cancer cells. I had some when I was diagnosed with primary BC. http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/node/1153834    While the aim of radiotherapy for secondary breast cancer is to control the progress of the disease and relieve symptoms such as pain. It is mostly used when the cancer has spread to the bones, lungs or brain or to control regional recurrence in the skin or armpit (axilla). Radiotherapy treatment for secondary breast cancer is much shorter than for primary breast cancer and is given as a single dose or as a short course over a few days. The side effects will vary depending on which part of the body is being treated. Radiotherapy carries on working after the treatment has finished, so you may not feel the benefits until one or two weeks later. http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/breast-cancer-information/treating-breast-cancer/secondary-breast-cancer    ... View more

Hello ladies, I have been on hols with my family in Canada for almost two weeks and we have another one to go. I am loving it. The kids (22,19 & 16) are having a great time. I have been reading posts on here, but had no time to participate. Welcome to the new ladies, you are in a good place. We are here to help ( except when one is having a good time on holiday). Bev, just a note about Dubai, if you are on anti depressant, you will need to check the UK government travel website. https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice When I went for business a few years ago, I checked and anti depressants are part of a very loooong list of medicines you are not supposed to take into the country others like tamoxifen, letrozole were all ok. ... View more

Good afternoon everyone.  Cholocate, I take a daily calcium tablets, I get them on repeat prescription from my GP. They come in a couple of flavours. They remind me of Love Heart sweets. Not that I like the chalky feeling.  They do their job, so I am not complaining.   Cherry, my symptoms were a painful rib which I thought was a pulled muscle. My GP dismissed it but as my onc had told me that they would not tolerate any pains lasting for more than 2 consecutive weeks, I contacted him directly. He organised an MRI then a CT to see if it had spread anywhere else. It was bone met on rib and hip. I  am glad to say that mets have healed and I have been stable for 2 1/2 years.  I understand the hypochondriac state we are all in. I am lucky that my onc take me seriously and checks everything. A coupel of times my worries were not justified.    Welcome Kimi, I hope you find the support that you need here.    Have a great evening everyone.    ... View more

Chocolate, 8.30 appointment? !  wow that it late, but then again, I am sure you can find a parking space in your hospital at that time.    Just back from mine, and all is well, MRI fine, blood fine. She talked about eventually moving to  Zometa monthly then quarterly. Not sure I want to change, why change a winning combination. (2 1/2 years stable)  I got used to Ibandronic acid daily tablets (having to stay upright and not eating for 30 minutes). I don't want to have to go to hospital every 3 weeks if I can avoid it, unless healthcare at home (which does my herceptin) are allowed to do it at the same time.  Well we will cross that bridge when we need to. Now it is time to continue enjoy the nice Oxfordshire weather (from my desk) and soon my hols.    Special hug to Tracy.  lots of love to everyone else.    ... View more

Morning ladies,  I haven't posted in a while but read all your messages.  Love to everyone struggling. Faraway I hope you get good news soon.  This is MY kind of weather, just love it. I wouldn't go anywhwere air con.    Helen,  I am just back from the states and my boob did not bleep. I often travel through airports and I only worried about my portacath bleeping.  Staff are training to handle people with prostethis (well except one bugger in Amsterdam, had I not be in a hurry I would have complained, but this is truly one in a million).  As Natalie said, if you bleep just tell them, but you don't need to come forward with the info. I hope that unlike mine, this is holiday trip and you enjoy it.  ... View more

Hi ladies,  I haven't posted for a while but I am reading every posts. Welcome to the new ladies and good luck with your results hollymeg.  I have been stable for 2 1/2 years, MRI next week. I contacted my onc to ask if I could go and see a physio for my back, she told me MRI first. To be honest I am not worried, I did some excercise that the physio had given me a couple of years ago and pain is gone.  As to mind going overdrive at night, it does not get better especially when a new pain arrives. Some ladies ask their GPs for a mild anti depressant or a muscular relaxant to help them. I take an homeopathic anti anxiolitic before going to be, and it does help me.  Do talk to your GP about this, as you need to be rested especially when in treatment.  Take care everyone. xxx   ... View more

HI ladies,  I haven't been posting for a while, but I have been reading all your posts. Welcome to the new ladies   Helen,  Some ladies like Tracy do have different side effects according to brands, I have not noticed anything. I have been on letrozole and herceptin for over two years without any side effects. When I was on tamoxifen I started taking glucosamine for joint pain and I did not stop when I was switched to letrozole upon secondary diagnosis. I have been fine ever since.  Being secondary lady, you will be on herceptin for the long run. I sugges you ask for a portacath to be fitted so that you save your veins. A portacath is subcutaneous, so it does not show, you can shower, go to the swimming pool; well worth it.  If you are lucky, you could get a power one, which can be used to inject the contrast for scan. I wish I had one of those. They stabbed me 9 times before they could canulate me...    Take care.    ... View more

Hi Rose, Sorry you have some worries. They might want to avoid spinal cord compression hence they are acting quickly. As you say it is never ending and the slightlest niggles get us so worried.  I hope it all goes well. Nothing wrong with having a drink by the way.  xxx   ... View more

Hi Ladies, Still trying to recover from the shocking news about Val; she is such an inspiring ladies.    Chris, I had pain which worried me, CT and MRI did not reveal anything nasty; it was just sciatica. I went to a sports physio who sorted me out. So hopefully you will have similar news. I am not going to tell you not to worry as unfortunately this comes with the condition. We can ony help you with our positive stories which I hope will help. xxx   ... View more

This site will never be the same without you Val; you gave us hope, you helped us make sense of this awful disease, you made us laugh with your gormeless shopping. I am sorry I never get to meet you in the flesh. Those cyber discussions will always stay with me.  You are free of pain, rest in peace lovely ladies.  xxx   ... View more