Breast Cancer Now Forum

Given the date I thought it appropriate to wish all 2013 Valentines the very best whatever they're doing, wherever they are.   This time last year feels - on the one hand like yesterday - on the other like ages ago.   I do hope that all of the 50 or so women who posted here are doing well - hopefully with the best of news from first anniversary check-ups.   Take care all,   Gill x ... View more

Dear Kath,   You will be sorely missed but I respect your need to do whatever's right for you. You will always be a Valentine to me and I thank you for all  your support and friendship over the last year or so.   Take care,   Gill x   ... View more

Hello all,   I'm another of the Valentines from February 2013. I would have been absolutely lost without the amazing women (we were all women) who participated in our thread. So I hope you all get as much support and encouragement from each other as we did.   As Poemsgalore mentioned, we set up the Facebook group - but not until we had all nearly finished chemo - and still tried to keep the BCC thread going as well for those that didn't want to join the FB group. That way we tried to remain as inclusive as possible. The FB group has been more about our post-chemo experiences, getting our lives back etc.   Your thread here will be read by many others, not just yourselves and sharing your experiences can be reassuring to them as well.   All best wishes for your treatment.   Gill   ... View more

Coming just a little late .... but wishing all the Valentines a peaceful and healthy 2014.   Gill xx ... View more

Great to hear you're doing well BlueRose. Onwards and upwards as you say! Gill x   ... View more

A year ago I didn't even know this forum existed. I was just a few days away from my first surgery. Found the forum after second surgery (ANC) in January when I was told that chemo was necessary and I was terrified about how I'd survive on my own. Having just been checked for a new lump (a wonderful fatty deposit) I was also given my first annual screening last week and all is looking good.   With the end of the year approaching I just wanted to thank the Valentines for helping to get me this far (mentally as well as physically). I could not have done it without you. I am also grateful to the lovely woman who provided one-to-one telephone support (more thanks to BCC for this service). She had also been diagnosed shortly after being widowed far too young and is doing really well several years after completing treatment.    Here's hoping that 2014 will be a better vintage for us all.   Gill xx ... View more

Thanks Kath. I'm sure it'll just be a cyst, but know that it needs to be checked. I'll let you know the outcome!   Fingers crossed for your mammo results.   Gill x   ... View more

Thought I'd just post this incase it encourages others less far down the line.   Seven of the Valentines met up this week for lunch in London. All coming from different counties and countries! It was lovely to meet some of the amazing women with whom I have had the privilege to share this journey. Having the opportunity to share one of the worst experiences life can throw at anyone with like-minded women was invaluable.   To those just starting down the rocky chemo road, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Just imagine a group of seven women with short hair but big smiles!   Gill x   ... View more

Says it all Kath xx ... View more

Dear Donata and no1penguinfan,   Just thought I'd pop in here as someone who is a little further down the line. I had chemo (FEC-T) starting in February and my final dose on 30th May.   I had long thick golden red hair when I was diagnosed. I knew I wouldn't tolerate a wig (due to allergies) but was not keen on the cold cap idea. I bit the bullet and after my first dose cut my hair to a very short bob. This was emotionally difficult, but I decided that it shouldn't be for nothing, so donated my hair to The Little Princess Trust - a charity providing real hair wigs to children suffering hair loss (littleprincesses.org.uk). My hair started to fall out about 15 days later and was - for me - psychologically easier to manage with the shorter length fall-out. When it got to a point that I was fed up of finding hair on my pillow, in my food, plugging up the shower etc. I took out the clippers and shaved the lot off. Took some getting used to, but with the help of little cotton caps, bandanas etc. it was OK.   Regrowth does take a while - there's no other way to put it. It'll be five months tomorrow that I had my last dose and I have hair that is 1cm - 2cm long, thickening daily. I think I'm a slow grower though .. yours may well be a lot quicker. It's been a bit of a shock to the system in the colder weather, but I loved it when it was really hot. I am aiming to grow my hair a little (possibly a bob of some sorts), but never to the length it was before. I'm old enough for a change. It's also not golden red any longer.... just rather grey!   I do know of some ladies who have had really good results with the cold cap, others have done less well or found it to be rather uncomfortable. Whatever you decide to do I wish you all the best. Of course chemo isn't fun, but you will get through it.   Take care,   Gill   ... View more

Great to hear all your good news Jen. Long may it continue! x   ... View more

I was "clearing up" some of the papers that have gathered around my laptop over the last months and came across one of the amazing lists of the February Valentines (I think we had Linda to thank for most of them)... and I was just wondering what happened to those ladies we hear less of these days. I know Jenanne still posts elsewhere on the site occasionally and BlueRose pops by to update us too. But what about:   tittlemouse Motogirl DCD Jennifer63 Fightingit Blue sky 19 Nessier Featherbird SueJo Pat.masp HaloB lesley60 Mrspiggy16 Samliles Sarahsmum zuzu64 Inshock Gail500 Valji1   Hope you're all through active treatment now and have been "signed off" or at least nearing that point. Some of you may still be having Herceptin or waiting for reconstructive surgery. It would be great to hear we all got through chemo OK.   Take care all,   Gill x   ... View more

Lovely to see a new poem Kath (and Linda).... I'm in the bubble too, trying to find the rainbow. One day I'll wake up and it'll be there.   Gill x   ... View more

Another great one Kath. Captures so much.   And do go chasing that appointment Louise. I have been told that I'll get one in January - one year after my last surgery. But don't wait if you have "issues". The BCN I saw last week (to explain follow-up) said that I would be seen in clinic within a week if I felt something was not as it should be. She also said that their recall system for mammograms was paper-based and that sometimes patients are missed!    Love to all,   Gill x   ... View more

Lovely Sandra,   As Kath says, don't ever stop posting if that's what you feel you'd like to do. We are here for you and will do whatever we can.   As for planning ahead, just do what feels right for you. That may be just a plan for the day or just the evening or the weekend. I'm sure your friends don't want you to feel pressured into things that aren't good for you right now. They just want to see you well. You may need to gently tell them though just how you are feeling - and that's hard, but they will respect you for it. So just go with what's right for you at the moment, what fits in best with your current treatment. There are no rules in this, just your wellbeing.   Love as always,   Gill xx ... View more

Dearest Valentine Sandra,   I cannot begin to feel how  you must be right now, having to go through the blasted chemo yet again. But it is lovely that you have been able to really enjoy the company of your granddaughter. All those endorphines of joy will give your body a healing boost (I'm hoping that that is scientifically proven somewhere).... I'm afraid that the dreams may be a response to stress (and possibly the chemo) - and heaven knows you've had more than your fair share. Hopefully these will go away within a few days.   Have been thinking about you loads, and will continue to do so. Fingers crossed for as many pain free days as possible.   Lots of love and hugs Gill xxxxx ... View more

Hi Leonora47800,   I'm not sure how helpful my reply will be ... but thought I'd leave it with you nevertheless. You have obviously already planned ahead to make  your treatment time easier for both yourself and  your husband. The possibility of fatigue from radiotherapy is obviously a real one, but we all react differently, and I understand your concern. I am not a carer, but after a rocky few months on chemo was keen to get on with radiotherapy (not delay it further) as planned. I also faced a 5-6 hour round trip on the bus.   I decided in the end to look into volunteer transport services. The Macmillan information centre at the hospital where I was being treated gave me details. It's not a cheap option, but it did mean that I was there and back in 3 hours or less and I didn't have to worry about additional tiredness / missing buses because of delays etc.. No idea of your personal cirmcumstances, but Macmillan can also help financially if your income is low. I used the Red Cross service in this area and some of the drivers were pleasant company too.   Wishing  you as easy a time as possible on radiotherapy - in all respects,   Gill ... View more

Sandra: have been thinking of you all day today. Hope it all went well and that this new set of SEs are gentle. Lots of hugs. Gill x ... View more

Well done Paula! x ... View more

Nice to see you popping in again BlueRose. Hope all is well with you? And hello to Nipinuk ... pleased to hear you've completed treatment.   Mandy: four weeks on and your broken finger causing you such trouble still. Fingers crossed it's not lymphoedema and that they sort it soon.   I spent the morning at the hospital. Not discharged (as expected). Further echocardiogram in 2 weeks to investigate pericardial effusion. Onco still saying could be "chemo related", "chemo damage" or "secondaries". She's pretty sure now that it's not the latter because my "general health has not deteriorated in the last 3 months" (thanks!), so I am trying my best to believe that too......   Love to all,   Gill x       ... View more