Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hello Mv and Hello Stoke. So sorry that you find yourselves here, but it's the right place for support and advice.   I would recommend joining the threads "Starting chemo in September / October" (can be found under "Going Through Treatment" and then "Chemotherapy Monthly Threads").   I stated chemo in February this year and joined the February Valentines thread. It was informative, supportive and at times a real life line. We have all completed our planned chemo now, some still having radiotherapy / reconstruction etc. but still supporting each other as we begin to explore life beyond chemo.   Wishing you both all the best with your treatment,   Gill ... View more

Dear Sandra, I do hope that the hospice doctor can answer all your questions and reassure you that the future is not so bleak. I am still reeling from the way your oncologist managed things. Just not right. Hospice clinicians tend to be far better skilled in these things and you should be able to ask anything and be sure of getting correct answers. I think the trick is to let them know how much information you would like e.g. "the full picture" - if this is what you want. It's really hard and my thoughts are with you and your family.   Kath, Both poems excellent although "Stolen" has had me in tears (for obvious reasons).   Love to all,   Gill x   ... View more

It's such a shame that we all appear to be finding the new forum less user friendly. It was such a lifeline for us all when we needed it most. I hope that those new to the forum will not be put off. However, it won't be a change for them, so will probably persevere more than we (obviiously) are.   I do feel a little guilty for setting up the FB page as this thread has been forced into second place. I guess, though that it's inevitable, now that we have all completed our initially planned chemo treatments.   Having trouble motivating myself to do much at the moment. Had a burst of activity for about a week and was so tired as a result... all rather depressing.   I do hope your Tamoxifen SEs quieten down soon Mandy. I find taking mine with food helps. And that your finger is less painful too. You don't need that on top of everything else.   Love to all,   Gill x     ... View more

Well done for finding the thread Lisa! It takes a bit of getting used to. Kath, you're amazing if you are able to forget all you've been through. And good for you for feeling "cancer free". I'm hoping I might be able to take on that assumption (and that's all it can be) once I've seen the oncologist later this month. Last seen towards end of chemo .... Had rads since, started Tamoxifen, and it feels like ages ago. Not sure if she's still interested! Love to all, Gill xx ... View more

I am also still struggling a bit and funnily enough miss seeing all the "latest posts" on one page. Of course I always headed for the Valentines, but it was also handy for replying to others who had just been diagnosed or who had posted a general concern e.g. about hair loss .... and also for things like "inspirational stories". Now we have to consciously go looking for them..... Ho hum. Maybe just being inflexible in my old age?! Agree with Louise that it was just right when I needed it most., so I will keep trying. Have been pushing myself a bit over the last couple of days with some DIY. Nothing major, just sanding, filling, wood repairs outside, priorr to painting some stuff before the days get cold and wet. I'm knackered although doing it in short bursts. Soooo frustrating. A job which should take 2 days is going to take me 2 weeks! Weather is ideal for it though, so I shall persevere. Hope all keeping well. Love to all, Gill xx ... View more

Good luck Linda with your next dose of Herceptin. Lovely for you to be getting a break before rads. I'm sure you will come back fully invigorated! Thought about getting back on my bike this morning -to go about 4 miles to PC repair man - but having packed laptopinto rucksack thought better of it! Got the bus instead. Might be better to try a shorter, less laden trip first..... Haven't decided what to do about cardiogist's secrecy yet. Difficult one. Sandra - been thinking of you lots too. Hope you're OK ? Love to all, Gill x ... View more

Hi Emma, I'm not sure I can be of any great help, but I didn't just want to read and run. The waiting is really the worst part, but this is the right place for reliable information. Try not to google as there's a lot of out of date stuff out there. The Helpline team here are lovely. Unfortunately closed today for the bank holiday, but I'm sure they will be ble to answer your questions if you give them a ring tomorrow. All best wishes for good news. Take care. Gill ... View more

Hello Shopaholic, I afraid I can't advise or ease your worry, but didn't just want to read and run. You are in the best place for support, should you need it. It's good that you have been offered an early appointment - but that still doesn't make the waiting any easier. Try to find distractions if you can and in the meantime avoid googling .... Just stick to reputable upto date sites like this one and Macmillan. Fingers crossed for good news soon. Let us know how you get on. Gill ... View more

Hello V alentines, I'm still finding this all a little difficult to navigate. Maybe we all are and that's why it's so quiet.? I know we have the FB group, but it might be a shame if this thread folded because of it. I know it has been followed by others and, perhaps, even been helpful to them too. Good news this week is that I've had a growth spurt on the hair front. Eyebrows and lashes too. Still a little patchy but at least there's signs of life. Going away for a couple of days last weekend was tiring but I feel it did my rather knocked confidence some good. It was good to see the old folks and reassure them that I'm OK but I really could do with a "proper" break i.e. relaxing holiday.... A good blast of fresh air half way up a Scottish mountain would be lovely. Will just have to go on the list for some other time. Also discovered that I do have a problem with my heart that the cardiologist "didn't mention" (his words).... I requested a copy of the letter he sent to the oncologist - because they hadn't sent one) and there it is in black and white with a suggestion of a further CT "before radiotherapy". I'm left wondering what to do now... Kick up a fuss with cardio or onco? Or just cross my fingers and keep my mouth shut..... Not happy about it really. Take care all, enjoy the long weekend. Gill x ... View more

Thanks for the tip Linda. I was getting a little impatient!   Just got back from another round the world trip to see physio. She's very good on the tissue manipulation front but feels I will "plateau" at some point and that an element of cording (arm and breast) will stay with me forever. Ho hum. I suppose it's a small price to pay if the rest is OK....   Louise... got your message, I will contact you over the weekend. We will sort it together.   Hope all Valentines well today. Very muggy here, rain promised for tomorrow. Will have a better look round new forum then too.   Gill x   ... View more

Hello Helen, just to try to reassure you. Recalls occur for a number of reasons, not only because they perhaps suspect something. My closest friend was recalled a few weeks before I was because they'd only managed to get a dodgy picture and needed to repeat it. My recall was not quite so straightforward - hence why I am here. Try to keep in mind that 8 out of 10 (if I remember rightly) recalls do not result in a diagnosis of cancer. If yours does (and I really hope it doesn't), then this is the place to be for information and support along the way. Good luck, take care. Let us know how you get on. Gill x ... View more

Dear Louise, have a think about FB. I don't like it either, only even had a handful of "friends" .... but now I've got the Valentines. Lots of opportunities there that the site here cannot offer (photos etc.). That doesn't make this site less valuable to me (I've said it before, and I'll say it again ... I wouldn't have got through the last months without everyone here)... If you'd like to try the closed group, I'm happy to talk you through it (e.g. on the phone). Just a thought. On a different note, I'm off for a few days to do a grand (elderly) parental tour (East Anglia). Will wear me out, but it has to be done. Not sure they'll be too impressed with the lack of hair, manly appearance etc. but at least they'll be reassured that I've survived chemo etc. (at least I hope they will be)! In the meantime, love to you all, keep well. Gill x ... View more

Great idea Caroline. I'm happy to help organise. Am in Kent and happy to travel. And well done on finishing the rads. Hope you're not sore. Having a "clear" diary is a bit of a novelty! Gill x ... View more

Loved the PS Louise! Well done for your news today. It's what we all want to hear. Gill x ... View more

Glad to hear you had such a good break Louise. And that your welcome back by the other stallholders was so heart-warming! Good luck with the oncologist today. It would be great if you could get “signed off”! You put it so well how lots of us appear to be right now …. the sinking feeling that the “familiar” is gone forever. When I was widowed I was told I would have to find some sort of “new normal”. BC is a major upheaval for us all and a return to normality (whatever that was for each of us) is probably not going to happen. Sorry that you had such a rotten day at the hospital Dyane. I can understand that you are really looking forward to seeing the back of it. Hold on, it won’t be long. Best wishes Annabelle for your op today. This is a big milestone for you too. I’m sure it’ll go well and you can put another tick in a box. And no more infections please! Glad to hear you’re enjoying work again Tup. I had a quick look at Benchland once but my chemo-brain couldn’t cope with the subtleties. Maybe time now for another try. Mandy … I’ve become a bit of a ranter too. I had heard nothing from the onco-physio although I had allegedly been referred back to her weeks ago. After chasing, discovered referral had not been made. She has kindly fitted me in for later this week. But it does make you wonder how patients manage if they are not so keen to kick up a fuss. Hope you get a date for rads planning soon. Well done on your first solo-Herceptin Linda. Sounds like it went well and that the next 11 will do too. Love to you all. Keep well. Gill x ... View more

Angie - you really are packing things in. Quite inspirational. Please come and give me a big rear-end kick. Motivation decidedly lacking! Lisa - lovely to hear from you again. I replied to your PM before reading your post. Glad to hear you've completed the rads bit too - although sorry you found it tiring. The "feeling old" thing really got to me as well. I have just had to learn that I need to pace myself, plan in lots of lazy time in between "activities" (and not beat myself up about it) and keep fingers firmly crossed that I might feel 17 again one day. Can you see those flying pigs? Take care all, Gill x ... View more

Hi Angie, I finished rads a couple of weeks ago. Had breast, armpit, clavicle, neck zapped. I had no problems at all with appetite and compared to chemo it was a breeze. The breast area did become a little sore, but if you slap on the cream as recommended (all over all the radiated areas) this will keep it in check. I also made sure that I covered up well in the sun at all times. And I would certainly recommend looser fitting clothes. I also found rads a very positive experience. The teams were sensitive and helpful - and even though it's pretty much "one in, one out", I did feel that I was being treated as an individual. Good luck with everything. It's a bit of a drag, but definitely worth it. Gill ... View more

Dear Sandra, Please, please do not apologise for not posting. You are always in our thoughts and I, for one (and I'm sure there are others) am reassured to hear from you. However, you have an awful lot on your plate right now and you should be calling the shots. Please do not feel pressured to post here (or on FB) if you're not up to it. So sorry to hear the pain has been so dreadful. I'm sure the Macmilllan nurse will be able to help with that too. They are alos great people to talk to if you have worries that you don't want to burden anyone else with. Hopefully you will also be having your other scans in the next couple of days and then you will have a much better idea of what lies ahead as far as treatment is concerned. Hold tight to your family. They sound lovely. Gill xx ... View more

So sorry to hear about your friend Karen W. Big hugs from me. x I hope you really enjoy Lyme Bay Louise. It's a beautiful stretch of coast. You mentioned still being fatigued Linda. I keep forgetting that you are still in the throes of the final chemical onslaught and suffering direct SEs. We should be keeping a more proactive eye on you! The fatigue does get better, although you may need to pace yourself for a while (I personally find this very frustrating!) - but you've got your holiday booked before rads which will hopefully enable you to stock up on energy. Must be really frustrating for you Yvonne to have had an experience where you probably felt treated less like an individual. I hope you get back to your "usual" team tomorrow, if not a more sympathetic one than today. I should be doing some filing today. Papers have piled up over the last 9 months and I now can't find important stuff. But I still find myself procrastinating as usual. Chemo didn't cure that! Take care all, Gill x ... View more

Tup: sorry to hear you are also still suffering from PN. I had hoped you'd be reporting improvement soon. Like yours, my fingertips are sensitive and fingers feel like claws if I do stuff like weeding (I did force myself to do a hour or so this week!) but not painful. The feet are painful most of the time, but definitely worse in the heat. For a few nights I really wanted to cut them off! Luckily better in the slightly cooler weather we now have, so easier to cope with. As my onco and GP have both said .... "it will take time". Grrrrrr. I am no longer the patient patient! Dyane: I was wondering how your marathon of rads was going. Hope the commute hasn't been too gruelling? Glad to read you are well past the half way mark and by this time next week you will be well and truly on the home stretch. You'll deserve a medal! Holiday planning must be a distraction though. It'll be interesting to hear what insurers say. I've got the impression from some discussions here that it's better not to even try to get a quote until active treatment is actually finished. Is this what you are planning to do? Take care all Gill x ... View more