Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hello All, Off on my hols tomorrow, sunny Spain for a bit of sunshine, a sunbed and some good books. Thinking of Carole. Libby and all waiting for ops, results etc. Will be back online in about 10 days. Where should us Northerners meet up? Happy to play hostess in Liverpool if that is convenient and suits people? Will e mail when I get back. Best wishes to all, Love Sheila xxxx ... View more

Hello all. Just dashing in to wish all the best to Carole... and Helen, what's this about an eye lift? I must catch up! We finish tomorrow and will get time to catch up and fill in on my news. Linda, hope you have just one more sleep too! Anyone free for another northern meet in the summer? Love to all SRs, old and new. Sheila xxxx ... View more

Sandra you are one smart business woman! Alan Sugar eat your heart out. Val (SL) I agree with Sandra about Chester, quite close to me and a favourite trip out. Linda, sounds very commplicated to me all that text wrapping stuff. We have a couple of teachers who will only use pen and paper! They are nearly always finished first with least hassle. Hope you get finished soon. England through! Just waiting to hear now when we meet Germany for a penalty shoot out!! Thanks for all good wishes about the acting head. Yes, I wish she could stay too! Amazing what a difference it makes to have a head who actually talks to me! Like a breath of fresh air! Val (TOO) hope you are keeping up with your marking! Love to all Sheila xxxxx ... View more

Hello everyone, Just popping in to say "hello". I am still around! I think the fatigue is still with me and sometimes I don't have the willpower to plug the laptop in! But after hearing about Sara, I realise just how lucky I am. So sad. I am still on half time at work and increase to 2 full days and 3 half days for the rest of this term, then full time in September. We have a lovely acting head in and we are working really well together, that is a tonic in itself. So many lovely holidays happened or happening. It is great hearing about all the travels and can imagine I am there too! Linda, Oh I know what you are going through, Wimbledon fortnight always fills me with dread as it is report writing, assessments, clearing out, setting up, deadlines. Just try and take it in your stride as it always works out in the end. Wish I could help you! So sorry for those with probs, medically and at work and OHs. It sometimes seems never ending. Oh well, take care everyone and enjoy the good weather. Sheila xxxxxx ... View more

Glad you had a good time Nicky, let me know if you go again and we can meet for a coffee. Good luck with the academic stuff Ros, it's as much as I can do these days to give the TES a cursory glance.. . . Mary your dog sounds a lively bundle! Hope he brings much fun! Sheila xxx ... View more

Ooh Carole that is good news (well, by our standards anyway!!!!)only us storm riders would celebrate such news!!!!!! Thinking of you, hope it is plain sailing from now and you get what you want. Clare, glad you are feeling better. I was brought down with cold and couldn't shake it off....... I think it was starting when we met in Manchester. Our bodies are not fighting fit yet, but it will come. Belated Happy Birthday as well! And Helen, belated happies to you. xxx Nicky, you say you were in Liverpool, my home! Glad you had a good time. What did you do and where did you go? Been to Southport today with my sister and nieces, lunch tomorrow with the girlies from work and then back to school on Thursday. Oh, and I am now wig free!!!!!! Hair is still short and I don't like it but the wig is gone. Will show myself to the assembled school on Thurs. Should be a 5 minute wonder with the kids...... Victoria, enjoy your conservatory and garden, the cons really will let the light in, I love mine and use it every day. Well, just been on the phone for an hour and lost my thread. Love to all xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ... View more

Morning all! Just returned from a lovely trip to Edinburgh. The sun shone and got plenty of exercise walking those hilly streets! Well, they are hilly to me! Will read the posts later, hope everyone keeping well and that those recovering from treatment keeping spirits up. Love Sheila xxxx ... View more

Great news Helen, enjoy your holiday now! Carole, hope all going/went well. Val, a very moving poem and a great tribute to your dear friend. Love to all Sheila xxxx ... View more

OK where was I when the door bell rang? Obviously sending big vibes for Carole for tomorrow and Jacq (for Friday?). I remember going down for my surgery last year and finding it a bit overcrowded in the lift due to all the storm riders plus dogs plus horses! I really felt your presence and I hope you two do as well. Lots of love. Ros, well done on making a decision, hope it all works out well for you. Sal, hope you have good news about your dad. Debs sorry to hear about your sad news and Val also. Sending love. Victoria, hope your surgery plans go well. Been thinking about you with this new government and the abolition of QCDA.... is that you? We wait with baited breath to see how schools are affected. I am supposed to be leading the staff in revising the curriculum! But Rose or not Rose?????? I will wait! Done enough jumping to command since NC 20 years ago! Thinga are a little better for me at school. We have an acting head from another school and I am now on half days. The Occ Health Doc wrote a very supportive report that concluded in explaining to the HT and Chair of G what to do to avoid an Inustrial Tribunal! It totally validated my feelings. Now what to do next???? Sorry but that is all my feeble brain can cope with just now! ... View more

Hello all, I have been having a few days break from the laptop so just done a quick catch up. First Carole, good luck for the op. be thinking of you. Sandra, have a lovely holiday. Do you want an ash cloud to delay the return? Helen, so sorry to hear you sad news. Hope all is going well for you on the "work front". Oh got to go someone at the door. ... View more

Evening Everyone, Well work is featuring highly in my life at the moment and can quite empathise with Victoria and Helen and Linda's comments. Victoria, I think you have been back to work far too soon after your surgery, you should ask for an appointment with occupational health. You should have appropriate time to recover from such serious surgery, to say nothing of the emotional aspects. I finally got an appointment and the doctor was wonderful and very scathing of how I had been treated. Helen, if this is what you want I hope it works out for you. I have found school absolutely draining on every level ..... being acting head by lunchtime on my first day back didn't help though...). Phone me if you want a chat. Thanks for kind thoughts Clare. Hope you are bearing up Carole, hope Jane's eyes better and Sandra very jealous of your trip to NY. I went a few years ago and it was my most favourite holiday ever! Going to sit in garden with a glass of chilled white wine and enjoy the last of this lovely sunny day. Love to all. XXXXXXXX ... View more

Hello, I had a WLE last almost a year ago. My surgeon also agreed to perform a reduction to both sides at the same time. My experience was very positive. I had no pain or discomfort at all. Hardly needed any painkillers and even forgot about the morphine drip I was connected to! When I came out of surgery I was trussed up with dressings but was asked, the next day, to wear a supportive bra (sports bra) continually for a number of weeks. Ended up about 6 weeks I think. I had a minor problem with one wound taking time to heal, but all in all no complaints. Remember to make it clear to your surgeon what size you would like to be. I didn't and would have like to be a bit smaller! Good luck! Sheila xx ... View more

Just read your sad news, Carole, love to you, I remember you saying how much you loved your dogs when we spoke. Sal, your writing was so moving and full of affection. Will catch up later. Sheila xxxxxxxx ... View more

Hello all, I am back in circulation after a truly traumatic return to work..... anyway boss is going to get it in the neck from occ health for not referring me at the right time. Better late than never and nearly 4 weeks in I have now got a phased return to work. So, guess what, on my afternoon off today I have been to the hairdressers! Feel like a real person again and have a short, spikey hair style! Not really me but then strangers in the street won't know that! Also got a clear mammo result! I am away now for the weekend but will have a read through the posts when I ge back on Sunday. Love to all and happy weekend. Sheila xxxxx ... View more

Just popping in to say hello. Good luck for the "oophs" and glad to see Carole is concentrating on really important stuff like VAT! Linda well done on losing a pound but I have to tell you that I was slimmer of the week at Rosemary Conley last week. Sorry? What? How many were there? Oh er............. Sheila xxx ... View more

Carole, can't say anything that hasn't been said. You say this storm is for you to ride alone. I don't think so!!!!! You are an amazing person. You have given such support and inspiration to us all and I will never forget all your support and time when I was panicking about the chemo nonsense. I am with you in spirit. Will join you for a little alcoholic beverage this evening (just to show solidarity or course....) Sheila xxx ... View more

Just popping in to say "love to everyone", too tired to write by now! Sheila xxx ... View more

Hello everyone I just need to be grumpy and let off some steam! I'm deputy head in a primary school and managed quite a lot of days in during chemo and rads. I tried really hard to be normal and not a burden to school. I have never once complained about having cancer or the treatment and was determined to be upbeat as it was my choice to work. I was signed off for the term in January to recover and went back to work at the start of this term. During my absence I was not referred to occupational health. I was not offered a return to work interview and no mention of a phased return to work. In fact, I was told that on my first day, back I would be covering for a sick teacher. At lunchtime on my first day back the head went home sick and has been off since leaving me to deal with school. When I was on chemo he told me that when I came back he was going off sick. I didn't think he meant it!!!! Today my pay slip arrived and I was shocked to see that I had been on half pay for some weeks! No notification from the LEA. They said they sent a letter but I could tell from his voice he was thinking "Oh 'eck" I asked for a print out of sick days. There were quite a few errors and the admin officer had even entered some half day absences from when I was on rads but I know it isn't right. I don't want sympathy, just some acknowledgement from my employers that I have been through a lot and just possibly may not be quite "there yet". Maybe I would like to feel valued as a person and not just be someone who performs a set of duties........ Anyway, sorry for whinging. I am making a good recovery and have a good outlook so stop it now! xxxxxx ... View more

Oh Carole, (no, not cue for a song....) Well so sorry to hear your predicament. I can't really add anything useful, it has all been said above, but wishing next Tuesday to come speedily for you. We are all right there with you. Sheila xxxx ... View more

Morning All, Well, I wrote a post last night, should have been inbetween Sal's and Helen's but it vanished at the click of a button! I will try again tonight. Off on a course at a nice hotel at the Pier Head today (not an LEA course!). The sun is shining and it is one of my favourite places. It will take my mind off the course content! Best wishes to all. Sheila xxx ... View more