Breast Cancer Now Forum

Gardenbabe, try not to worry yourself uneccessarily. I had a WLE in September and have had to move onto chemo because of the type of tumour. You can't forecast it. We have chemo to give us and our families the very best chance to clear out all traces of this awful illness. It's not pleasant but it is doable for the end result. There are many drugs that you receive to negate the side effects. I have 2 daughters in their 30s and I know they have been devastated by this. We have a family holiday planned or May. My chemo etc ill be finished by then and we can move forward as a family. Look after yourself and plan nice things with your mum Kay x ... View more

Oh Ribby, you are having such a tough time. Thank goodness you have your mum to support you as well. i can understand you not wanting to carry on so you need to be really LOUD when this is being explained to your ONC. Copy down all that you have posted and let them read how you have felt, both physically and mentally. i think we tend to gloss over things e when we speak to doctors but they must hear how ill you have been. you are right that they can't make you have it, but remember why we are all going though this, it is to give us all the best chance of survival and you do want that, however dark it feels now. you don't need to suffer like this - take someone with you and insist that you are completely rreviewed! and most of all, take care of you kay x ... View more

Evening all, have opened a tab behind the JM, drinks on me. Have refilled the Twiglet bowl with super sized knobblies. tent comes tomorrow so will be having a 2 finger salute flag raising ceremony, does anyone fancy a BBQ? Know its cold but could have a campfire. tell Buggerit that a goat is a really important part and his dinners are likely to be bigger - always good Quail, I bet they are Goodbaddogs really! are you tinkling the ivories tonight Kate, you were great last ninight Kay x ... View more

Hi Janet. I know it might sound daft but I got a little breast cancer pillow that hooked over my shoulder and thacushioned my poorly breast. I even took it on the airplane with me. http://www.definitelydifferent.co.uk/shop/image/data/breast%20cancer%20pillow%20rose.jpg was a real comfort in bed and because it went over my shoulder I didn't lose it during the night Kay x ... View more

Hi Jayne. I thought that too but this company has a clause about cancer that I didn't even think to look for! I am so cross about it, especially as it is a huge company that purports to specialise in older people's holidays and insurance. If necessary will take to the Ombudsman. will contact Insure Pink at end feb mmyself I really don't know what they think will happen in a week. My husband had a heart attack in 2009 and has 2 stents and yet they will insure him. i went to Turkey after my op and before chemo started and All clear options covered me. I did have annual cover with the company I insured Florida with and again they refused to cover me. They just refunded all my premiums. lanzarote in March sounds wonderful. kay x ... View more

Loving the photo of Soddit! He's a natural! ... View more

Hi Tomorrow will be. I too am 59, took early retirement in July with grand plans for my OH, dog and I to hit the road in our touring caravan. Found the lump in August and dx with bc in September. had the lump removed on 18th September and was told 3cm Grade 3 so like you am undergoing chemo, then rads and hormone treatment to give me and my family the best chance of my survival. i decided not to try the cold cap. My hair was really fine and if it had thinned at all it would have looked awful so bit the bullet and shaved it off 2 weeks after 1 st chemo as it was coming out in handfuls. I have a really good wig that everybody says looks real, but at home I am just spikey! I was not expecting chemo. They thought would be radiotherapy and hormone tablets but I guess they can't forecast the aggression of the tumour. take care of yourself and take advantage of all help offered kay x ... View more

Hi Calyco, I had a Hickman line inserted after they removed my PICC line due to blood clots. Was inserted on the 13th November. i have mine redressed each Wednesday and the nurses gave me a bunch of showerproof dressings to to use so can have a shower then (got no hair to worry about!). I normally wear one of these genie style bras at night and you can tuck the wiggly end into the bra to stop it from moving. I also like to coil the line round a couple of times before putting on the dressing, if I did catch it then I would not pull the line out. not ideal things to have but quicker for ttreatment kay x ... View more

Thinking of you Lucieloo. To be honest once you know what you are dealing wih you can move on. The waiting is the hardest part. be brave and remember there is always someone to talk to here kay x ... View more

Hi pumpkins! On day 12 following second FEC and starting to feel more normal. As had 10 days of Filgrastim this time have found the bone ache really painful, even my teeth ache in my jaw! What pain relief do others take? nausea has been OK with the meds n but I have felt soooo tired, even going upstairs needs a lay down to recover. It hard to describe to anyone but I just felt exhausted - getting over it now. am really hating these Tinzaparin injections. My stomach is just a mass of bruises blended together. Trying to find a gap for my OH to inject into in getting tricky. He is really good and does my Filgrastim jabs as well. Due to the blood clots forming all round my PICC line I hthem had it removed and a Hickman line inserted. have not had any problems with that so far so that's good. Have got a place on the Feel Good Look Better course at Addenbrookes in December. Am really excited about that, have always been a make up junkie! i am really cross wit my insurance provider. I took out an insurance policy in August for a holiday next may to Florida. When I was dx in Sept I contacted them to tell them I had had a lump removed with clear margins and lymph nodes, but because the cancer was deemed aggressive I would be having chemo and rads to ensure all was mopped up. But I was clear that I was told that the lump was all gone. They could not cancel the policy fast enough! People who have ever had cancer were too high risk! What risk is 2 weeks in Florida? I will be finished chemo and rads by then. This was a very well known insurer of older people (I am 59). They considered me too great a risk to insure for 2 weeks in May. What kind of message does this send to all of us? I am engaged in ongoing correspondence with them but my advice would be to not touch them with a barge pole sending calm and healing thoughts to all having treatment this week and remember to take all help that's offered. kay x ... View more

Oh darn. There I was t the JM enjoying a Baileys latte (with an extra shot of baileys - thank you Nannabarb) when the slep fairy I had caught earlier morphed into a twitchylegs fairy. Now Irish dancing is not really my forte but I need Katie40club to play Riverdance for me so I can tire these legs out. loved the carols at the piano. Old ones are the best aren't they? Jingle Hickman lines, In the bleak mid chemo and Hopping around the Christmas Tree were my favourites, which were yours? Sorry if I ate most of the Twiglets, will replenish tomorrow. hope your worry is soothed away Caroline. Can't help as had menopause about 10 years ago, but do ring the helplines for a chat - free phones in the yew trees. take care all kay x ... View more

Good luck Ali, hope today goes well. Nannabarb, Baileys latte! I need to have one, perhaps share with a sleep fairy tonight ( that'll stop her straying). Won't be repeating the cocktail with the shot of Difflam, mouth numb! the Twiglets have super sized knobbles of marmite on them so that we can taste them. kate40club, looking forward to carols later. Have a good day all kay x ... View more

Hi woodies, although I loved the yew tree I think I need something more permanent. Went to Darn Great tents R Us and ordered a Supersize in turquoise. Will take a few days to get here due to fired gas central heating it comes with - am so cold these days. Am goIng for a fluffy flooring that I can bury my toes in, and an inbuilt sleep fairy trap. so heading for the yew trees tonight, after the JM. Going to try a cocktail with a shot of Difflam, any recommendations? large bag of Twiglets behind the bar, help yourself! kay x ... View more

Hi Ali H. Thank you for your such positive words. Think the isolation ( trying to be brave for the OH and the girls) is hard too. too many false smiles and private tears. on the first chemo I got DVTs around my PICC line and ended up in hospital for a week so not had a ' normal ' cycle yet. i am interested in the yoga. I have an artificial hip and 2 artificial knees so find most forms of exercise difficult ( can't get off the floor!) but I guess yoga is more about controlling how you feel. Will have a look at that. so glad to hear you are out the other side and real life is coming back to you. see you in the JM later, and thank you x kay ... View more

Thank you for making me laugh! I think madness is probably thevwaybforward through this! The yew tree was comfortable, probably helped by the fairy liqueur. Thank you Supertrouper, Cackles and Grumpy. I'll try and pick up with the tired all day fairy ter on the couch. Buggerritt is very welcome, I used to have a dog just like him called Giveithere, always loved a game of tug with my earplugs. Going to take the Grandkids to Kids World this afternoon, if that noise doesn't send the wakeupearly fairy packing I don't know what will. have we got Twiglets behind the bar, if not i will bring them? Grumpy, I can do a passable interpretation of the Gruffalo! Have an mpressive poisonous wart on the end of my nose ( well almost), am sure we can glam him up with glitter. See you tonight, feeling more like a party already thank you k x ... View more

Hello Woodies. Wandered into this thread trying to find something ( not really sure what!). Am on my second FEC, having daily tinzaparin injections and 10 days filgrastim and am so tired all the time I feel hopeless. Have also had a persistent cough since before chemo started. have seated myself at the JM and really feel like one of those sad bodies that sit at a bar all day. I feel like such a whinger but just feel so awful and reading about all the experiences you all have had strikes a huge chord with me. The dream fairies, no sleep fairies etc reassure me that I am not completely loopy and not alone. hope you don't mind if park myself here awhile Kay ... View more

Thank you Fifirosalie. Will certainly add in the supplements. Having a Hickman line put in on Tuesday ready for 2nd FEC on Wenesday so hope this works better! The doctor has upped my filgrastgot to 10 days. husband is doing th blood thinning jabs for me so can do these as well. i am taking a lot of comfort in he comments you all post, don't feel quite so 'different' as we are all going through this awful thing together. hair went today and am trying to get used to wig. agree wih you all about fresh air, might go to the coast for the day, try and blow the chemo fog away! Little Bear, I am with you with the weeping. If anyone is sympathetic I cry all over them. in a way I am lucky, took early retirement in July - lots planned wih my husband, dog and caravan, and then found he lump 4 weeks later! But at least I don't have to try and cope with a family like so many of you. How do you do it? You should be so,proud of yourselves and your husbands/partners be so proud of you too. we will beat this- wishing you all a good week xx ... View more

Hi pumpkins and welcome new pumpkins. Just starting weeks three. Had a rubbish weekmy i have DVTs all around my PICC and had to have it removed, 6 months of anti coagulants now. Also neutropenic so lots of antibiotics and in hospital since last friday. Has anyone else had this? Feeling sorry for myself as all seems to be going wrong (probably need a kick up the behind). Hair starting to come out, hair is quite fine so don't think it will last long. just hope the next 5 cycles are better ... View more

Hi Fabulous Pumpkins. Had my PICC line inserted today ready for first chemo session on Weds. Managed to get a week away in Turkey last week with my family, which was great. back to real life, hoping wig arrives soon. Take care all xx ... View more

Wow, everyone is so positive we can't help but beat this into the ground! i have decided not to go with the cool cap too Suz62, i hate being cold and my consultant was not very confidenthe out the benefits. Cried when I went to choose my wig but ended up with one that looks just like me! Hooray! Dragon bunny, hope your spots go - isn't this bad enough already without looking like a teenager (on the other hand, looking like a teenager has its benefits, I think!) Kirstie, hope all went well for you Anybody had a PICC. put in? Wondered how you coped with it being in for 18 weeks? What head covers are you all using, going to get a bit cold isnt it? Hope all is well for you all Kay x ... View more