Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Fiona' I am now back from what seemed like a very long week with my Dad, never mind it was lucky that I could be there for him. He is doing really well now, fingers crossed that continues. How are you? and how is your skin? I was thinking of you whilst I was in Devon, thinking how you must be feeling finally getting through your treatment. I have not long got back from my 1st Rads, everything went ok, I did though think I was going to move whilst they were zapping me. Getting in was a doddle, I thought it would be busy with work traffic. I have booked a holiday to fly 7 days after I finish Rads, I hope this hasn't been a silly thing to do. We had to cancel a holiday because of my Rads so fingers crossed I will be ok. I asked the Radiographer and she thought it would be fine, as long as I cover up and take some cream in case my skin breaks. We will be away for our 25th anniversary, it will be lovely just to relax and do nothing. I hope all is going well back at work, it will be really strange to be back working. The old brain won't know what is happening. Hope your Dad is well, bet he loved playing on the laptop. Got to go to the dentist now, broke a cusp off my tooth on Saturday eating a sweet, better not tell him that.:( Love and hugs Jackie xxxxxx ... View more

Hi Fiona You are nearly there, I do hope your skin is holding up. I got the call today, Dad is being allowed home today so I'm off to Devon in a while for a few days, he is so excited at being let out. It will be strange for me helping him but it will help next week pass quickly before the start of my Rads. Hope all is well in Scotland. Love Jackie xxxx ... View more

Hi Scamp Sorry to read that you've joined us on this site. I know it's hard to keep calm when you're waiting, and when people tell you to keep busy to keep your mind off things you feel like screeming at them, but I found it was the best thing for me. I was dx on 4th Dec and had to wait until Jan 4th for my op. Me and my OH decided to decorate our bedroom over Xmas, so I was kept busy, we even went out sale shopping for new bedroom furniture so I would have something to look forward to. I felt much calmer when I got to hospital and everything started happening, everyone was so kind and caring that I was put at ease. It was my first ever op and wasn't looking forward to being put out, but again I had no need to worry, I couldn't believe it was over when I woke up and I only had minimal pain. Good luck for Fri I do hope it all goes ok for you. I will be thinking of you. Please let me know how things went when you feel up to it. Love and best wishes Jackie xxx ... View more

Hi Debbie Got my fingers and toes crossed for you, hope it all goes well. Jackie xx ... View more

Hi Layla Just wanted to wish you loads of luck for tomorrow, got my fingers crossed for you. Jackie xx ... View more

Hi Fiona Glad you had a fab time at the wedding, it must have been fun with your daughter. It probably did you good to put everything that has been happening to the back of your mind and have some quality fun with Suzie and your friends. I still have two weeks to wait before my Rads start that will be 10 weeks after my surgery, I was hoping it would be coming to an end by now. We had to cancel a holiday to Cyprus as it clashed with the end of my Rads. We booked a special holiday for our 25th anniv in April before I discovered the bc. Never mind we will book something else when it's all over. Dad is settled back in Barnstaple now and happy to be there, I spoke to him on the phone earlier and he thinks he will be there till Fri, I am on standby to go down and help out. We didn't get any snow, we have had lovely sunny days, a bit chilly though!! Sending you a big hug Love Jackie xxxxxx ... View more

Hi Fiona I hope you had a fab time at the wedding even with the wind blowing, it must of been good watching everyone struggling with their hairdo's!! Bet you had a quiet Saturday nursing a sore head! Dad is doing really well now, not talking twaddle any more. He had me in stitches with what he was saying. Today he is being moved back to Barnstaple hosp, and possibly home tomorrow. I will go down for a few days to care for him, it will be good to do my bit and not leave it all to my brother. Good job I've got a couple of weeks before Rads. Have you got snow today? we might get some later on but I doubt it. Into your last week you lucky thing, hope all is still well. Love and hugs Jackie xxxxx ... View more

Hi Fiona Only 7 left you lucky thing, I hope your skin is still holding up. I've just had a soak in the bath and washed away the pen markings from my planning today. I wish I was at your stage, I'm not looking forward to driving in everyday in the morning rush hour, they shouldn't be behind at 8.30 though! I hope you have a lovely time at your friends wedding and the sun shines, you will enjoy getting dressed up . I am going to a wedding in May and am looking forward to going shopping for something new to wear. Have a fun day, not too many wee drams though! Love Jackie xxxx ... View more

Hi all I have just got back from my planning appt, it took about 45mins, got quite a few markings to wash off in the shower later. The tattoo is just like a pinprick, I had two one either side of my breast, they said it is like a freckle. Once again all the members staff I met today were lovely, I'm now raring to go on 17th March. They said it was good to be creaming up twice a day so will continue. Fiona - I hope all is well for you and the week is passing quickly. Dad's recovering from his op but is very confused, my brother is going today to see if he can be transferred back to Barnstaple I think he feels we have abandoned him, he needs to be where people can visit more easily. Love to all Jackie xxx ... View more

Hi everyone I started mine on 1st Feb, I take it around 6.30 and touch wood everything ok so far. I was a little worried I wouldn't know if I forgot one evening so I use a permanent marker to write the days on the packet, feel happier knowing I have taken it. Jackie x ... View more

Hi Anne I know all that is happening to you is really scary,and you wish it would all go away. I was scared on the 27th Nov when I went for my appt, all I can say is that when I got there everyone was so kind and caring that I felt much calmer. Make sure you take someone with you tomorrow, I took a friend and was so pleased that I had her there. I hope you will feel much better once you know what is going on, I know I did. Good luck for tomorrow, I will be thinking of you, let us know how you get on. Love and hugs Jackie xxxxx ... View more

Hi Juliette My doctor emailed my referral through to the breast clinic whilst I was still in the surgery, and I had my clinic appt 10 days later. I know it's impossible not to think about what is happening and worry, but I tried to keep busy and the days went by quite quickly. Once at the clinic everyone was so kind and caring I was put at my ease and it was good to know what I was dealing with. I do hope your appt comes through quickly and my fingers are crossed for you. Take care Love and hugs Jackie xxxx ... View more

Hi Everyone, Just got back from seing Dad and I'm pleased to say that he had made good progress. His speech is a lot better and they had removed the feeding tube,he was allowed sips of waster and was looking forward to a cup of tea. I am feeling so much happier tonight. Anneli - I am pleased to see that the RUH don't provide a gown I will be much happier whipping off my own top. I made the mistake in buying my cream in Boots nearly twice the price of Sainsburys. When do you start your Rads? let me know what time you'll be there, we could meet. Got my tatooing on Thurs at 12.15, fingers crossed I won't have to wait as long as I had to to see the Onc. I agree it all seems confusing different regions different advice, I don't see that the cream can do any harm though. If I were you Lynnietom I would make sure you have a nice pair of trousers to go with your new gown:) but whilst you're waiting for the 17th I would hide it in the corner of my wardrobe, perhaps a quick iron for the big day. Fiona - Hope Suzie has had a good weekend and you manage to fill your week. Fingers crossed for a sunny week. Thanks for the advice Jenty Love and huggs to all Jackie xxxxxx ... View more

Hi Fiona What a time you've been having lately, and how worried must you have been about your daughter. It's horrid when your child is in pain and there is nothing you can do to help. I do hope she is home now with you. You are lucky living close to the hospital with all the visits we have to make. My Dad is making slow progress, he is off most of his drugs and his speech is a little clearer. He is still nil by mouth as his throat muscles are weak and his food and drink might go down the wrong way. He is jaundiced so they are trying to find out why. I am going down again on Sunday and can't wait to see him. We went to a small village called St Fillans near Crieff, Perthshire for most of our holidays, but I also went to Ullapool and Pitlochry. My mum used to love finding all the little white roads on the map, she said these were the most scenic! It would take us about 12 hrs to travel up, Dad would drive up over night so we could sleep. We went up for 5 yrs on the trott in the 70's when I was at secondary school. I do hope your Dad is doing ok, it took my Dad a while to sort himself after my Mum died, he had lots of support from friends in his village. They had had lots of plans for their retirement, Mum was 63 and Dad just 65 when she died so their plans didn't come off. That was 5 yrs ago May a day I will never forget. I have 2 children Hannah 23 who now lives with her partner and 2 little boys and Richard 21 who likes his home comforts. My one and only claim to fame is I delivered my first grandchild on the backseat of my car!! Good on you for going commando, I am lucky I don't need chemo but I would have got through it if need be. My mum went commando, her hair came back really curly and less grey. I do hope you have a good weekend with your daughter, and she continues to get better. Why is it life always throws everything at you at once!! Love to you aand your familly Jackie xxxxxx Lynnietom - thanks for the tip about the bag, I go for tattooing on Thurs at Bath. Thanks for support for Dad ... View more

Hi Fiona, Thank you for your lovely messages, they are really helping me. Todays visit went well, not long been back. Dad was off the ventilator, but still quite sedated, he knew I was there talking to him and he tried to talk back, but i couldn't understand him.His eyes were open but I don't think he could see me. He had been moved to the high dependency unit which is good, the nurses are calling him their star patient as he has made such good progress. I feel much better for seeing him. I can understand why you read to your daughter, I wish I had taken something to read to him. I found it quite drainig being with him. Hope all is well with you in Scotland, I always spent my holidays in Scotland as a child, my parents loved it up there. , it was a long drive from North Devon though! Lots of love Jackie xxxx ... View more

Hi Fiona Better news today, the nurses have been gradually cutting down on the amount of support Dad has been having and he's coping. They are hoping to remove the ventilator today, he has opened his eyes and squeezed the nurses hand when she has spoken to him. My friend is driving down with me tomorrow for a visit, I hope he will know I'm there and maybe able to talk. I am feeling so much more happier today. I hope you are well. The sun has come out and life is feeling ok again. Take care Jackie xxxxx ... View more

DX 4th Dec 07 Age 43 36B Right side Tumour 10mm No Lymph Nodes ER moderately positive PR strongly positive HER2 negative ... View more

Hi Fiona Thanks for your message. I am so sorry to hear about your Mum, I know how hard it must be for you. I was lucky having my brother he was great when we lost Mum, and he is being great again now. I only wish I lived closer to them. Why is it everything happens together. I will keep in touch Love Jackie xxxx ... View more

Hi everyone At last I have my Rads start date 17th March, still quite a way off but at least I know. Was hoping for about 10am appts but no, they are all 8.30ish so bang goes my lie in. Into my 3rd week of Tamoxifen and touch wood things are still going ok. I have had a terrible weekend, my Dad is in Derriford Hospital following a by-pass op which went well but his heart is very weak. He is in a critical but stable condition at the moment, we had to dash to Plymouth on Fri night because it was touch and go. I know he will be fighting hard, I just hope he has the strength. I lost my Mum to BC 5 yrs ago, so things are hard for me and my brother. THank goodness the sun is shining, it is helping me to be positive. I hope you are all well, I hope you have something warm to wear to the wedding Flona, still I bet those wee drams will go down well and do a good job in warming you. 🙂 Take care everyone Jackie xxxx ... View more

Hi Just had a look at web site it was worth a look. Flona - I have been slapping on the cream for two weeks now preparing for my rads, I hope it helps. I found out on Mon that I would be having 20, 15 on the whole breast and 5 concentrating on the position where the lump was. I'm glad your treatment is going well, fingers crossed it carries on ok. Lucky you off to a wedding, lets hope the sun shines for you. Jackie xx ... View more