Breast Cancer Now Forum

Of course I understand people want to shout it from the rooftops, I would no doubt have felt the same. I remember one lady on here making a real song and dance about her nodes being clear and that she had virtually no chance of it coming back, I was so upset as felt I'd been given a death sentence and we're all so vulnerable when first diagnosed. But as we know it isn't just about the nodes and sadly she passed away from secondary BC a few months later. Also people saying they were lucky not to have chemo I do find irritating (and I know I'm probably going to be slated here) but I have never felt I was unlucky having chemo, always that I was one of the lucky ones as I had thrown everything at it. You shouldn't apologise for the diagnosis and treatment you've had, cancer is cancer, it is indiscriminate and none of know if we're going to survive it or not. Wishing you well with your continued treatment x ... View more

I remember this thread from when it was first posted and was so glad that somebody had said it. I had a only one lymph nodes involved but still felt irritated by the celebratory hoorah my nodes are clear type of post. I know that sounds mean and it's obviously good news but spare a thought for those who have got node involvement please x ... View more

Jane Plant is very controversial unfortunately, and she did also have conventional treatment. When I was diagnosed 3 years ago I bought every book going on diet and cancer but when I went on the BCC Younger Women's weekend we were told on that by one of the speakers (sorry, can't remember who) that there was no evidence whatsoever to show that dairy contributes to BC, despite there being thousands of studies into it, however, she did say that there were some highly credible studies which showed that dairy was indeed beneficial in helping to prevent BC and not he other way round. Catokitty is correct in that our dairy cows aren't given any hormones, unlike in the States. I take all of these diet claims with a pinch of salt, I've known life long vegans with a very healthy plant based diet who have had cancer and not survived and I don't like the idea of somebody trying to "blame" me for having cancer due to my diet, cancer is indiscriminate. My own personal opinion is that a healthy balanced diet is the best way forward. Wishing you well with your treatment, take care CC x ... View more

Yep, that happened to me, had been back at work a couple of months when they told me I no longer had a role as they were off shoring mine, seems they find ways to do without you whilst off sick and then decide they don't need you back. I went all the way to the Employment Tribunal but didn't win, the judge ruled that although my employers were incompetent and my treatment cruel and disgusting they hadn't broken any laws. I hope you get some resolution internally, CC x ... View more

Hi Molliana, I was told that FEC75 was the standard treatment. Your treatment will depend on your diagnosis and pathology report, your oncologist will not want to over treat you and cause additional problems, hope this helps CC x ... View more

Hi Kim, my GP prescribed me Zopiclone 7.5mg during chemo on the understanding that I was responsible and didn't use them daily. I was responsible, only taking one when I was really desperate to sleep. Because I'd been such a good girl and proved I could be trusted (a pack of 28 tablets lasted me 12 months) my GP was happy to prescribe them again when I'd finished treatment and moved onto Tamoxifen. I'd be lost without them, don't take one very often but feel so much better knowing I can take one if I need to. Might be worth having the discussion with your GP along similar lines to what I did. Wishing you well take care CC x ... View more

Hi Murphy, I coloured mine after 3 months using an organic vegetable dye, it was fine and didn't cause me any problems x ... View more

Mine only started at my 3rd injection and the following 3 were nowhere near as bad x ... View more

Hi Jets, I had that too, was excruciating and terrifying, my BCN checked with my onc and she said it was normal and could affect people in that way. My GP prescribed me strong pain relief which definitely helped x ... View more

You could always donate it to the Little Princess Trust http://www.littleprincesses.org.uk who make wigs for children x ... View more

Hi Rosie, what a difficult position to be in, as fuffs said, what about Safa or SureStart, I know the government have cut a lot of funding for them but I think they're worth trying, also try your health visitor, she may be able to refer you somewhere. If you let us know which part of the country you're in there may be people on the forum who can help, should also add there is a facebook group for young women with Breast cancer, https://www.facebook.com/YoungerBreastCancerNetwork?ref=ts&fref=ts, if you like the page and send them a PM they'll add you to the secret group, I'm sure you'd find lots of help and support there too. Let us know if there's anything we can do. Take care CC x ... View more

Hi Gules I had a micromet on one node, just 0.4 mm in size, everyone thought my nodes were clear so was a bit of a disappointment. My surgeon recommended full clearance as he said they know it works and they don't if not doing the clearance had any impact on survival rates, so despite my concerns about having problems from the ANC I went ahead. I'm 3 years on now and have no problems whatsoever from my clearance, apart from some numbness but that doesn't bother me. I remember whining to my mum about losing my nodes, my main concern not being lymphodema but I wanted my nodes there to catch anything nasty in case it came back, but, as my mum pointed out, yes your nodes can catch the Cancer but they can spread it too. I'm happy with my decision but know other people with a similar diagnosis who have opted not to have an ANC. Wishing you luck with your ongoing treatment, take care, CC. P.S. I also had chemo and radio and ten years of tamoxifen due to my age on diagnosis. ... View more

Bump ... View more

Hi Milly, so sorry you've had to join us, being newly diagnosed is one of the worst times, your mind goes into overdrive. In answer to your question i was told my lymph nodes were clear on ultrasound but the sentinel node biopsy showed a micromet on one node 0.4 mm so far too small to show on a scan, i then had a full axillary node clearance (the rest of my nodes were clear), chemo and radio. I don't consider myself unlucky, i think I'm very lucky it was found, and very lucky that I've had the best possible treatment, i was borderline for chemo but it was a no brainer for me, it only takes one rogue cell doesn't it. Also your medical team won't know the full pathology until you've had your surgery, the grade, size and receptor status often changes from the biopsy as the sample is too small to show the full picture. It's a horrible horrible time, but once you have your full pathology and know your treatment plan you will start to feel calmer and more in control. I am 3 years down the line, it does get better. Take care CC x ... View more

Hi Lottie, Donna is correct, it's HRT that's the problem, not Tamoxifen/AI's x ... View more

Hi Loobylou, sorry you're feeling so low, dr google is never a good one to consult, but we all do it. Being strongly ER+ is the best result not the worst. I am 8/8 Er+ my onc told me that was the best possible result out of all the possible diagnosis and deviations. The stronger ER+ you are the better, it means the cancer is highly dependent on the hormone and Tamoxifen/Arimidex will stop any cells still to the oestrogen receptors. As for the side effects of treatment, to be brutally honest if you read the sign effects of any medication they're pretty off putting, if we believed we were going to effected to such a degree nobody would dare take anything ever! Tamoxifen is no different, we might got some problems, we might get none. I've been on Tamoxifen for nearly 3 years and apart from the occasional hot flushes have no problem whatsoever. You're putting yourself off taking it when you might sail the treatment, what have you got to lose by trying? Hope this hasn't sounded harsh, I don't intend it to be, but want you to have the best chance of being cancer free.   Take care CC x   P.S please don't google, phone the BCC helpline, they're brilliant! ... View more

Hi catchpole, your friends do indeed sound wonderful, glad they're there for you. In answer to your question, my lymph nodes appeared clear on the ultrasound but after the sentinel node biopsy a spec of cancer was found on one so I had a full clearance, however, I know a lady with a very similar diagnosis to me and her surgeon and oncologist decided a micromet was not a big enough risk to justify a full clearance, so who was right? But I did only have a micromet and I believe it's normal practice to remove the remainder of the nodes if more than that is found. CC x ... View more