Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi granno, So sorry you've found yourself here. It may be too late for you to see this before you go,but if you're going to a one stop shop it may be tht they can give you a good steer today about what the lump is. I went to a rapid diagnostic unit which may be the same as a ' one stop shop' .you'll probably have a mammogram, perhaps an ultra sound scan and biopsy of the lump and a consultation with a surgeon there. Yoll have to wait for the results of a biopsy before you can get a definitive answer but they'll probably have a good idea after the mammogram and biopsy. You're at one of the worst stages in the process because you don't know what your lump is and what's going to happen to you and I should warn you that waiting for results is really hard and scary.it's totally normal to feel scared. We ve all been there s feel for you. Do you have someone to go with you? I took my very close friend and after my initial diagnosis- it looks very suspicious, but you'll have towakt for the final results' she and I went and spent a lot of money on make up and lunch, which helped. It's good to take someone who won't panic with you if you can, just in case the news is bad. I wish you the very best of luck, and if the news is not great please do come back to the site, it's been a sanity saver for me and I've got so much help,support and information here. Love and best wishes Alison ... View more

HI Kitkat, I'm so sorry you've found yourself on this forum. Whatever happens you'll find lots of wonderful women on here who'll support and advise you. I think we've all found this place has saved our sanity on many occasions. You're at the worst stage now, because you don't know what's going on. Everyone will tell you that waiting for results sucks. It's really scary and you think the worst. As you say, most lumps turn out to be benign and I hope that yours does. If it doesn't then you'll be given a treatment plan more or less immediately and believe it or not, you'll find that you feel better. Not immediately! Shock and tears are totally normal, but you at least know what the plan is and you can start to inform yourself and get ready for what's to come. The main thing to keep in mind that it's not as bad as it first seems to be. It's all doable and you'll be able to get through it. The other thing to bear in mind is that this is not your fault. I too had a lump for a very long time before I was diagnosed and although I eat fairly healthily and don't smoke I probably do drink too much and this may have contributed to it..but who knows? If you look on this forum you'll find lots of women who have done all the right things, eat well, don't drink, don't smoke, aren't on HRT and have no family history of cancer - and they still get breast cancer. I was diagnosed five weeks before I got married and kept it from everyone other than a handful of people. Even my parents didn't know until after the wedding. Like you I didn't want to ruin what was supposed to be a happy occasion. What I really didn't want was lots of people coming up to me with their head on one side and asking if I was alright... And we got through it and actually had a wonderful day. The treatment now is so good, and so many women survive this, and at least you've caught it now and can begin to get rid of it. It's normal to be devastated, to cry and to wonder how on earth you're going to deal with what's to come. But you will do it and you'll find reserves of strength you didn't know you had. I wish you the very best and hope very much that you've got nothing to worry about. Much love ALison ... View more

HI Chris I'm so sorry to read your post you must be devastated. I'm just half way through chemo having had an MX last July followed by lots of post op complications and the thought of going through this again is too depressing for words. You have all my sympathy. The only thing is that you know that you can do it, you've done it once and got through it and you'll be able to get through it again. I had an implant that had to be removed after two months of trying to save it which delayed everything, and I can't have reconstruction for another year at least. So again, you have all my sympathy that your reconstruction is going to be delayed. Do you know if it's just radiotherapy you have to go through again? Or is there going to be more chemo? Very best wishes Alison ... View more

HI everyone, I"m doing Ok although I've developed quite severe pins and needles in my right hand which really kicks in at nigh - wakes me up every night and is getting worse. Hand goes completely numb then really hurts with pins and needles and shooting pains down my hand and up my arm. I thought it was the way I was sleeping then realised that it's not to do with that - i have pins and needles pretty much constantly but very low level. Rang the chemo unit yesterday and they said it was a normal se, but to try to see my doctor to check for a blood clot - my suggestion as my sister in law had one during chemo. But doctor can't see me til Thursday and I have chemo on Friday anyway so will see doctor then. Looks like it's peripheral neuropathy, although it looks like that affects people on Tax and I'm on Fec..so who knows. Will ring this helpline when it opens - it would be nice to know a bit more. You do worry don't you? That something is happening that won't stop when the chemo stops! Anyone else had it? Apart from that I"m fine, still have my hair although just the thought of putting that cap on on Friday fills me with dread. But just about worth it! Although a bit badger like - will have to find a way of dying the roots or wear a scarf! We must be all about half way or two thirds of the way through ? Yaaaay....sooo looking forward to the chemo stopping. Love to you all Alison xx ... View more

HI everyone, Thanks for the tip Gill - I think I may give it a go. My roots are now really staring to show although my hair growth has slowed down. Usually after almost three months the line between my grey and my dyed colour would have been much lower down my head. But I'm now really conscious of my grey roots so I must do something. I ordered some spray on hair colour which has none of the chemicals that are supposed to damage your hair but it hasn't arrived yet. But I may go to Superdrug and find that hair dye! Have third session on Friday and dreading it. Although now seem to have developed peripheral neuropathy - pins and needles - in my hand so I have something else to think about now! Alison x ... View more

Hi everyone, Well I persevered through cold cap through 3 sessions now, and although it's the most unpleasant thing I think I've ever had dne to me, including ops, i do still have most of my hair. A couple of you were horrified that I washed the conditioner out immediately after chemo, I know you're not supposed to butthe nurse told me I could and actually I don't thinkn I'd have been able to stand having it in for a couple of days, and I'm so COLD afterwards I have to dive into the shower as soon as I'm home. Luckily i live moments from the unit...so I'm in the shower bout ten minutes after the treatment! I'm losing more hair than usual I think but I hardly brush it and wash my har about twice a week. Well I say wash, I actualy I squeeze shampoo onto my head and press it in a bit, then shove conditioner on and thats it...I can't wait to really scrub my scalp... Thanks for the tip abou the coloured conditioner....I'm going to try and get it online....too tired after last chemo to go out yet, but should be better in a couple of days... Love to you all Xxx ... View more

Hello everyone, I'm so sorry I haven't posted for so long, time is flying by. Partly because as soon as the se's go I just try and forget about it all as much as possible! Been redecorating the house while I'm off and husband not working full time. But rather over did it this time...had 3rd chemo last Friday and given emend to battle sick feeling afterwards, worked so well I carried on decoration on sat and sun....result....? Totally wiped out yesterday and today...ho hum. But Soooo boring ot to do anything. That's fab absolutely fab about your implant deed, fingers crossed it carries on being right. Mne always felt not right as well, and yes, seromas...aren't they the pits. Naz, I didn't know you were suing the hospital, I know very little about solicitors except I had to get a specialist, and expensive, immigration solicitor to help me battle the home office with my now husbands marriage visa. And they were well worth it. I was about to move to Cuba, because they wouldn't let him in....after we'd been together for 4 years! So maybe a specialist is the way to go. Good luck with it, but it's very stressful all that legal business. How did you appt go? My hair is hanging in there, but the cold cap is possibly the most unpleasant thing I've ever done, including bursting seromas, I mean that. But it's working and I like not being stared at which happens when you have no hair. So it's just about worth it..... How's Xmas going? I have chemo on the 23rd so not expecting a great one, but planning a new Years eve bash, will be ok by then. And have people coming round for mulled wine and mince pies on the 18th so at least I'll feel as if I have some kind of xmas....and if the emend works next time, I may even be able to manage a bit of christmas pus on the day itself... Love to all Xxxxxxxxx ... View more

Hello everyone, I haven't posted for a while - apologies. In the weeks when I'm feeling fine I seem to want to forget about it all, then for a few days after each session I feel pretty crappy and can't summon the energy to post anyway! but got some additional sickness tablets this time round and they were working a treat, except woke this morning - day 3 after session feeling yucky. But felt like this for a week last time so it's got better! Soooo looking forward to getting a tree , will do it the end of this week I think when I've got a bit more energy. Although day after chemo and yesterday was painting the bedroom...hmm perhaps that s why not feeling so great this morning! I put myself down for a look good session last month, the first spot they could fit me in was in la January, when I'll be nearly finished, well all being well I will...but rally looking forward to it. But have still kept my hair, care of the dreaded cold cap. In a way I was hoping it would t work so I could ditch it, but it's just aboutnworth it. Although I had it on for four hours last time as no one went to get my chemo from the pharmacy....staff shortages. That was pretty unpleasant. So sorry to all of you having problems with eyes, ears, chest and temperatures, you're sounding like you're dealing with the problems , but it's not what you need is it? Much love To you all Alison ... View more

Hi deed Just read your other post about your implant - blimey so sorry it seems you're still having problems. Has anything changed since your last post three? I remember when i had my implant and there was a ridge too...it felt as if I'd got one of those corsets on and the bone at the top digs into your breast which is soft above it, but it did get better - before it got dramatically worse! Perhaps your will settle down when the swelling has gone down? Xxxxxxx ... View more

Hi Wendy I also had same op as you and like everyone else here was told to start exercising 2 days afterwards - standard practice here, but why don't you give the nurses on this site a ring, might be worth the price fo a phone call... Yu can tell them exactly what op you had Nd they could advise you.... Best of luck Alison ... View more

Hi everyone, A touch of insomnia here I think, awake at 6. Simone- best of luck today. And clare's right. Wig or no wig people are going to be asking you how you are and concerned about you. Which is quite hard to deal with , well I find that anyway! But your sister will have to cope with that...and if your stepfather would have found the Afro wig funny then he would surely have wanted people to be asking youafew questions about your yourself .... Sorry for the cod psychology but could your sister possibly have a few jealousy issues in the past?! Clare - really sorry you're having to deal with the fertility issues at the same time as all this. I found out I was infertile many years ago and luckily only went through the grief about not having children for quite a short period. Although every now and then it comes back to bite you unexpectedly. But there seem to be lots of women on this site who've had fertility issues, gone through chemo and then had a child, so it's possible it would seem. Do you know if you're going to be able to go to tr again afterwards and how long you have to wait? Keepthefaith - how's your face? Your description of yourelf did make me laugh...but I can see that just because there s lots of comedy value probably isn't enough to make you want to keep being scabby..... Lulu....hope your crappiness is bearable ...mine lasts a week as well and then I'm more or less fine.....touch wood. But yes it's official ..chemo sucks! Love to all Alison xxx ... View more

Hi Julie, Your ex's comment might explain why he's your ex! It did make me laugh though ... I've done 2 chemo cycles now, and no it's not great, but it's do able. There are threads on this site, starting chemo in October and starting chemo in November and perhaps if you joined in the nov one youd find it helpful. It's very nice to be able to moan/ask advice/laugh with other women who are going through it at the same time. I wish you the very best of luck. X Alison ... View more

Hi everyone, Clare thanks so much for the recipe for bran cakes and m for posting another one -I'll definitely make them next time. I'm just about getting back to normal a week on. Simone, perhaps you can put your sister's comment down to grief and it's not just that she's a teeny weeny bit INSENSITIVE AND UNREASONABLE!!! And very well done you for not getting stroppy about it and thinking ok I'll wear a wig, perhaps a pink Afro ....how are you feeling apart from what's going on in your family? Still feeling sick a lot? Nats...I can understand it must feel weird to be stopping chemo mid treatment. You set your mind to it all and then you have to adjust to not completing that particular journey. Is there going to be anything else? Rads, tamoxifen or something do you know? I think I'd pushed to the back of my mind just how tired and generally crappy I felt for the week after chemo. This time I didn't sleep so much but felt vaguely nauseous more or less the whole time for seven days. I have an appointment with the onc next week so I'll see if there some other anti sickness I can have. Then on day 8 it all goes away and I feel more or less normal again. Losing a bit of hair now, but have lots there to begin with. But if start really losing it then I'll stop doing the cold cap - it's the most unpleasant thing I've ever done, notwithstanding malfunctioning implants, seromas and infections! I have another four to go but I prefer to think of it as being a third the way through. Love to you all I hope you've all had good weekends, or as good as possible. Alison ... View more

Hello I took in wax earplugs which I found invaluable, an eye mask for getting to sleep in the daytime, and some slip on slippers are good so you can put them on and off easily. A flannel for washing - you might not be able to have a shower for a couple of days until they change the dressing to a waterproof one so an old fashioned flannel is really useful! A pen. Good luck and very best wishes Alison ... View more

Hi Naz and Deed Prague was really really great. we had such a lovely time although it was getting colder by the minute on the last day so I think we caught it just in time. But we decided that we'd really like to go back when it's snowing - so next December I think. Then straight into Friday mornings chemo session and the cold cap. Cold cap horrid and chemo sucks doesnt it? Although now feeling better this evening have felt pretty grotty for the last few days. Just tired really, Looking forward to being better. Did you get another appointment with the plastic surgeon? I have to say I felt a bit about my BCN as you do about your surgeon's secretary - which is why I don't have one anymore! Hope you're doing OK both of you. Much love Alison xx ... View more

HI everyone, had my second session last Friday and did cold cap again - not as bad as first time. Probably because I knew what it was going to be like, and i took a couple of paracetemol beforehand which might have helped. I wash it as soon as I come back - I was told to. And also I have to warm up in the shower when I come back and I can't bear not to wash the conditioner out - but after 4 days of hardly not brushing it and not washing it it looks terrible so I'll be washing it tomorrow and hope it doesn't all come out. So far I don't seem to have lost much, but I did have lots of hair to begin with - very fine but lots of it. I'm very jealous of someone doing the fifth session - it means it's nearly over! I don't have terrible ses really - just very tired and a bit nauseous for a few days. But it sucks really doesn't it? lots of love everyone Alison ... View more

Someone mentioned bran cake for constipation? Any recipes? Im taking the tablets but they're taking too long to work! As the did last time..and to be honest I'd rather try something to eat.... x ... View more

HI everyone, Haven;t posted for a while - went to Prague last week then straight into chemo no 2 the next morning on Firday and slightly wiped out since then. Simone - I'm so sorry to hear about your step father, that's a lot to deal with at the best of times, even more difficult at the moment. The ulcers sound awful - I"ve had a couple but nothing like that - touch wood. But the last few days have been horrible - not sick but soooo tired and slightly nauseous all the time. But this evening feeling much better so hope tomorrow, day 4 after session, I'll be able to actually leave the house. What was that woman doing telling Simone to make the effort to get dressed and get up - ?? Is she mad? There are some days when it's all you can do to stumble to toilet. I too have been in PJs - some I bought only just recently. Every now and then I think it would be a good idea to look for something a bit more glamourous to wear for these days, then I look at my Winceyette numbers that I"ve collected, mainly from TK MAxx and I just want to get into them and my big cardi. I might get dressed tomorrow. I did the cold cap again for session 2 - I was prepared for how horrible it was going to be this time, and I took a couple of paracetemol beforehand. But it still made me feel sick and dizzy - took so many clothes with me this time, I was under a mountain of clothes and blankets by the time the two hours were up! But I don't seem to have lost my hair so far. Mind you, I haven't brushed it since Friday, and I'm going to wash it tomorrow so it may all come out! On the washing front, I can't bear to not shower at least once a day, because perhaps I;'m mistaken but I think I can smell the drugs coming out of my skin and I really really hate the smell. Is this just me? Or am I imagining it? Love to all, Hope you're all managing. Prague was fab by the way - I really recommend it for a visit. But it'll definitely be my last trip abroad before this is all over. Alison xx ... View more

Hi, Deed, bummer about low iron, I didnt realise that's yet another thing to stop the process. And I'm sorry you're still having pain in the back, but you sound as if you're staying cheerful which is great! it's half the battle isn't it? Hope you had a good night at the Italian. Naz - yes have you got your surgery moved forward ? I must sort out travel insurance today, still haven't done it... Much love to you both Alison xx ... View more