Breast Cancer Now Forum

I showered the next day after lumpectomy. I presume the dressings are waterproof. Just don't use soap or shower gel over affected area and have that area under shower only very briefly. Another tip is to dry the affected area quickly using a hair dryer! ... View more

Hi Vicky Hope the US went OK. As Nimbus says medical people don't say too much until they look at tests. Although palpating (feeling) the breast can tell them some things US tells a lot more. Waiting isn't easy. Just take one day at a time. Boa ... View more

Hi LozzieG Anyone posting on this website will tell you that the worst bit is waiting for appointments! Try not too worry too much and stay postive. If you fill your days - and you must do with having youngsters - you will  be able to stop thinking about things. Lumps in the breat can ve all sorts of things. You'll soon have an appointment. Boa ... View more

What usually happens is that the team will meet on the morning of your appointment and will have a plan ready for you. If you are to have surgery there are usually some further tests. For me this was having a liver scan, bloods taken, chest X-ray and an MRI scan. The latter might not happen for you as in my case they weren't getting a good sight of the tumour on ultrasound or mammogram. The chest, liver and bone are to see if there is any spread. My surgery, a lumpectomy, was about four weeks after the results of the biopsies. But you may be quicker because having the ultrasound held me up a week or so. It is very difficult to predict how long recovery time will be. Recovery for the lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy was for me about a week but I was out and about but not driving at once. I was treated as a day patient. For a mastectomy it will be longer. Some women have chemotherapy but I didn't. That can have side effects which you can read about on the leaflets on this site. I had radiotherapy which went a visit to hospital daily on weekdays for three weeks. Everyone told me I'd be very tired but I wasn't. So it's not been too bad for me and I'm now an older woman! I hope your outcome is good and you don't need treatment but understanding what's happening is helpful. I only found this site later on. Ask any more questions you like. Boa ... View more

Sorry to hear of your concerns. The main thing is that you have the US in a couple of weeks and that will be very effective in showing anything. Easier said than done but try not to worry. ... View more

Suez Everyone will have their own views on this but I will give my experience. The surgeon said that there would be no chemo but after a further op to clear the margins it suddenly came on the menu. No-one was really clear about why ( comtinuity of seeing people wasnt brilliant where I was treated) but I saw an oncologist about it and it turned out that as my cancer was HER2 positive it might be receptive to Hercepetin which you can get only with chemo. For my profile -it's not you as an individual they talk about when giving % its about the type of profile you have - the added benefit was 3%. I know that many people say that you should take all you are offered but my view was to weigh up the benefit of the here and now with chemo experience and the future. The oncologist made no attempt to persuade me and the oncologist i saw regarding radiotherapy said something to the effect of 'a good decison not to have it'.  My cancer was also hormone receptive so I am taking letrozole with very few side effects. I  wish you wisdom with your decision making.Boa ... View more

You'll find people here very supportive. I hope all goes well with your surgery. Waiting for that is difficult but I just took one day at a time. The chips aren't really down. Breast cancer is very treatable and you'll find things move on. I was diagnosed in July. Op in August and another to clear margins in September. Radiotherapy in November and I have an appointment on Monday with oncologist for checkup. Take care of yourself and keep posting. ... View more

Yes, I found keeping busy the best way to deal with things. ... View more

I'm sorry this is such a worrying time for you. I think all clinics work differently so I would try not to worry to much. Though, I know that's easier said than done! However, I think that the BCN checking to see if your results are back early is her trying to be helpful. I know from my own experience that it is very easy to read things into what people say! So try to take one day at a time. ... View more

Hi Nicola, the waiting isn't very pleasant, I know. However, I think most GPs will refer on patients to the breast clinic just to get things checked out by the experts. Please try not to worry - easier said than done, I know. Let us know how things go on Thursday. Boa ... View more

Hi Cally, sorry you are going through a difficult time with your own breast issues and your gran's illness. It may be unusual for you to have a mammogram before seeing the doctor at the clinic but I think they will want to have something to look at first rather than just examining the breast. It is worrying to be referred to the clinic but try to take one day at a time. I hope all goes well with your brother's wedding. ... View more

Hi Babtastic I think when you are borderline for advantages from chemotherapy the oncologist will leave the decision to the patient so you can decide whether the perceived advantages outweigh the possible side effects. For me chemo would have increased the possible survival rate by 3%. I'm probably older than many writers here so for me I decided it was not the right course of action. But I think everyone needs to make their own decision on where they are in life. ... View more

Gerbera, there doesn't seem to be a 'normal' in relation to the format tests and results and treatment plans take. It is frustrating at times but I waited about two weeks before getting the results after an MRI. Hope all goes well for you. Boa ... View more

Hi Ally, it's not the best fun ever the core biopsy is it? Did you get a date to come back for results and planned treatment. I had an appointment for about a week later but where you are it may be different. It's a difficult time - in my experience the most difficult during all the treatment but just try to concentrate on each day and it will pass. Boa ... View more

On the odour I had the joy of this twice as I needed further surgery to clear the margins. So glad other have felt the same as I thought my imagination was going wild! ... View more

Hi SML, I am taking Letrozole and started in July. My early experience was of very intense hot flushes which were much more powerful than during the menopause. I didnt have any cold feelings as such although the contrast between the hot flush and not having one was significant. As far as I can see with these AIs there are lots of strange side effects. ... View more

Interesting point, kentstar, about deodorant! I thought I was imagining things as I couldn't get rid of the odour from right side where I had SNB but left was OK even when I didn't use deodorant there too. Mentioned it to my BCN and she clearly thought I was a bit strange! ... View more

Good luck. I am sure it will all go well. ... View more

Deelush Yes, they did say at the clinic today that we go on cooking for a couple of weeks and that if tiredness creeps in it may last a couple of months! ... View more

Last rads today for me. Have been very fortunate in that I have had no burning and just a few episodes of tiredness. Staff have been excellent always friendly. Sessions most often run late though. Clinic after the session today and I may be given creams but in our place they don't like you using creams unless absolutely necessary. Thanks all for your companionship and advice here. ... View more