Breast Cancer Now Forum

Number 14 today! It's fairly normal in our unit to have to wait. Longest has been an hour. But everything is going well for me and so far no burning or pain. Can be a little tired, especially for a couplevof days last week but better now so it might have been a wee bug I had. Hope you are all doing fine. ... View more

I was diagnosed on 8 July and had surgery on 11 August. I think the time quoted to your Mum is a pretty standard timing. I have read that there is often no great physical urnecy to carry on to surgery but it is more about our mental health in not being worried for so long ... View more

Hello  My decision was different. I had WLE and SNB and then a re-excision to clear the margins. Up until I saw the Registrar after the second surgery chemo had not been mentioned. Indeed at the follow up to decide on the second surgery which involved another MRI scan the consultant said 'No Chemotherapy'. When the registrar mentioned it I asked why and all she could do was to show me that the consultant had written on the papers 'Chemotherapy - discuss'.   So I saw the oncologist who said that I was HER2 and with chemo they could giver herceptin. It's difficult when the experts talk about % increased chances because its not about you as such but about the population of women in the same situation. Having chemo would increase the population of women by 3% and thus probably me.   I chose not to go ahead. I am 64. The prognosis was reasonable anyway and in my view the possible inconvenience for a year or so was not worth it. But everyone is different and if I had been younger my decision would have been different possibly.   I would think that where chemo is considered to make a real difference the oncologist will steer you towards that decision. But when I declined that was accepted.   I dont think any of us can help you make a decision but our experiences might be useful to hear. ... View more

Sodastream Lying down for half an hour on rads? Our appointments are at 10 minute intervals. I'm lying down for 5 minutes maximum! Boa ... View more

Hi Deelush I think that your daughter probably was looking after cigarettes for someone. If no one smokes on the house you would surely have noticed something. How did you get on at hospital? Boa ... View more

Hi Deelush   Hope the day begins to go a bit better for you. I am off in a moment for my treatment.    Hope everyone has a good day. Boa ... View more

Back into the routine today. Team was running a bit late but no problem. Just gave extra time to talk to the others waiting. ... View more

Hi Positive Thinker My appointment is at 12.40. I have found out by chatting to others who are waiting that the appointments in the middle of the day are given to those who have to travel a bit further so they dont get caught up in early morning traffic or the going home rush hour. I am a little tired and had to leave an evening function early on Friday as I was so tired but it might have been that I was up at 5.30am and the room in the evening was very, very hot. I sterted taking letrozole in July and was bombarded with hot flushes but I'm please to say it has settled down! Boa ... View more

Hi LillyP The waiting is the worst part but it will soon be over. What I found is that it is very easy to read things into our experiences. From what I understand whilst ultrasound is useful it is not the best way to 'see' things so I think that the consultant and radiographer will want all the test results before they are able to tell you what is happening. If you need treatment a plan will be put in place very quickly. I think that you are right to keep occupied while you wait. It helped me. Boa ... View more

Hi Mummy02 I hope the leaflet was helpful but I can tell you what happens at the Breast Clinic I have attended. It's in Scotland. First I saw a clinician who did a physical examination. I went back to a waiting room and was called in a few moments for a mammogram. In my case the tumour was small so I then had an ultrasound and doctor could not find the tumour and had to call another one in who did find it. They then decided to do a core biopsy which they did using the mammogram. It's wasn't sore but it's a bit ungainly as you sit in a chair! They might do the biopsy by ultrasound as I had that process later. The visit might well take about three hours. I hope that's helpful but I can try to answer your questions if you have any. Boa ... View more

Hi Deelush and everyone. That's five down and 10 to go. The male student is going back to his uni course next week. Yes, I get drawn on as well. Hope everyone has a good weekend. Boa ... View more

Hello Everyone Just checking in early to say good morning and wish you a good day. Yes, holding your arms above your head can be a bit uncomfortable and yesterday after the treatment my breast seemed to be a bit tender. The parking in our hospital is horrendous but if you are attending the Cancer Centre there is a special car park and you can usually get in even if there is a bit of a wait. Boa ... View more

Hi Deelush I'm not sure if it is different here in Scotland but nurses and radiographers do part of their training at university and the rest on the wards so they are just part of the team. The only way you know they are a trainee is the colour of the uniform! If a doctor has had a student they have always asked. Anyway, the young man lined me up today so I have got over that little bit of nervousness! In and out in 15 minutes and I was half an hour early. Lots of parking. Wednesday must be a slack day. Boa ... View more

Deelush   That's  a great idea about the tops and the cards. Until yesterday we had to check in at our own little bay but from today we have to go to a 'main desk'. We get changed in a cubicle in the treatment room and have a sheet of tissue for modesty walking to the treartment table! I have to say my team has a young lad as a trainee radiographer and I feel quite embarrassed at all this! Boa ... View more

Hi SML 1903 That must have been a bit of a surprise. I haven't any experience to share on this but hopefully someone can comment. Boa ... View more

Hi Forties Hope all goes well tomorrow. Boa ... View more

Hi Deelush Good to hear it went well and they are so acommodating. In our hospital there are 7 rads machines! So there are lots of people waiting but we wait in small waiting rooms. Then called through for treatment, slip off our tops and on to the bed. Was delayed today because of an accident but got there on time. I asked what to do if I was really late and they said not to worry just turn up. Boa ... View more

Deelush Hope all goes well tomorrow. Boa ... View more

Hi Forties I can understand what you mean about undignified time at the rads planning. Unlike others I have not had chemotherapy (Iwas borderline and decided that at 64 I wasnt going to put myself through it for a 2% improvement.) Of all the appointments I have had the planning session was the most strange. Everyone polite but at one point there were four people in the room (all female) but no one introduced themselves.   Anyway, first rads visit today. Arrived far too early and had a briefing on what to expect so the whole visit took 1 1/4 hours plus travel time. But Tomorrow there will be no briefing so it will be quicker. And I can plan better when to arrive. Session itself OK but told not to use any creams and that the professional will decide if/when I have to use anything. Boa ... View more

Hi Mel Thanks for keeping us in touch. No wonder you fell asleep on the sofa if you were working hard making a Christmas cake. Hope all goes well this week. I'm off today for the first session. Boa ... View more