Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Daisy, Unlike your mum ive never smoked, but i have heard so many stories of what people have gone through, reading about Carol McGivven who had to be hospitalized in a isolation ward cause of her wrecked immune system, I cant help thinking is it worth it, My immune system always been good, i dont want it wrecked, I was talking today to someone i know who had breast cancer 17 years ago, she had chemo had to,   her lymph nodes were affected, but she says it wasnt so intense then, interesting that ! she didnt even lose her hair,shes fine now but she also says someone she knew who had it same time as her didnt have chemo, and shes still around and fine as well, So there we are,  Like you i tend to think the same re the statistics, its figures not actual people. |Im going to work damm hard at it not coming back, my dad died at 98 of old age, im very like him in many ways, im even havbing wine free days , i only ever drank 1 glass  a day and ive stopped HRT which i was on for many years due to fact my mum suffered very badly from osteoporois and i wanted to avoid it,that should help my chances to,. so im defintely wavering at moment, have over a week to consider it all. june         ... View more

No you are not a fraud, ive never once felt ill, ever,, thats why it seems like its not happening to me and sometimes it still doesent, though ive had lump removed, seen surgeon, still sore but never really had any pain, Now waiting to see the oncologist as i have to to decide on chemo myself as  risk not much higher of reoccurrence if i dont.  When people said how are you, and one of my friends who as i live alone always panicked if i missed at text or phone call thinking i wasnt all right, id say yes im fine why wouldnt i be.I think the scary thing is it does seem so much to happen to women who are normally very healthy, why is this, it isnt lifestyle like many cancers, but then again it is easy to treat than many other cancers, Surely though research should look into why it seems to affect so many women who do everything right and still get it.june ... View more

I know Boa, thats a but how i feel, i was dreading yesterdays meet as although ive healed up well from lump removal, you can hardly see where it was, and have n ever once felt ill i honestly thought my lymph nodes would be afffected i was so relieved when they were clear, guess the first one was doing its job, I know im lucky compared with many on here, ive still got my boobs with only a little scar, ive got to have rads and pills, and can decide on chemo myself, But i still feel in a quandry, will talk to someone the help line here next week, as have found them extremely helpful,  Then see what oncologist has to say, my friend coming with me as has the gene in family, so knows a lot about it  will be good support and will then finally decide, But im a pretty fit person for 67 with a good immune system, do i really want to wreck it for that small chance., ... View more

I think it very hard to say what to do Sue, its a small margain isnt it and having chemo is no proof it wont come back, i know people who have been alive for years who didnt have it, and those who have and it did, sadly some of them no longer here,  Hopefully talking to oncologist will help me make a more informed position,.  Im taking a friend with me whos family has the gene, her mum sadly died of it and she had her own breasts removed at 25 to prevent it, as did her cousin, her sister is a survivor so she will hopefully be able to ask questions i might not think of. I was also a bit suprised my follow up appointment at clinic was a year, is that normal thought would be sooner.june ... View more

Well ive got to decide whether to hsv chemo but certainly wouldnt not have radio therapy, My actual lump removal was very good, my boobs look much the same but i am a 32c cup and lump was at top of breast. i think id much rather have radio therapy than chemo. not so debilitating,. june ... View more

Hi Zee,   I had my op 2 weeks ago, was bit apprehensive but i had an emergency hysterectomy for firbroids 7 years ago so knew what to expect You do feel better after lump gone,. Ive my follow up appointment today, so ill know next stage,  This is something we all hope will never happen to us,think scariest thing is so many of us seem to be such healthy people, i was, for a 60 plus woman very, i thought.  All best for monday, sure will be fine. ... View more

Hi Sarah,   Its your fellow Norfolk person on here June, are we only two in Norfolk do you think. Doubt it but then thats Norfolk isnt it, people are reseved and keep themselves to themselves.   Last weekend i felt everyone was around me, day of operation fri, sat sun,this weekend zilch, two phone calls, My friend did ;promise to come round today and hoover and clean my floor, o well do you want me to she said, No i said dont bother ill do it with one hand.!.  I went yesterday to see my oldest friend the one witth ovarian cancer, shes had tough time, 5 hour operation much worse than mine, but she said to me at least ve got Rob, her husband June dear, you have noone at home,. My other friend is bit annoyed with me cause im not keen on chemo if i have to have it, due to the fact im alone, in case i feel ill, not great if on own, Sarah, you must feel same, and you have your daughters to worry about too. Also you think like you say noone will want anyone who is ill, well i doubt if anyone will want me anyway, most men of my age want younger women, any woman over 60 they dont, even if in n ot bad shape  and i wasnt, hardly likely to want me bald with a bit of boob missinglol   . My friend saying being alone dosent make any difference you have to get on with it , doesent help me at all. someone in your life makes a hell of a difference to how you feel, she hates being alone . I can see a future on my own and ive never liked it, though never had a partner lived with my darling dad for years, and ive never got used to being alone, now it seems harder still. Being on own isnt empowering, humans are social beings we arent meant to be. we evolve from the tribe but sadly we no longer have the tribe;     ... View more

Yes i had the results from the original scan and biopsey,. cancerous lump, and one suspicious lymph node, but in spite of saying wouldnt take all nodes because of risk of lymphoedema when i had operation with different surgeon from whom i  i saw originally, whom ive never met, saw his registrar.they took them all. I didnt mind i waas glad to be rid,. i was told my risk of lymphodema was low so felt to avoid further surgery taking them was ok.  I feel very well was told when my surgery nurse removed my dressing yesterday,she thought i looked and seemed extremely well considering had op last week, so that is encouraging.   ... View more

I had op to remove lump and nodes last thurs, im healing well, the nurse at my surgery said, and she rmweoved the lump dressing yesterday, i feel fine,.apart from all this uncertainty.  As i said i just had no communication with the first oncologist i saw,i could hardly understand him and his [people skills were rubbish,.My two friends with me were same. This nodes thing confuses me to, does everyone with dodgy nodes have tohave chemo, or is it just those with several nodes affected, Some people on here seem to have had chemo with dodgy nodes and some dont.  I dread the debilitating effects of chemo more than anything, i live alone, i do have good friends but they cant be there all while, also im very slim, and can lose weight easily and i worry if i feel sick, will i feel like eating. Yes i know people who have had chemo and sadly are no longer here and those who havent had it and are very much alive.june ... View more

I have to say missbabs i find it all very confusing, I am the same age as you, 67 but i have few health probelsms, good heart, lungs,etc. and for a women in 60s very healthy until this. Ive always felt more like 47 than 67.   The 80 per cent is very scary , it seems very high when so many people have chemo,.  My immune system has always been good, the idea of messing it up scares me.   The first surgeon i saw did not impress me at all,he told me little,  just kept going on about worst case senario,chemo, radio therapy,tablets for years, Im sitting there thiinking all this for a little lump. Ok suspect first lymph node but now all gone.i didnt even realise that would be happening until the actual op day, Have new doc now seeing Fri,.  I had a bit of a bust up with one of my closest friends today, she has been a great support to me during it all, and i know she cares, but she is under impression  im having chemo whatever, and i said no, it isnt black and white, but shades of grey, the side effects of it so debilitating, it needs to be looked at fully, This 80 per cent thing throws it into perspective, more uncertainty,  I of course could have radio therapy. I feel even more confused now.              ... View more

Yes Melanie,   Youdo feel like itshappening to someone else, I know im more at risk, being over 60, but ive never felt over 60, and have few other risks, apart frim b eing on HRT for a few years  and have always been so healthy apart from a hysterectomy 7 years ago for fibroids, Ive had lump  removed and lymth glands and i still feel fine, so it still seems unreal.  Waiting for next part now, somehow thats worse in some ways, happy to have it removed but i find myself thinking why will i need anything else done, when i feel so well. ... View more

Hi sarah,   yes on fb PM me for name (edited by moderator). Ive had drain out today, the nurse wasnt impressed with dressings, and fact the drain was in far too far she said. but i feel fine, have had stroll, but not too much, Trouble with drain with me, is im barely 5 ft and weigh bout 6 and half stone, so was just miles too long for me. Feel so relieved to have out.and also find it easier to tell people more, up till now only close friends knew.  By this found out someone id known for years had breast cancer 17 years ago and i never knew,. seems lots i didnt realise had cancer and all still fine.  good to hear.  ... View more

To be honest im glad to have them out,.i remember when i had my hysterectomy they said should be take ovaries i said yes i dont need them, one more thing less to worry about. I feel fine 4 days later,drain out nurse wasnt impressed in too far, she said  and dressings werent great, but all seemed well. yes the friends been good, sometimes better than family, they want to be there. i appreciate them all. ... View more

Hi Jets,   had operation, yesterday, feel fine, glad lump gone and took all lymph notes though only first was shown to be affected, thought would only take 3 or 4, but glad all gone really. District nurse couldnt believe i looked so well.think she expected frail litttle old lady as i am over 60.lol. Stayed at my lovely friends at Poringland last night as if live on own they wont let you out, another friend bought me back to city today cooked my meal, did everything for me and wouldnt go home, she only lives mile from me, till i was sorted, Said ring if need anything ill be over,. I feel fine apart from damm drain im carrying around with me. ut should be parted from it soon. ... View more

Thanks Liz  can i have the link,thank you June ... View more

Hi Liz, Not sure if you got my message,can you send me the link thank you June ... View more