Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Rita welcome to this awful bur very supportive forum.  You are in a similar state to me except 2 lumps so mastectomy, and lymph node clearance (the bit I am dreading).  You are being operated on quick thats good.  I was diagnosed 9th Feb not operating until 10th March - however I did have CT and bone scan first- which is I suppose how my hospital does it - they were all clear thank god.  Apart from a small amount of back deterioration - I am 56 - and have had problems with it on occasion but nothing major - and they said nothing to worry about - no big C anyway anywhere else. Your op is now only a coupl of days away - lucky you - would like to get mine out of the way tbh. Still using time to get sorted for afterwards.  Even got a wig appointment for when I have chemo - I dont want to wait till afterwards when I might be feeling low or unwell.  While I am fit and healthy (lol) I am getting organised. I havent had any mention of Radiotherapy at all, just op, chemo and hormone as I am ER+.  Rest of results after surgery (2 weeks) so maybe know more then I suppose. Take care, good luck for Tuesday and keep in touch - we need all the friends, support, help and advice we can get at a time like this. Val x ... View more

Hi Francine Oh dear - yes well at the time I am sure it seemed a good idea to fund your business with your house and with hindsight we would have all maybe acted differently.  I certainly wouldnt have given up work!!! We were going to do another room this year (we have two) which would have brought in more income that I was earning so it seemed like a good idea.  Now that room (my bedroom) will be put aside, as Iwill need my sanctuary to retire to at times and I cant expect the OH to do that much on his own.So we will be limited to the income of 2rooms - hopefully it will be a busy year - . Sorry to hear about your husband too, but he is on the mend now at least. Good for you there is no lymph node involvement as I believe that is the worst part of the surgery - will soon find that out. I do try to lay off the reading - but find I always go back to it - even to the point of how long am I going to live lol - stupid. Trying now to just read about the stage I am at now - its all too much to take in at once.  Thats why the forum is so good, we are all in the same boat in different ways - but it is good to share our experiences. keep in touch and take care - Val ... View more

Hi Cocolily   surely you can request a mastectomy if you would prefer? awful to have a delay but at least just one day. I am trying to keep away from infections so I can have min on 10th march - havent seen grandsons (5) cos they have scarlet fever at mo. Take carex Val x ... View more

Hi Karen We all felt exactly the same as you dont worry.  It is all the not knowing that is SO hard.  It drags on, people ask you whats happening...... I had my op booked so told people, but then wasnt sure if they would do that first or chemo so couldnt say anything for deffo.  This was very hard on me (us) but also everyone else.  Once you know exactly whats happening you will feel much better.  I havent cried again since I  was told it hadnt spread to any organs. This was such a relief.  So although its breast, mastctomy and lymph node clearance, it could be so much worse. I can now concentrate on whats going to happen, when and deal with it.  It is now doable, the what ifs have mostly gone.  It is curable and I can deal with it.  You will feel much the same when you get your final results.  It is just a list of practical steps to go through and get done. Good luck for Monday - keep us up to date  val x ... View more

hi restless your op is the day after mine.  I am having left mastectomy and lymph node clearance, which apparently is worse than the boob op.  Toyed with the idea of a flap reconstruction, but would be in a hospital nearly 100 miles away and much moremajor surgery.  So opted for simple reconstruction.  Which will probably leave me lop sided, one pert boob and one droopy one lol.  Still can do more about that in the future if I so wished.  Cross that bridge when I come to it.  Just want to get rid at the moment and get well.  Lymphnode clearance Can cause all sorts of problems now and in future.  But no choice it has to be done. Told that I will have chemo and probably hormone therapy as min is ER +. Keep strong and occasional wobbles is fine.  Instead of all the what ifs, and has it spreadm I am now just trying to deal with the practicalities of it all.  Got wig appointment next weds - they dont tell you about that till after the op but I might not be up to it then.  I want everything ready and in place before the op.  List of purchases to make too, eye drops, creams, etc etc Ever practical and organised me. Val x ... View more

Hi Fluffs I know where youa are coming from.  I too run a small b and b business with my fiance.  Gave up other paid work just before xmas, should have stayed then I would have been on full pay through this...... You have to keep going to pay the bills, and we have to be happy in front of guests to keep them happy.  Was hard before I had the full picture i.e. has it spread.  But now we know the extent, 2 lumps and lymph nodes I can deal with it better.  Not crying all the time now.  Just need to be practical and get all theis out of the way, step by step.  Trying to keep myself informed, I have never read so much, just so I am aware of all eventualities. and YES we are stronger than we think - well we dont really have a choice. Val ... View more

Hi judith, sorry you have had to join us all.  I wasnt given a choice, two lumps and "petite" boobs apparently no good for lumpectomy lol, never realised 38b was petite lol.  So full Mastectomy and reconstruction on left on 10th March.  I have been much more positive since I have been given nearly the whole story.  Its just practicalities now, I am not going to die......... Operation, healing, chemo and Hormone therapy. Not sure if anything else yet. Very anxious to get it all happening now.  Take Care Val ... View more

I feel for you Tussie, just keep as strong as you can, but dont beat yourself up in those bad moments - we all have them. Take Care Val x ... View more

well I dont know what I am yet lol - but having surgery on 10th - expect they may tell me at my follow up 2 weeks appointment ... View more

Hi Janey - yes I followed you on here as you said you were going on here. Would like to keep in touch and follow whats going on. Take care x ... View more

Hi - I was wondering the same thing too.  I was diagnosed 9th feb, surgery on 10th March followed by chemo later, I expect April.   I only know that mine is oestrogen fed so hence the hormon treatment after the chemo.  Dont know any of these other details that others seem to know.  Expect to find that out at two week follow up meeting and the road forwards.   Val x ... View more

what great news Janey.  I have been thinking about you all day and kept checking in on here to see if you had posted. At last a start for you and everything else is clear like me.   Wonder why I am having surgery first then chemo and you are having chemo first? Still at least we are moving forward at last.  I cant join you on your chemo trip then, as mine will be more like april now, 6 weeks or so after surgery, but I will still read whatever you post because will help me in the future. good luck with everything, take care and keep in touch - Val xxxxxxxx ... View more

Janey I am thinking about you today xxx ... View more

thanks Janey - I have everything crossed for you - and although I am an athiest I will be praying in my own way for you -if that makes any sense x btw where do you live? x ... View more

thanks for that - I have sent for my free sample first lol x ... View more

Hi all and especially Janey.... WELL some GOOD NEWS at last.  Been back for results of all scans and apart from a bit of backbone degeneration (nothing to worry about) which is to be expected as I am 56 - NO MORE TUMOURS ANYWHERE TO BE SEEN...... What a relief that was to be told that today - the first piece of good news we have had in the last month as it just got worse and worse. It just feels as if a great weight has been lifted off our shoulders.  NOW we know what is going to happen and in what order - Mastectomy on 10th March, followed by chemo 6 weeks or so later, and also most probably hormone treatment as the cancer is oestrogen fed.  SO a long road ahead of us but it is curable and most importantly doable. I may even get some sleep tonight, that has really been in short supply lately I can tell you.   Janey - good luck for Friday, I hope your news is as good as mine then we can move forward and rid ourselves of this awful disease and get back to normality. Happy to help you in any way I can.  Take Care and let me know asap Friday.   Wishing you every good wish, Val ... View more

Hi Janey thanks,  I know what u mean about the phone etc.  I am ok - just two more days till I get final results of everything I hope. Re: Wig appointment - just found one and made appointment.  I phoned them and they told me to ask hospital to give me a referral and then can use National Health Voucher towards a wig.  I will do that on Monday.  TBH not bothered about cost, I just want a really good one and help with fitting etc.  Also gonna get scarves and a fringe to put under them, cos I have such a high forehead I will look awful without one. Just trying to be practical and get things sorted ready.  Cut all my nails off too, had lovelyy nails.  And getting hair cut really short on Thursday as weill be easier to look after, after the Op anyway and in readiness for losing later on.  Surely short hair wont be so bad to lose. I did meet an old aquaintance in the hopsital, she had a wig on and it looked absolutely fabulous and natural so there is hope.  But I am sure they are hot and itchy and I will be going through it in the warmer weather. I am worried about SO many things, its ridiculous.  I am a really strong person, I am holding it together in the day.  I am even managing to run the b and b normally......... But at night in the wee small hours, its a different story, just break down and cry for no reason, and dont really know why..........OH is being fantastic with that just cuddling me and saying the right things. The preOp assessment went fine. They said to take bloods, but I had already done that on 9th Feb, wasnt on my records but was on computer - they were all fine and clear.  I am fit and healthy (joke) well I was and always have been, only a few pounds over ideal weight, dont smoke - but must admit I have been having a couple more wines than usual lol - didnt tell them that as this is temporary.  Trying to make myself sleep at night, which is really hard.  It was before anyway, cos going through menopause and havent been sleeping and loads of hot flushes.  At least no surprises there then when I get the same with the chemo. Yes we are both moving forward - I cant wait now.  BUT the recovery from the Op is a worry too - cant do much at all first couple of weeks, because of reconstruction more than the mastectomy. Quicker to heal without it, but cant face that thought  I have had the physio/lymphoedema clinic too, telling me about the excercises etc and a follow up appointment for a group session 2 weeks after surgery lol.  Not even deffo that I am having it yet.  Makes me laugh.  Also that theres a chance that  lymphoedema could emerge in that arm antyime, now or forever in the future.  Got to be careful of cuts etc so that dont happen..  So not everything is temporary is it? Think they should keep you in hospital for a few days, rather than throw you out on the same day with drains in etc. Seems mad to me, I am 25miles away from hospital so thats worrying me too, if anything goes wrong. Also telling you to buy paracetemoland ibuprofen for the pain, since when have they been strong enough or any good even.  I still have pain from the biopsies and that was 3 weeks ago fgs. Right rant over, Another week and we will both know our outcomes. You take care, have as good a weekend as you can, I will be having a few glasses........ hugs and love to you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ... View more

oh and by the way - nothing wrong with a meltdown - I am sure I will have one soon - but try to keep it at home between ourselves at the mo. Kids all grown up so not affected by a meltdown - unless its in front of them.. Dont put yourself down for it - you and only you are going through all this. The family are there but it is YOU. They wont understand how u feel at all.However hard they try xxxxx ... View more

hi Janey I know where you are coming from.  We got up today and one of our large muscovy ducks was found half eaten - they are my other halfs pets, we only had two.  I felt like shouting - anything else you want to chuck at us? come on? Other half so upset, crying. Didnt sleep at all last night.  Reading at 3 still awake all night. CT scan went ok - but now worrying that I have late stage cancer and that it has spread everywhere fgs.  The scan itself was ok so dont worry about that.  I just worry about the outcome.  Got pre op assessment tomorrow and lymphodaema physio.  The bone scan Friday. Back for results monday - I cant believe they will have bone scan results that quick???? still afarid they wont have all the information. Made appointment for wig fitting and having all hair cut off in readiness next week. To try to make you laugh - yesterday morning I pencilled in my eyebrows in brown lifted my fringe and said to OH - how do I look - bless him he said fine - I looked like a clown or a complere nutcase but we did laugh - did us good. think i will open the wine tonight and got him some beer.  Never drink midweek but this is acceptable in the cirucmstances. Still trying to serve b and b to our guests and keep with it - its our only source of income now. Hey Ho- big hugs to you keep in touch, let me know how your scans go too? Val xxxxxxxxxx ... View more

Hi Janey Let me knoiw how all your scans etc go  next week, we seem to be going through very similar things at the same time.  Keep your chin up - yes I know easier said than done.  I keep it together when around family and friends and then collapse in a heap of tears at home quite often. We have a long road yet I know.....   I does helpme greatly talking to people who are going through it too, it makes you feel that you are not quite so alone.   Val x ... View more