Breast Cancer Now Forum

PLEASE speak to your oncologist about getting Misteltoe extracts ;into your plan as a complimentary therapy Mistletoe appears to be nature's way to get through a load of the side effects of the treatments.My close friend went through BC with mastectomy and chemo last year... she swears by it. Germany seem to be pretty much leading the way regards cancer these days, 60% of cancer patients there are treated with it, France catching up with 40%, UK finally getting on board, but you may have to fight for it! Need to ask for it, I do not think your oncologist will offer it (unless they are very cool!), but I believe we are able to get this on NHS in UK (my friend lives in Canada and it is not available over there so I have set her up with contact with a German priovider and she gets it direct! Iscador and Helixor are the common I am seeing my oncologist in the next week or so will definitely go for Mistletoe therapy alongside chemo, seems to massively improve quality of life through treatment! Findings from a 30 Year Study (Misteltoe has been used since 1920s in Germany! Whay are we only hearing about it now??): ... View more

PLEASE speak to your oncologist about getting Misteltoe extracts into your plan as a complimentary therapy Mistletoe appears to be nature's way to get through a load of the side effects of the treatments. ;My close friend went through BC with mastectomy and chemo last year... she swears by it. Germany seem to be pretty much leading the way regards cancer these days, 60% of cancer patients there are treated with it, France catching up with 40%, UK finally getting on board, but you may have to fight for it! Need to ask for it, I do not think your oncologist will offer it (unless they are very cool!), but I believe we are able to get this on NHS in UK (my friend lives in Canada and it is not available over there so I have set her up with contact with a German priovider and she gets it direct! Iscador and Helixor are the common I am seeing my oncologist in the next week or so will definitely go for Mistletoe therapy alongside chemo, seems to massively improve quality of life through treatment! Findings from a 30 Year Study (Misteltoe has been used since 1920s in Germany! Whay are we only hearing about it now??): ... View more

Boo! I can't have this as one of my lumps is HER2... which means I have to have chemo before my (bilateral) mastectomy Boooo! ... View more

Thanks, that really does help. Will give it a go! ... View more

Read this on another thread here today. Great sounding Test available on NHS from Jan 2015 that shows if you actually would benefit from chemo. Ask your consultant/radiographer/oncologist about whether you qualify (this is on the site though)    http://breast-cancer.oncotypedx.com/en-GB/PatientInvasive/GettingTested/AmIEligibleForTheTest.aspx The Oncotype DX® Breast Cancer test is a multigene diagnostic test that determines the individual risk of cancer recurrence in early-stage invasive breast cancer and identifies patients with minimal, if any, likelihood of benefit, and patients with substantial likelihood of benefit from chemotherapy. The Oncotype DX® test reveals the underlying tumour biology to help guide treatment decisions.   The Oncotype DX® breast cancer test is a diagnostic test performed after your original breast cancer surgery. Like other laboratory tests, it must be ordered by an authorised healthcare provider (i.e. your breast cancer surgeon or oncologist). You may use the checklist below to help determine if you are a potential candidate for the Oncotype DX breast cancer test You may be a candidate for the Oncotype DX breast cancer test if you are medically eligible for chemotherapy and: You have been diagnosed with stage I or II invasive breast cancer and your breast cancer is oestrogen-receptor positive (ER+) and Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor -negative (HER2-) (rules me out 😞 ) and you do not have lymph node involvement (also known as lymph-node-negative breast cancer / N-).         OR   You are a post-menopausal woman diagnosed with node positive (1-3 positive nodes),  ER+, HER2- breast cancer     ... View more

Great website.. clear but covers pretty much what you need to know... http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/breast-cancer-female/1989632.article   (Sorry, been away a few days and now I can't stop posting!) ... View more

I'm going to book into a spa hotel for a day/night with my best mate before chemo to spoil myself rotten! Why the heck not, ladies! ... View more

I know what you mean! My radiographer was a lovely lady, nice and calm, explained everything but didn't freak me out (was obvious the lumps were cancerous though... ugly scraggy things!)   Spoke to consultant afterwards and told him the radiographer has said they looked bad, and her left the room to speak to her privately cos notes had not come through to him. He came back in and stated 'oh yes, the readiographer is really VERY concerned. It does look serious' ... CHEERS doc... did you think I was taking it all too lightly or something?   He says that and packs me off for a 2 week wait in hell! Honestly, you'd think they'd be the kings and queens of sensitivity wouldn't you? Nope!     ... View more

I am stage 2 grade 3 one side, grade two the other, and no visible signs in lymphs.. I shall be having first appt with my oncologist (plan originally was to have 6 cycles chemo over next 5 mths, bilateral mastectomy, no radiation(cos I'm opting for bilateral mastectomy) Herceptin for 12 mths Tamoxifen 10 years If there is a safe option to avoid chemo I'd like that... am single mum/sole income to an11 year old boy, so all the side effects of chemo really daunting. Will be a tough time for us both (on the pmus side he'll have to learn to pull his weight... but I dot want my 11 year old becoming my carer after each cycle! It is good to be informed so we can at least ask the relevant questions. Appreciate the input. xxx ... View more

I also wondering whether to bother or not. Have heard it is panful? As I already suffer with sinus headaches I am not sure if it's worth it. Plus if you have to cut your hair short I agree with LouLou.. would rather risk without. ... View more

Take a pronted q&a sheet with you... I've prepared one if you want a copy? Helped me enormously. Pm me you email and I'll send it over. ... View more

PS: I thought my main lump was 5cm but apparently it is 2cm... There is tissue surrounding them that makes them feel bigger. (My 2nd lump feels 3cm but is only 1cm) Hopefully you will find the same xxx ... View more

We sound like twins! PM me your email and I'll send it over. I live in Fleet, where are you? Be great to meet up. I'm putting on a brave face for everyone but to be honest I have had NO sleep for the past 3 nights since I got the results. Been in Holland on business in crap hotels and just want to be at home in my bed with my son, dog and cats!!! Think I may ask gp for sleeping tabs. Hard to be brave when you have sleep deprivation! Niki xx ... View more

Tag.. just saw your post.. ignore mine. HOW annoying is that! Did they not give you a reason for the results delay? (Not being tested in Winchester are they? Took 2 weeks from biopsy in Basingstoke because they send them off to Winchester now!)   I didn't have bloods taken til after results. Need a chest X Ray (to hopefully rule out spead to my lungs as I have double breast cancer I guess) ... View more

Also.. I produced a 'questions to ask' word doc that I took to my results appt... was really useful (compiled from a couple of the cancer websites) Covers pretty much all angles and meant I did not leave saying 'Oh I wish I'd asked that!'   If you'd like a copy I can email it to you to print and take with you. Let me know. PM me.   I truly hope you get the all clear, but it is good to read up a little and be prepared (not too much though, I was too stressed and got quite tired during the wait so did not have the mental energy to spend on google! Plus there is just too much info out there and you can get in a total state reading stuff that probably does not even bear relevance to you) ... View more

Janie... don't freak out if your lump swells or if you get pains/twinges in your breasts/armpits after the biopsies (9!! Poor you. I had 4 and my boobs looked like a tie dye T Shirt!) This is totally normal and almost everyone experiences it (my radiographer failed to tell me that so I was totally panicked by it! Consultant reassured me on Tuesday)   Taglaloon - give them a ring tomorrow to ask if your results are back, if they are you can then make appt with consult to speed it all up hopefully. ... View more

OK, so after 2 weeks waiting in limbo, I got my results tonight...   Left breast has Grade 3 invasive lobular, HER2 positive, Oestrogen/Progesterone receptive Right breast has Grade 2 invasive lobular, HER2 neg, Oes/Prog receptive   So, I am off for 5 months (6 cycles) of chemo, 12 months of Herceptin via IV, 10 YEARS of oral Tamoxifen! (10 years? Hot flushes and sweats?)   After chemo I'll have double mastectomy, and reconstruction (just in time for Christmas! Boobs of a 20 year old please 🙂 No Radiation therapy though (in my case the consultant does not advise it as I am 'young' (49) and having a bilateral mastectomy, poss risk to lungs/heart, although techniques now are far more accurate (no Proton Beam treatments at Basingstoke!;) (NB: I found a great article on this for anyone worried about traditional Radiotherapy - it has moved on MASSIVELY, far more accurate: http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/20131209 )   Although 'on paper' this may not look good news, I am actually OK with it, as I know the plan now, and we can get going beating this. The waiting is definitely the worst.. surprised myself how calm I was today and still feel. REALLY helped that I took in my Questionnaire and asked him a gazillion questions... he loved that.. no really, he did.. said it made his job easier! (I can share it if anyone wants it.. PM me with your email addresss.)   If anyone lives near Fleet in Hampshire and fancies meeting up for coffee/chat/mutual support, let me know. My friends and family are wonderful, but it has really helped me to talk to people on here going through/who have gone through what I am experiencing.   Virtual hug x ... View more

Taglagoon, sorry to hear you are in the 'waiting room' with us. It is indeed limbo, imagination works overtime, and I am not able to get to sleep, mind goes all over the place as soon as my head hits the pillow. I've had to wait two weeks for results as consultant went on holiday last week! Poor Annie! Frustrating indeed after the wait to be told 3 of 4 tests were inconclusive. You do need to ask 'what does that mean' to everything you are not sure about. I'd phone them tomorrow and ask them to explain. Write it down first or, if you are anything like me, you'll forget. If the answers are unclear keep asking for explanation. Why were there inconclusive? Showed no cancer or were samples not viable? They need to know results to determine your treatment plan (may give you chemo to shrink tumours, makes lumpectomy more viable. Need to know if you are HER2 positive or negative as they have different treatment options) Lots of good info on this site in Diagnosis section. Also Cancer Research has the best explanation of the stages : http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/type/breast-cancer/treatment/number-stages-of-breast-cancer Don't go google mad, but do some homework on stages, basic treatment options, mastectomy types (they can do one where they save the breast skin so the reconstruction looks a lot nicer, I googled 'before/after breast reconstruction after mastectomy) Made me worry a lot less when I saw what they can do these days. Nipple reconstructions with aureole tattoos are amazing! I am going to ask my consultant to show me examples of his work! (I know that should be the least of my worries. but in my head I had imagery of brutal chest scars, so it is one less thing to worry about.) ... View more

Annie, do you have a sensible calm friend you can take with you? I have put a list together of questions to ask at the biopsy results appt so that we get all the facts. I'm like Hannah, I feel better when I know the facts. But I know my mum was the opposite. We are all different. Many well known sites have a list of questions to ask at the appt.(NHS/MacMillans etc) It is worth printing one out, and understanding some of the terminology. (This site probably has a good section on diagnosis.. have a read) Take a pad and pen and don't be afraid to ask questions. When in doubt always ask 'so what does that mean?' Some consultants can be a little intimidating, but remember it is your body... the appts are your opportunity to ask questions. (Let me know how you get on. PM me if you like) ... View more