Breast Cancer Now Forum

Logging in to say hello to everyone but especially to Tat. Thanks for the prompt, Bibi. Along with Bibi, I'm hoping the doxorubicin is doing a good job, Tat.   Things are going fine with us. Hubby, boys and I had a lovely week's skiing over half term. Nice family holiday, with plenty of time together but plenty of opportunities for the boys to go off on their own.   I had my fourth cycle of Zometa today; remember that's to reduce risk of recurrence in bones and to reduce risk of letrozole-induced osteoporosis. Been six months since my last one. Felt very strange to be back in a chemo unit.   Still putting lots of effort into keeping fit. Doing the London Surrey 100 mile bike ride at the end of July for Breast Cancer Now. A big challenge but one I'm massively looking forward to.   Wishing everyone warmest wishes.   ... View more

Good to hear from you, Carole. Glad your early-year panic was just that.    I've had three cycles of zoledronic acid now and I really have to say that in terms of side-effects, other than some bone ache after the first one, I honestly wouldn't have known I'd had them. Sorry! Hope you fare better with your future cycles.    Your anecdote about your daughter having calmed down now she has a boyfriend is funny. My two boys are close in age and I'm afraid are very much partners in crime. Bring on the girlfriends!   All the best over Christmas and for 2017 too! xxx     ... View more

Hi tat,   Good to hear from you and thank you so much for your reassuring words on teenagedom and parenting. I really, really appreciate that.    The hip pain is indeed subsiding. Thanks for the good wishes on that front too.   I'm massively keeping my fingers crossed that the doxorubicin works for you, tat. I had f our fortnightly sessions of  doxorubicin & c yclophosphamide in combination followed by four fortnightly sessions of  paclitaxel on its own. If the antinausea meds they give you initially aren't strong enough, demand Emend (aprepitant).   It must be good to have your family around you at this difficult and uncertain time. I'm hoping you will be able to take strength from them. Sending you very warm wishes now and for when the next round of treatment starts... and good luck in Dorset with the Aga!   Brave x ... View more

Hello everyone! Just thought I'd log in to send everyone best wishes for the coming festive season.    I'm loaded with a cold, but had a clear mammogram and ultrasounds on Monday (my 1st since my op last yr on Dec 19). I mentioned a pain in my hip that had been coming and going for a couple of months to the consultant who gave me my results and he whisked me in for a bone scan two days later. Said he'd been in this game long enough to know not to leave anything to chance. It was all clear on the bc front but I have some early arthritis in my lower back and knees that could be causing the pain in the hips. Am on high-dose ibuprofen for a week to try and reduce inflammation. Given what it could have been, I guess I should be grateful. I'm still playing tennis and running, work is good and generally I've been doing ok but I am still finding things quite tough in terms of keeping that fear of recurrence in check..   My boys are proving difficult.There's a lot of, how should I put it, experimentation and partying going on. I find it quite hard to handle.   I'm looking forward to a quiet Christmas.   How's everyone? It's tricky, isn't it? Sometimes you don't want to ask how people are because you're scared of the answer. But you know what I mean, we were all in the same boat. Sending very warm wishes to you all. xx ... View more

Hi everyone! AC, that's bizarre. I had made a mental note to log in today and make a post asking everyone how they were doing.   Tat, in particular how are you? I don't know what to say other than say I'm sending you warm thoughts.   I'm loaded with a cold, but had a clear mammogram and ultrasounds on Monday (my 1st since my op last yr on Dec 19). I mentioned a pain in my hip that had been coming and going for a couple of months to the consultant who gave me my results and he whisked me in for a bone scan two days later. Said he'd been in this game long enough to know not to leave anything to chance. It was all clear on the bc front but I have some early arthritis in my lower back and knees that could be causing the pain in the hips. Am on high-dose ibuprofen for a week to try and reduce inflammation. Given what it could have been, I guess I should be grateful. I'm still playing tennis and running, work is good and generally I've been doing ok but I am still finding things hard emotionally.   My boys are proving difficult.There's a lot of, how should I put it, experimentation and partying going on. I'm worried sick.   I'm looking forward to a quiet Christmas.   I'd love to hear your news. xx ... View more

Well done on finishing RT, Kary. Hope things resolve to at least some degree. Best wishes. ... View more

Also, I meant to say, it may be that some of the swelling is related to the surgery and the radiotherapy and that it's not all lymphoedema... so give it time.  ... View more

Hello from me too, Kary. I echo what Amero says. Persevere with the MLD. If you can't get therapy from a professional, you can always go online and print off some instructions for self lypmhatic drainage. There are also videos on youtube that show you exactly what to do. Mine sounds as if it was quite mild compared to yours but it is much better now and I am wearing a normal bra. I do hope you manage to get yours under control. With very best wishes. ... View more

Check out mlduk.org.uk. Also, i'll direct message you with more info. ... View more

Hi Kary. I was diagnosed with breast lymphoedema post radiotherapy but I also had seromas after surgery and cellulitis during RT, both of which could have been factors, and a bad skin reaction to RT. Once things had calmed down, I had 15 sessions of manual lymphatic drainage, which really helped, and now I do self LD every day which more or less keeps things in check. Keep asking questions and insist you get what you need. Best wishes. ... View more

...and spread to lymph nodes in that time too. ... View more

Best outcome. There was nothing suspicious in my two earlier mammograms. So my tumour went from nothing to probs wider than 5cm in nine months. Scary indeed. Take care all.x ... View more

Thanks, Tat. Yes, any death is sad but there really was a sense with my mother-in-law that it was time to go. And it was lovely that hubby and I were with her at what was a very peaceful end. Sounds like you tolerated your first Taxol quite well. Fingers crossed for future sessions. Ladies, I'm waiting in the breast radiology dept at King's College Hospital... they've called me in to give me the results of the review of the manmogram I had in October 2014 which they said was clear. I asked for the review as I felt I needed to know if they'd missed anything. By the time i was diagnosed in July 2015 the tumour was "probably bigger than 5cm". Onc said it could have grown to that size in 9 months but I still want to know. Will keep you informed. Wishing you all well.xx ... View more

Aw thanks, Bibi. I appreciate that. My mother-in-law had been very frail for some time and there really was a sense that it was time for her to go. Sad nonetheless; esp for boys, who've lost two grandparents in eight months and for husband, who has now lost both parents.    But on that cheerier note, YES, I have won a match, and a league one at that... 6-1, 6-0. It may have been a fluke but a win is a win. I don't live too far from Wimbledon, Bibi. If you find yourself there again, give me a shout. Laughed at your account of playing with erratic beginners!   On swimming, I spent hours in the pool in Croatia doing length after length of breast stroke. It was fantastic for my tummy scar. Stretched it in ways I'd never stretched it before. Not sure it helped the swelling, but I loved it. This was the first time I'd swum since last summer. So glad to hear it helped you too. Like you, I didn't really appreciate I needed the stretches beforehand.    How did your son do in his AS levels? MIne did better than expected (phew!), well enough to be hopefult of getting decent grades in the real thing next year. Younger son did superbly in his GCSEs.   Love to all. x     ... View more

Tat, massive hugs to you and fervently wishing you all the best in this next stage. I hope you manage to enjoy your holiday.x ... View more

Best wishes to all. xx ... View more

Love yr attitude, Bibi... will look around for some less good players! Packing today. We're all heading off tomorrow to Croatia for two weeks. V exciting, v excited. Things going well on the whole. Feeling positive mentally. Trying to keep boob lymphoedema in check with self MLD. Some days more swollen than others. Also, have developed something called "trigger thumb"... a known but not common side effect of letrozole. Rather painful. Hope it resolves itself. If not, minor surgery an option. Tat, how are you? You've been in my thoughts. AC, how are you bearing up? Love to all.xx ... View more

Hi all. We're all clearly at the age where we lose our parents. I have my dad's order of service from his funeral in February in the kitchen drawer, Bibi, so I know exactly what you mean. I like the fact that the photo on the front is one I myself took. AC, my thoughts are with you. Tat, I echo Bibi on the biopsy front. Bibi, I played tennis too today - got thrashed 1-6, 1-6. Still to win a game! x ... View more