Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Nicola, as the others have said, it depends what treatment you have as to how much time you may need off work. I had a lumpectomy, then a re-excision (due to unclear margins) so that resulted in 4 weeks off work. I didn't have chemo but did have 20 rads sessions and arranged my appointments for after work so managed to work all through.  Could your mortgage company perhaps let you have a break from payments if your treatment is going to be longer term? I'm sure I've read about this being possible somewhere.   Hope all goes well for you. Michelle xx ... View more

Hi Alibobs,   I had a lumpectomy March 2016 and then a re-excision due to an area of dcis at the margin so I was expecting to be in a lot of pain having the original wound opened up again, but actually it wasn't too bad and healed pretty quickly. I was told that taking painkillers would help it heal quicker so I took them for the first few days.  I did find wearing my normal bra quite painful so I bought some crop tops which I still wear as they are so comfortable! Probably not ideal though for anyone with a bigger bust as they are not terribly supportive!    I didn't have chemo but did have rads which did make my breast pretty sore but again it didn't take too long to heal.   I was surprised at how long it took to get the feeling back where I had the surgery and 18 months on there is still a little numbness. I also got stabbing pains for about a year which is apparently the nerve endings repairing as they are very slow to heal.  Again, it wasn't anything painful.   Once you have your treatment plan in place you will feel more in control.  Hope all goes well.   Michelle xx ... View more

Hi Naza, there is life after bc I promise!   I also switched as much as possible to paraben free things and am currently using PUR mineral cosmetics (available in M and S). It's not the cheapest but I feel happier knowing I'm not putting so many nasties on my skin. I also use Sanex Zero bodywash, Bodyshop paraben free shampoo and conditioner and Green People moisturisers. I always check the ingredients before I buy a new brand just to be sure. I'm sure there are other nasties in some of them but at least I've managed to cut out one of them for the time being! Good luck and please let us know if you find any amazing paraben free products!    Mchelle xx ... View more

Good luck with your treatment Jencat. I did not have chemo so my recovery time has been quicker than others. I hope you and all the other ladies just starting their treatment get through it ok - and come out stronger the other side! xx ... View more

Hi Jencat, I was diagnosed February 2016, so I'm just over 18 months on. And it is all just a bad memory now x ... View more

Your post made me smile! I used to be the most tolerant  person you could ever meet, and whilst I will still bend over backwards to help people, I now have little patience with those who whinge about trivial things. Lifes too short and we should do the things we want to do, stop saving the expensive perfume/jewellery/outfit for "special" times - every day is special. And my diagnosis has made me fulfil a childhood dream - at 51 I am learning to play the piano!  Here's to the future ladies! Michelle xx ... View more

Yes, the fear does stop. I gained confidence from the treatment team who were very positive about my outcome that I eventually allowed myself to believe that I was going to survive this and I have. My first annual check was fine. I do get aches and pains and for a moment I wonder if it's come back, but then I remind myself that long before diagnosis I had aches and pains - just part of getting older I guess!  I am sure that you will all feel better once your mum has her treatment plan in place, the early days of waiting for results is the hardest.  There will be light at the end of the tunnel before long - you just can't see it yet. Try to stay positive. Michelle xx ... View more

Hi Confuseddaughter, I'm so sorry to hear about your mum. I think hearing the 'C' word immediately instils fear into you, I know it did when I was diagnosed in Feb last year aged 49. I initially fell apart as I was so frightened and thought that this was the beginning of the end! But I hope I can reassure you a little. I also had invasive ductal carcinoma, no lymph node involvement, 2cm, hormone receptive. I had a lumpectomy, radiotherapy and I take Tamoxifen. And 20 months after being diagnosed I feel great. In fact I've felt great for the last few months and all that happened last year is just a memory. So please don't despair. Breast cancer is one of the most treatable cancers with very high success rates and I am sure that your mum will also be one of the success stories. One piece of advice - don't google as a lot of the information you'll find will be out of date. Perhaps you could go to the appointments with your mum, she may not remember some of whats said (there's lots of information going to be given) and her care team may be able to reassure you both. One thing someone said to me was that having cancer can be very lonely and that was so true as nobody really understands how you are feeling unless they are going through the same thing at the same time.  I hope you your mum gets her treatment plan in place soon as once treatment starts you'll be surprised at how much more in control you will all feel.  I hope all goes well. Michelle xx   ... View more

Hi Cookiepuss, after finding a lump last year, a mammogram did not show it also due to dense breast tissue, but it did show up on the ultrasound. I will now have an ultrasound to compliment the mammogram until such time as my tissue is no longer dense (which will happen as I age). I certainly welcome the reassurance of an additional check. Michelle xx ... View more

Hi Dot, my boys were 10 and 14 when I was diagnosed last year. My husband and I decided to be honest with them from the start as I would be going to lots of hospital appointments and didn't want to lie to them about where I was going each time. They were both very upset at first, the oldest asked if I was going to die and if I was going to lose my hair. The youngest was cross and said we shouldn't have told him, he didn't want to know.  We told them that I wasn't going to die, that I didn't know if I would lose my hair, and that the doctor was very positive that it could be treated easily.  After a few days they were fine and whenever I had a hospital appointment and throughout my radiotherapy they would ask about how it went.  As the others have said, it's best to be honest and as positive as possible to reassure them it's going to be ok.  I also told their schools just in case they got upset at all (which as far as I know they did't).  Hope it all goes well for you. Michelle xx ... View more

Hi Momo4169,   People are so kind, aren't they, and as one of the other replies said you get lovely messages from some people and no contact from others! I was so surprised when I was diagnosed last year that one of my closest friends only contacted me twice to see how I was whereas friends of friends were messaging me frequently! I guess some people just don't know what to say.   Anyway, good luck with your op!   Michelle xx ... View more

The creams are not very strong smelling and the dream cream has less scent than the sleepy. I always used to avoid Lush as the smell in the shop was so overpowering that I couldn't even go inside! x   ... View more

Well I bought a tub of Sleepy yesterday after reading about it on here (thank you ladies!) as I have been having trouble sleeping for quite a while and I always wake up during the night but then can't get back to sleep as my mind is just whirring. I was pretty surprised that I slept from about 11 until 5.40 (as I needed the loo). I put a little bit more Sleepy on my arms and neck and I went straight back to sleep which is very unusual! It could just be an accumulation of lack of sleep (plus the fact our 15 year old had a group of noisy friends round to watch the fight the night before which meant no sleep for hubby and I!) meant that I had just got so exhausted or maybe this cream actually helps - I really hope so! Michelle xx ... View more

Hi,   I've also changed some of my toiletries and avoid anything with parabens.  I've started using Green People products (deodorant and moisturiser so far) but it's early days with those to really see whether to switch permanently.  I've been using mineral make up for quite a while as it suits my skin.  I also use Bodyshops paraben free shampoo and conditioner and Sanex "Zero" bodywash.   I know that there is no firm evidence that parabens are dangerous, but before I was diagnosed I used a regular brand shampoo and conditioner. My hair has always been long and when I put conditioner on I used to leave my hair draped over the front of my shoulder (so resting on the top of my breast) for a few minutes for it to soak in.  This is exactly where my tumour grew. Probably coincidence I know, but what if it wasn't .....   Michelle xx ... View more

Hi CK,   That was a very insensitive comment for her to make, it does sound like she is perhaps struggling with her own emotions at the moment.   I didn't have chemo myself, but if I was going to have it I would have been very encouraged by the comments from the majority of ladies who post on here as most of them do say that whilst it's not the easiest thing to deal with, it's not nearly as bad as they thought it would be and is very doable.  Treatments advance so quickly for breast cancer and 14 years is a huge amount of time for the chemo drugs to be improved and side effects minimised.   I wish you all the best as you start your treatment.     Michelle xx ... View more

Hi Rosie,   I was in exactly the same position as you early last year. At first I was told that it would be a lumpectomy plus radiotherapy and Tamoxifen, no chemo if my nodes were clear (which they were) to suddenly being told that chemo was a possibility and having to wait nearly 3 weeks (due to Easter being in the middle) for the resilts of the Oncotype testing before a decision would be made about chemo. It was the hardest wait and probably my lowest point throughout. My score came back at the high end of intermediate (28) but also as oestrogen negative. This was retested at The Marsden and confirmed to be positive but the false negative could have resulted in the higher Onco score. Anyway, it was decided that any benefit of chemo would be outweighed by the risks and so I didn't have it.  I really wish that chemo had been mentioned at the beginning rather than suddenly thrown in later, I think I would have coped better.   I am now 18 months down the line and last year is just a memory, as it will be for you too before you know it.   Thinking of all you ladies waiting for results and wishing you all well.  Michelle xx ... View more

Hi Nikki, as the others have said, don't google. The information is often very out of date and people often post just the bad stories and not many good ones.  I have a friend who had tnbc, she's had 3 all clear annual check ups so far and she told me that when she gets to 5 then her odds of getting breast cancer again become the same as someone who has never had it, so I think that comfirms that tnbc is very treatable with very successful outcomes.     I think we've all had good days and bad days on our journeys, which is ok as we are only human.  I've had lots of aches and pains along the way and I've stopped thinking that they are the cancer returning and realise now that I'm just getting old!     I hope that once you have been given your treatment plan you will begin to feel a little more positive - it's amazing how the knowledge that something is finally being done lifts your spirits! Take care, Michelle xx ... View more

Hi Nik Nic,    My story isn't the same as yours, but I do know how hard it is waiting for this result or that result and how your body plays tricks on you. I suddenly developed lots of aches and pains after my diagnosis last year and convinced myself I was dying.  All I can say is that I have read lots of stories on here of ladies with lymph node involvement and lots of positive outcomes. The purpose of your lymph nodes is to stop the cancer cells spreading and they are obviously doing their job so please don't despair (easier said than done I know).  I think there is an area on here somewhere where you can get in touch with "someone like me" who has had the same or similar diagnosis.  I hope you can find some support to help you get through this.    Michelle xx ... View more