Breast Cancer Care Forum

Hello Sarah007   Thanks for your post. It’s understandable that you’re feeling concerned about getting the results of the CT and the bone scan next week.   Often CT and bone scans are recommended when lymph nodes are affected. This can help your treatment team decide the best treatment for you. It is possible to have a number of lymph nodes affected and for the scans to not show any further spread of the breast cancer, as is the case with Jaybro.   You don’t mention if any further treatment has been suggested. However, there are many effective treatments for breast cancer that are often used following surgery, that treat the possibility of remaining cancer cells.   It’s normal to feel scared while you wait for test results. There are different ways you can manage anxiety. While you are waiting, you may find our blog about overcoming anxiety helpful. I wonder what support you have at the moment. You may also find it helpful call our free, confidential Helpline to talk about how you are feeling or if have any further questions. The number is 0808 800 6000.   Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm and 9am -1pm on Saturday. Out of hours you can leave a message and we will call you back when we next open.    Best wishes   Teresa   Breast Cancer Now Nurse   Please read the Ask Our Nurses disclaimer   This thread will now be closed from further replies. If you have any additional questions or would like to provide feedback, please start a new thread.   ... View more

Hi Kitsnugs   Thanks for posting.   Experiencing ongoing pain can get you down, especially if you don’t know what is causing it.   A LD (latissimus dorsi) flap reconstruction involves moving the latissimus dorsi muscle from the back just below the shoulder blade and bought round to the front to form the new breast.  Some women do notice weakness and ongoing pain in the shoulder during everyday activities as a longer term problem.   There may be a number of causes for the pain that you are experiencing between your shoulder blades which may or may not be connected to your previous breast cancer diagnosis or the surgery that you have had.  It’s reassuring to hear that your GP arranged for you to have an MRI as this may determine the reason for the symptoms you are experiencing.   If the results of your MRI are not able to say what is causing your pain, your GP could refer you back to your treatment team who performed your breast reconstruction to assess your symptoms.  It may be helpful to look at this part of the forum, to see other people’s experiences of having LD flap reconstruction.   Talking to someone who has had a similar experience can be helpful and our Someone Like Me service can arrange for one of our volunteers to talk to you by email or telephone. Our volunteers have had a personal experience of breast cancer and are trained to provide support.   Do call our free, confidential Helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions. The number is 0808 800 6000.   Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm and 9am -1pm on Saturday. Out of hours you can leave a message and we will call you back when we next open.     Best wishes   Louise   Breast Cancer Now Nurse   Please read the Ask Our Nurses disclaimer   This thread will now be closed from further replies. If you have any additional questions or would like to provide feedback, please start a new thread.   ... View more

Hi johnnyE   Thanks for your post.   It’s understandable that you’re concerned that your wife is experiencing neck and back pain one year after completing treatment.   As Anniej says, it’s important for your wife to contact her treatment team and let them know what’s been happening.  They will then be able to assess what is causing the pain and offer appropriate advice in her situation. If there’s a wait for this appointment she could see her GP in the meantime to discuss pain relief.   Struggling with ongoing side-effects can affect people’s daily life and can leave some people feeling low, so finding ways to manage side-effects is important. You might find some helpful information about this in our Moving Forward resource pack.   Do call our free, confidential Helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions. The number is 0808 800 6000.   Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm and 9am -1pm on Saturday. Out of hours you can leave a message and we will call you back when we next open.     Best wishes   Anne   Breast Cancer Now Nurse   Please read the Ask Our Nurses disclaimer   This thread will now be closed from further replies. If you have any additional questions or would like to provide feedback, please start a new thread. ... View more

Hi Kj1990   Thanks for your post here in the Ask Our Nurses area about changes you have noticed in your right nipple over the last eight months.   It’s difficult for us to say for certain what is causing the itching burning sensation you are experiencing. These types of symptoms can be caused by detergents or personal care products. When they mentioned the possibility of reaction or irritation at your last appointment, I wonder if they suggested that you try changing the product you wash with and also maybe the product you wash your bra in.   You don’t specifically say how old you are, but as they said to you at your previous clinic appointment Pagets disease is a rare form of breast cancer that tends to occur in older women.   However, as your GP thinks she has found a second lump it’s good to hear that you have an appointment for this to be checked. You will be able to ask advice about the irritation and nipple changes when you visit the breast clinic too. Do tell them how much it’s bothering you and ask them for suggestions for treating it.   If you would like to talk this through or have any further questions do call our free, confidential Helpline. The number is 0808 800 6000.   Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm and 9am -1pm on Saturday. Out of hours you can leave a message and we will call you back when we next open.     Best wishes   Anne   Breast Cancer Now Nurse   Please read the Ask Our Nurses disclaimer   This thread will now be closed from further replies. If you have any additional questions or would like to provide feedback, please start a new thread. ... View more

Hi kj1990   Thanks for posting your question.   We hope to be able to respond to you tomorrow.   In the meantime our Helpline is open from 9am tomorrow if you would like to talk things through.    If you do phone our Helpline please let us know that you have asked a question on our forum so that we know your query has been answered. Thank you   With best wishes.   Lisa   Ask Our Nurses Co-ordinator Please read the Ask Our Nurses disclaimer . ... View more

Hi slwb1974   Thanks for posting here.   It can be really worrying to be given clinical information you don’t understand, and it’s so easy to draw conclusions from information you may read on the internet.   Bi Rads is a way of classifying areas within the breast based on the imaging that has been undertaken. As you’ve discovered it’s not specifically used in the UK. When used, the scores indicate the level of suspicion in each case.   Whilst a score of 4 does indicate that the area may appear suspicious, the sub category 4a means this is a low level of suspicion.   There are other, benign (not cancer) causes of abnormalities in the breast which are described the way you mention.  However, it is always important for doctors to check any area thoroughly when they are not certain of the cause, and this is why they recommend a biopsy.   It’s understandable you are worried though.  I’m unsure why you will have to wait for the biopsy and/or results for so long, you might wish to enquire as to whether this can be done sooner.  You may also find it helpful to give our free, confidential Helpline a call to talk through how you are feeling and ask any further questions. The number is 0808 800 6000 from the UK and +44 20 3553 2277 from overseas.   Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm and 9am -1pm on Saturday. Out of hours, if you call from the UK you can leave a message and we will call you back when we next open.     Best wishes   Catherine   Breast Cancer Now Nurse   Please read the Ask Our Nurses disclaimer   This thread will now be closed from further replies. If you have any additional questions or would like to provide feedback, please start a new thread.   ... View more

Hi Boothy81   Thanks for posting. It sounds like you’re having an anxious time at the moment, which is unsurprising with everything that’s happening with your family.   I’m unsure why you’re being offered two appointments at the clinic on the same day. Appointments for those with breast problems are often seen in a cancer (or oncology) clinic, as they have the appropriate imaging equipment there to perform mammograms and ultrasound scans to help with the assessment This doesn’t mean that you have cancer. Most changes and lumps in the breast are due to benign (not cancer) conditions.   However, it’s important to find out why you’ve been offered two different times. You could contact the clinic to ask them what the two appointments are for. You could also ask to speak to a breast care nurse to talk things through as you’re feeling anxious.   Do call our free, confidential Helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions. The number is 0808 800 6000.   Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm and 9am -1pm on Saturday. Out of hours you can leave a message and we will call you back when we next open.     Best wishes   Addie   Breast Cancer Now Nurse   Please read the Ask Our Nurses disclaimer   This thread will now be closed from further replies. If you have any additional questions or would like to provide feedback, please start a new thread.   ... View more

Hi Deblina   Thanks for posting here.   Treatment plans, as you say depend on a number of factors, and most of this information comes from the pathology report of the breast tissue and lymph nodes removed during surgery.  Our written information on your pathology results gives more details about what is contained in the report.   A number of these factors will also give some indication of the chance of cancer cells having spread beyond the breast or lymph nodes under the arm.  For example if and how many lymph nodes contain cancer cells or whether there is any lympho-vascular invasion (when breast cancer cells spread into the lymph and blood vessels within the breast, and can be seen in these vessels under the microscope).   Your doctors will use this information to decide whether any further scans to check for any spread are necessary before confirming your treatment plan.    Most people will not require a scan following their surgery or part of their follow up, as their risk of any cells having spread and produced any secondary breast cancer tumours elsewhere will be low.  In those who are higher risk of their cancer having already spread, doctors will often recommend a CT scan to check this depending on the individual situation.   In addition, doctors often also request routine blood tests to check the function of the liver or calcium levels which may indicate any spread of cancer to the liver or bones for instance.   Fully understanding their breast cancer and treatment decisions can be a really important way of helping some people cope and feel in control of what is happening, so don’t be afraid of asking your treatment team any questions you have.   As you have mentioned that you are 43, you may be interested to know that we have a number of services and support designed specifically for younger women. This includes a two day free residential event called Younger Women Together.   You can find out more from the above link or by calling our Helpline on 0808 800 6000.  If you would like to talk with another young woman diagnosed with breast cancer who understands what you are going through, you can use our Someone Like Me service.   Do call our free, confidential Helpline if you would like to talk this through in more detail or have any further questions. The number is 0808 800 6000.   Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm and 9am -1pm on Saturday. Out of hours you can leave a message and we will call you back when we next open.    Best wishes   Catherine   Breast Cancer Now Nurse   Please read the Ask Our Nurses disclaimer   This thread will now be closed from further replies. If you have any additional questions or would like to provide feedback, please start a new thread. ... View more

Hi mogsplus4   Thanks for your post where you say you have noticed a rash on your left breast for the last month.   It’s difficult for us to say what the rash is due to but most breast changes are likely to be due to benign (not cancer) conditions rather than being a sign of breast cancer.   Being breast aware means getting to know how your breasts look and feel so you know what’s normal for you. As you have noticed this rash it would be a good idea to make an appointment with your GP to have it checked. When your GP examines your breasts they may feel there is no need for further investigation or they may refer you to a breast clinic for further tests.   You may be interested in our mini guide, Taking care of your breasts. This pocket sized picture leaflet describes a number of breast changes to look and feel for.   For more details see our booklet Know your breasts: a guide to breast awareness and screening. Do call our free, confidential Helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions. The number is 0808 800 6000.   Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm and 9am -1pm on Saturday. Out of hours you can leave a message and we will call you back when we next open.     Best wishes   Anne   Breast Cancer Now Nurse   Please read the Ask Our Nurses disclaimer   This thread will now be closed from further replies. If you have any additional questions or would like to provide feedback, please start a new thread.   ... View more

Hi Steph87   Thanks for posting. I see you posted on Saturday so hopefully things have started to improve for you.   As Jaybro suggests, it would be a good idea to call your oncology team as your diarrhoea is worse than normal and making you feel unwell. It’s usually recommended to contact your GP or specialist team if you have four or more episodes of diarrhoea in 24 hours.   Chemotherapy can affect the healthy cells that line the digestive tract, sometimes causing diarrhoea, but diarrhoea can also be caused by an infection, so it’s important to rule this out especially as you are feeling unwell.   Your team may prescribe medication to help with the diarrhoea for your next treatment. In the meantime you should aim to drink plenty of liquid (at least two litres a day) to replace the liquid lost with the diarrhoea.   Do call our free, confidential Helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions. The number is 0808 800 6000.   Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm and 9am -1pm on Saturday. Out of hours you can leave a message and we will call you back when we next open.   Best wishes   Anne   Breast Cancer Now Nurse   Please read the Ask Our Nurses disclaimer   This thread will now be closed from further replies. If you have any additional questions or would like to provide feedback, please start a new thread.     ... View more

Hi AR1955   Thanks for your post where you told us that you are undecided whether to have a mastectomy or a “back flap” reconstruction. This is a very personal decision and it’s understandable you want more information to help you decide.   This type of reconstruction uses the latissimus dorsi (LD) muscle that lies in the back just below the shoulder blade to form the new breast. As you say, the blood vessels of the flap remain attached to the body. It’s usually necessary to use an implant under the flap to help create a breast that’s a similar size to the other one and the scar on the back is usually horizontal and hidden along the bra line.   After fully recovering from an LD flap reconstruction, some women will notice weakness in the shoulder during everyday activities. This might be an important consideration if you’re very active, for example if you regularly swim, climb, row, play tennis or golf. Your may want to discuss with your surgeon what effect the surgery is likely to have on your lifestyle and whether it is likely to affect your aching shoulder and left arm lymphoedema.   You’ll find more detailed information in our Breast Reconstruction booklet. You might also find some useful information on the BAPRAS (British Association of Plastic Reconstruction and Aesthetic surgeons) website.   Talking to someone who has had a similar experience can be helpful when you have a difficult decision to make and our Someone Like Me service can arrange for one of our volunteers to talk to you by email or telephone. Our volunteers have had a personal experience of breast cancer and are trained to provide support.   You can ring the Someone Like Me team on 0345 077 1893, or email them someone.likeme@breastcancernow.org so they can match you to a volunteer.    Do call our free, confidential Helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions. The number is 0808 800 6000.   Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm and 9am -1pm on Saturday. Out of hours you can leave a message and we will call you back when we next open.     Best wishes   Anne   Breast Cancer Now Nurse   Please read the Ask Our Nurses disclaimer   This thread will now be closed from further replies. If you have any additional questions or would like to provide feedback, please start a new thread.   ... View more

Hi  Boothy81     Thanks for posting your question.   We hope to be able to respond to you tomorrow.   In the meantime our Helpline is open until 4pm today if you would like to talk things through.    If you do phone our Helpline please let us know that you have asked a question on our forum so that we know your query has been answered. Thank you   With best wishes.   Lisa   Ask Our Nurses Co-ordinator Please read the Ask Our Nurses disclaimer .   ... View more

Hi Ljhiggins   Thanks for posting.   As your operation was very recent and wounds take a number of months to settle down it’s unsurprising you have changes taking place while it is healing.   However, it’s important to check if your wounds are healing normally. You could contact your breast care nurse or surgeon for them to assess this properly. They may also be able to recommend some different pain relief which is more effective.   Breast Cancer Now offer a variety of services to support you now or in the future.   You’re also free to call our free, confidential Helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions. The number is 0808 800 6000.   Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm and 9am -1pm on Saturday. Out of hours you can leave a message and we will call you back when we next open.     Best wishes   Addie   Breast Cancer Now Nurse   Please read the Ask Our Nurses disclaimer   This thread will now be closed from further replies. If you have any additional questions or would like to provide feedback, please start a new thread. ... View more

Hi   Thanks for posting your question.   We hope to be able to respond to you on Monday.   In the meantime our Helpline is open until 4pm today.   We are closed tomorrow (Saturday) for training purposes.    If you do phone our Helpline please let us know that you have asked a question on our forum so that we know your query has been answered. Thank you   With best wishes.   Lisa   Ask Our Nurses Co-ordinator   Please read the Ask Our Nurses disclaimer .   ... View more

Hi Victoria9985   Thanks for posting. It’s understandable to worry if you have been referred to a breast clinic.   Breast pain is very common in women of all ages. Many women experience breast pain around the time of their period.  Your breasts may feel heavier and fuller.  They may also be tender or lumpy.  After your period, this usually lessens and disappears, although for some women they can have tender and lumpy breasts all the time.  Breast pain can have several causes and there are different types of breast pain, and these are explained in our information.   Breast pain can be treated; however it is important to find out what the cause is. It can be useful to keep a pain chart to see if there is any pattern to your pain. You will find a pain chart in our breast pain booklet.   Having painful, sore or tender breasts can cause a lot of anxiety. But on its own, pain in the breasts isn't usually a sign of breast cancer.  Also, breast cancer is uncommon in women in their 20s and 30s so, the changes you have noticed are much more likely to be because of one of the reasons mentioned above rather than cancer.   However, it’s still important to be breast aware and go back to your GP if the pain increases or changes, or you notice any other changes in your breasts.   You mention that you are taking the oral contraceptive pill.  Taking the pill can slightly increase your chances of developing breast cancer, however within a few years of stopping it, this risk disappears.  If you’re worried about your breast changes and the pill it may be helpful to discuss this at your breast clinic appointment or with your GP.   Do call our free, confidential Helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions. The number is 0808 800 6000.   Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm and 9am -1pm on Saturday. Out of hours you can leave a message and we will call you back when we next open.     Please be aware that we will be closed on Saturday 9 November for training purposes.   Best wishes   Louise   Breast Cancer Now Nurse   Please read the Ask Our Nurses disclaimer   This thread will now be closed from further replies. If you have any additional questions or would like to provide feedback, please start a new thread.   ... View more

Hello breannaleggett   Thanks for your post.   As you have noticed a lump under your collar bone you can make an appointment with your GP to have it checked.   You may also find our information about breast awareness useful. Being breast aware means getting to know what your breasts look and feel like normally (for you). This will then give you the confidence to notice and report any changes to your GP.   Do call our free, confidential Helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions.   The number is 0808 800 6000.   Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm and 9am -1pm on Saturday. Out of hours you can leave a message and we will call you back when we next open.     Please be aware that we will be closed on Saturday 9 November for training purposes. Best wishes   Rachel   Breast Cancer Now Nurse   Please read the Ask Our Nurses disclaimer   This thread will now be closed from further replies. If you have any additional questions or would like to provide feedback, please start a new thread.   ... View more

Hi Victoria9985   Thanks for posting your question.   We hope to be able to respond to you tomorrow.   In the meantime our Helpline is open until 4pm today if you would like to talk things through.    If you do phone our Helpline please let us know that you have asked a question on our forum so that we know your query has been answered. Thank you   With best wishes.   Lisa   Ask Our Nurses Co-ordinator   Please read the Ask Our Nurses disclaimer .   ... View more

Hi Orchid1662   Thanks for posting.  Your question is one we are asked a lot so it’s not at all silly.   Our breasts are made up of lobules (milk-producing glands) and ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple), which are surrounded by glandular, fibrous and fatty tissue. Breast cancer starts when cells in the breast begin to divide and grow in an abnormal way but ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive ductal carcinoma are different conditions and are treated differently   Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is an early form of breast cancer and happens when cancer cells have developed within the ducts of the breast but remain within the ducts (in situ). These cancer cells have not yet developed the ability to spread outside the ducts into the surrounding breast tissue.   Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) is breast cancer that has started in the ducts but the cancer cells are no longer only in the ducts. The cells have spread outside the ducts to the surrounding breast tissue.    Sometimes IDC is found mixed with DCIS.   Most breast cancers are invasive and have the potential to spread to other parts of the body. This doesn’t mean that invasive cancer has or will spread to another part of the body, just that this is a possibility. Treatments aim to reduce the risk of this happening.   Adapting to life after treatment can be difficult regardless of the cancer was in situ or invasive. Often the need for information and support continues it’s good to hear that you are going to one of our Moving Forward courses.   We offer a range of free supportive services including our Becca app that you might be interested in.   Do call our free, confidential Helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions.   The number is 0808 800 6000.   Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm and 9am -1pm on Saturday. Out of hours you can leave a message and we will call you back when we next open.     Please be aware that we will be closed on Saturday 9 November for training purposes.   Best wishes   Eve   Breast Cancer Now Nurse   Please read the Ask Our Nurses disclaimer   This thread will now be closed from further replies. If you have any additional questions or would like to provide feedback, please start a new thread.   ... View more

Hi TraceyDreadz   Thanks for posting.   Cooling the scalp can sometimes prevent or reduce hair loss for people having chemotherapy. It works by reducing the blood flow to the hair follicles, which means that the amount of drugs reaching the hair follicles is also reduced.   The effectiveness of scalp cooling varies depending on the drug and dose used, and from person to person. If you do keep your hair, you may find that it’s patchy or thinner.   In some cultures and religions hair has a particular significance so losing it may affect ones cultural or religious identity.  Scalp cooling can also be less effective on African and Caribbean hair, so increased cooling times may be recommended.  It may be helpful to discuss this further with your treatment team.   To improve the chances of the cold cap being effective, it’s important the cap covers the whole scalp and fits snugly.  Dreadlocks may prevent the cap from achieving a close fit to the scalp.    Cancer Hair Care has more information about scalp cooling that you may want to read. You may want to submit a question to this part of the forum to see if anyone has experience of this.   We also offer a range of free supportive services that you might be interested in. For more details about all of these services, please see the information on the link.   Do call our free, confidential Helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions. The number is 0808 800 6000.   Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm and 9am -1pm on Saturday. Out of hours you can leave a message and we will call you back when we next open.     Please be aware that we will be closed on Saturday 9 November for training purposes.   Best wishes   Eve   Breast Cancer Now Nurse   Please read the Ask Our Nurses disclaimer   This thread will now be closed from further replies. If you have any additional questions or would like to provide feedback, please start a new thread.   ... View more