Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hello Bellis Coldwine, I don't come on the forum very often these days but just popping back in and noticed your post - particularly about feeling as though a recurrence is getting more likely as time passes. I've been told twice now that its actually the opposite. My oncologist said it a couple of years ago, and yesterday the surgeon I saw for a check up said very firmly that "Every day that passes means it is less likely to happen again". He said that of course it can sometimes happen years down the line, but that by far the most common time for recurrence is the first couple of years. My first diagnosis was in 2014 and I was unlucky enough to have it twice more, but each time was treated and I'm now 3 years clear - and planning to stay that way!  It is still early days for you and, like other lovely ladies on here have said, I do believe it gets easier over time. Take care, and try to keep occupied with things you enjoy. Love Mo xx      ... View more

Hi, I had mastectomy with implant recon a few years ago. I remember being advised to build up slowly with lifting and I'm pretty sure there was something about being particularly careful with lifting with arms above my head? So it may be as well to get a bit more advice, like from a Breast Care nurse, before heavy lifting on to the car roof. I've no doubt you'll be able to do it in time, but may need to build up to it? Good luck! xx ... View more

Hi Jasper, I think I spotted that you have asked the nurses about this - always a wise move and I hope their reply reassured you and your friend. I've had all the treatments over the years and been on tamoxifen for nearly three years, and anastrozole before that. I have gladly had all my covid jabs/boosters with no problem and never any hint from doctors that it was anything other than A VERY GOOD THING! Best wishes xx ... View more

Hello everyone, sorry  I was on here way back but have dropped out a bit. Its great you are all keeping in touch and cheering each other on. Just want to throw in a word of cheer about the zolendronic acid, I'm on it 6 monthly and have had three doses without problem. I was a bit tired and achey the day after but nothing major. I was due the 4th dose this week but they have postponed for 3 months due to covid, the oncologist was very positive that it's in my system now and a delay will not matter.    Love and good luck to you all, Mo xx ... View more

Thanks for doing the link Delly. I read through your How to Do it and thought, naaaw, just ask Delly. Happy birthday lovely  xxx ... View more

Peonyrose,I am so sorry to hear this awful news. I hope you can soon settle into your treatment and that it works well for you. I don't know if this will help you at all but there  is a post from a member called Pawsome on the Living with Secondary Cancer thread, which gives very encouraging news about her progress, and she is not the only one with good outcomes. The  thread is called No Evidence of Active Disease, first post on 9 Oct 2020. Sorry I do not know how to do a link. Take care of yourself and do not give up. Much love Mo xx ... View more

Hi Jane,  sorry you find yourself having treatment again. My story has been a bit similar so thought I'd share with you in case it helps, but do bear in mind we are all different and our treatments are very individual. I had bc in 2014, just needed mx surgery and no mention of chemo, then a new primary on the other side in 2017 which was lumpectomy and rads followed by discussion about chemo but nodes were clear and i decided not to have it. Then like you I found lumps in the first 2014 armpit a year later. I had full anc  which gave 8 nodes, 3 with cancer. My team offered chemo and because it had been in the nodes the steer from my surgeon and BCN was to have it, although the oncologist said it was a choice and definitely classed as adjuvant, just to reduce the risk of recurrence rather than because they thought there was any spread. So I had chemo during 2019. I was not given a grade for the node cancer, I asked and was told they did not grade reccurences. Chemo was quite hard and it's good if you do not need it, but I understand your reservations. You could speak to your BCN or maybe call the nurses here for a chat, I have several times over the years  and they have been brilliant. Sometimes it's particularly good to talk to someone expert but independent from our hospital.   I hope you reach a result you are happy with and wish you all the best whatever way it goes. Love Mo xx ... View more

Hi Delly, you make a good point about the receptionist - not her fault. I've edited my post because I thought the original might sound like I was criticising receptionists and I certainly do not want to do that. All the staff work so hard, especially in these dreadfully difficult times. Hope you are keeping well, thanks for the humour and wisdom you share with us all. Love Mo x ... View more

Hi Bonbon, I just popped on to the forum and saw your post, that's so annoying about the wrong address, not surprised you are cross. You have a date now so try to remember it is perfectly possible, even likely, that this is benign. I had several referrals in my 50s which were all harmless cysts. As a wise woman on here always says, you do not have cancer until a doctor tells you do. Try to take comfort from not being urgent, that sounds like your gp is not too worried but wants to make sure. Also do not worry about the time of day. I've had bc more than once since about age 60, (but fine now) and in my experience these clinics just go on for as late as they need to, they just press on til we are all done. Having said all this I do understand how hard it is, waiting is horrid, but try to stay positive until you are told different. Lots of love Mo xx ... View more

Hi Francis, I'm not a medical professional but I really don't think missing a few days will matter. I've been on anastrozole in the past and now on tamoxifen. You could call the nurses on here  tomorrow to get a definite answer but I think the protection stays in our system for longer than that. I'm glad you are not too worried about the double of your other tablets. Hope you can sort out a way to avoid this happening, it's so easily done when we have lots of pills, maybe colour coded boxes or something! Take care, xx ... View more

Hello, I'm sorry you find yourself here after all you have been through, but there is lots of support here and people to cheer you on. You've done it before and you can do it again if need be! No, it is not always bad if in the nodes, but it does mean your team will be extra thorough with scans etc to make sure. I've had mastectomy and lumpectomy in the past, nodes thought to be OK, then 2 years ago I had lumps in one armpit so needed full axillary clearance. The cancer  had not gone any further and I've had ct scans to check for any spread and always been clear, the last one was before Christmas and I had the good news this week. I did have chemo after the axillary clearance but it was not absolutely necessary and I had a choice, which being otherwise in good health I decided to take, but it is always a balance and you may not need it. It may well  be those nodes have done their job catching the cancer and surgery and hormone tablets will be all you need. It is such a hard time for you, but try to hang onto the positives. Very best wishesto you for the rest of your treatment. Love Mo xx ... View more

Oh, peonyrose, Alice, So sorry you have more to deal with, I really feel for you. It's good you are getting more appointments and scans but such a hard time. I guess it may mean a change of treatment plan,  but your team will do whatever is best for you. If you want to talk with someone the nurses here are brilliant, I've called them 2 or 3 times and always found it really helpful. I hope you can get some rest tonight. Love Mo xx ... View more

Hello PeonyRose, glad to hear you have your date, not too far away. Try to keep busy and the time will slip by. Good luck too for the scan result - as a bit of cheery news, I had an annual follow up CT scan recently and just got the result that mine was all clear, hope you will be the same. Best wishes to all the ladies on here going through treatment at such a difficult time, love and strength to you all. Mo xx   ... View more

Hello CeliaRose, I am so sorry your reconstruction has been cancelled. I just spotted your thread and was about to add some encouragement, because I had an implant recon several years ago and have been happy with it, but this is so disappointing for you. I do hope the mx can go ahead, try to focus on the good fact that the cancer will be gone and the main surgery will be over. I am no expert of course but I hope it may be a fairly straightforward thing for them to give you an implant in future so, as Hope says, try to think of it in stages and you will get to where you want to be in the end. Very best wishes to you, Love Mo x  ... View more

Hello, DJD has given you a great reply, I had rads in 2018 and my experience was very similar. Its a chore because you have to go 5 days out of 7 for several weeks, but the actual treatment is pretty easy. Your skin needs to be clean and dry when you have treatment so avoid moisturising beforehand, but its good to use something afterwards. Some people get quite sore and the nurses will recommend creams if needed. I also got a bit tired, mainly towards the end and for the next couple of weeks, but all very manageable. I hope your op goes well, good luck with all your treatment. Love Mo x ... View more

You are welcome, happy to help if I can. So, hospitals may  be different of course but here's what has happened at mine. First a very kind person does mammograms, usually only a short wait, they take care to get good pics but give no clues. I think it's normal to do both breasts,  partly so they can compare what our tissue looks like. Then maybe a bit of a wait and then see the radiologist doctor who does an ultrasound on the area of interest. They may say from that scan that it is a cyst or something else benign and we go dancing off all done. Or they may want to take a biopsy. I have always asked and been given a steer at that point with comments ranging from I really don't know what this is, (that one for me turned out to be benign) to, What I see worries me.  Biopsies have to go off to be cultured and examined so results usually take a week or 2. My place says allow 3 hours too, I'd say that's a maximum and you may be much less. They try to do as much as poss in one visit to avoid us waiting for news. You'll be OK to raise your mask for a drink, take your own supply of course. Not sure about phones, maybe not as you are in an area with scanners etc, in my place you cannot get a signal in the depths of the hospital! I've been in for routine stuff during covid and was asked not to arrive too early and not to take anyone with me. It may be different for you but I'm sure they will have advised you.  Hope this helps, best wishes xx ... View more

Hi ariom, Evie has given you a great reply so I'll just say, I agree with her! No one will think you are wasting their time, most lumps are harmless - I was referred several times years ago and it was just cysts - but your gp wants you checked and you are right to report it. I also think it is the norm to have mammograms and an ultrasound scan at the first visit, thats what I've had, and its great they are seeing you quickly. Try not to worry, don't alarm yourself looking at Dr google, and best of luck. Love Mo x   ... View more

Hi peony rose,  so sorry you find yourself here but, as others have said, you are not alone,  lots of us have been through it and out the other side and there is lots of support for you. Waiting is horrid, but it's good  you are getting a plan in place. Try and keep busy and be kind to yourself while you wait for the op. I've had bc 3 times, mastectomy, lumpectomy and, 2 years ago a full node clearance. There will be lots of advice and info on here and the nurses are brilliant if you want to talk to someone who knows. I had chemo just after the last one and it was hard but doable, also had radiotherapy after the second and that was boring but pretty easy. It's fairly routine I think to have a ct scan, I've had 3 of those, and as you say, they were just checking but not expecting to find anything. Most likely those lymph nodes have done their job and caught any nasties and after the op the cancer will be gone. Sorry I've gone on so long but I feel for you and lots of people may be busy with Christmas so I did not want to pass by. I am fine now and just pop on now and then to share experience, I hope it helps. Ask away if you have any questions but remember we are all different and your team will do what is best for you. Love Mo xx ... View more

Hi hfc, I hope you got through your chemo today ok, you are on your way and can now start counting off the days to the finish. I hate needles too and worried about the self injecting but i managed it, the needle is very small and does not go in very far, just under the skin and it is doing you good. I'm 66 and finished chemo last year. Keep using this forum, call the brilliant nurses on here if you want to, and tell your team if you have any concerns or problems with side effects. Very best wishes to you, you can do it!  Love Mo x ... View more