Breast Cancer Now Forum

Brilliant, well done! I'll pm you all the details. x ... View more

Hi,   That would be great!   I'm following the training plan from BCC here: https://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/sites/default/files/files/pink-ribbonwalk-training-guide_0.pdf   I started at the beginning of April, so not that long ago.   They do also have shorter walks (5 and 10 miles) if you didn't want to commit to the 20 miler - I think they all start at the same place so we could meet up before the walk even if you're not doing the 20 miler with us.   Let me know what you decide to do so I can send you the details if you'd like to join us.   Sam x ... View more

Hi everyone,   Well, it's a bit strange coming back here, it all feels very distant now, though looking in the mirror is an easy way to remember that it wasn't really that long ago! My hair seems really keen on growing upwards, not so much on sideways, so I'm sporting a rather weird 'dome-top' hairdo. Hopefully it'll calm down soon.   Anyway, I just wanted to pop in to find out if anyone is doing the pink ribbon walk in London? I've signed up for the 20 miler (arghhhh!) to try and get myself fit again, and just wanted to see if anyone else might be there as it would be lovely to say hello in the flesh.   Hope you're all doing really well and that normal life is gradually returning...well, the "new normal" anyway.   Hugs to you all,   Sam x ... View more

Excellent news, well done! x ... View more

Hi Marije,   I think it's very common to have these sort of feelings after treatment. I'm not quite at the point that it's hit me yet having just had my mx and also my Mum's just been diagnosed with bc, so I'm still feeling that I'm in 'cancer world'. But I suspect that in the new year I'll have a chance to take stock and let some of the realities sink in and that's when I'll start to feel the impact of it.   It also doesn't help that you always hear about people who have passed away from cancer, but you don't really hear about those who are just getting on with their lives as normal years and years after their treatment, so I think it gives us a slightly distorted view.   Also, you can't judge your situation by anyone else's situation. No two cancers are the same and no two bodies react in the same way to treatment.   It might help to see if they do a 'moving forwards' session near you, they're organised by breast cancer care and are aimed at people like us who are trying to get back to normal life after bc. I'm hoping to go to one early next year.   I'm worried about the tamoxifen se's too. I'm putting off starting mine until after my holiday next week, so I'll let you know how I get on. If you do find you have problems with tamoxifen give it a few months (apparently it takes a while for your body to adapt to it) but then go back to your onc as there are alternative treatments they can try if you're having a really bad time.   Take care,   xxx ... View more

Hi Terri,   Glad your rads are finished, hope they didn't tire you out too much more. I had some great news that my chemo was so successful (I had it pre-surgery and when they did the mx there was no disease left) that I don't need rads after all. So just a diep flap to do sometime next year - though I'm now considering this 'cosmetic surgery' and nothing to do with cancer! Hopefully it can shift a bit of belly fat because, like you, I have quite a bit of weight to lose.   Unfortunately my Mum's currently waiting for biopsy results for BC. It's a disease that just keeps giving, isn't it?! Fingers crossed it will be benign and I can finally relax and look forward to Christmas.   Take care everyone xxx     ... View more

Hi,   If it helps, I was given the choice of whether to do chemo or surgery first as it would make no difference to my ultimate outcome - so it might be that your surgeon/onc just had different personal preferences, rather than it being a cut and dried medical decision.   I opted for chemo first to shrink the tumours because I wanted to have the option of a lumpectomy available to me (though in the end I decided to go for an mx anyway, even though the chemo had done it's job) and also I wanted to get the worse bit ot of the way first (rather like eating your veg first at dinnertime!).   So don't worry if they still come back without a firm decision after the scan, it might be that there isn't a definitive path to take.   x ... View more

Just in case you were wondering when the best time is for your mother to start telling you that you need to lose weight, apparently it's 5 days after your mastectomy.   If you don't hear from me for a while it's because I'm doing 20 years for matricide!! ... View more

Hi Popkit,   I had a snorer next door too!   If you haven't already heard about them, you can get wonderful mastectomy pillows from this brilliant charity: https://www.facebook.com/Jensfriendsmastectomypillow/   I didn't think I was uncomfortable until mine arrived this morning and now I think it's going to be a permanent attachment! They only charge £3.50 and that's just to cover their postage.   Hope they get the TV working if you're in another night.   xxx ... View more

Op done! Physically feel fine, but mentally devastated that the my room's TV not working (tho relieved I've been put in a room not on ward)!!! 😄 Might get discharged as early as tomorrow. Good luck ladies having ops next couple of days. xxx ... View more

Thanks Terri. Weirdly looking forward to the surgery tomorrow, just so nice to be getting another thing ticked off my list.   I wonder if your body's just taking longer to recover because of the pneumonia? Fingers crossed the aching will ease off soon, if not perhaps contact your chemo nurses to see if they can suggest anything?   x   ... View more

Finally got my surgery date sorted for...Tuesday! Lots of notice then!! I'll be having an implant initially then a tummy-flap reconstruction thingy either in the new year if I don't need radiotherapy, or in a year's time if I do.   Sorry Popkit, but I seem to be beating you to it by a couple of days!   My main concern is that I thought it was going to be at my local hospital which is all private en-suite rooms (which was soooooo lovely when I had my baby there last year) but have just found out that it's at the sister hospital which is mainly wards. Hate, hate, hate that idea as I feel like a bit of a freak show at the best of times in my less-than-hairy state. Have asked them if they can prioritise me into one of the few private rooms they have, remains to be seen if they can. I know it's a small thing in the bigger picture, but when you feel crappy about how you look the last thing you need is to be sleeping with a load of strangers!   Anyway, at least I should be rid of any remnants of this hideous disease (fingers crossed)...though I'm of course hoping that there won't be much to find if the chemo's done its job properly.   Hope you're all finding the radiotherapy OK.   Terri - I hope your cough is finally subsiding and that you've been able to sleep a bit better. ... View more

I'd ask the make up lady and see if she can provide them, I'm sure she'll have had this type of request before (lots of people wear them just to boost their own lashes).   Alternatively, most Boots have a MacMillan sponsored make up adviser, which is tied to their No7 brand. But I wonder if you can get an appointment with one locally they would be able to advise on false eyelashes as well, as I think they do sell them in Boots. I went to one before chemo and did get some great advice from them, though not specifically about false lashes.   Hope this helps. It would be interesting to know if you do get recommended a good brand as I might invest in some myself!   xxx ... View more

Hi Terri,   It sounds like you've had an awful time, I'm so sorry it wasn't just a cold.   Don't worry about the herceptin delay, I'm sure it's not uncommon to have a change of dates because of ill health or other things (eg if your injection was due at Christmas).   Hopefully you've beaten the pneumonia and it's just the remnants of the cough to get rid of. Perhaps they can give you some sleeping pills so at least you can have a better night's sleep?   xxx ... View more

Oh Terri, I'm so sorry you've had all this on your last chemo, what a nightmare! At least your body will only get stronger and more able to fight infections from here on in, but that's probably not much consolation at the moment.   I find that hot lemon and honey helps me with coughs and colds, even if just to soothe my throat a bit (and lemon's are great for vit C). If it's a chesty cough, the other thing you can try (if you have the energy to do it) is to put some vicks ointment in a bowl of hot water and lean over it with a towel to make a little 'tent' over your head, breathing deeply. This should loosen the gunk a bit which will make it worse initially but get rid of it more quickly.   Lots of fluids (when isn't that a good thing?!!) and my Mum always told me to avoid drinking too much milk with a chesty cough, though I think that's probably and old wife's tale?!   Most importantly, take good care of yourself and don't try to do too much, even when you start to feel a bit better. Lots of rest and tlc.   xxx ... View more

Well done on getting through it Julia, so sorry you had another hideous reaction to deal with on top of everything else.   All the best for the next week or so until you start to feel better and can really appreciate that chemo is DONE!!!   xxx ... View more

Had my pre-mx chat with BN yesterday (still waiting for my date ) and found out that I will be joining the bluetit brigade! Almost glad as I was worried I was missing out!!!   RosieFlower - I hope yesterday went OK and that the se's pass quickly. Just keep remembering that every bad day is the LAST bad day.   judith63 - I was told that they had to wait a minimum of 4 weeks after my last chemo treatment for the mx to happen, so assuming the same applies to you then you should have most of December to recuperate. I think that the target is to have it within 4 to 6 weeks (though, again, I don't know if the same applies everywhere) if that helps you plan. ... View more

Completely sympathise - I'm waiting for my mx date and have a holiday booked which I might or might not have to move, just wish they could tell me when it is so I can start to plan my post-chemo/op life.   Great chemo-brain moment today - went to the WRONG HOSPITAL for an MRI scan!!! Actually, it wasn't entirely my fault, poor NHS admin also to blame. On the up side the sound system was much better at the correct hospital MRI machine, so half an hour of lying there singing along to 80s hits!! ... View more

Terri - I also think it maybe sounds more like a bug than a side effect. Sods law, I think it's called! Keep an eye on your temp and perhaps call your chemo helpline to get their view?   xxx ... View more

Brilliant colour co-ordination with the pink-pee post FEC!! ... View more