Breast Cancer Now Forum

What a lot to catch up with - Blue I'm so sorry to hear your news 😓 I do hope you were told that they got clear margins and there's no more surgery. Hopefully your wounds are healing without all that fluid, thinking of you xxx It sounds like you're doing really well Wtp, especially wearing your softie, I didn't manage that for ages! And you got surgery knickers - I didn't get those, very jealous, they sound lovely!! Scotty I hope you're still feeling well .... ... View more

Good luck Wtp xx ... View more

So sorry to hear your news Wtp 😥 that's just rubbish after everything you've been through already. I've actually found the mx to be the easiest part of this whole thing, I was just glad to have it all gone. It healed really well and I'm very pleased with the prosthesis supplied by the hospital, it's comfortable and you really can't tell. I'm not thinking of reconstruction at all - quite happy with the way things are at the moment. Thinking of you xxx ... View more

Hurray- well done Egg!! Really pleased for you x A FB group sounds good to me, thank you Suze for offering to set that up. I'm at the fluffy hair stage too, it's a bit patchy but definitely getting there, it seems to be a bit darker every day. Sadly I think it's going to grow straight out like a toilet brush -a very grey one - think I'll be in a hat for a while yet. Xx ... View more

That's fantastic news Scotty!! So pleased for you x I'm taking part in the Add Aspirin trial too Lighthouse. So far so good, hopefully I'll be ok after the 8 week trial to carry on. As well as possibly helping with new treatments I like the thought that the hospital will be keeping an extra eye on me. That made me smile about your head frisking at Wembley - I'm going there next week with my daughter to see Adele, I'll warn her that her mothers bald head might be on show! Hope you all have a great weekend x ... View more

Hi, hope you're all keeping cool 😎 Scotty I had a full node clearance and a mastectomy, as Jackie said the exercises are really important, not easy at first though. I'm starting to get used to using my arm as normal again now. It's taken a long time as the healing seemed to go backwards with every chemo, with all that behind you hopefully you'll heal much quicker. I did worry myself a few times by thinking it was swollen, then I looked at my other arm and realised it was just my bingo wings! The thing I found most frustrating was in the kitchen and making meals - I had problems with chopping etc - wish I'd found bags of frozen diced onions, mushrooms and veg in Tesco's much earlier - anything ready prepared is definitely worth it. Jackie I've had nausea too, it's not really gone since the end of chemo but got worse during rads- it seems to be going slowly, I've not managed to lose any weight though sadly. Hope your dog's ok, my golden retriever had pancreatitis a few years ago, she was in intensive care for a couple of days but pulled though - don't think she was very impressed with the low fat diet she had to live on after that! I've lost my first finger nail today, just when I thought they were going to hang on. I still have then covered in nail varnish though so I can't see what's happening underneath, think I'll keep it that way for quite a while yet. Hope it all goes well for you tomorrow Blue, Beedot and anyone else with treatment or appointments x ... View more

Thank you very much Jackie for the certificate! You are really kind to us all. Your medication sounds very complicated Robin - I think I've got off lightly with only having to remember tamoxifen, I did nearly forget tonight though, not great for only the second week! ... View more

You're so kind Jackie, I hope your rads are going well and your arm is getting better? Well done to Robin and Nicky - me too, it was my last radiotherapy yesterday. Felt a bit emotional, the nurses were lovely, very kind. It is nice having the day off today though. I hope your skin isn't too sore Robin, it's good that they're checking up on you. Mines red and painful to touch on my neck and the bit that hasn't been covered by my t-shirt. I was just recommended to try and keep it covered, carry on with the e45 and try Aloe Vera. I'm hoping that'll do the trick. Still got a way to go yet but I would like to thank you all for taking the time and effort to post on here over the past few months - you've all been such a huge help - an amazing bunch of ladies. Hope you're all feeling good today whatever you're up to or treatment you may be having xx ... View more

That's brilliant news Wtp!! Great to hear that all you've been through has been so worthwhile x ... View more

Hi all, It's been a while since I checked in - well done to everyone who's finished chemo!! We're all getting there. The final dose wasn't particularly kind to me either, nothing serious, all the usual things - very emotional, tired, bad fingers, runny eyes and nose - all still hanging around. Unfortunately by bad arm and surgery scar were badly affected this time, very sore, wearing any type of bra was really painful. Frustrating as I was doing quite well with physio and it was starting to improve a bit. Not sure why it happened but thankfully its starting to get better now - at least I can wear my underwear again, a relief as we have builders around at home at the moment! I've had a couple of really good appointments in the last week or so - firstly with the radiotherapy consultant, after feeling down with last Tax he was lovely, said just the right things to get me feeling positive again. The doctors can make such a difference, I've found all the way through I'm usually as good as my last appointment. The other one was with the physiotherapist, she's starting special exercise classes for cancer patients at the hospital, so I'm starting circuit training as soon as I'm finished radiotherapy, all new to me!! Radiotherapy started yesterday, all fine. I think the worst bit will be the drive there and back, an hour each way. I was told though that the side effects usually peak 1 to 2 weeks after the last treatment. Looks like a bit of a longer wait to get a bit energy back again. Blue - I hadn't really thought about tamoxifen yet, one step at a time. A friend has been on it for a few years now though, it wasn't great at first but settled and she's fine with it now - she's also escaped lymphoedema. Thanks Truey for the nail info. I have bad fingers at the moment, not sure if it's neuropathy or my nails starting to fall off, probably a combination of the two. I'll be keeping the navy blue nail varnish for a while yet. Thinking of you all, and hoping that the sunshine comes back again for the weekend. Hope I'm not too late to join in the group hug xxx ... View more

Oh Robin, that's rubbish, so feel for you xx. I do hope you get it out very soon and your hand recovers quickly xxx Jackie you have been in the wars, great that Bob is getting the message and getting better. Heads seem so much more vulnerable with no hair, hope it's not too sore 🤕 Take care, we will all get there, and so worth it for getting rid of the b****r xx ... View more

Thank you ladies! Especially Jackie for the badge, you are very kind, I will print it as a final bit of paper for my chemo file, a lovely positive end! Robin I would love to join your party, although as my last dose of T made me very grumpy I don't think you'd want to know me just yet! I will be definitely be there though when I'm a bit more human again. I hope you had good news about your Picc line today and the MRI went well. Esther I hope your last dose is being kind to you, only another couple of weeks for the worst to be over. I don't know about you but I think my thermometer may go in the bin then, or definitely put somewhere where I don't have to see it for a very long time! I hope the last few weeks fly by for you Wtp2016. Yes plenty of hot flushes here, we must be the only ones glad of a bit of colder weather today! I've got myself a chillow mat to go under my pillow which has made it a bit easier at night, doesn't stop it from happening but cools me down quicker when it does. Best wishes to all of you, take care xxx ... View more

Forgot to say, it was organised by my consultant. I was surprised as I'd been told by the nurses too that they usually like to wait a couple of weeks just incase it's needed - wasn't going to disagree though! Maybe it depends on your consultants view, hope you get yours out quickly too xx ... View more

Thanks Ebim! I will treasure my badge! Yes the PICC line was taken out straight away, only took a few seconds and I didn't feel a thing. They could take it away as I'm not due back now for any blood tests or anything until radiotherapy, and fingers crossed this last dose will be straightforward. It feels strange tonight not to have my arm bandaged, but I'm sure I'll get used to it! xx ... View more

Hi ladies, So sorry you've got problems again Jackie, you've really been through it, I hope the antibiotics kick in quickly. Robin I hope everything's ok with your scans, I suffer really badly from scanaxiety, I do feel for you. I hope at least you know the outcome quickly (all good news obviously!) Egg, I didn't find the PICC line that bad, I had mine put in just before my 2nd treatment (the veins in my elbow and neck turned bright red after using a cannula for my first FEC. There was a chance it could have been permanent - it wasn't fortunately but they weren't going to risk it again). It took a while to settle and I've had a few issues with allergies to dressings but it's been great for treatment and blood tests and good to know I could be hooked up quickly and easily if needed. Anyway my line was taken out today as I am now home after my Final Dose. Can't quite believe that's it yet, celebrating with a cup of decaf tea and a biscuit tonight, proper celebration arranged when I'm at day 21! Hot flushes galore already but ok apart from that. This last dose of docetaxol has been reduced a bit ( I've have problems with my fingers which hadn't cleared up this time, so my consultant wanted to reduce the chance of permanent damage) Anyway hopefully that means the rest of the side effects will be slightly better too, although I'm sure I won't escape the fatigue. I did feel for the lady sat near me who was just starting today, it seems like such a long time since the beginning of living in this bubble and everything arranged around good and bad days. Four weeks to recover now until radiotherapy, although I have sore 'bad' arm which I'm hoping isn't the start of lymphedema. Jackie I hope you manage to arrange some treatment for yours. Best wishes to all of you, whatever stage you're at the end is getting closer, take care xxxx ... View more

Thank you all for the welcome 😊 I'm sorry to read I wasn't the only one with dense tissue causing problems, it looks like it might affect more than the 10% I was told. My onc did tell me though that I'll continue to have only mammograms as the density goes down with age. I think I'll check about that nearer the time. I've just spend a while trying to reply to each of you individually but I'm afraid my chemo brain isn't up to it (not sure that my pre chemo brain would have been either) but I do hope all your side effects are minimal and you get a good nights rest 💤 ... View more

Hello ladies, I'm a little late but I'd like to join this thread if that's ok? Just a bit about me - I was diagnosed last October (stage 2, grade 2, 4.5cm and 5/13 positive lymph nodes) a bit of a shock as I'd been given the all clear after a mammogram back in June. It turns out it was buried in dense tissue, meaning the mammogram couldn't detect it. Apparently that happens sometimes especially in 'younger' ladies (I'm 48!). I'd always had lumps and bumps and to me they didn't feel any different. I'll always feel bad about not finding sooner, although the nurse was unsure when I was first examined, and the ultrasound showed something much smaller. I found it by a lump under my arm - thank goodness for lymph nodes doing their job - I do think I've been very lucky that as far as the scans show it hasn't spread any further. I had a mastectomy and lymph node clearance in December, and FEC-T started on Jan 9th. I've been fairly lucky and so far I haven't suffered too badly, only one trip to a&e. I'm now in the middle of T2, only one more to go, then radiotherapy and Tamoxifen. I just wanted to say thank you ladies for all your posts, you've all been a huge help in getting me through this. There's such a lot to take in, it's hard to know where to start, you've helped me make sense of it all. Wishing you all the very best, take care Paula x ... View more