Breast Cancer Care Forum

Hi stayingcalm I was diagnosed with triple negative bc in April 2017 and having finished treatment I’m now back working full time and feeling well. My sister had triple negative bc 27 years ago and is living proof that you can survive it. Your daughter may find it helpful to join the Facebook group Triple Negative Warriors where she will be able to speak to lots of other ladies in the same situation. It’s a UK site and I’m sure she will find the support offered there invaluable.  ... View more

Hi Chris  So sorry to hear of your wife’s secondary diagnosis. I have primary triple negative cancer and am a member of the Triple Negative Warriors UK Facebook group. I strongly recommend your wife joins this group as she will find many other ladies in the same position and similar ages as it typically affects the 30 - 50 years age group. There is lots of support and you can find out about the treatments and clinical trials available to those with a secondary TN diagnosis.  Research into Triple Negative BC is moving very fast now and not all hospitals are up to date so the Facebook group is invaluable as it has over 600 members from across the UK happy to share their knowledge and to offer love and support. There is  plenty of hope and I know of people on the site who have proved their medical teams wrong. ... View more

Hello RosieH I had double mx and DIEP flap recon. What type of recon are you having?   I got some good value post surgery bras from Asda and also one from M&S, bit more expensive but really comfortable and supportive and you can claim the VAT back! Initially I was advised to wear a sports bra and I got a really supportive one called “ shock absorber “, it was tight but helped to keep the shape in the early days. I now wear it when I go to the gym. Again it wasn’t cheap although you can often get deals on sports shop websites and I’ve certainly got good use out of it.   ... View more

Interesting article Mai. Treehouse I don’t think if you have inherited a dodgy gene that you can blame yourself for getting bc. Well that’s what I tell myself anyway. Your reminiscing has reminded me of the time I opened the door spaced out from chemo and wigless thinking it was my daughter and it was a double glazing salesman. The look on his face was priceless, I’ve never got rid of a cold caller so quickly 😂 ... View more

Tatyana - hope you enjoyed Swanage. Hasn’t it been lovely not to have to plan when to have breakfast or dinner? Hope you get on well with the new oncologist on Wednesday, I haven’t “gelled” with any of mine. I really liked my surgeon and we got on well, I’m quite sorry I won’t see her again but as I’ve had bilateral mx she’s discharged me!! Lesley- I had the white ridges too, I didn’t really do anything to protect them but didn’t lose any. I randomly lost a toe nail after chemo finished though!! ... View more

Jay, didn’t realise herceptin was dependent on your heart scan, got everything crossed for you that you get the go ahead for Thursday, maybe we can start doing a little heart dance for you 💕 💕 💃 💃 💕 💕 I suppose the scan is at E Surrey, I’m at Crawley on Monday morning for pre chemo blood test 🙄 Back to that 3 weekly cycle again, brings back such fond memories!!!! ... View more

Hi all, treehouse glad you had a great time in Brighton, you’ll have to pop in and see me next time you’re driving down this way. I’m going there next Friday with my daughter for the day, when we’ve been paid! Good luck with the herceptin injection.   Jay - congrats to your son, that’s great news, you must be feeling very proud. Are you back at the hospital next Thursday, I have another pm appointment to pick up my tablets.   Tatyana- how was cycle 1? I have my last dose this evening and then a week off. Yay 🎉 . Feeling surprisingly good, just a bit of fatigue although that may be because I’m back at work on a phased return. Not sure when I’’ll be able to cope with full time and the daily commute! Now you’re on FB you should join our May group, just pm WolfEE for details if you’re interested.   Happy Friday everyone, it’s beautifully sunny here today but cold. ... View more

Ha ha Mishy, that made me laugh, it’s all so true.   Good luck tomorrow with the bone scan, you’all be glad to get it over with. Will be thinking of you xx   You too treehouse, hope all goes well with your check up xx     ... View more

I agree Buddy fan especially now I’m back at work, someone said last week “great to see you back,you’ve got the all clear then! I just can’t be bothered to reply. Also people complaining about headaches etc or how their hair’s a mess and they’ve got long flowing locks 😂 😂 As you say treehouse it’s not their fault but just difficult to deal with atm. Someone even said I should’ve carried on wearing my wig until my hair got longer! I felt like saying I’m not in the business of making you feel more comfortable. So if all my hair falls out on Cape I will go in completely bald just to prove a point!! ... View more

Treehouse - so sorry you’re having to go through this. Good news that your levels are coming down, hopefully they’ll get this sorted. Sometimes it does help to write everything down just to get all that “stuff” out of your head, hope you can get some rest now xx ... View more

Oh good Tatyana, same for me so far, I think I’m just a day behind you. What dose are you on? I’m taking 4000mg per day, four pills each time. Yes we tend to eat late too but I got used to a long lie in when I wasn’t working. It’s all been a bit of a shock 😂 ... View more

Oh treehouse you must be seriously fed up! You will be much better off at home, your hubby sounds amazing. Hope they get you sorted quickly and you can continue along the bumpy road! Tatyana, how are you? How are you tolerating the tablets? It’s annoying to have to get up early to take them isn’t it? ... View more

Hope everyone got on ok with the hospital appointments.   Jay - ha ha can just imagine your face when you realised you were a bit one sided. Mine are a bit like that anyway, despite plastic surgeon saying I would go down a cup size, I’ve actually gone up to a 36D, probably why they ran out of material  and I ended up with a much smaller implant  in the other side 😂 😂 . Will have to wait until after tablets have finished before I can get it sorted, not really a priority though   Katie - I should be finished in July depending on how many cycles I have, either 6 or 8. The trial didn’t really show much difference in outcome between 6 or 8,  so will depend on how well I tolerate it, I think. ... View more

Jay- so far so good on the Cape tablets, I am feeling tired but not sure if that’s the tablets or being back at work. My sister who is a nurse also said that Cape is prescribed for other medical conditions not just cancer.   Andi - I’m also a big fan of ginger tea, am starting to prefer that and peppermint tea to normal tea.   Mai - a neck and shoulder massage sounds lovely, I could definitely do with that.   WolEE -I know what you mean about scans, you want a check up but it brings back all the memories from last year   Good luck Katie with your first mammogram. I’m like you treehouse , no more mammograms now!   Mishy - good to hear from you, glad to hear your little granddaughter is doing so well. ... View more

Tatyana - your night in the posh hotel sounds lovely, a nice end to your holiday. Chemo nurse said swimming is fine as long as you go when it’s not too busy. She checked with another nurse as well to make sure.   I have 4 tablets to take in the morning and 4 in the evening, they are worryingly similar to my daughter’s epilepsy tablets so I think I’ll have to keep them in my bedroom! I’m going to have a nice meal tomorrow and a couple of glasses of wine and start them on Saturday.   Jay - it was lovely to see you today and meet your friend, Jackie. It was very quiet in there after you’d all left!!   Andi - glad to hear that the tummy is looking good, it makes it all worthwhile and such a relief to get out of the tight underwear. My shoulder is better now and I’ve started the exercises again but being very careful not to overdo it this time. ... View more

Treehouse - glad to hear that your heart check up went well and that he doesn’t need to see you again. That’s great news. You still have lots of time before your holiday to recover and I’m sure you’ll be on those rides!   Mai - fantastic news that you’ve sneaked on the trial and that your bone scan was clear. It was worth applying for it just to get the bone scan!   Hope your cold and oral thrush has cleared up Andi and you’re still making progress after your op, are you still wearing the “hold it all in” underwear or have you dispensed with that now.   Well off for a swim now as I’m not sure I’ll be able to once I’m on Cape. Then lunch with friends and straight off to the hospital to pick up tablets. Hopefully see you there Jay. ... View more

Jay - yes I will be at Comet Ward on Thursday, look forward to seeing you. Had only been at work for an hour and we had a fire alarm and were evacuated! Boss not there as has been signed off sick with stress! Very surreal day ... View more

Mai - good that you’re talking about it all and not bottling things up. I’m sure you will eventually feel better for it. Good luck with the neuts, fingers crossed they’re on the way up Treehouse - hope the migraine goes away once your hospital appointment is out of the way Daffodil- well done on the exercise programme sounds like you’re doing really well. Andi - stick to the steps for now. I tried the weights machines at the gym and really hurt my shoulder on the DIEP side, I thought it was fine but just shows that you can’t do too much too soon. ... View more

Treehouse- glad you’re feeling more positive. Good luck with the Physio. Katie- we’ll at least that’s a sign that everything’s working properly again. I would take that as a good sign too. Tatyana - enjoy your last few days in Greece.I’m also starting on Friday, chemo unit phoned to say bloods all good- oh just like the old days 🙄 Jay - when are you at the hospital on Thursday, I’m there at 2:45 for my pre chemo chat Well going into the office now, first day back.Wish me luck! ... View more