Breast Cancer Now Forum

Well the day has arrived I start the first of my first Radiotherapy, the next step of this journey (Would rather be traveling to the Bahamas but hey ho cant have everything lol).   I bought Alovera gel from H&B Saturday do i put this on after the treatment?   I am going to be staying down there to have my treatment as it is forcasting heavy snow and no way I will get out of here if it snows lol, added to the fact we are at least 1.5hrs away from the hospital and thats on a good day, plus with all the road works going on would take me longer to get home as my appts are at 3.24pm each day so would be mayhem. Much easier for me to just stay down there and come home Friday evening (weather permiting)   Hope everyone doing ok xxx ... View more

Hello.   I havent been on the forum for a fair while, I had some issues after my surgery that i had back in October which are only now starting to clear up. I had Celulitus to start with and that wouldnt clear up, so they kept me in and I was given a antibiotic that they keep for when normal antibiotics dont work, this then gave me Hives from my head to my toes several days later so had to go back in again, finally allowed home and although infection markers showed the infection had gone it has stayed very inflammed and was filling with fluid every now and then which needed draining. It is slowly looking a little better, fluid has gone and the Oncologist happy to proceed to radiation now. So this coming Monday I start my course of 15 treatments. It is on my left side but nothing has been said about breath holding, should I be asking about that or does it not always need doing? Also Ladies can I ask what can I use to help with the hot flushes, I am so getting some crackers from these pills!   Hope your all doing fine xx ... View more

Hi Mum I too had a totally clear mammogram 3 years ago and went for my rountine one in July to then find out I have stage 2 breast cancer, i went to total pieces in the car park after being told, I had held it together until I got out, then spent the next few days being fine one moment then in bits the next, sometimes it is like it is happening to someone else, but it does get better, I have had my surgery and awaiting oncotype test results to see if I have to have chemo or not, and for me the waiting is the worst part.. The ladies on here have been my saviours and kept me sane and will always be here to listen and give their support. Take care and wishing you all the best xxx ... View more

CK you are one amazing person, in many more ways than one, from your amazing charity work down to the way you have helped me and countless others while also carrying your own bags, there are not words to express my own gratitude to you as your posts have helped keep me as sane as i was ever going to be during all this. Every single one of is allowed to and most of us do wobble, scream, shout and do what ever we need to do to help us on our journeys at times. Take care CK and a huge Thank You from me xxx ... View more

Thank you for advice, I did go and see out of hours this afternoon as was getting worried, it turns out it is an infection and they have given me antibiotic and drawn around it all to ensure it doesnt spread further. Thank you again xx ... View more

Sharon I spoke to my BCN this morning and my Dr's having a meeting tomorrow about my results and she told me that they will phone me and ask me to go to the Clinic for results either end of week or early next week, it all depends when his clinic is running. I was thinking I would get an appt letter, but apparently our hospital rings they dont send a letter for results appt's. It could just be the way they work with your hospital too and it happens your Dr's clinic is tomorrow. I know it is a worrying time, I also have all sorts of stuff rolling over in my mind, I want to know the results but I dont if that makes any sense.  All the very best with your results tomorrow Sharon will be thinking of you, hope you get some sleep tonight. xxxx ... View more

Yes I think your right Rabbit. Hope your doing ok and healing up well. 🙂 xxx ... View more

I had mine on the 3rd Oct, I was told to take dressings off after two days and that the steristrips should fall off on their own but if not by day 10 to take them off, then to massage aquius cream into the scars twice a day (I got mine from boots) I was told to shower/bath as normal but pat dry not rub.I did make an appt with my GP surgery just to get the wounds checked out after 5 days just to rest my own mind.   It could be everyone is also different on how told to manage their wounds so I would give your Breast Care nurse a ring as she will know what you had done and how it was done and will be able to advise you, they are very good and wont mind you ringing at all. You can also ring the nurses on here I have a few times and they have been fantastic.   I have to wait for my results I was told three weeks but not had appt yet, hate the waiting lol. One thing I have found which helped me a lot is that everyone is different, their treatments, their time scales, and their experiences. I used to panic until the lovely ladys on here showed me just how different it was for everyone. It will get better Sharon, it is still early days yet and it is major surgery when all is said and done. Everyone on here is amazing and will do all they can to help.   Take care and let us know how you get on with your results xx Helen xx ... View more

Sharon yes had those, they are slowly easing but still get the odd one, like someone stabbed me with a hot poker sometimes, it is getting better now though, scars have healed lovley just the very heavy feeling and the odd shooting pain left to go now, hopefully these will improve over the coming weeks. Hope you feel a bit better soon and you manage to get some rest. Helen xx ... View more

You ladys are a inspiration you really are.   I am feeling much better now, back to normal (whatever that is lol) the pain is no where near as bad as i thought it would be, my wrist is the most painful where they put a canula into my main artuary to put me to sleep as my veins are naff, actual op site is really fine appart from odd shooting pain now and then, mind it is really pretty colours all over what is left lol.   Thank you all for your kind words and support, I have lots of good friends and family but when they called round, or turned up bearing gifts, i just stood there and started blubbering like a idiot, poor souls they just really didnt know what to say. Here you all get it, so that makes me not feel that idiot, also helps me so much to know all these strange feelings are "Normal" and to go with the flow so to speak.   Hope everyone is good today 🙂 xxxx ... View more

Thank you all, I am not sure whats going on with my mind, I had coped so well up until the point I went in for my operation now I am just an emotional wreck, i burst into tears for no real reason, I have been told by my Breast Care Nurse it is totally normal as I did at one point think I was losing my marbles, I got myself worked up thinking it all was same treatment for everyone but now understand each and every persons treatment is geared up for them and for them alone, no treatments are identical, which is where i was getting confused I think, added to that still loads of general anaesthetic in my system lol. I would like a break from this roller coaster ride even if just for a moment, but think I have a way to go on it just yet. Thank you for allowing me to have a wobble  🙂 xxx ... View more

Thank you for the info on where to get a nighty CK, long as it doesn't sell doggy stuff I will hopefully get a couple lol. Glad you had a good Birthday Rosie, cake is good!! Hope you get your date soon. Seems like we are always waiting for something at times. Hope you had a great time yesterday Jen. Good Luck to everyone having their Chemo, the wigs all sound lovely. Will be thinking of you all xx Update on the nighty shopping that never was, my Gabbie (the Westie) is in the dog house as she refuses point blank to use her new bed, oh no she wants her old one like really?? She really is a little Diva *tut* Have a good day everyone, and hugs to all xxx ... View more

Hope everyone is good today. I went to buy some front opening nighty's ready for my operation, ended up with some Christmas presents, a Doggy Bed, some Christmas ornaments, a lovely winter bobble hat and a dog toy. Fabulous retail therapy but not what i went out for. Think I have lost the plot, but the dog was happy lol ... View more

Thank you very much ladies, it has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride, but like you CK I broke down and for first few days was a total wreck, but now I am almost in a state of denial, I know I have it, but  feels like i dont if you know what i mean, strange but true lol.   I was picked up during a routine mammogram on the 24th July, I just thought I was lumpy and bumpy due to them losing their spring, plus the fact i was looking for a pea not a flipping broadbean when doing my checks lol   Treatment will depend on what they find in path lab after they have been removed, but definatly Radiation treatment, but he isnt wanting to look any further than that right at this moment until after the operation. He did say I would need hormons afterwards as it is hormon based. Appart from that I dont know anything else.   Thank you again I will be on here now regularly as you are all such a tremendious inspiration and all so very kind.    Helen xxx ... View more

I want to say thank you all so very much, I thought I was going a little crazy, it has eased my mind knowing it is normal to feel this the way i am doing. I am as you all say feeling well and I have never had to have a opperation when I feel well, it all seems so strange. I have my pre operation assesment on Tuesday and then the operation I was told will be most likely 1st week in October. I do have a breast care nurse just i dont like to bother her, and I have seen my surgeon, so now just waiting on that operation. I think it is something to do with my hormones as he said i would have to take a hormone pill. I will ask at some point  what type it is appart from stage 2 but at the min I am too scared to ask. All I know is one is 10mm and the other one is tiny. I want to thank you all again as even though i have such lovley friends and a supportive family I have also felt so very lonely, now after reading the forums I know I am not alone anymore. xxxx ... View more