Breast Cancer Now Forum

Can’t get pics to load, so second best option is to give you their website address with all their info on it ... www.nicolajane.com Happy to answer any questions! ... View more

So today I went for a bra fitting at the Breast Care Unit with a bra specialist from Nicola Jane. I’ll post some contact information next. I just wanted to say, they made me feel so at ease (Jackie the fitter has had breast cancer 8 years ago so knows how we feel) There was a good range on offer, and although my new boob hasn’t quite dropped enough with gravity, she had me wearing bras that made me look symmetrical 😀 Can highly recommend them. The quality of the fabrics are very good, on the whole I was very impressed. As a company they are trying to get contacts with a lot more hospitals so that fitters can book slots to see women on certain days in Breast Care units.... ... View more

Mai - What a difference a year makes, enjoy those daffodils 🌼💕 xx ... View more

Treehouse - Blimey I bet that felt rather sudden hearing it’s Sunday, but it’s not quite Surgery just yet so it’ll give you time to get your head round it before the go ahead. Wish you didn’t have to have more, you’ve had your air share bless you xx ... View more

Hi Karebear, Well done on getting through the chemo with one more to go, it’s hard going but well worth it in the end. As far as hair regrowth I never used anything, just my usual shampoo and conditioner. I was amazed in fact by how quickly my hair grew back on its own. Within 3 months I had a full head of hair which has come back so much thicker and got some curl! It can feel like forever waiting for it to grow so I’d recommend taking a photo of yourself straight after chemo, then another one 4 weeks later, you’ll be amazed at the change. I did this for 3 months just to see the change. I’m convinced it’s complely stopped now because I have no photo references now, but family say they’ve noticed it getting longer. Wishing you all the very best xx ... View more

Daffodil54 - I am one of the ladies who has had reconstructive surgery and opted to have it done at the same time as my mastectomy.  I was fortunate enough though to not need rads.  Everyone as you know is different in what they feel is best for them and I believe it’s best to follow your gut.  For me, my Nan had cancer years ago and had a mastectomy and didn’t have any recon surgery.  At the age of 12 I accidentally walked in on her at her house and saw her scars.  It really struck me and had such an impact.  I desperately didn’t want her to have to use ‘falsies’ as she called them daily which served as a reminder to her of everything she’d been through.  Anyway, when I found out I needed a mastectomy those images came flooding back and I personally didn’t want to have to think about putting a ‘falsie’ in daily and having an odd weight distribution, but also to not look like she did.  I chose the DIEP operation, not for the faint hearted, ask Rosie65 as we both chose this option.  This operation does require a bit of tummy fat so if you have a little to spare this is a 2 for 1 😀 This gives the most natural look and feel like a normal breast.  There are less infection problems than implants too.  The ‘new’ breast will increase in size just like your natural one if you put weight on and equally if you lose weight it’ll lose lose weight along with your natural one.  For me, it was an easy decision to chose this operation because I didn’t want to be back on the operating table in ten years time having an implant removed and replaced, because that’s in effect it’s shelf life. i hope I haven’t confused issues even more, but I wanted to answer your question.  I believe the more informed we are, the better the choices we make for ourselves xx ... View more

Shi, absolutely fabulous news that your done!! 😘👍🏻💃🏻💫⭐️🌟🌈🍷🥂🍾🛎 what a ‘journey’ hey?! Big hugs xxx ... View more

So my eye test yesterday came back that my distance vision hasn’t changed but my near sighted vision has changed only slightly by 0.5. So as it does make a difference I’ve new glasses on order 🤓 Had my post 8 week op exercise class which was good. A whole hour doing a lot of resistance excercises with bands. It’s given me the confidence now to not be too protective of my tummy. My biggest problem at the minute is hot flushes and sweating 😓 they are happening more frequently and lasting longer and I feel hotter!! 😡 It’s really getting to me now and impacting on my day but also my sleep. I’m going to see my GP because I can’t face having this day in and out indefinitely ... good old Tamoxifen 😒 ... View more

Trisha, sorry to hear your all achy lovey. It’s worth popping along to your GP and chatting about your symptoms. You talk about getting tired really quickly. I know when I’d had my op it was hard going to get moving again, I think me thinking too much about my past year also tired me out mentally, so physically I couldn’t be bothered to get up and get out. Our mood can affect us in all areas. So I wanted to break the cycle and I boosted my water, veg and fruit intake and made my self break that 10 minutes of exercise to 15, then 20. The more I did the better I felt. I found biscuits, cakes bread etc made me really sluggish so stopped eating them. The pains could be side effect of medication. If you see your GP they can put your mind at rest. Lovely to see you on here xx ... View more

Hi Treehouse, Gosh that sounds like a proper workout!! Do they recommend doing something similar at home or do you just go back there again and do the same again for a few weeks?  Im desperate to lose a bit of ‘excess’ and I’ve lost 5lb with this walking lark!  At this rate there won’t be an inch of the city or surrounding area that I won’t have walked 😂 ... must avoid the roads with lovely bakeries though 🤤 ... View more

I have finally got my eye test booked for next Monday!! I know I’ll need new lenses, can really notice a difference that chemo has left me with.  Hey ho .... maybe upgrade to new frames too 🤓 ... View more

Hi Treehouse,  quite a mix of ages then at cardiac rehab session.  How did you feel about the session, have you found it helpful? Did they say anything about your resting heart rate and how it can be reduced or are they happy with it? ... View more

WolfEE - Have you made the call?  If not, please call them 😘 Don’t have any more sleepless nights worrying, and certainly don’t worry about having to speak to the breast care staff.  They get paid to do a job, and answering your call is part of that, and taking care of you is part of that.  If you’ve called them already, then apologies for the waffle!! 😁 But if you haven’t .... you’ll have Treehouse and myself nagging you! 😉 x ... View more

Hi Treehouse,   You are definately not the only one feeling like Frankenstein’s monster.  I have a wobble every now and again.. daily.  I stand in the shower and feel sorry for myself looking down at this new boob which hasn’t quite settled (which sits higher up than the other one at the minute) praying gravity would speed up the bl**dy process, and not seeing a nipple there, just a circular scar where the nipple should be.  It feels a little numb to the touch.  Then there’s drying yourself you notice the difference between the two.  Then I have a scar cream for my breast and my tummy to be used daily so there’s no getting away from seeing it all.  My tummy looks swollen and feels numb.  There are so many nerve endings that have been cut that I can honestly rest a cup of tea on it and feel no heat from the cup!! BUT I also have moments where I’m grateful that I have a new boob and I know it’ll settle, and that I can still have a nipple grafted on or tattooed or nothing if I choose.  I do feel so grateful to be alive and not have a timebomb waiting to go off.  Things just still feel a little raw because it’s all still so very new. (8 weeks since surgery).  Big hugs lady 💕 Thanks for sharing how you are, your not alone xxx     ... View more

Katie, your sons birthday plans sounds great, glad you all had a good time. Yes was snowed in but with the help of neighbours we helped each other dig out! Lots of sledging done! Hoping to get our train into London tomorrow as planned 😬 Just need the freezing rain to keep away, otherwise our weekend plans will go t*ts up!! ... View more

Hi Jay, sorry to hear you’ve been hit by more bugs🐛 . Like you I’m on Herceptin but I think overall my health has been good. Everyone around me had colds and viruses and I had a single throat infection. My antibiotics gave me oral thrush (but anyone can get it after antibiotics) and I needed a 2 week course to get rid of it. Touch wood I’ve been ok. I think because you work in a school your more susceptible than most for picking stuff up. All you can do is keep washing those hands! 😂 When I’m in town etc I never use hand rails on escalators etc and wear my gloves 😂 ... View more

Rosie,   Glad to hear first round of Cape has been kind to you with regards to side effects.  It’s a positive and will make it a bit easier starting round 2.  Enjoy your pill free days!!  The 3 weekly visits to chemo are quite nice in a way I think, I have such a lovely group of nurses and look forward to seeing them weirdly 😂 Once my Herceptin stops that’ll be it.  Have a lovely weekend xx ... View more

Tatyana, enjoy your week ahead free of popping pills! It’s good to hear that the SE’s aren’t hindering you in any way.  Will be lovely to see you join the FB group, suddenly everyone becomes more ‘real’ once you’ve signed up.  It’s lovely!  We’re all on the edge of our seats waiting for WolfEE to post a pic of her hair having been dyed tonight! So glad to hear your doing well 💕 ... View more

Jay - Yes I am finally in charge of how I choose to spend my days for the next year with choosing not to work.  I know I’m fortunate to do so, so I need to make the most of it.  I’m discovering that I love just going on walks, something I’d have to squeeze in once in a blue moon when I was working, but now I can walk every day.  I’m desperate to shift some weight, so thankfully this will help 😁 my target is to lose 1.5 stone.   Had a right grumpy radiographer today when I was having my 3 monthly heart scan,  to the point that I was On the verge of telling her to lighten up! I wanted to discuss ‘the number’ that we are scored that’s given to oncology to determine whether we get the go ahead for the next set of jabs.  She literally said, “I’m sorry but your going to have to be quiet because I have lots of measurements to do and I have a full clinic” !!! 😡🤬 Well excuse me arsy pants!!! So having been told to be quiet I never said another word, got dressed and walked out without acknowledging her at all.  She really pi**ed me off.  So I don’t know today’s score and will have to wait until  1st March when I have my next Herceptin jab.         ... View more

Mishy, I hope all went well with your bone scan today lovey. 💕 ... View more