Breast Cancer Now Forum

Crocrazy that does sound extremely painful, and not surprising it’s making you stressed. I do hope you got what you needed, and now your treatments have ended the healing and recovery can begin. I was lucky I had no broken skin, but couldn’t bear anything touching my breast or any weight or heat of clothing on it for a couple of weeks, so I went braless and wore a top I could open at the front so I could let air to my breast whenever possible (only at home, I hasten to add!) I also covered it in Jason Aloe Vera cream several times a day, and found this soothing.  I love choral music and have spent many hours over the last few months lying on the sofa listening / dozing, which calms my mind. Sometimes I have a little cry too, which is also healing. And I am now half way through a 30 day Yoga-at-Home programme on YouTube, Yoga with Adrienne, which has really helped my recovery. I don’t do it every day but when I feel up to it. It helps me feel positive about my body and sleep better at night.   i do understand about pretending to be normal. But sometimes the pretending just doesn’t work, and I have also found that the Cancer card does elicit some useful sympathy in colleagues, friends, etc so they are very willing to release me from all obligations! I then have to speak kindly to myself, too.   Best wishes and take care of yourself, body and mind x ... View more

I just spoke to a friend who also finished radiotherapy before Christmas. She’s the same age as me, and very fit and healthy (normally) as well as being highly committed to her work, which she loves. She worked through treatment, took two weeks off over Christmas then went back to work, thinking she would be ok, but hasn’t recovered well. She is so exhausted she’s now having to take three weeks off to rest and try to recover. It seems that you can’t just ignore this tiredness and hope it will go away - you actually do need to rest in order to give your body time to heal. ... View more

Oh I do empathise, Crocrazy, it is horrible to be forced to rest when you want to keep on top of things at work. I had to say ‘no’to so many opportunities, career and social, in the last 4 months. But it will be ok. At this point you really need to let your body do it’s healing. The exhaustion is there for a reason, a combination of endorphin response to pain and GHRH in the brain which stimulates production of growth hormone, necessary for healing. So if you need to sleep, sleep. That’s the best advice I received from anyone, and it came from an old friend who is a neurological consultant. Take care, and let yourself heal. Xx ... View more

I just wanted to share my recovery story, as I am suddenly feeling much more normal, and couldn’t find info from other women about how long this might take, when I was trying to imagine and plan the future during treatment.    I had two WLE surgeries, Sept and mid Oct, went back to work roughly 3 weeks after each, and then had 3 weeks of radiotherapy which finished on 18th December. I worked for two weeks of this, with some reduction in my workload so I had treatments in the afternoon then came home to rest. After 10 treatments I was just too tired, so took 10days off before the Christmas holiday (I’m a teacher). My breast was extremely sore and hot for 2 weeks after this, as predicted, and I napped a lot but enjoyed a few 5 mile walks too. Started to turn a corner on New Years Day, and went back to work on 8th, but with a reduced timetable so I could nap during the gaps. I found three 20-min naps a day enabled me to keep going and enjoy teaching. Two weeks of this, with workload gradually building, and then suddenly this week I felt normal, as in normally tired rather than ‘must nap NOW or I will fall over or cry’ sort of tired. By Friday I was even laughing and enjoying lunchtime conversation with colleagues instead of finding a quiet space to sit. Glad it’s the weekend now, but I really feel quite normal.    In terms of pain, my breast felt much better by 7th Jan and not sore or red, so I tried a tiny one mile run (I normally run half marathons but haven’t run much at all since Sept) but regretted it - my breast felt swollen and uncomfortable for 2 days after, and looked like fresh bruising near the scar. This was shocking, 12 weeks after surgery. But clearly the radio had stopped it healing up properly inside. So I decided to give it another 3 weeks. I bought new pretty underwired bras after Christmas, and have been happily wearing them this week too (very soft non-underwired cotton crop tops were all I could cope with up till then)   So normality resumed 14 weeks after surgery and 5 weeks after end of radio for me. I am 52, and took high dose vitamin D oral spray during recovery as well as lots of water, and coffee and ibuprofen helped me when I started back at work. I am still going carefully and being kind to myself, gentle yoga and early nights.    Obviously everyone is unique, but this may give others some rough timescale.  ... View more

One down, 14 to go ... View more

So I have my dates now, starting 27th Nov, over by Christmas. I guess I’ll join the December group. I’m planning to work through treatment, but with slightly reduced hours and some responsibilities taken off me so I can rest during the day a bit rather than my normal 13 hour full-on work schedule. But if it’s all too much I can take time off. Very grateful for supportive boss.  ... View more

I don't like what I'm reading here about people's Mirena coils being taken out: I am going to get very stroppy if they want to take my Mirena coil out. No. I'd rather take the risk, and be sure of contraception / no periods, based on what I've read.  http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/coping/physically/mirena-coil-after-cancer   But noone's mentioned it yet - I will argue this one with the oncologist!   ... View more

Pecan  I wonder if 'radiation' sounds more scary than it is. Maybe think of it like a sunbed? 😉   ... View more

I got a call today, appointment on Thursday. So relieved something is happening.  ... View more

I’m still waiting  (frusttrating) for an oncologist appointment.  I thought it might be last week, or this week, but still no letter meanwhile trying not to worry about my Mirena coil, the parking, tiredness, etc i mainly want to know it’s going to be over by Chrustmas! And today I went back to work after recovering from second surgery (and half term holiday) and it was lovely 🙂 Everyone is so kind, my students were genuinely pleased to see me. That’s why I hate not knowing how much more I’ll have to miss.      ... View more

Hi Aline Emotional ups and downs seem to part of the package. You’ve done well to stay positive up till now, but it’s ok to let the negative emotions happen too, and express them to people. I found that my best friend 5ought I was absolutely fine and happy as I’d been presenting a positive side on Facebook -when she came to see me she was shocked how tired I was and how long the recovery was taking. So I’ve learnt to be honest with myself and my friends about the negative as well as positive, and to be kind to myself. When I feel low I find a walk outside in nature really helps, or a nap, or both! take care  Headandheart ... View more

Hi! I’m joining the radio fun in a couple of weeks, prob Nov/Dec. Just relieved to find out today that they had clear margins from my second surgery, I was so blasé back in Sept thinking it would be one surgery and all done! Sadly not so simple.    I’m hoping to keep working through radio, I’ve missed so much and love my job. But I know some people get really tired. I have been much tireder after the surgery than I anticipated.  I had three days of feeling actually well and energetic between ops, and I’m really missing being able to go running, though I have been for some nice walks in the autumn sunshine, and I’m trying to keep flexible with a bit of yoga in between naps.    Hopefully the treatment phase will be all over by Christmas, but how long till I’m back to normal energy levels after all this?   ... View more