Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi @CT2021  sorry I didn’t get back to you before, I seem to spend my days getting the essentials done and then resting, with a few runs in between. I used Locobase for my skin during Cape. I ordered it online. I’ve been lucky and haven’t had bad skin but have still caked my skin in this every week. I also think drinking plenty of water makes a big difference.  congratulations on finishing rads, I hope the cape isn’t too bad for you. I’ve found it fine until the last few weeks when tiredness has really taken over. I take my last tablets on Wednesday, 🥳 x ... View more

😂 😂  @gardengirl200 you’ll be pleased to know I’ve received your message with your number! X ... View more

Thanks @TicTok  for your kind words I really appreciate it.  If you PM me with your mobile number I can start doing a group chat for us all to stay in touch xx ... View more

I can’t believe all this talk of dogs. We lost my beautiful girl Maisie last week. It’s so hard because some days she was my only reason to get up. She has helped me in so many ways over these last few years. We miss her so much. You receive unconditional love from a dog and that leaves a massive hole in the heart. We lost her very suddenly, no illness, we just came down in the morning and there was blood on the floor and by the end of the day we had to say our goodbyes. It was a tumour that had spread.  Glad to hear your bite is healing well @delly  Sorry to hear you are struggling with work @TicTok although it is no surprise we have all been through so much.  Everyone is very quiet here at the moment. I can only assume it’s because life is getting busier which is a good thing. Thanks to those who have pm’d me their number sorry I haven’t done anything yet but will. Let me know your tel no’s and we can set up a meet or even if you don’t want to meet up it would be a nice & easy way to stay in touch.  Michelle x ... View more

Hello all sorry it’s been a while, I don’t know where the time goes!  @amy46 good to hear your running is progressing well. I find running makes me feel so physically strong, as if nothing can stop me! Even though I am just plodding around! 😂 It is interesting  the attitudes in different countries to anything outside of conventional medicine. I haven’t gone forward with the nutritionist you recommended but I haven’t discounted it. Like you said it’s something that needs thinking  through. I am also considering doing the Zoe test when it comes to this country. It’s based on gut health which I don’t know too much about because the research seems to have started fairly recently but that have interesting results. It’s not necessarily cancer related although that is being researched and in some ways it’s similar to your nutritionist in that it looks at every person metabolising process individually. I’m on the waiting list. @CT2021  i am glad you have had good results. I am taking capecitabine at the moment I assume that is what you will have after rads. I haven’t found it has affected me too much, mostly tiredness. My hands and feet haven’t been too dry although I use a very good cream called locobase. I bought it online as recommended by @Love running . @TikTok I’m not surprised you are finding work tiring we have had a lot going on in our bodies the last 12 months and I think you are still on herceptin which probably affects you too. How is Kai getting on with his football? Still bringing you joy im sure.  @Love running  thanks for the camp site recommendation, we can’t wait for the trip and it will be great to meet up for lunch when you are free. Great news your first year mammo is all clear, long may it continue for all of us! Also good news that your knee is repairing and running can resume. It sounds like you are getting a bit of normality back into life which is what we all need now. We have to try and put the last 12 months behind us and live every moment to the fullest.  Well remembered Barbara yes it was the Cardiff half on Sunday and I did complete it! I was even a minute or two faster than I thought but mostly for me it was about being there and I absolutely loved it! My family supported and managed to get to 4 different areas to cheer me on. Quite an achievement with all of the road closures! The sun showed up for us which was a blessing at the start but a curse towards the end when it was so warm! The course is fantastic starting outside Cardiff Castle, past the stadium down to the barrage where you can look across the Bristol Channel to Devon. You then fun through Cardiff bay eventually arriving to do a loop or Roath lake before heading back past the university and museum buildings to the finish line. I made it to mile 9 before  I thought ‘I can’t do this’ but after a mini breakdown I got back into the zone and continued through the pain barrier to crossed the line.   My running buddy Claire and me post race! Exhausted but exhilarated!  Re our meet up.  I agree with Amy that we need another way of organising our get together. I think WhatsApp is probably our best option. How does everyone else feel about this? I am happy to set up a group for us, I think it will be an easier way to communicate. If everyone is happy with that then PM me your telephone number and I will set up a group.  Have a good day everyone.        ... View more

Hi Fleur good to hear from you! 😂 You should be embarrassed, France AGAIN!!!!! 😂 Joking of course, we have to grab and enjoy life as much as possible. Enjoy the last of the snow.   Well done on your run. I imagine the run you did was an emotional challenge too, being in the village you grew up in. Cardiff half will definitely be emotional for me. I can’t quite believe I am running the distances that I am but looking forward to tapering down after the half.  Running is always hard because we always want to go that bit further or run that but faster but the pain is worth it!  Definitely sign up the the next race, it’s good to have something to aim and train for.  Have a great weekend xx ... View more

Hi @amy46  good to hear you are doing well. A couple of bumps is the norm I think. If I was you I would remove myself from the TN Facebook page if it is brining you down. Sometimes it is those with issues who post more where as others are out getting on with life. For the record I have 3 friends who had TN in 2018. One who had a lumpectomy and radiotherapy and two others who both had lumpectomy with full node clearance, chemo, radiotherapy, Zometa and I think one is on the asprin trial and they are all out living life. Sorry to hear about your dads health deteriorating, we are at that age when we  have to deal with our parents health but unfortunately we have our own health  issues thrown into the mix which makes everything more difficult.  The book club situation sounds difficult, maybe give it another month or say and you may feel less angry at your friend and also stronger in yourself. It’s a shame to miss out on something you obviously enjoy especially as the majority of the group have been a great support. Good luck with your appointment hopefully it will make you feel stronger again.  I had an appt with the lymphoedema nurse yesterday. My right arm has slight lymphoedema and had actually reduced since my last appt. My left is still ok but I know it took about a year/18 months for it to appear on my right side. The nurse was great as she was a BC nurse previously and knew my onc and had heard good things about my surgeon. She also spoke through some of my worries with me and I actually felt pretty positive after. It’s all about trying to keep that positive mindset and moving forward with everything.  Today was my final long training run before I do the Cardiff Half on Mothers Day. I ran 9miles today and although I feel tired I’m ok. I’m looking forward to the race especially as it will be my first Mother’s Day without my mum, it will be a good distraction. Also my youngest daughter is coming home from Uni that weekend to stay for 3 weeks. I can’t wait to see her and spend some proper time together. Xx ... View more

Hi everyone I hope you are all doing ok and getting back to a bit of normality. @Purpledaze I hope you have made a good recovery from COVID and pleased to hear the day went as well as it could and that you have lots of support around. My Dad keeps himself very busy visiting friends and family all the time, I think it helps him.  I’m sure it is going to take you a long time to absorb what has happened in your life over the last 12 months I know when I think about what has happened in my life in some ways it is just unbelievable but I think gradually over time little bit by little bit it sinks in. Have you been able to run again? How is it going? I hope you are thinking of coming to the meet up in May, in London, something for you to focus your running on!  @Love running @so sorry your knee has prevented you for running for a while and that once again you have had to pick yourself up and dust yourself down.  Your feelings of ‘what have I done to deserve this’ are understandable, why can’t we have health and happiness? I was chatting with a friend this morning who was talking about a holiday that she might go on in the summer of 2023 and I thought how nice it would be to be able to plan a holiday that far in advance and not worry if you are still going to be here. Hopefully your knee will repair quickly and you are able to run again soon.  I can understand how getting back to work can be helpful, particularly once you get over that moment of feeling like the ‘new girl’  again and wondering what others are wondering about your time off. A bit of normality in life is a wonderful thing.  Having said that I have just had a weekend away with my husband and I had a little bit of what @amy46 experienced. Being away from my usual routine enabled me to have different thoughts which was a real relief and a break from what circles around my head everyday. I am looking forward to our holidays this year. We have booked our drive to Sweden. I will be spending my birthday in Copenhagen and then we travel to the west coast of Sweden and over to Stockholm on the East. Yes lots of driving but hopefully we will see and experience lots along the way. We have to get to Stockholm for the 26th June as coincidently my husband has a work conference so we will have a couple of nights break from the van in a bit of luxury! It would be great to meet up there sometime as well as our meet up with everyone in May, are you still able to do that? After receiving such support from everyone here it would be great if we can all get together. When we get a bit nearer I can set up a WhatsApp group for us all so we can make our arrangements.  Anyway I’ll sign off now, sending good vibes to all xx ... View more

Hello all Ive had an ok week, trying to keep myself on an even keel, easier said than done. I want to move on with life but I don’t want to wish away even a second of it.  Running has been very up and down depending on where I am in the chemo cycle, a week ago I was crying because it felt so hard but on Friday I ran 8.5miles. I was slow but that doesn’t matter I did the distance and it felt good (apart from being very tired!) I am harbouring thoughts of completing the Cardiff Half at the end of this month. I love that race, I’ve done it so many times and the thought of not doing it makes me feel like someone who is ill, vulnerable, but the thought of being able to do it makes me feel strong and empowered. I am going to try and run 10-11 miles on Friday and if I feel ok on the day I will do it. If it was any other half marathon I would pull out but this is different.  We had a really nice night out at a friends house last night. It was good to see my husband laughing and cracking jokes with friends, he has a great sense of humour. I worry he hasn’t done enough socialising over the last year. It is our 25th Wedding anniversary on 14th so we are going away for a couple of nights in Gloucestershire at the weekend, not in the camper, I thought 25 years deserved a bit of luxury!  Re the camper I’m going to have a small party in a couple of weeks to show her off to all of our friends. Just a few hours on a Sunday afternoon a bit of fizz,  sandwiches and some homemade brownies, keeping it simple. Planning it is keeping me occupied and something to look forward to. I think in my head it is the anniversary party that we would have had if I hadn’t been going through this, but I haven’t said that to anyone.   Well it is 12:30 so I think I should make the effort to get out of bed now!! I hope everyone is keeping themselves well, getting through their difficulties and getting the most enjoyment from life that they can xxx ... View more

@gardengirl200 @A bit late I know but sorry to hear your emotions came crashing down last week. It’s so hard when that dark cloud hovers above our heads. I do the same as you and search out those medical reports to try and read something positive, something to make me feel different about what has happened to me but as you say it is what it is and nothing is going to change the fact I had 6 positive lymph nodes removed post chemo. I still try and follow your philosophy of I am here today and healthy a enjoy it, and most of the time that is ok. I think we will have those dark times over the next few years but cliche or not time is a great healer and those moments will hopefully be further apart. I am glad you are back feeling upbeat, long may it last!! X @CT2021 I am glad you have had your results and like you say they could have been worse, we are where we are. As I said before I am on Capecitabine so if you have any questions I’m happy to answer them if I can. I am just a few days over halfway through and although it does feel like a backwards step to be back having chemo it doesn’t affect life as much as intravenous chemo. Also I feel desperate to have anything that may give me a chance to get rid of cancer and carry on living.  Side effects so far have been minimal. When my hands get dry i cake them in Locobase as recommended by @Love running and that seems to work. I ordered it online I don’t think you can buy it here. I sometimes feel tired in the afternoons so sit down and watch a bit of cheesy TV I.e The Gilded Age! Or sometimes have an afternoon nap. I walk every day and run a couple of nights a week but if I do anything extra then I have to compensate with rest time. We went out last night to friends house and at midday I am still in bed! I did an extra long run on Friday and snoozed Friday and Saturday afternoons. So far I would say it is very manageable. As for rads, like @amy46 I hated it mentally. The first time I had it in 2018 and had 20 sessions and a very bad skin reaction and in 2021 had 15 sessions and almost questioned whether the machines were on as normal skin reaction. In a mad way I kind of want a reaction to know it had done something!! Hopefully it will al go well for you xx ... View more

@Love running Hi how is your knee? What a blow to hurt the other leg. These things do feel like we are on a never ending train of trying to recover. I hope the remainder of you holiday went well and that you were able to enjoy it. The apartment looked lovely, I like the Swedish design. Are you back home now? Are you able to run? i hope you are managing to get out with your club and run through the forest. I imagine like here the nights are getting lighter, so your clocks change at the end of March to make the nights lighter? Here the daffodils are all out and the tulips are starting to poke through. We planted a lot of bulbs last autumn so I’m hoping for a good display of flowers this year.  @delly  I’m so sorry to hear about your uncle, it’s so hard to lose someone dear. It still doesn’t feel real that my mum has gone, she wanted her ashes scattered in my garden but I’m not sure when I will be up to that but that was the reason for planting so many bulbs.  @Purpledaze I hope that Thursday went ok. I found it difficult after my mums funeral as it was a real focus for me and then nothing. I try to distract myself from thoughts about her but I’m not sure if that is the right thing to do. My dad keeps himself busy seeing friends and family, I hope you have lots of friends and family helping you. Thinking of you xx @TicTok It must have been frightening having your husband rushed to hospital, I hope the scan comes back clear and they can put it down to a migraine. Xx @amy46 Congratulations on completing parkrun! Your son did very well too!  I understand your emotions I find running often makes me emotional and more so now as it feels like such an achievement. I volunteered at a local parkrun again this Saturday and found that really enjoyable, cheering the runners in and handing them their token. Parkrun is such a genius idea. X ... View more

@Purpledaze  it was lovely to hear from you and that our chatter on hear is helping you in a small way at this horrible time. It’s good to hear you have good support and that you are getting out to run a little. I will be thinking of you tomorrow, I hope it goes as well as it can, sending you lots of love x @delly So sorry to hear about your uncle he was obviously very dear to you. The hummingbird pictures are beautiful. I got to deliver a beautiful little boy lamb this morning. I’ll post a pic.  @CT2021 i hope you are feeling better.  @amy46 its good to hear you are less consumed by BC. That holiday really has done you the world of good. Do you have another one booked? I am also thinking little less about BC although still having chemo so a little harder to put it behind me. I am halfway through now 🤞 it has done its job.  @Sammy73 How exciting that your new business and life are moving on, all be it slowly! So much to look forward to. A @TicTok Enjoy the planning of your anniversary trip and your trip at the end of March. @Love running  I hope you are well and have had time to absorb your good results.  The problem with replying to everyone like this is the worry that you have missed someone out! Hopefully I haven’t, and if I have then sending you my love too.  I went for a great run this morning, managed 10k and felt good unlike last week when I had a bad fall and bruised my knees and hands and on a separate run just felt really bad, like I was running through quick sand!  After my run I had a call from my neighbour and witnessed a lamb being born. It was triplets and one had already arrived so my neighbour let me deliver the third one. It was absolutely amazing and he was totally gorgeous!   The darker one is a little girl, we named her Michelle! The whiter one is a little boy who we named Johnny after Johnny Depp in pirates of the Caribbean because he had a dark circle under one of his eyes!  Today has been a good day! Xx ... View more

Yay! I’ve managed it by copying the photo rather than using the photo library option!  ... View more

Your flat looks lovely. posting photo’s def not working from my phone! 😡 ... View more

Photo of campervan ... View more

Disappointing I can’t post photos either, just be a problem on the site! ☹️ ... View more

@amy46 @I had to reply straight away your happiness is bouncing off the page! The trip has definitely done you so much good and brought you some relief from the constant anxiety. I’m really pleased for you. We have been doing a bit of holiday planning ourself a now our camper van is done. I’ll post a pic of it. It feels good to have something to look forward to and your post definelty radiates the holiday vibe!  I smiled when I read about you wanting to lie in the grass, I totally get it. Weird the feelings this throws up isn’t it? @CT2021 sorry to hear about your infection, hope you feel better soon. I like what you are say about the residual and cape, it’s a more positive way of looking at my situation, we need all the positives we can get!  @delly i haven’t seen the dog program but it sounds very heartwarming. We have taken to watching sitcoms before bed. We have worked through Friends from start to finish and Not Going out with Lee Mack. Both seem to have helped, we are on the lookout for the next series now preferably something we haven’t seen before!  ... View more

Hi @CT2021  no problem with commenting on this thread. You are right they are a great bunch here. I am also TN, had chemo, surgery and rads. Unfortunately for me my histology came back with 6 lymph nodes still infected. I had a partial response. I find their categorisation hard because it’s either no response, partial or complete. My response obviously wasn’t enough to kill the cancer in the lymph nodes which I do find really plays on my mind every day.  I am now on capecitabine which is a chemo tablet given post surgery particularly for TN I believe. I am just hoping that all the cancer has been removed and if there is any left that these tablets will do the job. I have them for 8 cycles which is 6 months so I will be finished in May. I am keeping my fingers toes and everything else crossed very tightly.  I hope you do not have to wait long for your results I get it is a time of limbo but try and enjoy the time if at all possible. Plan lots of things to keep you busy and distracted. Good luck x ... View more

@Love running I am so pleased and relieved for you. I’m sure you will have a great weekend now! Onwards and upwards xx ... View more