Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi, asked my oncology team too and they told me the same. We should take care of ourselves but no need to self-isolate like suggested in the letter.  ... View more

Hi ruthie2 and minimad, I think I should query it too. My chemo finished in March, radio in July and I feel alright. Twelve weeks of self isolation seems over the top. I wonder what are the criteria. I think for me maybe the Herceptin as it is anybody treatment but my bloodcount was always fine througout. ... View more

I am doing well Drummerswidow, I have started surfing again and getting my strength back. Bummer of your lymphedema, so far I have no such symptoms although 33 lymph nodes were removed. Maybe surfing in a wetsuit helps. Take care. These are scary times, and I hate the uncertainty, again. ... View more

Hi, how are you all doing? I am doing great, almost back to normal. But I got a letter from NHS that I should self isolate for 12 weeks as I am identified as a vulnerable person. I think this is because I had my last Herceptin injection less than six weeks ago. Did you get the letter? ... View more

Hi, I am a keen surfer and I was worried I would have to give up after my mastectomy and full nodes clearance. But after about a year (including reconstruction with implant, chemo- and radiotherapy) I am surfing again. I am a little less ambitious but I am soooooo happy I can still paddle and push myself up on the board. I am wearing a thick wetsuit, which may help. ... View more

Excellent! Outdoors activity and then getting rosy with pizza and wine. With your other half. Enjoy! X ... View more

I am doing well thanks. I am on the train coming back from seeing the research nurse. I am taking part in a trial, addaspirin, whereby it is being tested if aspirin lowers the re-occurrence rate in people like me. It is double blind so I don't know what I am taking. I hope it is aspirin and that it is helpful. I like there being an extra check-in on me. Quite enjoy the train ride, brought a nice cider with me (I didn't give up alcohol) and listening to music. Its Friday! Have you anything planned for the weekend? ... View more

What I started doing is, every morning before I do anything else I write three pages in a note book. This is mostly in bed before I get up and I write about anything that comes to mind. Dreams, rants, worries, whatever. It is not about writing a memoir or something, it does not have to be well written. Just let it flow. I find it helps clearing my mind. ... View more

Hi, I had two drains after surgery. One came out the following day and the other the day after and before I went back home. The surgery itself is not too bad, it is not like they are operating on vital organs. For me it was more the mental side and that is why I chose for immediate reconstruction. Waking up with a boob missing seemed too traumatic to me. Now, it is not perfect but it is something and fills the bra nicely. I have cleavage. The implant didn't have to come out before radio, but radio could have damaged the reconstruction. Luckily this hasn't happened (yet, after effects can take months). It is difficult to make all these decisions. Yes I had chemotherapy, which I found the worst of treatments. Take care of yourself, treat yourself if you can. X ... View more

I had a lumpectomy first when they removed four lymph nodes of which to were cancerous. This was unexpected as it hadn't shown on ultrasound. The cancer was also bigger and higher grade so I had to have the whole breast removed and all lymph nodes (29 more). Luckily these were all clean so not more bad news. Although, at first I was not going to need radiotherapy and then I did, which is not a good thing after reconstruction. The doctor said, I am so sorry you must feel like you're on a roller coaster. I said, it is more like a downhill slide. But now, a year later, I am definitely on the up.  How did I distract myself while waiting for operation? I guess I was more worried that my mother was coming to stay. Also, I kept working between surgeries. Let me know if you have any questions about the procedure and recovery. Will you be having immediate reconstruction? ... View more

Hi Rizzer, I found the biopsies more uncomfortable than the mastectomy. I almost passed out during the last one, sweat was pouring off me. But with the mastectomy you are being put under and when you wake up it is all done. I could even shower a day later with the drains still in.  I had immediate reconstruction with implant.  ... View more

Hi, I talked to a woman with breast cancer who got life insurance through a MacMillan financial advisor. This was at the support centre in Scotland in Invernes at Raigmore hospital.  Supposedly there is a list with insurers for life, travel etc. fot cancer survivors. I haven't checked it out yet myself but I am planning to. Good luck! ... View more

Hi Sunnydaze, yes it is me staying at the hospital for three weeks. I will not be in a hospital ward but in the patient lodge for outpatients like me who live too far away. So, I can enjoy Inverness while I am there which is quite nice. It is not like the implant will shrivel up or anything, but radiotherapy can encapsulate and internally scar etc., and this can happen months and even years after the rads. This I particularly don't like but I will deal with that if that happens. It doesn't always.    I haven't been on the forum much because i have been back at work for a couple of weeks and also because I feel so good compared to some others on here that I don't want to appear gloating. Next week, before my rads start, I will be going to a trip for a science workshop and then onwards to visit my family who hasn't seen me since the diagnosis and treatments.   Enjoy your LGFB course and the excellent goodies.  ... View more

Hi G, similar to you I had failed lumpectomy and then mastectomy and now radiotherapy which I first thought would be of no benefit. Because of this I had immediate reconstruction with implant. Now the reconstruction can be compromised by the radiotherapy. I thought about not having radiotherapy for this reason but now I want to lower my recurrence rate because I never want to go through this again! Did you have a reconstruction yet? About the cream, my team said they will give me something to use. ... View more

I thought about a celebratory  tattoo too but at the moment I cannot face another needle puncturing my skin ... View more

Hi all, good to see everyone is getting towards the end of their chemotherapy. My final one was three weeks ago (I had six three-week cycles). It feels great to be at the other end and not have to go downhill again just when I start feeling fine. I only had to go in today for my Herceptin injection. This will be every three weeks for a year and then I am also on Taxomifen tablets for now. I hope I don't get fat.   I decided to have the radiotherapy treatment that was offered to me. I would prefer not to, due to possible damage to my reconstruction. Also, I will have to stay in the patient lodge during the week because I live too far away for a daily commute. However, for me radiotherapy ups the survival rate somewhat but significantly, and I don't think I would feel comfortable knowing I didn't throw everything at it. So, hopefully I will get through it OK. Like everything else, the side effects are unpredictable.  I feel better now having made a decision. First, I will go on a trip at the beginning of May, a few days for work and then a few days for my family.  ... View more

Back to work tomorrow. I don't feel like it but I should try because I feel good enough. I can always leave again. It is just that I would rather relax at home for a bit longer. I may never get to retire (with money) so I feel like I kind of deserve that. ... View more

Hi Sunnydaze, I felt like the T hurt my surgical site too, especially the removed lymph nodes (I had 33 auxilary removed). I find it harder the stretch fully while before the Ts I had no trouble with this. It seemed like it got worse after T cycle but my oncologist told me yesterday that it was not a side effect of T. Maybe it is related to not doing the exercises every day due to T fatigue?   My radiotherapy is available to me if I want to. I had mastectomy, 2.7cm grade 3 tumour, 7cm DCIS, and 2 lymph nodes involved with macro changes. In some places in the world they would not recommend radiotherapy with this diagnosis. Radiotherapy will only reduce probability of local recurrence and it can do damage as well. Did you have immediate reconstruction or one planned in the future?     ... View more

Congratulations DiKat, I know it has been hard for you but you got through and you look great already.   Good luck to those who have their final cycle today, I hope it will go well for you.    i still haven't decided on radiotherapy, I wanted to see my surgeon yesterday but he got sick unfortunately. Him and the oncologist seem to have different views so I would like to see both before I make up my mind. ... View more