Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi everyone,  Kidney stones Wolvesgirl?! Sounds uncomfortable, I hope you get them sorted soon... glad everything else is ok, you are so right, this time last year was so hard, gruelling even...I have a friend going through chemo at the minute and it does bring it all back... Im now back at work, albeit in the office on restricted duties. I have been off shielding all this time as they told me to (I work in a Prison) I’m glad to be back and getting back to some normality at last, the shielding made me still feel like I was Ill really!! I have lots of pains in my joints after chemo, especially hips knees and fingers..anyone else??? Other than that, I have had a clear mammogram and have a follow up appointment with the nurses in October which was unexpected but welcomed!!! Hope you are all well..... Take care and speak soon 😘 ... View more

Ahhh Daisy, what a rough time you’re having ... it must be so demoralising finding out you have to have more treatment...it’s what none of want to hear BUT you’ve done it once and you can do it again. Have a couple of days letting yourself be upset and angry then you will be able to pick yourself up and carry on.. we are all stronger than we have ever known when it really matters and you can definatly do it..Sending you lots and lots of hugs 😘 ... View more

Hi everyone... Wolvesgirl, brilliant news!! You must feel so relieved...it’s awful waiting for any results isn’t it!! i have my yearly appointment next Tuesday, it would’ve been my mammogram but they are doing it over the phone 😨, I’ve rang and complained and they’ve said I’ll get that at a later date as they are playing catch up due to Covid .. not impressed with that at all!! Ive got my MRI results for my elbow, it’s fibrous dysplasia so a benign condition but they didn’t send any other info other than a letter saying if the pain continues to see my GP 🤨 Never mind though, it’s benign and that’s the main thing isn’t it... Blackcat, I was surprised to read you are still having treatment, it must feel like it’s going on for so long...you’ll get there though, how’s your hair doing??? Hope everyone else is ok,  ... View more

Hi Wolvesgirl, im pretty much the same as you with my aches and pains, pretty much all my joints hurt but I’ve been doing a workout every week day during lockdown while the kids do their lessons. When I was referred from the breast unit to oncology Last year, I received an appointment to go back in July this year...I presumed this would be for my yearly mammogram.  I have just received a letter to say this appointment will now be done Over the phone!! I’ve rang the consultants secretary to query this and I’m waiting for a call back as we speak.   I really hope that they haven’t  decided not to do the mammograms so was pleased to see your post, fingers crossed that this was just a check in of some sort 🤷‍♀️ Hope everyone else is ok, fingers crossed for you Wolvesgirl, the anxiety is immense is it!! Let us know how you get on please xxx ... View more

Thanks Wolvesgirl 🥂 Seems to be common doesn’t it, hope it doesn’t make us complacent though! Actually, now you mention it, I have been skipping in the garden during lockdown so it’s probably that that has aggravated it !! ... View more

Hi Julie, my last rads was 21st Feb, so 11 weeks. my bad boob feels fuller, has some pain and feels a bit lumpy, the lump that worried me, I feel easier when I’ve got body lotion on the area, I marked it with a pen before I went as I can’t always feel it.... I have a friend who finished her rads last October and hers has started to hurt too.  It appears to be common but it’s worth a ring just to put your mind at rest if you’re worrying.   ... View more

Hi...all good..phew... I was so scared! So much worse than the first time round!! He said this is the time things change after radiotherapy, sent me for an ultrasound and she said my boobs are really dense and I’m skinny (she meant small boobs haha!) so I will feel every lump and bump. They didn’t make me feel as though I’d wasted their time though and said to keep coming back if I was worried...got home and had a beer and a wine! Feel like I’ve been given a 2nd chance, I thought if its back already then I’ve had it! Really glad I went though, got home and had a beer!!     ... View more

Wolvesgirl... I’ve just smiled at your post, I am currently sitting in the breast care clinic waiting for an ultrasound. My bad boob Has been Hurting, feels fuller and I have felt a new gristly bit so rang on Monday and here I am.. **bleep**ting myself to say the least! Much worse the second tome round I can tell you, ignorance is bliss the first time I think!! Anyway, hopefully it’s nothing sinister 🥺😩😬 hope everyone is getting on ok... ... View more

Hi everyone,  I feel like I haven’t been on here for ages! Lisaloo, I’m triple negative too but I am the same as Wolvesgirl and had surgery/lumpectomy first, I’m very interested to hear you’re having more chemo, I really hope it’s not too intrusive for you though, sounds like you are being well looked after.. Hollyleaf, sorry you have to have more surgery but better to be on the safe side I suppose, my pathology report says my margins were less than a mm which horrified me but they haven’t offered more surgery, I’d take what they offer!!   Updaye from me, I went for a bone scan and they identified a hot spot in my elbow, went for an X-ray and they think it’s a fibrous displaysia (🤷‍♀️) they say they are pretty sure it’s benign but I need an MRI to be sure, I should’ve gone for this Good Friday but they cancelled it until things are back to normal as they said I’m safer at home!! Im hoping the fact they aren’t too worried is good news!?! Anyway, take care everyone, love reading how everyone is doing xxx     ... View more

Wolvesgirl 😳 wow.. Sounds like you’ve been having an awful time with it all!! So glad you’re in the mend now but I bet it’s been awful. Good that you’ve ditched the wig, I had my hair redone the other day, when she took the system off I was amazed at my hair growth to be honest!!!   Lisaloo, glad your op went well and you’re reasonably comfortable considering, as you say, that’s another bit done!   As for me, I’ve been for a bone scan today, they were just starting the machine up and I stupidly opened my eyes to see the plate cm’s from my face, had a hot flush, freaked out and said I needed to take my jumper off so they to restart the machine!!! Oops!! Ha ha!!!! deep breaths were required!!   Anyway, as the machine slowly went over my body I could see the X-ray image on a screen and I swear I saw a white mark on my spine .... don’t want to over react and I can’t read machines one little bit but it was there. So they scanned my body, my ribs from each side then she came over and said she needed one last image of my right elbow!! She did that then said I was finished, I asked her why they needed to do that and she muttered that she had seen something, she wasn’t allowed to say anything though but needed another image of the area for the consultant to see 😳 she mentioned that it could just be a fracture but she can’t say 🙄 so now I’m silently panicking and feel a bit down in the dumps that this might not be over for me ... i ave been having numbness and pain at night in my right hand,waking 4/5 times a night with it and it sometimes goes a bit numb in the day, it feels like a nerve is trapping, so now she’s said that to me I can feel it all the more!!! Haha. bloody nightmare, so I’m back on the dreaded wait for results,  timescale unknown!!!   Anyway, thanks for listening to me ramble on xxxxxxxx 😘   ... View more

Hi everyone,   sorry I’ve been absent, I did a long post the other week but I didn’t realise it didn’t submit properly! Never mind though.   ive had a quick read through while I’m watching the kids trampolining and thought I’d check in.   sorry to hear you’ve got another op looming Hollyleaf, I find it interesting though, I got my pathology report back which says I had clear margins of less than a mm !! What even is less than a mm?!? I asked the consultant about it and he said that my tumour was small, I’ve had a lumpectomy with clear margins albeit small (!), chemo because the tumour was Aggressive basically saying if it wasn’t triple negative I wouldn’t have had chemo, 15 rads then 5 boosters. He says I’ve been adequately treated and not to worry!!! I mentioned the rib pain I’ve been experiencing and he’s referred me for a bone scan which is on Friday. He did say that he’s pretty certain it will come back clear though, at least he’s listening to my concerns.   Glad we are starting to return to work (or retiring 👏👏) although I’m sorry to hear you’ve been unwell Wolvesgirl.   My fingernails are starting to fall off now, I swear I look dead underneath my nail varnish!!! I’m back at work on restricted duties as I’m a Prison Officer, so I’m office based for the time being, my boss asked me the other day when I will be able to take my fitness test though, told him to back off, I pointed out that if I looked as though I’d had cancer (I don’t as I’ve got a hair integration) then he wouldn’t dream of asking me that yet! He looked suitably embarrassed as he should do! Anyway, take care everyone xx     ... View more

Hollyleaf, you are so right by saying we are all starting to move on.. Blackcat..so pleased you are feeling well enough to go back to work full time, it was unimaginable a couple of months ago wasn’t it!! Wolvesgirl, hope you are feeling better after your blip, sounds awful but you also sound like a strong determined lady so as I say, it’s just a blip ... lisaloo, I’m sure you’ll come to the right conclusion regarding your surgery, I just had a lumpectomy so i don’t know that much about the options available to be honest. It’s such an individual choice isn’t it. Im having my 15th rad session today, I’ve  found it ok really, starting to look a bit sunburnt over the treated area but it’s not sore. So 5 more to go next week then I’m done. I saw the consultant regarding my ribs, my breast care nurse came over to attend the appointment too which was really nice, he had a very hard poke which really hurt!! He has referred me for a bone scan but said he’s pretty sure it will come back clear but just wants to put our minds at rest.... no date for that yet. I’m so pleased they listened and took it seriously but now, when I have my final radiation next week, it won’t feel like it’s over now!! Oh well, better to be safe than sorry. I am also back at work on restricted duties, I’ve got loads of leave to take too! We have booked a holiday to the Maldives for May for hubby’s 50th so I’m looking forward to that, I did buy a comprehensive travel insurance before booking though...just in case!!   Take care everyone xxxx ... View more

Wolvesgirl, you have just made me proper laugh reading about you being non - compliant! Hahaha!!! Would’ve loved to have seen her face! I know what you mean about everybody looking, I’m past the point of caring now 😂   Im sat in the waiting room for number 9 as I type this (so people saw my goofy grin when I read your post!)  Rib pain today is so much worse than yesterday actually. It’s been feeling bruised when I pressed it but now it hurts if I stretch forward and when my son hugged me this morning, the area has increased too, it goes from the small of my back, up and around to my side. It actually feels similar to when I had a seroma after a surgery.  anyway, I rang the breast care nurse who initially fobbed me off but an hour later, she rang me back and said that I had been on her mind, so she’s booked me in to see the consultant on Tuesday, bless her.  I think it was when I said I was worried it had spread to my bones when she took more notice !!   Hope everyone is feeling ok, I been at the gym this week but it’s starting to catch up with me now as I feel the radiotherapy is making me more tired and my appointments are at the end of the day too 😴😴😴   Havr a good weekend, I look forward to reading your updates xx ... View more

Hi everyone,   Well it’s all go on here isn’t it!  So pleased all the chemo is over and we are preparing for the next stages.  I, like Wolvesgirl had my op before chemo, just a lumpectomy so there wasnt any drains for me to contend with, I enjoyed my stay in hospital actually, I went in the night before and was first on the list in the morning. The staff were lovely, (apart from one rogue nurse, but there’s always someone who lets the side down 🤣) I too think you will be pleasantly surprised by the surgery procedure but I understand your reservations completely.   Well, I’m on week 2 of 4 of radiotherapy, it’s not too bad, the worst bit is the awkward appointment times around school and the fact the clinic is running an hour late everyday by the time I get there!! Other than that, my skin is fine for now although my rib feels bruised. Wolvesgirl, do you have this too?? How is yours going?     Im also back at work, I’m on restricted duties, so office based and I’m doing half days for a month.  It’s nice to be well enough to go but I can’t say I’m glad to be back! Ha ha ha.  Take care everyone xxx   ... View more

Blimey Julie, you have been through the mill havent you!! Hope you feel better soon and get the results you need next week 🤞   wolvesgirl, how did your first radio session go?? Hope you’re ok and moisturising loads tonight!!   I had my initial consultation yesterday, he said I will get an appt in 10 days time for my tattoos and CT scan, I explained how long I’ve waited already, that my chemo finished In Nov, he rang through and they squeezed me in, so I’ve been back this morning at 9am, so I’m all done and raring to go, I start on 27th for 4 weeks, really bad appt times though, earliest is 3.30pm and latest is 4.50pm! Couldn’t be worse considering the children finish school at 3pm 😩 I’ll have to manage it though otherwise I’ll be waiting to start sometime in Feb!!   Hope everyone else is doing ok, can’t wait to read your updates xxx ... View more

Also, I had my Hair integration done last Friday, it’s amazing and I love it!! Its very light and I can’t really feel it on like I could my wig, I had a bit of separation anxiety from my wig  in the morning! I know some people hate wearing wigs but I loved mine, it’s got me through a difficult period so I was a bit sad in a weird way to put it away! Anyway, the best bit about my new hair is that I don’t have to take it off, so no horrible sweaty wig hair underneath in the evening!!! ha ha, it’s the small things in life!!!               ... View more

Morning everyone, This thread has been busy over the weekend! Lots for me to catch up on but it sounds like everyone is doing brilliantly!! lisaloo, I’m really envious of how fast your appointments have come through, that’s really efficient from your hospital. sounds like you are handling your chemo really well too.   Ive got my initial consultation regarding radiotherapy on Wednesday so I’m hoping to get a start date then, this wait for me has been the worst, I had my last chemo november 19th. Wolvesgirl, I’ll be waiting to hear how you get on with your first appointment on Thursday!!   Regarding losing nails, mine have been so healthy all the way through chemo, I was using Sally Hanson’s nail oil, however, over the past 2 weeks they have got darker and it looks like I might lose one. I swear my hands look like I’m dead!! As you say Wolvesgirl, after the last chemo, I was expecting to just be better but it doesn’t seem to be working out that way! I have been suffering with painful legs after my last docetaxol, it has eased slightly but I haven’t been able to get back in the gym just yet, very frustrating!   Anyway, keep well everyone xxxxxx ... View more

Happy New Year everyone xx   Blackcat, hope you’re ok and not too sore from the surgery and you’re managing to rest as much as possible. Looking forward to hearing how you are doing xxx   lisaloo, you’re nearly there 💪💪💪 I won’t say it’s flying by because that was one of the things that irritated me when people commented on my treatment!! 😉 Hope number 9 is kind to you though xxx   Wolvesgirl, well done for getting back in the gym, I’ll be going as soon as these sore legs go, can’t wait, I’m getting a bit porky and that’s so not like me, although some say (mum) that I look better for it 🙄🤣 Im thinking of returning to work in the next couple of weeks, I’m due to drop to half pay and I feel like I’m wasting it whilst waiting to start my radiotherapy (still a sore subject with me!) so I think I’ll go back then if I have to have time off for rads then I will do. I’ll be restricted duties anyway so I could manage that I think.  We are going away this weekend, we’ve got a log cabin so I’ve booked one with a hot tub to celebrate the fact I’m allowed to go in one now, hahaha!   Talking of wigs, I’m having an intergration done 10th Jan, it’s like a wig but lighter and it stays on for 3 months, then it’s removed and washed etc before getting put back again! I cold capped and kept my hair but it is really thin and I’m tired of looking awful all the time so thought I’d try it.  I can still wash it and go swimming and tie it back etc like real hair so hopefully it won’t be too annoying!   Anyway, hope everyone is doing ok, speak soon xxxx ... View more

Hi everyone,   Glad to see everyone is doing Well, Lisaloo, glad the time seems to be  flying by for you, welcome Hollyleaf, lovely to hear from you!!   Well it seems everyone is starting to move on now, Wolvesgirl, your post made me slightly frustrated due to my circumstances with radiotherapy at the minute! At my discharge appt with Oncologist on 10th dec, he mentioned that he had referred me for rads in Oct and asked if I’d received the letter, I said I hadn’t, he looked and said that actually it hadn’t been sent to rads dept until 2nd dec, he told me he would chase it up that day. I received my appt letter this week for 31st Jan!! This is just the initial meeting so the treatment won’t start for another couple of weeks after. I was so upset and angry, I go half pay 11th Jan and was hoping all treatment would be done by end of Jan and I could start thinking of going back. I rang and complained and they admitted I had been overlooked so have now given me 15th jan appointment which is better but still too long to wait in my opinion, my last chemo was 19th Nov. So this will put my return to work back another month now, it’s so frustrating!!!!   Anyway, enough of my whingeing, I’ve got another worrying time tomorrow, I hid hubby’s pressies when i was emerging from last chemo and now I can’t find them 🙄🤣🤣 He’s at work tomorrow so I’ll have to have a really good hunt round for them! I swear I can’t be trusted with anything these days 😂😂😂   Have a lovely Christmas everyone, here’s to a happier, healthier new year 🥂 ... View more

Ahh so sorry to hear you ladies are feeling down, Lisaloo, Hopefully yours will fly by now, as you say we are in the middle of December already. I can remember the feeling of it will never end though so I do understand how you feel. I don’t feel down but I dont feel as ecstatic as I imagined I would now that the chemo is finished, I remember lying on the hospital bed in the beginning when I went in with nausea thinking I can’t wait to finish all this, I’ll be over the moon!!! I feel disappointed that I don’t feel like that!! Ive got my (hopefully) final appointment with oncologist tomorrow, hoping to be referred on to radio, really wanted to crack on with that before Christmas but I can’t see it really.   I went to my gym Christmas party last Saturday, it was so nice to see everyone again, I got hime though and my ankles have turned into cankles!!! Really swollen and they still are, I’ll have to tell Onc tomorrow as well as my arm, its still so painful from chemo round 2 when the nurse pushed my treatment through to fast 🙄 I’m starting to worry it will affect my job now to be honest.  Anyway, I’ve just walked the dog and I feel like I’m walking through treacle so I’m similar to you Wolvesgirl with the fatigue side of things, I can’t imagine having the energy to get back in the gym at the minute.   Never mind, I’m sure we’ll all get there soon xx   ... View more