Breast Cancer Now Forum

Thank you so much for this. I am very interested to find natural ways, such as diet, to manage side effects such as hot flushes.  Everything is worth considering and its good to add to the bank of information. Thank you.  ... View more

Hi there,   I had WLE and SNB on 30th July. I've just come back from a week in Greece where I swam in the sea every day. It's made such a dramatic difference to the range of movement I have in my shoulder.  I've been using bio oil on my scars and before each swim I plastered Vaseline over the scars, showered when I got out and dried the scars as quickly as I could after that.  The advice to me was I could swim as soon as the wounds were healed.  Hope you can exercise soon. Xx ... View more

Oh, and Bio Oil for your scars after a couple of weeks if they're healing ok, and arnica for your bruises.  X ... View more

Hi Astra I've had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy three weeks ago. Things that might help: ·Frozen meals - even if you can, you may not feel like cooking. ·Get food delivered rather than going out to shop. ·Say yes to every offer of help.  ·Lots of comfy bras, for day and night. My DH had to do a couple of mercy dashes to Asda to buy more bras, haha! I was washing them everyday as it was a hot spell after my op and I was feeling rather a sweaty betty! They do seamless ones that you can step into and pull up, no fastening. Even a very pretty lacy one which made me feel feminine when I was feeling anything but. M&S also do comfy non wired bras and I got a couple of front fastening sports bras from Amazon. ·Tops that fasten up the front, such as shirts, blouses. Asda to the rescue again! You will not want to try manoeuvring into t shirts to begin with.  Hoping all goes well.  ... View more

Whenever I feel a sniffle coming or feel a bit low I bump up the turmeric in my diet! Try Golden Mylk (recipes widely available on internet) - delicious, comforting and good for you. It's healing properties are well documented. It needs to be made accessible by using black pepper and a small amount of appropriate fat with it.  ... View more

I agree! Food is medicine! ... View more

That's interesting! I've been craving mushrooms lately. Perhaps it's my body's way of fighting back! I've also wanted lots of smoothies with raw fruit and veg. I feel sure diet has an effect.  Thanks for posting. ... View more

Hi Laura So glad to hear you've come through all the treatments successfully! You've been through so much and the hormone treatment is on going, but if you're a worried you're bound to have doubts about doing the right thing.  They way I've been looking at things lately is I can worry about something that may never happen and spoil my peace of mind now, or I can try to be relaxed about it and deal with things as they happen. It's taken 62 years for me to learn this, haha! I think have sessions with the psychologist is great. I've found counselling very helpful at some tough times in my life. I think I'm going to opt for the POSNOC trial but I'm still dithering and undecided. If I do it, I'll either have no treatment to the armpit or choose just radiotherapy. Plus rad to the breast and hormones for a long time too of course.  Thank you for sharing. Keeping you in my prayers. Love, Hilary xxx   ... View more

I craved porridge the evening after my surgery! Made with soya milk with added flaked almonds and blackcurrants. Lots of smoothies in the following days. And Golden Mylk, which is delicious and contains healing turmeric. ... View more

Hi Emma That's it exactly! Given a leaflet and a phone number and told to make a decision! :-0 My BCN has just phoned me to see how I am as she was unable to be at my appointment yesterday. She's very matter of fact and sensible and brought me down off the ceiling! She told me how to break it down into decision making steps, starting with POSNOC so I'm going to attempt that. She also said no-one will rush me into a decision and that they would be no bad choice I could make, as all the options I had been given were good ones.  Thank you for bring so understanding. My husband, family and friends are wonderful but it's hard for them to "get it" when they haven't experienced it. Please keep in touch Emma and let me know how you get on next week. Love and prayers Hilary xxx ... View more

Thank you so much sugarpuff1972! I had my WLE and SNB on 30th July and felt like my body was not my own. Getting the results yesterday, I felt I'd been handed it back with all the responsibility of getting well.  Naively, I thought I would be told what steps would come next regarding the lymph nodes, rather than having to choose. I've been feeling very strong and positive and now I feel feeble and a wuss, unable to think straight and for the first time really emotional! Thank you so much for sharing your experience and how and why you made your choice. I can't tell you how it's helped me to know someone is going through this too.  Love and prayers to you for your on going treatment and recovery Hilary xxx ... View more

Hi Laurah22, I’m in a similar position to you and really struggling to make a choice. Can I ask, did you go on to have further treatment? How are you doing? ... View more

I am so thankful I have just found this thread! I have had a WLE and sentinel node biopsy tho weeks ago and got my results yesterday. They found cancer cells in one of the three nodes. Now I have been offered a range of lymph node treatments to choose from: no treatment, clearance surgery, radiotherapy, the POSNOC trial or the OPTIMA Study trial. I feel completely overwhelmed and am more scared about making the wrong decision than of undergoing the treatment! Thank you for helping me feel I’m not alone. ... View more