Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Delly, I've been prescribed it for its wound healing properties,so it would be topical. 😊 ... View more

Hi Leaw, Good to hear from you. I'm good, mostly very happy and managing to get on with all the good bits in life. It's been a tough year, I was changed from tamoxifen to zoladex and kept collapsing and having some very weird heart stuff... they questioned heart damage from treatment which was scary. But, I've gone back to tamoxifen and seem OK now.  I'm trying to get on the safefit trial but need sign off, and as I still have to see a cardiologist, everything is dragging. I have another op in Oct to balance the other boob. I had a therapeutic mammoplasty, so have one lovely looking perky book, and the other swings much lower!! I think this will bring some closure, hopefully. How are you? Lou ... View more

Here is my blog in case anyone fancy a peek... I've been rather humbled to have over 3000 visitors!!  https://newshinyoldfaithful.wordpress.com/     ... View more

Hi Em, All good here. I finally finished treatment this month! I had herceptin and pertizumab 3 weekly in the chemo unit. Found it tough... I've had a mouth full of ulcers pretty much continuously the whole way through, and ulcers the other end too. But, the side effects have eased a little since I've finished and the fatigue has eased a lot. Feeling like the old me a bit more snd loving being back at work full time.  Still on tamoxifen, which is OK except crampy feet and the odd flush. And my consultant is looking into starting me on Neratanib for a year to increase my odds a fraction more. It causes pretty bad diarrhea though so who knows how far I will go with it.  I have a full head of chemo curls. The grey colour has mostly gone, back to my pre chemo colour. EM, when you cut all your hair off did it grow back straight? It's my 1 year anniversary of NED tomorrow. Might have a little cry... what a year!! But generally I'm managing to stay positive. I have launched a fundraising and awareness campaign for BC and was on the radio last week. Along with my blog, it helps me to frame the ordeal as 'past'.  Hope you guys are all OK xxxx  ... View more

Oops, I created my own thread before reading this one! Sorry folks. But, here it is anyway, in the correct place. Absolutely love writing, its been a huge part of my recovery. Will look forward to exploring all of your blogs too 😊     https://wp.me/PbKbVq-7   Lou xx ... View more

Morning, Thanks, I'm pleased but mostly because writing is such a cathartic outlet. You must find solace in it too? Lou ... View more

Gorgeous post CherryP. So pleased that your lumpectomy went well 😊 😊   I started radiotherapy on tuesday. I am having reduced sessions due to CV19, but I'm ok with that. So my last is next thursday. I wish I felt like I was on the home straight... herceptin and pertizumab until January for me. They are knocking me a bit, so I'm feeling  little fed up about how crap this year could be. After surgery I was out walking up my hill every morning, and the h&p have stopped that. My white bloods are a bit low too, hopefully as a hangover from chemo. I'm hoping they wint be low all year!   But, in keeping with all your gorgeous positivity, today I am grateful for:   My family and especially my children. The sunshine! That I can still go out walking each day My treatment hasnt been stopped. My new boob is great, surgeon did  fab job.   😊 😊 😊 😊 ... View more

Hi Curedars   Great to hear your surgery has happened..  thank goodness it wasnt cancelled  We could really do without this CV19 ontop of everything else right?   I am doing good. My pathology results were excellent and I'm cancer free ( with all the usual caveats). Herceptin and pertizumab have started up again, I've started tamoxifen and I have my rads scan booked in for next week  My sessions have been reduced from 20 to 8, it's a national directive in response to CV19. But it's similar dose so sounds like a winner to me. I'm just do pleased it's not been cancelled... yet!   Dont like all my hospital trips though!   I'm fatigued in the evenings but managing to excersise and work daily. I can feel my strength coming back.    Hope everyone else is doing well!! Xx ... View more

Oh Curedars, its just endless isn't it?! Could the breathlessness be low red blood cells/ iron? I suffer from that even if I am on the cusp of anemia and had it throughout chemo. I am sure that one of your test will highlight if you levels are a bit low here.  Fingers crossed for you that it doesn;t delay surgery xxxxx   ... View more

and by the way ladies, have you seen the official advice come out regarding cancer folks and coronoaviris?    One Cancer Voice, a group of charities which includes Breast Cancer Now, Macmillan Cancer Support and Cancer Research UK have issued the following guidance for people with cancer: https://mcusercontent.com/68b588bc5847cde662b4ac613/files/8db9f41b-81bd-4b3f-acee-be58024601c0/One_Cancer_Voice_advice_on_coronavirus_for_people_with_cancer_FINAL.pdf ... View more

Hi CherryP   What a mixed bag of emotions for you!  I had all 6 of mine, but the scan was after no.5, and when I commented that perhaps it would shrink more after the 6th he said probably not because for some reason the chemo works more in the middle of treatment for some reason. So you have had the most important bit!   I too felt very mixed up about the next bit at your stage, so sending much love.    I am starting to feel better after surgery and have gone back to work today. I work for myself so thats pretty easy to sit at home at my laptop. This last 13 days since surgery have probably been the most emotional and i have been processing the whole thing a lot - a lot of tears and they come at the slightest thing. I started a blog, which has really helped me. ( You can have a look here if you like: https://newshinyoldfaithful.wordpress.com/). I get my results next week on Thursday to find out if they got it all. So I could be sat here cancer free right now! But I am trying to keep it in my mind that they might need to go back in so that it doesn't feel like a blow if they do.   I also have an appt with my onc next week to get back on the Herceptin and plan the radiotherapy. Feels like this will never end!   Oh, and more positively I have signed up for some free coaching through https://workingwithcancer.co.uk/.  My mentor is 5 years free of BC, and its really good to get help with how my life might look afterwards. AND I got in touch with a new Breast Cancer Dragon boat team. Its nice to start thinking about how I might build myself back up on the other side of this. If you haven't read about Dragon boating for breast cancer survivors then take a look at this.... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breast_cancer_survivors%27_dragon_boating   And btw CherryP, don't be pressured into 'celebrating' the end of chemo if you don't feel like it. I didn't! Although I did mark the end of the cycle with a nice low key lunch. I am saving the celebration for when its gone, and this nightmare is over.    xxxxxxx ... View more

Hey CureDars,   How does it feel to be finished?    Lou x ... View more

Hey ladies, good to hear from you all. Fantastic news Leaw that you had a complete response! I had a complete in my lymphs, but tumour was determined! Although it did shrink to 1/8 of the size so I was happy with that.    I definitely found more energy between chemo and surgery although the chemo side effects remained.. my bottom and mouth were very sore and the last of the ulcers is still hanging around 6 weeks later.    I had my op on friday. I went for a wire guided therapeutic mammoplasty, and had a full node clearance too.   My 'new' boob is fabulous! Although it sits at least 10cm high than my old Faithful, so I look very funny without a bra. Its painful but totally manageable after chemo. I was out the same night and able to go to the farm shop yesterday. Can't lift anything so need help getting out the car etc, but otherwise I'm pretty ok, just tired. Just got the 2/3 week wait until pathology results now. They take a little more flesh on a mammoplasty than a lumpectomy so I'm hopeful, but also popped that they might have to go in again.   Hope you all stay well xxx ... View more

Hey ladies, how are you all doing? Anyone else finished yet?   My lumpectomy and ANC is in 13 days time and I'm starting to turn my energy and attention to that.    I'm struggling a bit to feel happy.. mostly I'm feeling physically good but my mouth has puckered up horrendously and my heart hurts when I do any cardio exercise. Just so tired of having this hanging over my head. People say they get that it's still tough but I'm not sure they get that it feels just as tough, if not worse.    Hope you are all ok xxx ... View more

Oh Jasmine  . Much love to you and your family, such a devastating loss. xxxxxxx ... View more

So, I'm done!! I had my last Chemo on the 15th January, and I meet my surgeon tomorrow to find out about my op on 21st Feb. The final round has been much kinder to me.. but I am very pleased this part is done with. I have found finishing Chemo very emotional... I feel like I have been in a survival bubble and now Im starting to feel a little more like me its hitting what has happened, and what I have lost. And I can't stop thinking about it all reoccuring. But thats probably life now... I wonder if the niggle will ever really go away.   Officially my chemo cycle finishes on the 4th Feb. So on that day I am going for a smeear (THIS girls knows how to celebrate!!!) out for lunch, and then straight on a train to Cornwall to catch up with my business partners and see the sea.    xxxx ... View more