Breast Cancer Now Forum

Gem So pleased to hear your BRCA results were negative. That is fantastic news yay 😀 🎉🥂🍾👏👏👏. That must make a massive difference to how you feel about things and the future.  We do still need things to lean on. Yoga for me too. So glad you are getting out there a bit more and the allotment and beach hut sounds great. Enjoy 😉.   So don’t rush to back work. Enjoy whatever you can.  Take care. 😘  ... View more

I love this. ♥️ ♥️ ♥️ 🤣🤣🤣 ... View more

Shefgirl. So pleased you are getting out more now. It is so lovely to catch up with friends isn’t it? All the treatment definitely affects how we look. I hate my body after surgery. I feel unrecognisable.  I shouldn’t complain as I didn’t lose all my hair but it is extremely thin and none of the stuff I lost is growing back on my head at all. It’s 3 months since I finished chemo but the chemo nurse said this is the last bit of hair to grow back.  So enjoy the bucket hat and get out there and see your friends. It’s tough and the complimentary therapy. That sounds really great.  Take care. 😘  ... View more

Jowels. Well done on losing your weight. 👏👏👏👏 i did lose half a stone and have been trying to lose some more but I seem to be stalling. I’ll start again next week. We decided to take advantage of they good weather so went away for a few nights which was lovely.  I think my fatigue is lessening but I still do not have the energy levels I did have. This is all going to take time.  You take cate. 😘  ... View more

Hi Jowels. How lovely that you managed to get away. You so deserve it and I do hope you and your family share some lovely times. Yes it does feel weird looking at yourself in the mirror. It just isn’t you and that is somewhat disarming. Doesn’t help with the confidence levels at all does it.  I do hope your son’s return goes smoothly. I don’t blame you for feeling nervous. It is all so weird. Strange times. So it’s good that your CBT and yoga help. We all need stuff to lean on. I am doing yoga everyday now which is new to me but my goodness it helps calm me. That is one good thing I have picked up from all this.  Feel stuck too. I think I’m a bit numb and trying to pretend it’s all fine but the reality comes out to bite you every so often doesn’t it. I think you need to give yourself lots of time to recover both psychologically and physically. The fatigue just goes on and on   Enjoy your last few days in Italy. Have a great time and do take care. Sending love. Sally  ... View more

Thanks Gem Don’t blame you for taking your time to return to work. I think I might have gone back too soon as my energy levels ended up going backwards. I still can’t work beyond midday - I just get so tired. And that’s only for 3 mornings a week. It all takes time.  I so know what you mean about hair and eyebrows/ eyelashes etc. My hair on my head still isn’t growing back but I shouldn’t complain as not all of it fell out. I was told it would be the last to grow back tho. Makes me feel old and ugly but I too paint on the eyebrows and some eyeliner if I’m going out. It just feels wrong. It’s not me but what choice do we have. Still trying to shift another half stone too. It all takes time. That is so unlike me too I am so impatient   I am so sorry you still have to wait for your BRCA test results. I think waiting to find out results is the worst thing. Of course you can’t move on while that is still hanging over you.  So you take care and build up your strength slowly. Lovely to hear from you and look after yourself. 😘. Sally ... View more

I had surgery in January and i’ve been lucky as it all went smoothly for me.  I chose it mostly because it meant I wouldn’t have to have any more surgeries later to replace failing implants. So it’s done and I’m really pleased with it I have a massive scar across my lower tummy from the side of one hip to the other. I really do think I’m lucky as I understand for a lot of women the scar can end up with some sort of puckering as the skin is brought together. One nurse told me some women end up with dog flaps at the hips where the scar ends and the skin doesn’t quite come together evenly. My scar is completely straight and very neat. Lucky to get such a fantastic plastic surgeon. They also gave me a new tummy button which looks fairly good I’d say. i was also fairly fit before hand. I ran 2 or 3 times a week but I had to stop a month before surgery due to other surgeries and treatment. But I did walk for 30 mins a day instead and a lot of people told me my fitness helped my quick recovery.  Also I wasn’t massively overweight. I am pear shaped so have good child bearing hips and thighs but they told me to put on weight to get more tummy fat. I couldn’t quite believe it as I thought I was about a stone heavier than I should be. Anyway apparently they normally take the fat from one side of the tummy only to reconstruct the breast but they needed to use both sides for me and as a result the surgery was longer than expected. I went into surgery about 8 and came out at about 8. I think we should allow for an hour of faffing in pre-op etc / anaesthetics etc so I was probably under the knife for about 11 hours. It was a long time and they warned me I’d feel like I’d been hit by a train but I don’t really remember. They gave me morphine for the first day and then you are on normal painkillers. It’s bearable but the worst bit is their insistence on getting you out of bed and walking by day 2.  I really didn’t think I would be able to and it is hard but I could manage it. Like I said it’s bearable.  It all seems a long time ago now but I’m not back to normal yet but I am running again and that helps. You really do need to do all the physio exercises as the tummy is so stretched. I got so bored of them I took up yoga everyday after a bit instead. I still feel it in my tummy now if I miss a day as my tummy just feels so tight.  After surgery I still felt mutilated. I hated to look at my body. I was impatient and fed up and now I still hate bits of it but if I’m honest I have a really good result. It’s just that any surgery like this is a massive change. It’s not like your body any more. I think the big thing for me is no nipple. It just looks so wrong. And a massive scar across my tummy but that is getting a lot better now.  Be prepared to wear big knickers (control pants) 24/7 for months.  I was really lucky to attend a show and tell evening at the Royal Free in London so I could talk to other women who’d had all sorts of different surgeries and that was really helpful. Can you ask if you can talk to other women who have had it done. At least virtually.  I really do wish you well and whatever you decide to do you feel happy with it. It’s so hard to make a decision. That was the worst bit for me as I had different surgeons telling what would be best. Wishing you all the best. 😘 Sally ... View more

Hi lovelies. How are you all doing?  I hope you are all improving. 😘  Jowels how are you? Glad you are feeling less sore after rads. I do hope you do get used to Tamoxifen and it isn’t too awful. It’s all so hard. Your body has been hit by a bus. Repeatedly and then tamoxifen 😩 I think it will takes ages for all of us to remember what normal feels like. I really am beginning to feel a lot better but I really do have to pace myself. Even though I can now run for 30 mins (just finished couch to 5k - 9 weeks - where did all that time go) I cannot go a whole day without a rest of some sort. So definitely not back to normal.  Plus I know psychologically I’m changed forever, as well as physically. We were meant to go away for a few days. I booked it when nearly finishing chemo to have something to look forward to once I was feeling better. But the morning I was packing things for the car I had to take hubby to A&E with abdominal pains. He’s currently in hospital on a lot of morphine and antibiotics for a badly inflamed gall bladder. But before I got the diagnosis I was terrified it was cancer and before I knew where I was I was in floods of tears thinking about his funeral and what I was going to do with the rest of my life.  I am trying so hard to be positive about everything and rushing to get on with life but the reality is I am changed.  Thank god he’s going to be okay. He’s turned the tables on me tho. Now I have to be nurse. 😂😂😂 So it’s strange how our minds work and it is all so scary out there still I darent even think about COVID.  How are you all coping with sending kids back to school? sending love to all.  Sally ... View more

Hello everyone. So sorry for the radio silence. It all feels a bit unreal and I haven’t quite got my head around things.  I was feeling so much better I started back at work.  Even though it’s only been a few mornings a week it’s left me feeling really tired. Back to an afternoon rest every day. Still on herceptin and have next ECG in sept.  Had to do my blood pressure every day for 3 weeks as it was so low.  But I always have low blood pressure but they worry about it with herceptin.  It’s all fine tho now apparently according to the other nurse 🤷🏻‍♀️ Sorry to hear you’ve suffered so with tamoxifen Jowels. Sleep deprivation is a recognised form of torture. Hope things improve for you soon.  Nat I hope your surgery has gone well. Hanging around and waiting for the news is pain. Don’t rush back to work too soon. You don’t realise how tired you will be once you start doing something. Gem I too painted eyebrows on and they didn’t look too bad. Can’t think of false eyelashes and the eyeliner doesn’t really look like mascara but it’ll have to do.  I’m really lucky as I didn’t lose all my hair with the cold cap but the hair on my head that did fall out is not growing back at all.  So I still have a bald patch at the top of my head. The nurse said to me that’s the last bit to grow back. The silk scarf sounds good. Nice and cool.  Love the Bert and Ernie comment 🤣 Shefgirl  lovely sunflower 🌻. Well done. Sorry you’ve suffered so with rads.  I hope it starts easing soon   Sending lots of love to all of you.  I hope you manage to enjoy life more now.  It’s so hard as I don’t believe we shouldn’t still be shielding   take care all of you  Sally 😘🤗 💕      ... View more

Enjoy the finish line tomorrow. A few people have told me rads bring out the fatigue so take it easy.  I do hope you do get some time to have some fun with hubby and your son this summer. Take it easy. Enjoy those moments and take care. 😘  ... View more

Gem. Hiyah. Enjoy those veggies. I am swamped with salad leaves and the courgettes have arrived at last. There is no stopping them now. Good job I love them.  So sorry your first rads session was not good. I hope the rest of them are more like the second and that they go easy on you   I have been impatient to get fit and lose some of that weight but it will not be rushed. I am not surprised you are so much weaker. You have been through so much. I am having to go slow but I am really enjoying the yoga so it doesn’t seem to bother me as much that it’s taking time now. We’ll get there.  In the meantime be kind to yourself. Take some time and space to feel proud that you have come through so much already.  Take care. 😘  ... View more

Jowels. It took me a lot longer than I expected to start to feel better. You are still doing rads so it will take some time yet. I wish I could hurry up time for you but I can’t.  🤷‍♂️ So take care. And yes good idea to remove stress when you return. All this certainly makes you reevaluate what’s important. Sending hugs 🤗  ... View more

Shefgirl. Good rule of thumb. I am actually okay most of the time. I did finish chemo nearly 2 months and didn’t have to go thru the pain of rads. So I’ve had recovery time. I was v emotional on finishing treatment but now I seem okay. You notice I say seem as my confidence is v low and I am not really sure how I’ll cope going forward. But my boss really is a darling and I know I can just tell him if I think I need a break. He’s not giving me anything stressful so I’m starting back. All good so far   So I do think you should take your time and make sure you are okay  like you say you need to feel ready.  Just sending lots of love and hope the rads all go to plan   😘    ... View more

Shefgirl.  That’s really good you can go ahead now with the next phase of treatment. 👏👏👏👏👏👏 I do hope it goes well and your skin holds up. I have now started my phased return to work. All working from home. Just a few mornings a week and it’s okay so far. I did feel tired the first week and I’ve noticed I’m sleeping in a lot more but I am mostly feeling good. Today I have enough energy to clean the bathroom. This is amazing as I absolutely hate cleaning and will do anything to put it off.  I also used to volunteer as a Counsellor for a half day a week at a women’s center in London. I just cannot face going back to that yet even tho I know that everything is now done on zoom. I was feeling a bit guilty about this as I know they are desperate for more Counsellor’s. But my friend reminded me to just take each step as it comes and not to return until I really feel ready for it. And that is not yet. I still feel a bit empty sometimes and ridiculous positive at other times. I guess it takes a while to process it all.  Sending best wishes for next week. I do hope it all goes well. 😘  Sending love to everyone else. I hope things are going as well as they can. 😘  ... View more

Jowels. Great to hear that you are so far along rads. So tomorrow is the final session. Yay 😁 How fantastic. Hoping you enjoy those G&Ts tomorrow. 🍸 You deserve them. 🔔  My aches in my hips are lessening which is really good but I do get a lot of lower back pain now which I never used to get.  It’s not too bad now if I do yoga everyday 🧘‍♀️ but I’m enjoying that 😄 I hope the tamoxifen SE’s haven’t kicked in yet and I do hope if you do get any they only last for a couple of months   i am genuinely starting to feel better.  I think the exercise really helps.  But nevertheless I do have days when I just have to put my feet up Sending love and good luck for tomorrow  😘      ... View more

Jowels. So glad you had a lovely birthday and had lots of treats. You so deserve it.  Well done on the run 👏👏👏👏 I’m v impressed. Started slow and trying to do yoga every day. You take it easy too tho. Not surprised you are tired. Have heard from lots of people that rads seems to exaggerate the fatigue. Take care. 😘  ... View more

Hi Gem. Lovely to hear from you.  😊  Not been for that picnic yet but I know the very spot. In a very quiet field up-the hill. Fantastic views and loads of butterflies. Just need to drag Andy away from work   I’m not veggie but tend towards it most days now. My veg patch has really been something to focus on thru this and it’s been great. I really recommend it. Had the first of what looks like loads of courgettes for lunch. Swiss chard is a must. It’s so easy and it keeps going for ages, including thru the winter. As is lettuce and some salad leaves will also go thru winter.  Beans are also great. Not everything has been successful but when it is it feels brilliant.  I too put on a stone. That was for surgery and I put on a few pounds over chemo too. I used to run every week but when I tried again I was completely wiped out for days every time I tried. It just felt I wasn’t ready yet. So I got into walking for 30 mins and then I tried the couch to 5k and it’s brilliant. I can now run again for 3 mins inbetween walks. Just done week 3. It just seems an easy route to get into it as I just needed to take it all slowly. WW is a good start but I also love Michael Mosley’s 5 & 2 diet. I think the long and slow approach is best. If I can just lose a pound a week at least I’m going in the right direction. Just keep eating soup and salad. I feel much healthier for it and they fill you up   I’m wishing you all the best for rads next  week.  I hope it goes well.  Take care  😘    ... View more

Shefgirl. How are you feeling?  How’s the wound going?  I hope it healing so you can get on with rads and life.  😘  ... View more

Jowels  Happy Birthday 🥳🎂🎂🎂🎂🎉🥂🥂🥂💐💐💐🎈🎈🎈💃💃💃 🎁🎁🎁 Hope you have a fabulous birthday and still have some energy left after rads 😖 to enjoy some time with your family. Sending you many happy returns. 😘 🤗 💕  ... View more

Jowels. Glad today also went okay. Not surprised you need to rest in the sofa tho. Take it easy. Even tho I feel so much better even I needed a rest on the sofa this afternoon. Only 8 more sessions 😬 Good luck with all of this and the tamoxifen next week. I do hope it is kind to you.  Sending lots of love. Sally. 😘 🤗 💕  ... View more