Breast Cancer Now Forum

It’s funny really, because until I got cancer I never really thought about dying. Now it is always on my mind that it could have been worse for me or it might come back one day and things not be so good.Please try not to worry, because breast cancer is very treatable now days. I am no doctor, but I think they are conducting all of the scans to get a clear picture of what they are dealing with and to work out the best treatment for you. Like I said before I had ct and bone scans and there was a shadow part below my scar on my right rib. It w as talked about at the MDT meeting and agreed that this is probably just scaring. I still have little niggles at times that this could be something worse, but have to trust in my team. Additionally, I had a biopsy on my cervix on Wednesday as I have been having abnormal bleeding since going through the change after chemo and then becoming fertile once again. I must be the only lady that can 😂 don’t do things by halves me! Anyway it has been established that I have abnormal cells and they are going to do a more in depth biopsy and internal scan next week. If it is cancer I will need radiation and possibly chemo again or if pre cancerous will have the cells frozen off the waiting for scans and results is worrying and horrible, but it ensures they can get the best picture of what is going on and plan to cure you. Please, please try not to worry, enjoy your time with your grandchildren, don’t let the worry of cancer ruin your life. With strength and belief you will get through whatever the outcome.    Sending lots of hugs 🤗     Tara xx ... View more

Hello, My name is Tara, I was diagnosed in March 2020 with triple negative breast cancer at the age of 36. As we were in the middle of a pandemic I had surgery first (therapeutic mammoplasty), then chemo followed by radiotherapy. Although my cancer was grade 3 right from the start, (was fast growing) I was only stage 1c and because of this they were not I initially going to scan me, because they did not think it would have spread to the lymph nodes. As it was, the doctors were correct, however me being me demanded every scan going 😊    I had a bone scan, mri and ct scan. They inject the dye through a cannula before the scan as the dye will go to where the cancer is, if there is any and they will be able to detect it. Like anything I think there is some slight risk, but not to the extent that it will give you cancer or make it worse. I have had a number of ct scans since my treatment for breast cancer for other conditions and have been absolutely fine.   Also I think a pet ct scan is a similar procedure, just better imagery. I know it is scary what you are going through, but follow what your medics have to say. They are professionals and you are in safe hands.    Hope this helps     love ❤️ Tara xxx ... View more

Hi Anna,  lovely to hear from you. Sorry for the late reply, my husband and I are in the process of taking over our local pub as landlords at the same time as me being  working full time and trying to complete an access course to get into nursing at uni next year. Life is back in full Swing since finishing treatment 😂    I have had the u expected return of my period too. Before treatment I was on the contraceptive injection and had not seen a period in 8 years. In February I was told I had gone through the change when I was having other tests done to ensure I didn’t have pituitary tumour and then would you believe it in April I started to bleed really heavily for weeks at a time. As you can imagine I was extremely worried and hD tests done only to find out the menopause had reversed and I am now fertile again. I have to say it is pretty scary for me as although I was triple negative, the implications of becoming pregnant now and it causing the cancer to return so worry me. I have been told I can only use a barrier form of contraception now as hormonal contraception could cause the cancer to return. At this moment in time I am trying desperately to get my husband to have the snip, but it no is yet to happen.  How are you feeling about it? And how are you in general. Would be great to hear how you and the other June 2020 ladies are getting on. I sometimes find myself having times of panic and horror when I realise how lucky I have been and how things could change in an instant.  Sending lots of love ❤️   Tara xxx ... View more

Hello all,  Such sad, sad news that is so close to home for me, being 36 When diagnosed with Triple negative breast cancer last year. I absolutely loved Sarah Harding and loved who she was! I completely agree with Shi, we need to lower the screening age right now. I never thought it would happen to me, especially being so young. It is surprising and scary how much younger we are getting diagnosed now. I now encourage everyone I know to get checked even with the slightest thing or feeling.  I do hope some change can be made.    Hope everyone is doing well.    Lots of love ❤️  Tara xxx ... View more

  Hello Louise, Sorry for the late reply, been to the forest with my boys and unfortunately no signal there.    I had a fuzzy head a bit like when you read a book in the car for around 5 days after treatment. Felt a bit travel sick too, but not actually sick. Like Shi has said keep trying to call your rapid response team for help, they should be available even in the weekend. I found found that paracetamol regularly for the first 3 days or so helped and a wet flannel with cool water especially in the warmer months. A fan is good too. Close your eyes and rest when you need to.    In regard to the cold cap, (I’m sorry I forget who asked) I personally didn’t use one for the reasons you have mentioned, longer time in hospital etc. My hair came out on day 14, I cut it to grade 3 and then about a week later went completely off when more started falling out.   My hair is really growing now, curly too. I’ll upload some pictures.  last chemo session    front now    Back now     I used baby shampoo on my bald head and found it lovely and cooling throughout the summer.    I hope this helps xxxx ... View more

Hello all, It’s me again, Tara jumping in from June 2020 chemo starters. I wanted to say well done to you all on having your first chemo ( most of you will be one third of the way through now!) and to those still waiting good luck!  It was exactly 12 months to the day yesterday that I had my first chemo, I was so scared and almost did not get up to the unit to have it. My husband abandoning me in the hospital loading bay telling g me to get a grip and a lovely nurse that had beaten triple negative breast cancer 10 years before that came to get  me, were my saviour! It really is not all that bad and you will feel such as relief when it’s all over and you look back on it. I have such different feelings now.   Some of you have mentioned the pain above your nose/head ache when having EC. I got this too and found that taking 3 paracetamol half an hour before treatment and sucking a light mint ( Murray mint) during administration, did the trick. You should check with your team that this is okay for you to do before going ahead as, paracetamol can alter your temperature 🤒 and also as I am not a doctor it is best. If all is okay then the pain should be managed this way.    If any more tips are needed, I am always here to share my experiences.    Have a good day all!    Much love ❤️ Tara xxxx ... View more

Hi Fairie, lovely to meet and hear from you! I am sorry you have got cancer again, but feel happy that it appears to be contained in one place and has not spread. It must be such a relief.    Well done on getting through your previous journey, you are a true warrior! I want you to know that I and other members are here for you this time to hold on to and support you.    I don’t know what your experiences of treatment were last time, and can imagine that  you may have worries as you know a little more than others that have not been through the experience before of what to expect. I do hope that things go as well as they can for you and you don’t experience to many negative side effects.    From my own personal experience the chemo was not too bad. I did feel extremely nauseous, but was never actually sick. I think this was to do with the fact that I asked for every anti sickness drug available. Don’t get me wrong I bloated and put on 2 stone from the steroids, which is taking its time to come off again now. Suppose this is a small price to pay for feeling not too poorly.   I don’t want to come across as a know it all as you have been through treatment before, but wanted to remind you that you don’t have to suffer and to ring your rapid response team with any difficulties you may be having so that you are able to feel as well as you possibly can.    If you need support or have any questions I am always here.    Hope you have a lovely evening! ❤️ Tara xxx ... View more

Hello June chemo starters! My name is Tara and I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in March last year at the age of 36. I had surgery first followed by  6 rounds of fec-t chemo from the 11th June to 24th September. I can’t believe how quickly the time has gone and how differently I feel now compared to this time last year. Mainly relieved, but proud of where I am and what I have achieved. I remember feeling so anxious and worried about chemo, even threatening to not go in to my first one. If it wasn’t for my husband abandoning me in the hospital loading bay and being met by a lovely nurse on the chemo from the chemo unit that had been diagnosed with the same type of breast cancer 10 years earlier and survived, I am not sure I would have made it up to the ward!    I am not a doctor and are not medically trained, but I have been where you are now and have come out the other side. If you need to share and concerns, worries need reassurance or would like to know my experiences on anything at all, then please do ask.   You are about to get on a train that will go through a tunnel and come out the other side. Hold on tight to one another and support each other through. You will get there!    Lots of love ❤️ Tara xxx ... View more

Hello Sarncroft, I do hope you have started to feel a little better now. Like Shi has said call your rapid response number and have a chat with a nurse or doctor about how you are feeling.    When I had chemo last year I felt really nauseous, although I was never actually sick, it did feel as though I had been on a long journey sat at the back of a coach or like the feeling you get when you sit backwards on the train. I did ask for every anti sickness going and made sure I took them at the correct times before I started feeling sick sometimes. This feeling passed after a couple of days and things got better. I found brushing my teeth helped lots too  or drinking peppermint tea.    Well done on your first chemo, if you are having 6 rounds you are a third of a way there now and will be half way there next one. You got this!   lots of love ❤️ Tara xxx     ... View more

Hello, My name is Tara and I was diagnosed with Grade 3 stage 1c triple negative breast cancer in March last year at the age of 36. I had my diagnosis on the 20th March just as the country went into lock down on the 23rd, so I was given surgery first to remove a 1.9mm tumour and 2 lymph nodes. Both were clear of cancer. I then had 6 rounds of fec-t chemo and 9 sessions of radiotherapy.    When I was told I had cancer everyone around me was crying and upset and I just remember thinking, do they all think I’m going to die? In my head I was screaming get this out now! I have 2 children to take care of and I have not seen enough of life yet. There was so much more I wanted to do. In fact I used to talk to my lump and tell it to do one. I remember thinking don’t get too comfy, because you have to go. In fact I think if someone had given me a knife there and then I would have cut it out myself.    In terms of the treatment, I did not find it too bad at all. I took all of the anti sickness meds given and although I bloated and put on 2 stone, I was never sick and was still able to get up to make the boys drinks flask for school and go for a walk to the end of the road each day. I had chemo 3 weekly and on week 3 I felt strong enough to watch my 10year old play football too.    Now in terms of support for your wife I found that my husband struggled and still does now. We never really spoke about how I was feeling, as he just kept telling me I was doing a lot better than he expected and he would often tell me that things would get much worse with my next round of chemo, because that was what other people that had, had cancer said happened to them, so it would definitely be the same for me. Yeah right! Can I just say that every person is unique and we all react differently to illness and treatment. Statistics are just numbers. Who are they actually comparing me to when they say you have this percentage of survival? For all I know it could be women in a totally different age range to me that had my type of cancer 20 years ago. Like I said above no two people are the same, so no one will ever be 100 percent accurate. I think 🤔 , but bear in mind this is just my opinion if you believe you can do it and have hope and optimism you float on through. I could have throttled my husband then and still could now sometimes. It’s nice to be told you are doing well and just to have someone sit with you, give you a hug and not talk at times, but just know you are there for her. I don’t blame my husband as he was brought up like this and also in my head I knew if I tried to get up out of bed and carry on the disease would not beat me. So perhaps I made it look as though I had control of the situation when at times I felt a little sad. Not because I didn’t believe I could get through the journey, but because I felt tired, like nothing fit me and I looked like a man with my bald head.    Please do try not to look at google as it will stress you out as well as your wife. Don’t give it the satisfaction of adding extra worries to you at this time. As I write this post I am realising that perhaps my husband may have done this, and this is the reason for his reactions. Be there for her and know that if you or your wife need support there are always people on this site to share your worries with and get reassurance from. In addition your wife medical team should be able to answer any concerns or worries. They are much more experienced than Dr Google!    What other members have said about looking at their  life and making changes has certainly been true for me too. I don’t tend to let people treat me bad anymore, I have the confidence to say my opinion to people now rather than tell them what they want to here to make them happy or to keep the peace and I have just started an access course to go onto a nursing degree next year. If you or your wife realise things need to change from this experience, support one another through it, don’t take it personally embrace the change, as perhaps this situation needed to happen to ensure better things and for you both to realise how strong and capable you are.    I had my first mammogram since diagnosis last month and it came back as no evidence of malignancy. I have not survived 20 years like some of the members on the site yet, but I have survived 14 months since diagnosis and I fully intend to survive many more, to see my grandchildren have children!   I hope what I have said has helped a little.    Tara ... View more

  Hello ladies, lovely by to hear how everyone is doing. From what I am reading quite well for all of us! 🤞    I am getting ready to go back to work soon too. I was all set to be going back next week, but as one of the other ladies have said I got some heavy bleeding and clotting down below so are currently having scans to check this out. I was told in February I had gone through the change, but it appears my ovaries are back into fertile action! I have just enrolled onto a social science access course to start my new career off. I’m thinking of doing nursing. Funny how this has made me reflect and want to better my life. I am so grateful to be alive!    I did get a blood clot on my lung in October, which they said was caused by the chemo, but I am off the blood thinners for this now. I also had a clear mammogram in April, so all good on that front.    I have managed to loose a stone of the 2 stone put on in chemo, but have lymphedema, so have to wear stockings for 2 years and it makes loosing weight and exercising more challenging. The stockings helps prevent further blood clots too.   My hair has come back loads, although trying to tame it is a nightmare.      Keep on coming with the stories lovely ladies, I love reading them!    Lots of love Tara xxx 💕 ... View more

Hello Gracemak and everyone else, My name is Tara and like you I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in March last year. It was stage 1 grade 3, however was in my right breast.    Due to being 2 days before lockdown when I was diagnosed I had surgery first on the 9th April. This was a therapeutic mammoplasty, which is removal of the tumour and margins and in my case an uplift as I was previously an F cup. I also had 2 lymph nodes removed, the sentinel node and the next one along, which were fortunately both clear if cancer.    From what I know and please note I am not a doctor a WLE is  removal of the tumour and margins around it to achieve a cancer free breast without full removal, such as in the case of a mastectomy. At first I was all for a mastectomy and was quite shocked when my surgeon was edging me towards the therapeutic mammoplasty, but are now more than happy with my treatment and I even got  no evidence of malignancy in my first mammogram (12 months) since diagnosis at the beginning of this month. It is like I have the boob of a 21 year old in a 37 year olds body 😂 this is great for me as I have only ever been a size 10 with big massive saggy boobies, my new breast matches my body much better, so I love it. It will be even better in 6 months time when I get my uplift to the other side. I have a chicken fillet ( prosthetic breast) for now to even me out!    I hope the information I have given helps you decide if this procedure is right for you. The way I look at it is if the cancer ever comes back there is still tissue there for them to go at, rather than having the mastectomy straight off and the cancer still having possible recurrence.    If you would like more information you can always contact the nurses on this site using the telephone number provided. They are very good at giving advice and reassuring us.    Well done on your journey so far, I feel you are through the hardest part, it’s time to breath and build yourself back up now!    Lots of love ❤️ Tara xxxx     ... View more

Hi Felinefriendly friendly, Glad your surgery went well and you are not feeling too unwell. I myself had pain and bruising, felt like I had done 12 rounds with Mike Tyson, but much easier in comparison to the chemo.    Jojo, I myself are not good with needles and although it is a little sharp when they inject the dye it is quick so not too bad. I also found that I was nervous about surgery before my therapeutic mammoplasty, but honestly it was fine. I walked into surgery because I had my op on the 9th April last year right in the middle of the pandemic. They put a cannula in and then gave me some medicine (pre med) I think that made me feel drunk. A lovely man Stood at the side of me holding my other hand and explaining the process as the anaesthetist administered the drugs. He asked me what I would normally be doing on a Thursday morning to put me at ease and before I knew it I was asleep. Not sure about anyone else, but it was an amazing sleep, which I was surprised at as I had not imagined this with all the worry and stress I had been having with the whole cancer situation and diagnosis. I did not wake up on the operating table as I thought I might, it was amazing to be fair. When I came around I felt a little sick and they gave me more  anti sickness right away, but I think this was more to do with me never having had an anaesthetic before.  I went down for surgery at 12:30 came out at 6:30 ( I am big chested an F cup and my surgeon is a perfectionist so wanted to get my uplift spot on!) and was discharged at 7:55, just in time to see the emergency service vehicles line up outside the hospital for the NHS clap. It was a lovely thing to experience, that in what I thought was a bad situation. In fact I am not sure if the Cancer diagnosis has made me more appreciative of things now because I can honestly say that I have met some lovely people and had some lovely experiences whilst going through this journey.    To the lady that has asked about the uplift in surgery ( sorry read your post after editing this one!) I had the lump removed and an uplift to my right breast. I have to wait for another 6/12 months for an uplift to the other side as my surgeon is quite rightly now only doing cancer operations and no corrective surgery. The choice is completely yours, but had I been offered a double uplift I would have taken it. Although I have a prosthetic to put in my bra, my brother gets married in December and I am hoping to go away in the summer and wearing a swimming costume and a strapless bridesmaid dress is proving difficult with my chicken fillet as I call it 😂 .     Anyway enough about me. Hope everyone has a lovely day in the sunshine ☀️    take care all, love ❤️ Tara xxx ... View more

Hi Felinefriendly, I am so glad You are home now and hope you start to feel more like yourself soon.  Well done you on getting to the end of your chemo, you have had such a lot to deal with throughout. You should be so proud of yourself! 👏 On to surgery now, almost at the finish line. Will you be having radiotherapy? MayC, o was a little different to you as I had my sentinel node biopsy and therapeutic mammoplasty together right at the beginning before chemo. I am not a doctor, but do believe that if the nodes are cancer free then they don’t need to take more because the cancer should not have spread. Apparently the sentinel nodes are the first place the cancer goes to, to spread so if they are clear things are looking positive! I had the sentinel node and the one next to it took out and both were clear. Have you had any scans at all, such as bone CT scan? I was told they were not relevant for me because although I was triple negative no cancer was found in my nodes or blood, however I started to get leg and lower back pain before chemo so they did them and they came back clear too.   I would suggest you could talk to your team or the nurses on this site to get some clarification and reassurance.    Well done to you all, you are nearly at the end if this stage and spring is here. Better times are ahead!    Lots of love ❤️ Tara xxx   ... View more

Hi Jenny, Thank you for updating me with your progress, I am sooo pleased you got the news you were hoping for, you must be so relieved!    I had my blood results Back today, which are normal, just need to wait for mri results next week now. Hoping they are good too fingers crossed 🤞 .    Glad to hear the chemo is bearable so far, I hope it stays that way for you, but please  if you start to feel unwell or have any niggles, even if you have no temperature  ring your rapid response number and speak to a member of your team as they can often give you something to make things more bearable. Having chemo is hard, but is definitely doable, you have got this!    Sending love ❤️ and hugs your way!    Tara xxx   ... View more

Hi Jojo and smilodon,  wanted to reassure you both a little about surgery. I found it a walk in the park compared to chemo and sure you both will too. I was triple negative and should have had chemo first, but as I was diagnosed on the 20th March last year right as we went into the first lock down the decision was made by my team to get the lump out first and clear margins and then do chemo and radiation afterwards to mop up.   I had never had a procedure in my whole 36 years up until this point, not even a filling, so was very anxious, but can honestly say it was so much better than I had imagined. I walked into theatre, climbed onto the bed and was put to sleep in there because the recovery rooms were being used for covid patients. They put the heated table on, which is a bit like heated seats in the car( this is to keep you warm apparently through the procedure), put my canula in and told me they were giving me something that would make me feel drunk. They then asked me about my job and what I would normally be going and I don’t remember anymore. When I woke up I felt sick so I told them and they immediately gave me anti sickness and then I was taken to the surgical day ward for my hubby to pick me up. I can say it felt like the best sleep I had, had in a while.  I believe you stay in hospital for longer than a day now but as I was operated on the 9th April I was sent home to recover. This was fine too. In the end I had a therapeutic mammoplasty ( lumpectomy with an uplift) and 2 nodes taken, which were clear.    I hope this helps and gives you both some  reassurance.    Well done both for getting to the end of chemo, you should be so proud!    Love ❤️ Tara xxx ... View more

Hi Felinefriendly, I am so sorry to hear that you are not feeling good and are in hospital. I know it is easy for me to say as I am not in the hospital, but please try and relax. I have found over the past 12 months that the best way for me to deal with anxiety is to stop what I am doing, sit or lie down and take some deep breaths in and out. I know I have not experienced what you are in terms of low bloods and I won’t pretend to tell you I know how you are feeling as only you know that, but I found that when I was in pain or felt nervous or worried about things it helped to imagine I was in a different place, somewhere that makes me feel happy. I would close my eyes and imagine I was on a sun lounger on the beach in front of the ocean and if I listened really carefully I could hear the sound of the waves and feel the cool breeze floating over my warm body. I am not saying it will help, but give it a go and see if it takes your mind away from the situation if only for 5 minutes.    I also wanted to say that although you won’t believe me right now you really have got this! You are doing so well and should be proud of what you have achieved so far. You don’t have to be at the end Of treatment  to be proud of yourself, be proud for what you have dealt with and over come in the last day, week and month! I know it seems like everything is negative right now, but you are in the best place and you are being investigated. The professionals really are taking care of you, checking everything out. Everyone wants the best possible outcomes.    You may not like being in hospital away from your family I know I would be the same, but please use it to your advantage! Rest, take deep breaths and imagine you are on the beach 🏖 somewhere exotic or wherever makes you happy and please don’t feel alone, because we are all right next to you, with you! (I’m the one with the pina colada in my hand, what are you drinking?    Try to get some sleep and some you time!    Let me know how you get on!    Much love ❤️ Tara xx ... View more

Hi Felinefriendly, Sending big hugs and please don’t worry about having your treatment cancelled. I myself never had any of my treatments cancelled due to low bloods, however  I did meet some people on the unit that had their treatment cancelled a couple of times due to low bloods or infection. From what I was told the delay in treatment does not affect your outcome as there is not long enough for the cancer to take hold or rapidly grow. It is expected that this could happen throughout cycles and is planned for.    I completely understand that it is easy for me to say because it has never happened to me, but for reassurance please contact your oncologist at the hospital or one of the breast care nurses on this site. They are the professionals and talking it through with someone helps us to better understand our situation and ease the anxiety. Please don’t worry alone, talk to someone that knows the answers!    I do hope you are able to feel less anxious soon and have my fingers crossed that your cycle goes ahead next time.    Much love ❤️ Tara xxx ... View more

Hello again, Yes I was 36 last year when I was diagnosed, but if I am honest could have already started to go into menopause when I was on the contraceptive injection as the women in my family do go through it early. My mum was 27 when she did!  I am so sorry for all the spelling mistakes in my last post, my youngest was pulling at my arm asking me where the ice cream was as I was trying to write 😝    I am a little worried about the swelling and possible pituitary tumour but have been told that 99 percent are benign and once removed your symptoms especially the swelling can get better in days. I am a little gutted that I can’t just get on with things now that my cancer treatment has finished, but are so grateful to be alive and that far more out ways the tests and treatment. Like I said earlier I was quite lucky to have gotten to 36 with never having surgery or procedure  not even a filling.    I am not sure how you feel about me saying this, but well done you for getting through this once and for fighting hard a second time. You seem like such a strong 💪 lady, a warrior. I was speaking to a man who’s wife was recently diagnosed at the hospital the other day and he said that have you noticed that only the good people get cancer. It’s like if you are good and kind you are made up of the same gene that attracts cancer. I had never thought of it like this before, but from the people I have met in life and through this journey it rings true. I wish you all the luck in the future.   Have a lovely evening!  Tara xxx     ... View more

Hi ELLEGEE77,  I am a little different to you but thought I would let you know my experience of periods and the menopause etc. I have not had a period for 8 years because I went on the depo I injection after the birth of my youngest child. I was due to have my 3 monthly jab on the 1st may last year but was advised by both my oncologist and surgeon not to have it as although I was triple negative and this is not hormonal there is a high chance of recurrence that could be hormone receptive. I did as I was told and did not have a period at all through chemo.    I am currently having scans and tests for swelling of the hands feet and face, headaches, poor sleeping patterns, excessive sweating in the night and reduced mobility, which at first was put down to the effects of chemo and steroids, but now they think I may have a problem with my pituitary gland. As part of the investigations I have had an ultrasound of the upper and lower abdomen and I have also had an internal scan and bloods which has confirmed  I have gone into the menopause. I am okay about this because I knew this could happen and I have 2 boys so feel my family is complete.   Don’t hold me to this as I am not a doctor but there is a test to check for menopause and that is what the bloods and scan have done I believe. I have almost finished chemo 6 months ago and had it done 2 weeks ago. I was told you have to wait a time incase the chemo still in your body gives a false reading.    I have also been told that is I have a problem with my pituitary gland such as a benign tumour which they are testing for this can cause you to be menopausal and then when it is remedied they could return. I have been told to stay safe for now with barrier contraception.  I would suggest for you to speak with your oncologist or the breast care nurses in here for further advice.    I hope this helps a little!    Much love ❤️ Tara xxx         ... View more