Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hello my beauties, I was singing your praises again last week - work event (if Carlsberg did them!), colleague's m-i-l starting chemo any day now and is not speaking to anyone about her BC so I said the one thing I 100% recommend are these monthly threads. Because we know. Anyway, how are you all? Been a bit traumatic here. My poor mum couldn't fight a nasty UTI infection and passed away very quickly on 2 June.  😥 She's at peace now bless her. Today I've been diagnosed with Lymphoedema though v mild and totally manageable. Have to wear a compression sleeve for the foreseeable to help, along with other self management stuff. Amazing how practically all day to day activities can affect the (non) draining of lymph. The body is mind boggingly awesome TBH.  I have to say that throughout my treatment the nurses, drs, physios etc have been brilliant. Today's Lymphoedema nurse was absolutely off the scale. And my poor hubby, I had to make a complaint to get him an appointment - I was mightily proud of that email. We saw a lovely consultant yesterday. Only one who has ever had a real talk to him about his Crohn's. Seems he's been given wrong info all the time about his diet by the IDB team and dietitian. As his Crohn's is towards the end of his large bowel he should never had been told to have a low fibre diet. The fact that his food doesn't move can irritate his Crohn's ulcers. But his disease is controlled though it's likely made his bowel v lazy.  And that's enough info!  💩 😉 But you'd laugh...  I went in with him saying "I'm Eric's wife" I was helping him tell her stuff and really laying some stuff on thick to reinforce not being acceptable 😉 When she poked and prodded him, she said asked how long I'd been Eric's ex-wife. Took us as while to work out she though she heard me say "I'm his ex-wife". She said that she thought I was very attentive for an ex! 🤣 My notice to retire was handed in on Friday. Due to accrued leave, my last day is 21 July... but OMG I'm having a nightmare that started yesterday pm. My boss isn't 3 months into joining the company... at 15:30 she totally messed up my leaving stuff on the HR system. My company thinks I've already left and no longer exist and I can access nothing, zilch, nada - genuinely can't do any work. Shouldn't care really but I hate letting my colleagues down. Ah well, they'll have to get used to it! I hope you are enjoying the weather and are sleeping OK through it. Love a mono boob for helping the sweat flow.  🤣 Love and hugs to you all. Angela x   ... View more

Hello my lovelies I was thinking of you all a lot over the weekend: had a few days away with 2 old school friends for our 60th birthday celebrations. We've not seen each other since 2019 and only emailed/texted during my diagnosis and treatment so they asked for the full ins and outs. Anyway, cue Friday evening: authentic tapas restaurant over looking Plymouth Sound, tide in, a few sailing boats, warm sun, wonderful food, a fews moment of silence after 48 hours of non-stop natter, a time to reflect and I felt totally at peace and back to my old self. Then I got all teary as I was so happy and then I thought of you all. I hope so much you that are back or nearly back to your old selves. Well, in my case with those aches and pains @Rainbow70 and @Kaz11 mentioned. I suspect it's the Anastrozole but I'm loathed to ask for a change in case another tablet is worse. I have a routine call with an onc practitioner nurse this week, I'll discuss with her. I was sent an appointment - suspect it's ahead of my next Zometa infusion due in the last week of May.  It's not all good, Mum's dementia is worsening. Not helped as she's been in hospital for 3 weeks while they, and us, find a nursing home for her... she broke her hip but isn't figuring out at all how to walk with a zimmer. Hubby's Crohn's is playing up. But I'm the inner me I recognise after all the treatment and therapies.  There is good stuff. I can't wait to retire. Less than 2 months until I give my notice in and as I only need give a month's notice (thanks to keeping old Ts & Cs that are better than new onces), with leave, I'm all done on 20 July. 🥳 I love my hair. I've had a few silver highlights put in, it's a bit pixieish, I can spike it or flatten it or even put a little quiff in. Photo below was me last week on my way to a black tie do. Not bad given I had to get ready in the morning as the bash started at 6pm and it's the middle of event season at work, which means it's madness. Although I'm strictly going through the motions as I don't want to be there. Oh, and I went to a 4 day a week in March - I have every Monday off, which is getting me used to less dosh that retirement will bring. 🤣 Anyway, love and hugs to you all. I'd love to hear how you are. Angela x ... View more

Hello my lovelies, I'm so glad to hear you're all on the path to normality even with more ops and bits of treatment thrown in your ways. It's good news your daughter has been officially diagnosed @CrazyCatLady at least some support should be forthcoming. I had my first annual mammogram back in mid-December and finally got the all clear letter this week. TBH if it hadn't of been 'normal' they'd been in touch PDQ. I had a telephone physio consultation as my cording flares up when I've been driving. She thinks most is due to my chest muscles being tight. I must admit the loosening exercise she gave me seems to be working. She did offer me a face to face but she'd only done the same and she is calling me in a couple of months. I'm so annoyed as just a few days before I was swimming a bit faster. I realised it's because the majority of the ache and stiffness in my operated side arm shoulder and side had gone. Well just about - simple things like reaching into the locker up to the shelf to get a tea bag I can do it without feeling uncomfortable. I blubbed 😊 #SimplePleasures My arms were the same size too - it had been slightly swollen. Then bang - cording and achy and not so much movement. I think some of the aching (all over at times) is down to my Anastrozole. It's bearable but in the mornings all my joints can ache - even my fingers. Loathed to ask for a change as a different tablet could be worse. I'm back proper full time at work and I'm busy. That makes for fun at times as if I get tired (make that when), chemo brain kicks in! Still only a few more months - handing my notice in mid-June and, with leave owing, should be finished/retired by the end of the month. Current thinking is no to a recon - bought a 2nd Aqua Wave form dirt cheap in the January sales with a sign up for marketing discount thrown in. Much better shape than the softies, not as heavy as my 'high days and holidays' NHS provided prosthetic (which is lovely) and it sits and looks nice in my mastectomy bras and better quality comfort bras. My hair! Oh my - it's doing my old teenage self and growing up and out! Think The Jackson 5 🤣 Not helped that I've not been able to get an appointment for 7 weeks which is way too long for me. I'm happy with what it looks like on the days I wash it as I can make it nice and spikey, though I do wonder how much better it will be with a damn good thinning... roll on Thursday. Everyone comments on the colour, saying that it's lovely. It's very salt and pepper - probably more of the former. I'm thinking of having silver highlights put in the top and around my face. It is lovely to hear from you. Please continue to drop in occasionally. With love and hugs 🤗 Angela xx ... View more

Hello lovely ladies Dropping in to wish you all the Christmases that you wish yourselves. I shall raise a little glass of something to you all safe in the knowledge that we are blooming awesome. Love and hugs to you all  🤗 AnGELa x ... View more

Very quick one Sam (@CrazyCatLady) - gel will make your hair curl as its water-based. My hairdresser said to avoid all such products for the time being. If I give in and use the wax I prefer to style mine with, whoop, within hours I'm rocking my best Barack Obama look. @Kaz11 talking to your girls 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 Thanks for all your reassurances about celebs 'thought shalt do as I do' articles are enough to damage the blood pressure. Not sure I've avoided Zometa pain as I'm a bit achy this week. But in the last 3 weeks I've driven to the far bit (for me) of The Wirrel, twice to Bristol (Mum's 'trying out a home, hates it but too far gone with Dementia now to be safe alone) and to Cambridge. And obviously home after each one! Being referred to the physio by the BCN as my cording's back quite badly - I bet it's the driving! Love to you all 🤗 Angela x ... View more

Blimey @CrazyCatLady you've had one hell of a year haven't you? Glad to hear your dad's on the mend. Well, I had my Zometa infusion on Friday. In and out in 50 minutes -  would have been shorter but they took ages to come and take my cannula out.  The girl who put it in gave me a right funny look because I was expecting it to go in one of the veins down by my fingers - a la chemo. She was like "no, your elbow." I'd forgotten about the bleeping machines and a nice cup of tea and a small packet of biscuits. ☺ Pretty sure I have avoided any side effects though I've a little bit start of a cold feeling today but then I was out in that atrocious weather at the rugby yesterday for hours. Still getting pretty horrible heartburn - worse with carbs.  I had my virtual Moving On course on Wednesday.  If we are playing top trumps I had the worst diagnosis and most treatment. I was the only one to have chemo. Although none of them seemed to have a straightforward experience.  One poor lady's reconstruction (from her tummy) at the same time as mastectomy had to be totally removed as it started to decay. Another had a heart attack part way through radiotherapy. 😲 They asked how I got through chemo. If your ears were burning it's because I was so singing our little February 2022 starters thread's praises and how it/you were/are lifesavers. We asked to exchange details. I'm pretty sure most of us will keep in touch, even meet up and one lady might become a long-term friend. Her and I stayed on the call when it ended and nattered for a good 30 minutes. @Teagold I'm so pleased to hear your lump was absolutely nothing to worry about and your surgeon will see you again. First anniversary of diagnosis for me on Thursday and I've an appointment for a mammogram on 16 December @07:40. I had to laugh at the letter, it has XL mammogram LT as a title. I see that as being an Extra Long Mammogram, (on the) Left Tit. 🤣 I hope your all well and busy making plans to have some celebrations over Christmas. Love and hugs 🤗 Love Angela x ... View more

Aw @Rainbow70, so sorry to hear about your step-dad. Many condolences to you and your family. I'm glad you're finding solace in knowing he's reunited with your mum. Sending you hugs. @Kaz11 What are you like? Mind you we all have those niggling doubts. As soon as mine creep in, I shake my head to get them out. Usually successfully.  I was happy to get the copy of my follow up appointment letter to my GPs and the consultant saying no evidence of disease or metastases following a good old feel all over. I was also impressed with how she told them why she was telling them to stop the ibandronic acid tablets "..... and severely interfering with her lifestyle." That letter arrived on the anniversary of me going to my GP with 'a lump'. Not long for the diagnosis, then operation etc anniversaries. We're surviving a year ladies - very probably the hardest year we've ever had. Silly people - probably snap because they're embarrassed or don't know what to say. Talking of not knowing what to say, the numpty who ruffled my hair and got a gobful is totally ignoring me. Idiot. I hope you are all living life to your (new found) max. Love and hugs all round. 🤗 Angela xx   ... View more

Hello lovely ladies, First of all, @Leftygurl oh how frustrating that your last chemo was postponed. I really do hope it happens when it's next planned. I didn't have one cancelled but was climbing the wall when my last one was touch and go thanks to my reaction to the Covid jab. @hope1 I am glad to hear your wound is on the mend. Snowden? You go girl. I couldn't climb a snow globe!!! Good to hear from you both. And of course, you other ladies. We had the laziest of lazy holiday - literally laid on a sunbed for 16 days. I didn't even go in the sea as it was a bit scummy the day after we got there as we had a storm our first night. Didn't fancy picking up any germs. It was clean after that but you never know - better safe than sorry. I was a very good girl with the factor 50 on my top right 'quarter', keeping that part in the shade between 10 and 5. My legs are actually different tan colours as the right one was often in the shade!!! Didn't even have any late nights as the bit of the town we were in was more a daytime beach resort and the only real tapas bar was open from 8am to 8pm. We tended to go out for lunch to avoid the strongest sun and that all helped with the laziness.  It was/is a real struggle coming back to work. Didn't even think about it when I was away - think it shows I'm ready to go. Only 10 months left!!! I finally had my post hospital treatment appointment today. All good, op site and all node areas to my head checked - all as they should be and recovering nicely. Best bit - with hardly any prompting, when I explained how the daily bone tablets are a nightmare for me as I wake up at silly o'clock in readiness for taking it just before 6, I stop them from today and go onto 6 monthly Zometa infusions. What I hoped for but thought I'd never get - thought I'd have to fight for a weekly tablet. 1st one 26 Nov. I did have a Q about if I move from daily to weekly tabs (and now 6 monthly Zometa) she said that the infusions are better as all the active stuff goes into your bones not like just some from the tablets, which is why you take them so often to get the same benefits. OK, having infusions means I have to have my bloods done the day before but hey ho. Let's hope the heartburn goes too as I'm 90% sure it's from the tablets. I'm a happy bunny. Fabulous to have some good news! And I asked about reconstruction. They won't do for at least a year after radiotherapy and it takes 6 months from asking to being operated on. That's me asking next summer for late 2022 or early 2023!!! My retirement present to myself.  😁 The one thing I have yet to ask is how much use will yearly mammograms be for me given nothing showed on mammogram and was iffy, at best, on the scan thing they did at that very first appointment before they took a biopsy. Not been offered a scan - so I am making sure I cross the Ts and dot the Is. The consultant is calling me tomorrow to give me my blood test result - in readiness for the Zometa - so I'll ask her then. And she's booked me in for a clinic before the May infusion so can reinforce then. Third Covid jab for me tomorrow. Let's hope I don't get a reoccurance of the reaction to my 2nd - not least as I am going over to stay with my bestie on Friday and we're going to be ladies who lunch! I hope everyone is as well as can be and you are all making good healthy, progress. Love and hugs to you call.  🤗 AnGELa x   ... View more

I'll add ginger biscuits for taking the edge off nausea (not a replacement for tablets though) - I was given some very posh stem ginger ones in a goodie box from a good friend's daughters Ginger tea bags - couldn't stomach mine at all though If you can, a bag of pineapple bits (fresh or frozen) for if she gets horrible tastes in her mouth (could pop in all that water then eat afterwards) Why not add some IOUs? IOU an ear to listen to you anytime you want. Do you live near? IOU an hour of housework/ironing etc ... View more

Hi ladies Just a quick one  before I have an early night as we're up at 4am for holidays. 16 glorious nights. Can't wait - once we get there. The Spanish Travel Health form was a right palaver. 😖 Anyway, reason for bobbing on - appointment is 26 Oct and face to face. 👏 Re taking prescribed indigestion tablets - really don't want to go down the tablet creep route as you end up taking 100s for every sfx any of them have.  More, and probably better good news - I forgot to put some beer in the fridge yesterday (bearing in mind I poured half a bottle away last week) so the only cold Friyay demob happy drink I had cold was some red wine. Oh my, dreaded it as I'm so off booze - I really enjoyed 2 small glasses. Having another little slurp now. Hope your all doing as well as you can be. Love and hugs to you all 🤗 AnGELa x ... View more

Hello lovely ladies Sorry, I've been missing in action been doing bits of packing for next week holiday most evenings after recovering from work and then... why, oh why can't we be 'normal' for just a few days - had my flu jab last Monday and have been 'off' since. My arm was still hurting on Friday. Still waiting on that appointment. Going to chase again this week - meant to last but couldn't be bothered not feeling 100%. The fact I only went swimming once last week proves it! And I didn't go to rugby yesterday- first time I've missed an away match, without being on holiday, in 4 seasons - at least. Where to start with you. My god, @CrazyCatLady your poor daughter - and you and the rest of the family. I hope she gets the help she needs soon. I can picture your husband going in with the epi-pen like some mad scientist. See what I mean about being normal for a while? Ditto @Kaz11 - you must've been scared witless on finding a lump. I'm so glad it's nothing that can't be sorted even if not in the easiest of ways. I've a little seroma under my scar - got me worried til I looked properly at it (and gave it a water bed style wobble). I tend to forget I ought not to hump stuff around or carry heavy stuff. Glad to hear your tablets can be changed, I hope the new ones help to stop the aches and pains.  My tummy settled down but heartburn - my goodness it can be quite painful at times, usually after too many carbs. @Teagold weary and achy - just the way to describe the long haul of rads. I'm still weary 10 weeks after - though getting better. Don't want to scare you but be prepared for the long haul - my BCN said it can take a year to get over. It's  the weirdest tired feeling isn't it? It's all really down to work, if I don't overdo it, I'm not too far off OK. When I do, wham! #Shattered. So gorgeous girls, please, remember, you have the right to flexible working and your employers have to make adjustments as we're now all classed as having a disability. This is the time to wave your new trump card whether you like it or not. I'm very bad tempered though and my suffering of fools is on an even shorter fuse than before any of this. OMG a good pal's husband ruffled my hair last night saying that it looked lovely. 1 - no one touches me, ever, 2 - he'd never had done it when it was was a shiny cascade of shoulder length blondeness 3 - I am not a dog whose fur needs a ruffle. The only very loud words that came out (thanks to a chemo brain moment I was already having in the conversation I was part of) were, well... (sorry about this) FO and his name. He stropped off to a corner of the pub. Other pals' hubbies told me he'd been in a funny mood most of the evening.  My best pal keeps telling me what to do but gets stuff wrong. We just had an argument about the new travelling back to England requirements from 4 October. Not helped she's adamant we need -ve lateral flow tests for entry into Spain (we don't. She went to Portugal so 'knows it all') and swore blind she only had a lateral test on her day 2 back home last week and that's all we'll need. An hour later I got an apology from her - only because she was still banging on so I asked her how much she paid. £50. QED! Who knows what day the lft is going to happen from? Anyway, I've done some on-line moving forward stuff and the book was sent to me, which I had a quick read of. Just want the actual sessions as I'm not really sure what's in my head to noodle out. Might speak to Maggie's although I am pretty sure my not putting up with bad behaviour/bossiness/fools is my reaction to life's too short. I've always been forthright and have stood up for myself/what I believe in/righting wrongs - it's just even more, let's just say pronounced! I love that you all and @Rainbow70 and @hopeful1974 are doing things to support your mental health and wellbeing. Its swimming for me - perhaps not going last week has exaggerated by foibles. Talking of mental health Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone fishing has just started. Now that's a feel good programme so I'm off to watch it. Love and hugs to you all 🤗 Angela x ... View more

Hello everyone Spoke with breast care nurse today to chase; 1 - follow up appointment as the radiotherapy reception team whose number was on the last letter saying I will get appointment 6-8 weeks after rads ends said that nothing was in the system. I know that I said, that why I chasing an appointment I'm expecting but not received.🤦 Onc's secretary's phone just ringing out when I've tried her. BCN emailing to get me in asap. Backlog for various reasons including just pushing people through actual treatment  2 - invite to a Moving Forward counselling course. As it's triggered by that appointment but BCNs aware appointments are delayed so I've details of that and next steps/useful info in the post.  TBH I need the Moving Forward now. Sarah Harding hit me hard and for the first time I had a real reaction to my diagnosis/treatment etc.. I was a bit of a mess on Sunday and early Monday. I'd thought about Sarah a lot and had been wondering how she was as my treatment ended. @Kaz11 so with you on the 'Did I do all that?' questioning of myself.  3 - Changing these stupid bone tablets to weekly or monthly. I'm finding that if I wake up around 4:30am, I try to go back to sleep rather than take tablet but I don't as I'm waiting to take it to make sure I'm up right for an hour before I go swimming. So I take it that early and I sometimes doze sat upright in bed at that hour - not often - being awake from that time is a nightmare. It's like permanent waking up before your alarm goes off earlier than usual as you've a day out or work trip Nurse said acceptable reason to change. I'm happy to try a weekly tablet. Can manage Sunday AMs for an hour as I do have a lie in. Stomach seems better. Can get awful heartburn but that seems to be improving unless I over indulge the carbs! Was offered those indigestion tablets bit I'm not adding to the pile I'm taking. Nothing Gaviscon or Rennie's can't fix. Nurse also reminded me that rads can take a year to get over and to continue the moisturiser on my chest. Thank goodness my work and pals realise I won't be the old me for a good while. There's an argument for if at all. Least they know it'll take some time to recover. TBH I asked my boss to tell the team not to ask me how I was on Monday as I wasn't good. She said to take some time out, I didn't, I just didn't want anyone being kind/thoughtful to me or I'd been a fountain of tears and snot again. Sorry your work's not as supportive @Kaz11 I'm still on 6ish hours as any more and I tip over into being very tired. Think like a toddler who falls asleep in his dinner! Perked up yesterday - Mum's birthday so my brave face became a reality. Re coloured hair. Mines been all shades of copper and red/burgundy and then cool blondes since I was 16. That's 43 years! I'm just about coping with my loads of salt and not much pepper. I've started using a steel toner which blends it a bit more. Looks OK and I get compliments from the girls and a couple of their husbands.ine grunts it's OK. 🙄   Roll on the end of October and my colouring appointment with my hairdresser. I'm going various steel/greys highlights in what will eventually be a Jamie Lee Curtis pixie with a bit more of a fringe to vary the style. I hope your rads continues to go well @Teagold I hated it. Didn't miss the equipment noises of chemo one bit but chemo was much friendlier for me. @hopeful1974 may your Dox. SFX be few and far between, if any. @CrazyCatLady how's you? Good I hope. Love and hugs to you all. AnGELa x  PS excuse any typos - doing this on my mobile.            ... View more

Hi ladies, Still waiting on the appointment. I called and was told to give it 2 more weeks as they had a mass pingdemic crisis and annual leave, which has left them (a bit) behind. Next week I'm not settling for an excuse. I need to sort these stupid tablets out. They add 11% to my 5 year prognosis so I can't not take them. The indigestion/heartburn/sickness is getting worse. @Teagold please don't swim on rads. I have skin like a rhino's thank to years of pig-roasting twice a year for at least 12 whole days. There is no way I'd managed it during it and I was touch and go for going 2 weeks after. And, if you're anything like me and others, you'll be absolutely shattered. It's a strange tiredness I've not experienced before and I still suffer it if I work too long. I felt myself tip over the balancing point today and bam - one wasted evening and I really want to be in bed now. As for crying at the concert - why not? So much to cry celebratory tears for. @Kaz11 I live in, let's just say, an area of Leeds where people call a spade a shovel and don't hold back at commenting on anything and everything. Not once has anyone looked twice or anyone said anything about my hair. Or lack of. If I look at the photo of my grinning like a Cheshire cat on the day I took my girlfriends out - you could see my scalp. If anyone does, I'd say it was one bleach too many. Could you say highlights gone wrong? But no one will. At rugby last week a couple of people (who don't know) said that it looked amazing! If you're out, out slap the slap on with lots of eyeliner and exaggerate those cheek bones. @hopeful1974 so glad to hear you're not suffering too many sfx. Take care everyone.  Love and hugs 🤗 AnGELa xx    ... View more

Hello everyone, @Kaz11 - you're not moaning nor a misery. You're just right about it doesn't feel right that we get back to 'normal' like after the flu. I've got my heads around it's going to take a long old time. The rads tiredness is such an alien feeling to me and I'm so surprised how it's not getting much easier. Still on the whole, I sleep very well - just often wake up tired. I got my Revitalash from Cult Beauty. They tend to do pay-day offers and you can sign up to get 10-15% off as a new customers so it does bring the price down. @CrazyCatLady what wonderful news! I am absolutely delighted for you. And that lovely planning for Cyprus. LIke @Teagold, it's good to have a plan. We've had our October holiday in since last year and it's always been calling me from the calendar as I've gone through my treatment. We've one booked for March too. Still no sign of my follow-up appointment so I am going to call this afternoon. And ask about the Calcium and Vitamin D I need to take with the biphosphantes (sickiness slowly going but acid-reflux, wow that can't half kick in), I was told they should automatically be dispensed with them but none appeared when I went to collect a prescription from the pharmacy today. The pharmacist was very dismissive. Sorry but if I end up taking the blighters for 3 years, I am not paying silly money for the high dose Ca and Vit D I need to go with them. I have news... drum roll please... I have a parting! And on that note - be kind to yourselves. Love and hugs  🤗 AnGEla x ... View more

Hello everyone, Glad to hear your  TCHP is being kinder to you @hopeful1974 - long may it continue. Enjoy your week away. @CrazyCatLady - you and I are swimming at the same pace. I tried to go faster or harder today - it's not that I couldn't (nothing ouches any more - I was a bit sore in the muscles they cut to get my 40+ nodes out at first) - I day dream too much. I find it my work thinking/creative time. Then I get to thinking how happy I am that I am able to go back swimming that I get even slower and start grinning to myself. People must think I am mad. Sorry to hear your daughter got her test muddled up - we must be giving off 'chemo brain' vibes. I put in 3 calls to my BCN team last week with no call back. So in the end decided to put myself back on my biphosphante tablets. I hate that hour I need to up upright afterwards - really messes my routine up. Though I did doze this morning before getting up to go swimming. Two days later the sicky feeling, which had totally gone, came back. I'm still waiting for my 6-8 week post-rads appointment - I finished 6 weeks this coming Friday - so will chase on Wednesday. They either 1 - change the brand, 2 - give me a monthly tablet or 3 - give me 3 or 6 monthly infusions to stop the sickness. I am not going to add anti-nausea pills to the list of tablets I take and I'm certainly not going to take them for 3 years just not to feel ill. I'll try all options - though TBH infusions are my preferred choice. Got a feeling the trust will do as a last resort as I suspect it's the most expensive option. At least the Anastrozole (doesn't seem to) have any sfx. Apart from that, I'm not too bad. Doing 6 hour days at work for the time being as a full day kills me - tiredness and chemo-brain kicks in big style. Work are happy with that. I'm not quite as tired in the evenings now if I take it easier at work and could easily last til 9pm before going to bed but I go up early to watch decent TV (compared to the rubbish hubby would rather watch!) - don't tell him that though! I'm a very cheap date - still only having a small beer or 2 on Fridays or Saturdays and being quite squiffy from it! I'm going to try wine on Friday night - as it's a bank holiday weekend I can drink the bottle over 3 evenings! I've decided not to drink when I go out - didn't like the feeling of not being 100% in control when I was out last weekend. I've started to use a bit of steel-coloured toner on my hair and now there's not so much difference between colours - it looks good I say so myself. Decided I am going to grow a spiky pixie with a longer fringe that I'll have highlighted different shades of grey - something to aim for. My eyebrows have some colour in them for the first time in my life ever! My boss recommended Revitalash (created by a Dr for his cancer recovering wife). Oh my! It's expensive but it works. Mine are better than pre-chemo - curling over my hooded eyes at the top.  How are you doing @Teagold and @Kaz11 ? Good I hope. Love and hugs to everyone.  🤗 AnGELa x ... View more

Hi @Teagold the things we go through for perky boobs eh? 😉 I'm glad you're managing ok and not feeling too bad after surgery. Drains are a bit of a palaver (says she who only had 1, but it was a naughty one!) but they will be out soon. Imagine that first drain free shower or bath. ❤ Keeping everything cross for clear nodes. @CrazyCatLady /Sam. Isn't it always us that has to unearth the details if they become a bit difficult for the professionals? Well done for sticking at it and for a positive outcome. Another with perky ones eh? I'm edging more towards a recon. Perhaps next summer. My pals asked if I'd have the other lifted - never thought of that. Perkiness and a flat tummy. My goodness! Hubby's chiropodist was round today. Bless her, she did a quick job (as she had a full dairy) on my big toes and two other toes on my right foot that EC had killed. My big toenails had lifted. Yuk! TBH I didn't realise how bad they were (from chemo). Bit annoyed I had to pay for the privilege as the complimentary treatments still aren't being offered in my area. Still they feel, and look, better already. Fingers X the indigestion is getting better - not lasting all day. When it kicks in - 🤮. I'm wondering now if it's the Anastrozole as it's not really improved much since I stopped rads and Ibandronic acid. My BCN will call this week to follow up after telling me to stop the tablets 4 weeks ago so there's some more sleuthing to be done to get to the cause. Enjoy your weekends.  Love and hugs 🤗 AnGELa x   ... View more

Hi @CrazyCatLady /Sam Always one step forward one step back eh? It's good news in the bigger picture though. Let's hope your mind is working overtime of the amount of chemo you need. What chemo you do have, like @hopeful1974 has found (what marvellous news that you feel well and went away in the grand scheme of things) your oncologist might have something up their sleeve that can help you not suffer the sfx so badly. Perhaps the type of chemo is kinder in itself (like Pax was kinder than EC)? Please let us know what your plan is once you have that conversation. Love and hugs  🤗 AnGELa x ... View more

I can't read that paper without crying - it so hits the nail on the head. I shared with my team at work and my closest friends. So I went swimming for the 1st time since 23 December this am. It was blooming wonderful. Adam Peaty has nothing to worry about! I know it’s going to do me so much good – endomorphs. are still flying round my body. My biceps were killing me by 10am! I know that I will be a bit achy all over tomorrow. The only uncomfortable bit was my chest muscles going into my armpit - totally to be expected. I did not overdo it - baby steps - or strokes. The scar area is having more radiotherapy style electric shocks this pm.< I didn't even lock myself away in a private cubicle to get dressed - OK the changing room was quite empty and I did turn away from the one person in the same section as me. I'd done that even with 2 boobs.   My Amoena water one arrived today - looks fab. Much better than the Knitted Boobs scrunchy thing that really lost it's shape and moved to the bottom of the pocket. And it's so light compared to my 'formal' silicon one. Digging out my underwired bras again this weekend - I hate the mastectomy ones. @Teagold - how's it going? Good I hope - or at least as well as can be expected.   Have a good weekend everyone.   Love and hugs  🤗 AnGELa x ... View more

Twit twoooo Sam/ @CrazyCatLady ... before it gets banned.  😉 Good luck today @Teagold - I'll be thinking of you. The recent hot weather's only given me a heat rash on part of my rads area. It's driving me nuts - been on antihistamines. I reached for the aloe vera gel the other day and that has made a huge difference. So much so I have packed my gym bag for swimming on Monday. I'll put up with the shower scrunchy type material the Knitted Boobs people sent me though Mum has given me the money for an aqua boob. Happy weekend everyone. Love and hugs  🤗 AnGELA x ... View more

Hello everyone First of all @Teagold all the very best on Friday. Like @Kaz11 found surgery was a walk in the park compared to chemo and rads. I was in and out the same day for a MX and ANC! It was January! I will keep everything crossed for a brilliant outcome for you after all you've been through. Loving your eyebrow experience @Kaz11 I can't believe my 'not really existent before chemo' ones are coming back darkish and they can be seen with no make-up on them. I do use a bit of coloured mousse on my hair (found a way to tone down the white/grey without colouring my skin). Here's me on Saturday - I took 7 of my Angela's Angels out to thank them for being amazing support. Couldn't call it a thank you as they refused to be thanked. Excuse the big grin - photo cropped from a selfie with 2 others. I had/we all had a fab time. I even braved the local pub (I didn't drink - still off it til tomorrow) and saw friends' husbands for the first time since last summer. They were lovely - one was quite teary eyed claimong he couldn't believe how "amazing you look" and how lovely it was to see me and all that malarkey. They'd had a lot to drink while the girls were eating!  Even the local village idiots didn't say anything or look (obviously) twice. I had been dreading seeing acquaintances or friends who don't know. Love and hugs. 🤗 AnGELa x ... View more