Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Evie-s Thank you for your lovely reply. It has made me feel so much better!   Lowen x ... View more

Hi MandaBee, I’m also sorry you’ve had this diagnosis but this is a marvellous place for both support and information. Everyone is happy to help with any worries or questions you may have.  lowen ... View more

Just an update. I’m finding the letrozole ok so far. The occasional flush, not much else so far. Radiotherapy went well with very little discomfort and a week after finishing no ongoing soreness. I’m feeling very tired, most notably when walking the dog. I have two speeds - slow and stop! I’ve not heard about an appointment for the zoledronic acid infusion yet and I’m going to have to ring the hospital with a few questions after receiving a copy of my oncologist’s letter to the surgeon. However I’m mostly ok, although I now understand when I read that someone feels a little cast adrift/alone after finishing a course of treatment. I almost feel a bit of a fraud as I’ve not had much pain or sickness - it is as if I’ve not been ill enough for the support and love that’s been flowing my way from everyone. Does that make any sense? Sorry for rambling!  lowen    ... View more

Hi, Sorry to hear you are going through this as well as having fibro. It is hard when you have other medical problems as well. I have arthritis and touch sensitivity (allodynia) and I have found that everyone is very careful if they know you have difficulties. The staff have always told me if they’re going to move me and are very understanding. Yes, sometimes it gets uncomfortable but I try and focus on something totally different or even just keep telling myself ‘not long now, keep going’. If you hurt, let them know, don’t suffer in silence, as they will try their hardest to keep you as pain free as possible. I would also advise you to really keep going with the exercises that they suggest as they really help. Good luck with your treatment. X ... View more

Hi, I echo the sentiment that we all react differently to our diagnosis and you are not necessarily being naive.  I too, considered myself fortunate that I had a straightforward, early diagnosis with options available to deal with it. I worried that I hadn’t cried or felt devastated and worried that I would get hit with it all when I was out in public and someone said or did something to suddenly set me off wailing! Luckily that hasn’t happened and one of the reasons was this forum. I read and read and took what I needed from each post. I was welcomed and supported by people who knew how I felt and I realised that I was actually pretty scared and anxious as well but it’s just my way to keep it inside. I cope by feeling fortunate and trying to be happy day by day. I’m not worrying about the future, I think someone on here said to keep that door closed which is excellent advice if you can. I think you just have to be you and that’s all you can do. my best wishes to you. X ... View more

Thank you. I just want everyone to know that by sharing their experiences and giving support you have helped immensely to keep me calm, panic free and a lot more knowledgeable than I was before I had a diagnosis. 😊 So I’m grateful to have had the forum to turn to when I’ve needed it. X ... View more

Hi, just an update. Today I had a telephone call from the oncologist. It’s good news in that my score from the oncotype test was 15 - low enough that chemo isn’t needed. So next week I have a CT scan and blood tests and can pick up a prescription for letrozole to take for five years. A few weeks later I will have five sessions of radiotherapy. I am also going to have an infusion of zoledronic acid every six months for three years. It was quite hard to follow everything that was said during the phone call as sometimes it cut out and if the doc moved any papers it was hard to hear over the crinkling! 😁 .  It all seems to be happening quite quickly so not too much time to stress.  Feeling lucky that the news is good and finding the whole process a lot less scary than I thought it would be. Reading about everyone’s experiences and getting the support of forum members is a big help, especially in keeping everything in perspective.  Thanks.          ... View more

Thank you for your lovely messages and support. 😀 .  ... View more

Hi, sorry to read your news.  I’m sorry I can’t answer your question but just wanted to send some support to you. It is hard to see someone else going through this although it does mean that you can help allay some of the worry for her. I was lucky to be able to ask advice from friends who, unfortunately, had gone through biopsies, diagnosis and treatment. I’m sure having you there for her will be a great help.  lowen  ... View more

Hi, Went yesterday to get the results from my lumpectomy. Saw the surgeon (lovely lady) and she said they’ve got all the cancer. (Yay!) Unfortunately it’s changed grade, it’s now a grade 3 instead of 2. Apparently in the “old days” I would have been booked straight in for chemo as well as radiotherapy but now they are able to offer the option of having your tissue sent to the USA where they conduct a test called Oncotype DX. Thanks to this site I now am sure what this is 🙂 . It tells you, hopefully, whether it will be beneficial to have chemo or not. It’s a little bit of bad news but I trust the people looking after me and feel only a little bit of worry at the news. So another three weeks probably for a plan of treatment but that will pass quickly I think as I lose track of days with lockdown!    ... View more

Hi, After I had my knee replaced I bought a memory foam V pillow. It seemed really solid but once you settle it seems to just hold you gently in place. I was lucky after my lumpectomy that I could sleep in my normal position but I do sympathise with you. I never used to sleep on my back and thought I would find it impossible but I did get used to it. I found using lightweight fleece blankets over my legs instead of a heavy duvet seemed to help as well. Putting a pillow under my knees was good but my mum was told not to do this so maybe check with your BCN. Good luck with the sleeping.  ... View more

My op went well, thank you. The staff were wonderful. I think I was down to go second on the list and my booking in was really quick. They checked my blood glucose and it was good which was a relief. However getting the wire guide into the right place was difficult and couldn’t be achieved under ultrasound so had some extra mammograms. My blood glucose stayed steady all morning despite, I think, ending up last on the morning list because of the wire problem. I had a snack of cheese and crackers at 11.30 the night before and that helped. I can’t fault any of my care, the staff were so considerate and also very funny. I didn’t feel worried at all. Now just the wait for the results, hopefully I will not have to have chemo. Thanks ... View more

Thank you Evie. Yes, my first post but I’ve been reading and plucking up the courage to post for a couple of weeks. Thank you for the welcome, everyone seems lovely and the support you supply is so helpful especially when you first get the bad news. I’ve had the radioactive dye to photo the lymph nodes today and it seems that now I’ve begun the treatment process it doesn’t feel as scary. Thanks again. Lowen  ... View more

Thank you Pandabear. I’m lucky, in that I have the most common type, one of the most treatable and it’s been caught very early so I’m having a wide excision (Lumpectomy?) and sentinel node biopsy. Wire guided I think. My notes are downstairs and the words just won’t stay in my head. You would think with how important it is that I could remember the names but I seem to find myself going blank. Depending on the results after my op then it will be radiotherapy and a tablet every day. I’ve found the forum to be very helpful and spent the last couple of weeks reading and getting reassured. I’ve mostly felt quite calm and almost a little detached from everything. I do have great support from family and friends. The diabetes has just made it all a little bit more complicated. My doctors surgery have already been in touch and set up an appointment with the diabetes nurse so that’s good.  Thanks for your kind reply.   ... View more