Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hello Betty Sorry to hear you've joined the gang but you will get loads of support and giggles off this forum.  I found it invaluable support.  And importantly, it does ease off,,the mental trauma subsides (although my achy joints and occasional zingy pain still worry me!) And the seratomas and haematomas go away too - keep plodding on and always keep in mind that this is a v treatable disease.  The waiting for results is bloody awful, by far the worst part IMO.  I fretted when I got mine I had cancer in my sentinel nodes and in 3/24 lymph.  I worried for ages about escapees and it didn't matter who told me the lymph had done its job, I still worried and tbh I still do though my brain has adapted to cope with that better.  Yours will too however unlikely it seems right now x also worth saying don't worry about number of lymph taken out as this too varies wildly from person to person from less than 10 to over 40...never knew that! The surgeon takes a slab of fat that they live in and pathology pick them out look at them individually and count them. Seratomas, I found a hot flannel or hot where bottle soothing.  My surgeon said it was a bad idea for heat but it worked for me! Stay busy these next two weeks - here to chat if you want.  Chin up, big girl pants on, you've got this xx ... View more

Hi Steval, good to hear from you.  Im fine thank you, finally got my act together!! You are near the end of the waiting and testing and scanning and blood tests and more waiting and then probably a bit more just for the fun of it!!  Keep going hen, it feels very lonely and very scary but you do get acclimatised to it and once you have a plan you will feel much better.  I chose my onco surgeon whom i think im a bit in love with lol, to be my main folllow up contact purely because my onco is so non approachable.  My surgeon says its part of being an onco and theyre a different breed...scientists vs hands on people persons.  Makes sense i suppose!! So long as they get their science right who cares 🤪  hope your appt goes well and you get a plan so you can move forwards!  Dont feel bad about feeling crap its normal its life changing and its frightening. I had a node on liver which had me in a total whirlwind of doom for 2 weeks and like you every scan/test showed another worry.  Its great that they are being thorough...keep going girl x good luck, big girl pants on, lets go!! ... View more

Emma - arrghhh I lost my phone and All my contacts and all my pics as I don't back up!!!  Please can you reconnect?!  Number is the same, new phone thanks and hope u r ok xx ... View more

I second noodle, you look fabulous, v cool and v don’t F@?k with me!! I have to google Masumi headwear now... I agree wholeheartedly about Covid. In the Uk I think the govn have created a monumental F up. They screwed the economy, wrecked lives and created a massive mental health issue, knackered education and school kids welfare. It scares me that laws have been passed without going through parliament and normal process. I’m not a conspirathist (is that a word??) at all but I think this is one humongous error that BJ couldn’t reverse out of. How many cancer patients who don’t even know yet will die as they couldn’t access diagnostic services - breast cancer especially. It makes me sad and furious and insignificant in my ability to do anything about it. Anyway apologies for the political rant....v unlike me!! I blame Lydia for lighting the blue touch paper 😂 I didn’t have chemo, my cancer type and testing deemed it “unnecessary” given the potential benefit over the obvious body trauma. Tbh, I’d have rather had it as an extra security against possible recurrence. I find This is a mentally exhausting disease, some days I’m my bouncy normal self and some days I’m holey moley CANCER awful. Every time I go to my cancer hospital ( which I’m so bloody lucky to have) it’s a stark reminder of the disease and my being a part of it. I know I’m v v lucky, despite falling in love with my surgeon who is unavailable 😂 🤣 😂 🤣 , I’m so bloody lucky.  Anyways ladies, I’m rambling and boring so I’m going. Have lovely Easters beauties xxx ... View more

@UmLydia hey you, hope you got the link ok. Is it today you start RT? My hospital said bio oil is ok to use... using it on my scars but need a moisturiser too Aveeno is what they suggested have a good weekend even if you’re trogging back and forth for zapping!! Xx ... View more

Hey noodle x so glad surgery is over, it’s such a relief isn’t it?! I still have a smurf nipple...that points decidedly west, from first op at start of jan!  I think there are 3 tattoos for everyone, one each side on top ribs and one central, just black full stops or freckles.  I had a minor freak out as I get kinda claustrophobic about things outside my control... tattoos, cancer... 🤣 🤣 ..lifts, toilet doors etc etc (nutter) take all the sympathy you can and rest when you need to. But I do recommend doing the physio as often as you can. The next bit of waiting on path results is I think the worst bit. But patience is not a key skill!! enjoy Easter weekend, hope you get extra spoilt!! xx ... View more

Oh Lydia btw, I’m not sure of the reality behind this but my surgeon said the best thing for scarring is radiation.... guess time will tell!! X ... View more

Hi https://vickyfox-yoga.com/ here is the link .. I liked the leaning on the chair one, really good stretch. I’ve still got cording and burning in my armpit  ... are you going to be okay with arms over head for RT?  It’s not my armpit that hurts for this it’s my scar under my boob pulling upwards. Not sure how the MX scar works or feels i found the planning session for the RT quite tiring and stressful as you are in there for quite a while. And my other shocker was that the planning tattoos are permanent!! I mean they’re not dragons but still permanent. I stupidly thought they would fade... durr a pips / hope you are okay too, no dates yet? @Guest user hope surgery went well and next big step on the crappy thorny dark road in bare feet is done!!  RT over the bank hol ... who knew?!  onwards and upwards girls - I’m deffo having some filler and Botox when this is over 🤣 🤣   ... View more

Hey noodle - good luck hen. I had the same op for an 28mm invasive plus 32mm of DCIS. Had to have a second go as margins were crap but that’s more unusual I too felt like running for the hills so you’re v much not alone in that thought. It’s a very traumatic time and don’t feel bad for feeling crap. I do think we slowly adjust and get more used to this rubbish time. I’m now furious about the cancer adverts on the telly being so gloom and doom as many cancers are very treatable but the media drives so much negativity. It makes me mad and it doesn’t help us who are recently diagnosed  put your posi pants on girl, you can do this xx lots of love yvette ... View more

Hi All - sorry not posted for a while, went back to work and got swamped!! RT starts today for 3 weeks so on half days for a bit now. Just back from dental review before I start the bisphosphonate  @UmLydia I have a link somewhere for bc yoga, will hunt it out it as it had great cording exercises.  I have cording in armpit and also have an odd extra muscle which is now hard and distorted after surgery and somewhat unsightly  who knew you could get an unsightly armpit?! 😬 @pips when do you get your scan and results for your nodule? I had one on my liver which turned out okay but the waiting is dire..as we know! good luck to everyone else starting the surgical journey  I def second staying on top of meds for pain relief  I had 3 surgeries and am only just turning in sleep without waking up... but t does get better but needs patience and much humour IMO  my humour and patience has been pants!! much love xx ps pips I bought the pink velvet chair 🤪   ... View more

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@pips88 @Woo hoo excellent news!! So chuffed for you. No chemo for me just radiation and Letrozole, onco appt on tues surgeon not handsome... but v lovely and has me in some kind of awesome trance 🤣 v upbeat and positive which is what I needed as I was such a mushy mess!! let us know what your next steps are and when chemo actually starts. I thought I might have to have it so did some research and it seems okay for most folk. Tough but mana gage able and I’m sure you will whack through it xx @caro lol, I had 3 surgeries- tears before all and woke up uncontrollably sobbing just once. Like you say it must be a daily occurrence- kind of makes me want to be an anaesthetic nurse so I can be kind and understanding!! re health and census - that made me laugh I don’t know if it was supposed to?! Slightly worse than average maybe??!?! Stupid question to have on there as the responses will be so wildly different and v subjective. Mine arrived today but not opened it yet!!! hope everyone else has nice weekends, talk soon xx ... View more

Hi Um in France x glad you are feeling better and on the road to recovery! Shopping for tops, get you 🥰 well done girl.  No such jaunts here unless it's the supermarket or Boots!! I've had a recent desperate need for the lovely Itslian soap they sell in TK Maxx....but that's a no go till Boris tells us shops can open and we can go out. Dove will have to do in the meantime!! I also need (v much need...not want 😂 ) a pink velvet chair for my bedroom but that will have to be online and chancing the colour is right Your surgeon sounds lovely.  I think its fab when they are positive and grounded.  Mine is a positive peter and very humble and northern, I think I might be a teeny bit infatuated.. 🤣 🤣 The tight channel is called cording here.  I have one in my armpit but I'm stretching more and more.  Apparently they Pop like a rubber band!  Someone recommended Vicky fox on Instagram- yoga for BC and some really good stretches in there @Letalightin, you've gone very quiet madam - hope you are okay? We are here to support and listen and push you along this ride if you want.  Please ping back on if you want to rant or cry or anything.  We have all been there x @pips hope you are okay too, stupid phone wont let me scroll back! Hope you were able to enjoy those few beautiful spring days before it went back to winter!! Sorry if I missed people off this mail but am thinking of everyone and wishing all better brighter days xx ... View more

Hello sweets x how are you boob buddy?? How’s things in the family? I know you’ve been quiet so I’m assuming not fab - been thinking of you and always up for a chat if it would help xx the sunburnt sensation is easing up.. hope yours is too? My seroma has started to behave itself at long last. I have some cording in armpit and it’s lumpy which is apparently this extra muscle that I had (I’m very special...you see) 🤓 or part have now. Licap wound is healing really well ... phew got results today!! I scored 17 on onco DX test so a 7-9% chance of recurrence which is deemed too low to go through chemo. So it’s straight onto Letrozole and RT. I have mixed feelings, obvs I’m pleased it’s low but the nagging doubt of any floaters hanging about not being chemoed will be present for a while I think... who knows on this non stop fun! are you on any anti hormone drugs? keep the pecker up and keep in touch xxx ... View more

Hello Aileen x welcome to the forum though I’m sure you’d rather not be here!! You will find great support and even a few giggles on here so keep posting please don’t feel bad for feeling so woeful - this is scary stuff and most of us have felt truly rubbish. I was a total wreck for weeks and I mean a total wreck, couldn’t string a sentence together without dissolving into a teary, panicky mush. Like you, I share my kids with their dad and I held it together when they were with me but I found my patience and parenting lacking as all I could think about was cancer and frankly dying from it. At the time I doubted anyone could be as anxious, panicky, angry, sad or frightened as I was but it turns out others are pretty much the same!! It’s a hell of a roller coaster but we have to strap in and ride it out.  what type of cancer do you have - hormone positive or negative and Her2 pos/neg? I had full axilla clearance and also had 2/21 nodes involved - they’re removed now as are yours and your tumour is removed as well - if your pathology comes back clear (good margins) then you have made the first mahoosive  step to kicking its a&se!  Well done xx Few things which might help: lymph nodes are friends - they catch nasties for us, ours were doing their jobs. Sure it would be better if they were clear but ours weren’t and now they are out of our bodies and so are the cells they caught for us Your tumour is out - fab!! Of course you feel emotional and frightened - that’s v v v v v normal. It’s life changing and it’s scary BUT many BC are v v treatable and many people with BC lead happy, normal, long lives after this ive been using Smiling Minds, it’s a free app for meditation, relaxing and switching off the inner negative nag. I normally hate these but I found this one really helped me for panicky moments For lots and lots of women this does get better as we adapt and accept the nonsense of this cra&&y disease  v much like you, for me this was that damn straw that destroyed the camels back!! It’s a long journey but it also gives time for reflection and has taught me to be more patient (v impatient redhead here). The waiting on results is I think the v worst part as it’s uncertainty and that little negative elf in our heads is having a field day chipping away constantly with his negative blather. You can’t shut him up completely but you can turn him down and give your head a break by using some of the exercises on the app, or doing something else - baking, puzzles, reading. Get outside and walk, notice all the 5 senses. It just gives your mind a few moments of blissful peace blimey I’ve rattled on, sorry xx your post touched me as I was in the v same position for a few months and I know how rubbish I felt too. If it doesn’t improve, please ask about support from your team as oncophyschology services are available too ping me anytime you want to chat. You’ve got this lady, put your positive pants on and kick it!! lots of love, Yvette xxxxx ... View more

Hello and thank you xx. I’m all Licapped up now and glad I went for this option v much. My surgeon has been brilliant and I’m healing really well. He says that radiation will almost finish my scars to being not noticeable. I have 2 parallel scars top left of boob and obv the shark bite LICAP scar just waiting on onco DX to see if it’s chemo next or just radiation but will be cracking on with next stage v soon where are you up to with treatment?  I’m keen to hear how people fair on Letrozole as that’s in the final mix for me beautiful day - enjoy the spring sunshine xxx ... View more

UnLydia - wow well done you. Massive step taken towards recovery and kicking cancer up the backside. I think as told non strenuous walking was okay from day one and arm exercises also from day of surgery. May be a bit different for MX but can’t imagine it would be too much difference. It seems exercise and movement are good from a DVT perspective as much as anything else! I’m finding the body brush in the shower really good and few weeks on from my axilla clearance and I can finally brush the underside of my arm a bit more vigourously!   Also still with smiling minds and so glad you found it useful too xx fingers crossed for your pathology results and hope the wait is not too arduous. I’m waiting on onco DX results at mo to see if it’s chemo or no chemo. On the upside I’m learning to be patient and accepting of some things being outside of my control!  Slowly tho... v slowly 🧐 brilliant news for Emarvelling, what a relief you must feel. Now you you can crack on with life - so pleased for you xx im 53 BTW but normally behave around 33 - last few months it’s been more like 93 some days 😱 but the sun is shining, spring is def on its way with lighter nights and we are hopefully coming out of Covid now with the vaccines. Brighter days ahead!! have nice weekends peeps xxx ... View more

Hello umlydia- I think or hope that you are all sorted and hopefully back home? Truly hope all went well and that you have some relief at this point and feel comfortable  you must be one heck of a lady to be a day case for an MX - you go girl!! yes - this is a life changer, I’ve had the same thoughts re lymphodema. Keep thinking oh I’m okay I don’t have it and then read that it’s often a decent time ahead when it can occur....brilliant!!!  I’m using a body brush in the shower... wrist upwards and across chest to aid draining. My physio said this was a good thing to do but I didn’t know about the moisturiser idea.... will start that too make sure you chill for a while and recover from surgery but do those exercises lady!! gentle hugs - massive step forward ticked off lovely xx ... View more

Hello x all good here, glad it’s getting smaller!! I think tbh that the waiting in this particularly rubbish game that none of us want to be a part of, is the worst part! The uncertainty is awful and the inner voice competition seems to side with doom. It’s a proper journey and one which needs a lot of stoicism!! im hoping for my treatment plan tomo so we will see if all results are back so that can be informed decision making good luck for 4th, it’s not too far away xx ... View more

Hi Elsie hows your scar tenderness?  It might be a haematoma, I had one and had to be drained and then taken out at next surgery or maybe just scar tissue. Let me know how you get on and hope you feel ok xx ... View more