Breast Cancer Now Forum

@hopeful1974  sorry for the late reply! Radiotherapy and being back at work are keeping me busy and I am knackered! Do let me know when you are in Snowdon..I am about an hour away but can come there. If you direct message me I can send you my number. if anyone else is free in the summer happy to meet somewhere more central too. I hope you are doing well! You all in my thoughts and hope everyone is adjusting to the new normal. lots of love Anabel xx ... View more

@hopeful1974  I am in North Wales but can easily travel south ..could meet in London? Would that work? Xx ... View more

@hopeful1974 So pleased the surgery went well and you are not suffering with the menopausal symptoms due to surgery! That is fab news!  Definitely onward and upwards!  Not sure if this is the done thing or not but it would be lovely to meet up with you all somewhere that everyone can get too in the summer to have an afternoon tea..a bit of a celebration of how far we have come . lots of love  xx   ... View more

Hi Sian, @hopeful1974  and everyone. Apologies for the late reply and update. I wasn't in the right head space for a while but i am glad to say that i am in a much better place. The mastectomy all went well, and they took out 13 lymph nodes. I unfortunately got a bit of an infection but that was swiftly taken care of with a round of antibiotics. I got my results back 2 weeks after the op and they confirmed that i had more cancer in the breast but only 1 lymph node had cancer. i was a huge relief that they removed it. My margins are now clear (1mm i believe). However, we were still worried as i have a persistent cough and we were concerned that there may have been spread --with majority of lymph nodes being clear ..we knew that would be less likely but still worrying. So i had CT scan with contrast and last week got the news that they couldn't see anything that was a concern. Which was massive. So now feeling a lot better and ready for the round of radiotherapy (15 sessions) that will hopefully be starting soon. Along with starting exemestane and Zoledex injections with adjuvant drug called Abemaciclib (recommended following the Monarch E trial). Also with some infusion (not sure what it called) every six months. So feeling much more hopefully although, i am very emotional and on edge but i am putting that down to holding my breath for nearly a year to get to this point so i am hoping it will pass. @hopeful1974  have you had your op, if i am not mistaken and forgive if i have got wrong you were having something done with your ovaries? @simplyeve  thank you for your note and it did help me feel much calmer to hear that you had such a good experience with the Dr . Did really put my mind at rest. I hope you had a lovely time in France welcoming in your second grandchild and now back in sunny Wales. I hope everyone else is continuing to do well?! Sending you all much love, you all always in my thoughts Anabel xxx   P.s if you follow breast cancer now on social media --my daughters are featured 🙂  ... View more

Thank you @Louise65 @Flower123 @hopeful1974 for your kind messages.   @Louise65  I am really sorry to her about your dog, very hard to lose a much loved companion I am sure.  I am ready for the op tomorrow and will let you know how I get on. Thanks again for all your support! love Anabel xx💕💕 ... View more

HI All, Thank you all for your kind messages before my op and apologies for taking soo long to send a message.  Where to start...ok....the op went well and I was in and out in a day and I have been recovering well. Last week I was due to get the results from the biopsy of the margins and lymph node but my consultant had to move my appointment however, my oncology appointment went ahead.  Unfortunately, the news was not what we were expecting, my margins were not clear and the cancer was found in the sentinel lymph node.  He did say the cancer was larger than expected and also that the type I have is difficult to asses in size as it does not have define boundaries . So chemo hadn't shrunk it as we were hoping. (I am still to have a more detailed discussion with the consultant on this) but that is what the oncologist said. As you can imagine this was a bit of a shock and a struggle to take in. Luckily we saw my lovely Macmillan nurse and talking with her we managed to get a date in for a mastectomy with the other consultant whilst mine is out, so that we could move quickly -which means i can go in this Friday for surgery.  This for me was all quite hard ..as i would have rather had my consultant doing the surgery just because i have built a trust with him not for any other reason. But i am very thankful for this consultant to step in so that i wouldn't have to wait. Also, on a positive note I have been told this is not unusual so i am trying to remain positive, although have been struggling emotionally and my husband has taking this really hard. Which is heartbreaking.  I still have lots of question as i have not really discussed in detail the surgery but hoping on Wednesday i get that detail. Will keep you posted.  I hope everyone else is doing well and i am thinking of you all. And all the positive news keeps me hopeful.  Love Anabel xx   ... View more

Happy New Year everyone! I think it is still early enough to be able to say it ☺️  Congratulations @Louise65  such great news , I hope all goes well with the pregnancy for your daughter and I hope you are feeling a bit better after having Covid. @simplyeve not long now before grandchild number 2 arrives so wonderful to have that to look forward to ..time will fly by!  It’s been a very quiet  time as we had to cancel festivities to keep out of Covid’s way to ensure no derailing of my operation. Which is now tomorrow eek. I will be having a lumpectomy and am very much looking forward to getting this out the way and removing what ever is left. Will be a relief to be honest although a little nervous.  I will let you know how it goes. I didn’t get to say it before but thanks to all for your support, advice and messages since we started in June ..it’s been such a great help and has kept me sane . Sending you all much love  Anabel xxx ... View more

@Flower123  Hope all goes well with your results will be thinking of you! @GonnaGetThruThis fantastic news! Soo pleased best Christmas present!  I am on tender hooks hoping that this covid wave does not impact my op which is after Christmas.  Anyway am going to be positive and enjoy Christmas albeit a quiet one.  I wish you all merry Christmas and hope you all continue to stay well  xxx ... View more

@GonnaGetThruThis Glad op went well and that you are recovering well. I am having the same op after Christmas so it nice to know that you are feeling good after it. I hope all goes well with your meeting with the oncologist and surgeon next week. Will be thinking of you! Thinking of you all  xx   ... View more

Hi Siân @hopeful1974 , So pleased to hear that your six month check has gone well and that you are feeling well! 😊 Nice to know that we have that to look forward to!   Amazing what you learn being on this journey lol but all in the aid to make us better! I hope you don’t have to long to wait for your op.   Sending lots of love to you and everyone. Anabel xxx ... View more

Hi Ladies,  just checking in to make sure all is well?  @GonnaGetThruThis  how did the op go? my op is after Christmas which is both pleasing and frustrating, as I would like to get it over and done with. But at least I can enjoy Christmas with the family.  Thinking of you all and wishing you well ! Anabel xx ... View more

Hi lovely ladies, Apologies too for being absent too on the group, i have dipped in and out to keep up on seeing how you are all doing and i do think of you all often and wish you well. I finished chemo two weeks ago, (does feel good to say :-)) and have been hibernating and trying to get back to a sense of normality. I am due to see the consultant on Wednesday to discuss surgery, I am not sure what I will be having and I am assuming that I will need some kind of scan to see how effective Chemo has been. I guess not knowing has left me a little anxious but hoping that by this week I will have a clear path to the next steps.   @Flower123  hope you are recovering well from op and hope margins are clear ! @louby_lou69 I too had 9 Paclitaxel and I had no real side effects apart from feeling woozy and rubbish sleep. Also, I used the cold gloves and booties during treatment as, one of the side effects you can get it is neuropathy in your fingers and toes. So far, I have had no loss or tingling so for me it worked. It's not guaranteed but I gave it try as I had nothing to loose. (Thank you @hopeful1974 for the recommendation) @GonnaGetThruThis  Good luck for the op! Hope all goes well, will be thinking of you this week. @hopeful1974  Hope all went well with your post-op check. Amazing how time flies! @simplyeve  Glad all has gone well with radiotherapy and you have finished, must be such a relief. How long will you need to have the injections for? Also,  I hope all has gone well with your visit with the oncologist. @Mum2boys Glad all went well with surgery, although does sound like it was a very long time for the op but the main thing is that they have removed everything that they need to. Hope margins are all clear. Sorry to hear you burnt your arm hopefully, it is healing and not too sore. @Fairie Glad to hear you too are doing well after surgery..... so comforting to hear that all has gone well and is making me feel a little less worried about mine that is upcoming.  My hair started growing back and it is amazing how fast it starts to grow....just watch! Although i am now white and grey lol!  Sorry if i missed anyone, am thinking of you all often. Sending you all lots of love and hugs Anabel xxx   ... View more

So pleased to see that you guys have finished @Impatience @hopeful1974 @JessicaB  @GonnaGetThruThis ! Congratulations guys!  (Sorry if I have missed anyone else)  @Impatience  glad you are feeling stronger and radiotherapy is going well! I hope you have a fab weekend with your son and daughter-in-law! I have 3 more to go but am pleased I am on the countdown to the end . I meeting with my consultant on Monday as I have found another lump in my left breast however as I have been told I have lumpy boobs so, I am hoping it just another cyst but it’s good that I am being checked out and trying to remain positive about it all.  Hope everyone is well and having a lovely weekend ..here’s to getting closer to ringing the bell!  lots of love  Anabel xx ... View more

@hopeful1974  you look great!!! That's quite a bit of hair growth...mine is just covering my bald patch now 🙂  xxx ... View more

@hopeful1974 Sian, that is really interesting to hear that you too had hair growth on your treatment pathway. It wasn't something that i had been told or had heard before. So good to know that i should not worry. I should instead focus on that fact that it is growing back 🙂 Thank you xx xx ... View more

@Louise65  hope you are feel better and i know how frustrating it is to be put back and to miss a session. @Flower123 fingers crossed that you go straight to radio rather than surgery but like you say it is good to focus one the last chemo session. It is so encouragable to hear how many are now close to finishing and ringing the bell....not sure there is a bell to ring at my hospital but i too will wish them all well and hope i never see them again when my time comes lol. But a huge congratulations to those that have finished and well done you did it! @Fairie  great news about your tumor and all the best with surgery. So uplifting! I had another chemo session delayed which led to be a bit of a spiral of anxiety as i noticed my hair growing back which lead me to worry that paclitaxel was affective but after some research this can happen. Also after speaking with the oncologist my thresholds have been amended for my white blood count and i was able to have chemo this week which was a relief but still 5 weeks go which is not long in the grand scheme of things. However, there has been no discussion regarding surgery --so i am hoping that will happen soon to get an idea of when that will happen. I hope everyone having chemo tomorrow that it goes well! @hopeful1974  i believe it is your last one...hope you are able to celebrate after. Lots of love to you all! Thinking of you all. Anabel xx ... View more

Helloo ladies, just back from chemo and feeling a little woozy but apart from that all good. I am ready for the rash which tends to appear on day 2 and 3 and seems all manageable with antihistamines so that’s good. No tingly fingers so I think the cold gloves and socks are doing there job. So thank you Sian @hopeful1974 for the recommendation! @Flower123 I hope symptoms are still mild and that you are feeling well post chemo! @GonnaGetThruThis  fantastic news that they can’t feel the mass! Such wonderful news!! Did the surgeon discuss what type of surgery you will be having? I am hoping if all sticks to plan that I could too have surgery before Christmas but I don’t have an appointment until 1st December to discuss. So not sure if that will happen. But I guess that will give them time for Scans to take place once chemo is over. I just would like to know what the plan is ..as I am a bit of a planner and not knowing makes me anxious.  hope everyone is well? @Trowster hope you managed to get away? I thought of you at the weekend as managed to bike rides which was great. lots of love to you all! anabel xx ... View more

@Flower123 Hope all goes well today! I also took Aprepitant zentive with chemo and that kept the sickness at bay. Hope everyone else is well xx  ... View more

@GonnaGetThruThis  Hope all has gone well with the MRI. And I hope everyone is doing ok and those having treatment today or tomorrow that it goes well! xxx ... View more

Hello  hope everyone is having a good day! sorry I haven’t posted in a while I caught a cold (thankfully not COVID) just having my first paxcilitaxol which made me very anxious and I was worried it would disrupt my next chemo . Luckily it did not even though I am still full of cold. However I have picked up a new side effect which is a rash and richness with this chemo ..has anyone else experienced this? I am little worried this may be a delayed allergic reaction.  On brighter note only 7 more to go yay! And it’s so great to hear that so many are nearer the end of chemo.  I still will also need surgery and radio but so far I have no clue when that will happen but I am relieved that everyone saying surgery is the easier part of this which is reassuring. @simplyeve  hope you are enjoying time with your daughter and grandson. @Louise65 hope all went well with oncologist and hope they were able sort something out with your work to make it easier for you.  @chynadoll Hope your start with EC goes well ..I found it wan’t as bad as I thought it would be and just first week I was shattered and had a few headaches but started to feel better by the 2nd week. I found the steroids played havoc with my emotions but this group always helped with my spirits. @hopeful1974you mentioned about your skin and I was wondering if you have heard or tried Kate McIver ? I believe a he had breast cancer and developed this skin range to help with the side effects of chemo. I have been using it and found it really good: https://katemciverskin.co.uk/ sorry for the long post ! Thinking of everyone!  love Anabel          ... View more