Breast Cancer Now Forum

Longevity plays a part, I think. Perhaps delayed childbearing. I'm sure environmental toxins and pollutants play a role as they do in allergies which have also become so much more prevalent.  Most worrying is the increase in cancers, breast and bowel, in younger people under 40.  My second primary was found via an MRI for something else ( an incidentaloma?) . It was picked up later by a mammogram but I was receiving treatment before the result of that was in... I'm pro screening on balance, I think.  I hope your results aren't too long in being gathered. Did you have an ultrasound? ... View more

Hello, ladies. I haven't been on here for a good while because I seemed to go into a tailspin descent into depression after healing up so nicely after my mastectomy. 😔   I was also diagnosed with silent reflux which I'm sure was brought on/ made worse by stress. I spent a lot of time under my weighted blanket miserable and scared. The diagnosis plus two bereavements, mum and uncle since October last struck home at last. So, I'm having some online CBT and today I had a call from a support worker. You have whats called a Holistic Needs Assessment.  She said she'd refer me for some complementary therapy too. The GP prescribed some antidepressants but was ok for me to hold off to see if CBT is helping. I thought I won't know whether its letrozole or the SSRI when side effects kick in! Well, I get headaches and a bit worried about my cholesterol which was high so got to have that checked. Not too much joint pain yet but some ( fingers). Ibuprofen gel helps it. Well, I guess its all a lot to get used to or adjust to. I felt you ladies were so positive and didn't want me whingeing away, but I guess that was a bit daft. I hope I can come back in to this exclusive group now! 😉 One good thing is my silicon prosthesis.  Its quite comfy and I got a bra fitting locally. Lots of love to you all,   Margarita xx ... View more

Hi @delly How scary for you. Such a shame as most dogs are friendly ( saying as a pooch fan) I'm glad there seem to have no lasting damage. You acted sensibly by going straight to A&E. Having two compromised arms is no joke. Well, the OncoDX test came back last week with a lowish score of 12 which showed no additional benefit from chemo so it'll be just, 'JUST', lol, an AI. I had hoped to have my prescription by now but GP hadn't received request for it on Friday. I will have to chase... The pain I was having is much better now but still there around lymph node / shoulder area. Exercises ongoing. I agree, @suzan has so helped me so much with her kind, wise words.  Yes, you have @suzan ! 😊 I have really needed to hear from someone who's been there and had primary breast cancer twice. I feel like I've been put in a giant snakes and ladders game! I've been sent down a snake on square 90. But we keep going. One day at a time atm. @trudy2010 long may you be waited upon. You've been through the mill! I hope your nights have been more peaceful recently and I'm glad you're on the mend now.   Night ladies. Lots of love, margarita x ... View more

Hi Suzan Thank you *so much* for your words, they really helped me. I think you're right. It is a grieving process and some days are bleak. Life has changed and its very frightening sometimes.  I feel a bit brighter today than yesterday. I was under my weighted blanket yesterday afternoon with just the cat for company. My weighted blanket is better than Valium!  I think I'm getting more mobility and less pain in the shoulder and mastectomy area which helps too. I went out for a drive in the evening. First time. The spring certainly *is* beautiful.  Better to be going through this in March than darker, colder months, I think. I'll let you know when I get my results. If it turns out chemo is indicated I will do it. Youve encouraged me a lot. Thank you! M xx ... View more

@suzan @delly  and all other ladies who are here for an unwanted round two. Well, I got my results yesterday. Sort of. Unfortunately the tumour was reassigned to Grade 3 and now its been sent to USA for the Onco DX test! The sentinel node had micrometastases in and apparently research shows that there's no need to get the rest of the nodes if that's the case. It counts as half lymph node positive ??? Anyway, now I've got to wait again to see if chemo is needed as the Onco test will show that. I now feel quite down as I've had so many waits since January 11th and I'm very scared of having chemo at 62! I think I was comparatively lucky in 2005 as my tumour was low grade. This one(18mm) seems a lot nastier. 😒 On a good note, I'm having less pain now in the flat area, yes delly, doing my exercises! And the surgeon says its healing up well. Suzan, I do drive and the surgeon gave me the go ahead yesterday so I've been out in the car today. Maybe we could meet in Canterbury for a coffee  at some time?  Sorry my reply was a bit delayed. Feeling a bit down atm . Any advice/cheering thoughts welcome!  Love, M xx ... View more

Hello Suzan and Delly, Well, I'm ok though still sore and a bit swollen around the shoulder area. I felt ok yesterday and went to our local dog-walking area with partner and poodle! I shouldn't have thrown the ball- with my good arm- as I'm a lot sorer today! Also, as I was given antibiotics for a week I had a 'lovely' case of thrush. Grrr. Very grateful for Canestan! I'm on occasional painkillers. I've seen a nurse at my local surgery. She was lovely and removed my dressing, gave me a hug when I was a bit upset, and put a lighter one on. I can remove it on Weds. The bc nurse has rung me once. I get the feeling that they're very overworked ( same old story) but will give support when needed. You don't get a direct number now. My nurse said some people rang all the time... I hope, Delly, that the lady you wrote about found help. In E Kent we have a Cancer Care helpline and it seems pretty good but I do think that there's less support generally than there was in 2005.  My hospital stay was ok . I think day surgery units are a conveyor belt system really but they cared for me well really. There were others coming and going , a few with gall bladder removal ops. No one stays in long unless they find infection or something. The food was not great. They don't have a kitchen!!  I'm supposed to go back to the hospital to get my results on 23rd but the bc nurse said its likely to be delayed. I can't help thinking of poor women in Ukraine, going through this in the midst of shelling and chaos. I'm not complaining about a weeks delay! Suzan, I'm in Cheriton,  Folkestone.  Where are you? I hope you're both well and that you'll enjoy the spring weather we're about to have this week.   Margarita xx ... View more

@suzan @delly  Hi, ladies. I'm back home and no drain! I hope they didn't remove it prematurely but definitely more comfortable when moving about. Well, I was the first on the surgeon's list yesterday and was in recovery at 11.15am, very relieved but dizzy! I was told that he did find the sentinel node which is good. I'm glad that parts over and glad to be home. There was a champion snorer on the ward so not much sleep last night!! I don't seem to have much pain atm but am taking the analgesics regularly. Now I'll concentrate on healing and wait for the full results, I guess. Any hints about sleeping comfortably at first after a mastectomy? Thanks so much both of you for your support, its really helped! Margarita xx ... View more

Hi Suzan, Well, you should wear your battle scars with pride! Glad they sorted your hips out. As I said, mine are a bit dodgy so maybe I'll join you in the criss- cross stakes!  Also great that you fed your baby with one boob. I suppose one can do the job if needed like when you have twins?  I'll be glad when the operation is over. I'm more nervous than I was the first time. I was 45 and still felt relatively young, I suppose! Also have been waiting a b****y long time! I'm having my op at William Harvey, Ashford but Kent is a big county and would be a big coincidence if you're near there. Thanks for your support, its really helped. Margarita xx   ... View more

Thanks Delly, I can hardly believe that this time tomorrow I'll have had the blighter out and the boob off. I noticed my cleavage this morning and thought how weird that I won't have one any more ( not that I showed it off, especially at my age, lol) but have reconciled to it I think. Thanks for tip re paracetamol.  I'll take it regularly. Good to read your story and about your sensible attitude. Living in the present is what we need to do and treasure it, I guess. Take care,   Margarita xx ... View more

Thanks for the good wishes, Truly. Yes, it was Carry On Camping when Babs's bra flew off and Dr Soaper ( Kenneth Williams) gasped, ' Matron, take them away!'   Good luck with your treatment too. Idk about the wire thingy but I expect there's someone else who's had that. Take care,   Margarita xx ... View more

Hi Suzan,  Thanks for the tips. I'm watching Chloe on iplayer at the moment to take my mind off it. Probably watch my SaTC and Carry On dvds afterwards. 🙂 I'm not sure about reconstruction. I guess I don't know how it feels to be uni boob till it happens! Pretty nervous now. Nuclear medicine tomorrow for sentinel node ( if he can find it after last time) and mastectomy on Weds. Did you get much pain after yours? How long did you wait till having DIEP? Where do you live? I'm in Kent.   M x ... View more

Tin man! 😅 It makes me think of the ancient red oil can my dad kept in his garage! Pity WD40 won't work. I'll definitely keep in touch. I also want 'it' gone now even though I'm scared about being flat on one side. You've done really well, hope I can say the same in a few years. Take care. Its so reassuring to talk to someone who knows what its like to face The Beast again. M xx ... View more

Hi Suzan, Thanks for telling your story. You've weathered a lot, haven't you?! I won't know if I have to have chemo until they've excised the whole tumour. I've heard a lot of scary things about the AIs ,sigh. You hung on for the full 5 years though, so well done. Did you ever change to a different type? I already have a bit of trouble with my hips..I'll be asking for your advice maybe 😄 Coping with recurrence isn't easy, thats for sure. I'm trying one day at a time. Not much else we can do, is there? Hope I get a good remission like you. My children were 14 and 9 the first time. Now they're grown women so the first gap was very precious. As you say there are lots of treatments for this cancer.  Take care,   M xx ... View more

Hi trudy, Yes, I think you always have a CT scan for recurrence. I think a lumpectomy is less of a trauma if you get a choice and just as safe. I hope you get your results nd treatment plan quickly. My wait has aged me 10 years, at least! Grrr!   M x ... View more

Hi suzan, Your situation sounds pretty similar to mine. You're right, it's such a shock! I'm much more scared about the mastectomy than I was of the lumpectomy when I was 45! But at least being post menopausal I won't get the sudden overnight menopause.  That was grim! How have you got on with arimidex?   M x     ... View more

After nearly 17 years I had an MRI scan in November as I had painful ribs. No mets found but a 15mm nodule in the breast was! I didn't hear about that till after my routine December mammogram then ultrasound, biopsy,  CT ( I think that these scans are always done when there's any recurrence?) Anyway, results of biopsy showed IDC, ER+ PR+ HER2- Grade 2 in the same breast I'd had a lumpectomy in in 2005. Surgery- mastectomy-is scheduled for the 2nd March. The wait has been long! I wanted to ask if other women had waited a long time and if anyone had had a mastectomy after a lumpectomy.  Worried about lymphoedema and whether my surgeon will be able to access a sentinel node after 9 were removed before. Dont like being back in the club but found it so helpful last time. ... View more

Thanks, Jan, for that sensible and good advice. I did phone and have had the appointment confirmed now. I think the waiting is awful as so many on here know so well. In 2005 I didn't need a CT so, of course, it was quicker.  I will definitely phone the nurses on here with questions and worries when I know my treatment plan. I don't have a Maggies Centre here in East Kent but they are fantastic, I know. I'll write down questions for the consultant now as you say,  otherwise my mind is very likely to go blank!  I've read a little about your secondary diagnosis and treatment. Its a lot to contend with but you seem to do it with such good grace and find time to help others , like me too, so thank you!   Margarita  xx ... View more