Breast Cancer Now Forum

I flew to Australia 5 days after finishing rads (after chemo and WLE) and it was 2 days after my second herceptin. My onc was totally okay with it. The only thng was I was so fatigued (physically and mentally) that I arranged with the airline to wheelchair me through the airports. I had no other problems Good luck and enjoy your holiday ... View more

Last year I was with AIS - they even gave me a year policy when I was undergoing treatment and it was only £55 with £500 excess for bc related claims but as had been reported on this site they changed underwriters and didn'twant to know people like us I have just taken out an annual policy with Medici (google them). They quoted me about £90 for cover without bc and £190 with bc cover for full worldwide cover. The excess is £50 I rang loads of companies but many wouldn't touch me because I was less than 2 years from diagnosis. I like to take several holidays a year so need an annual cover Hope that helps ... View more

I've been on Arimidex for a year now and found that high dose glucosamine really helps. My onc has agreed that it is good to take. I have a bit of stiffness first thing in the morning but for the last 3 months I really haven't seen it as a problem. Before that I had real problems. That said, I think that the stiffness can improve with time with or wth out the supplement. But now I can crouch down or sit on the floor and get up without looking like an 80 year old ... View more

Hi I managed to keep my nails fine during chemo and the first half of Herceptin. I found this great stuff called Nail Magic and after about 10 Herceptin my nails were the strongest they had been in my life. Suddenly they literally fell off. They split, peeled and all the symptoms earlier posters report above. My chemo nurses who were giving me the Herceptin said it was probably the point at which the nails forming in the nail bed at the time I started Herceptin got to the point of being the nail tips. It was horrible, my nails peeled and I was so embarrassed as it looked like I was a real nail biter like Gordon Brown. I was telling my hairdresser about it and asked him if he could see any effect on my hair as it had grown back so well after chemo. He told me that the salon were just starting to offer some gel nails.called Calgel nails. They are applied on top of your nails THey are not false nails and don't add length but they protect the nail, give them strength and allow them to grow. Apparently the nail can breathe too. I had my first application 5 weeks ago and already I havve decent looking nails. It has given me some self confidence back All the best Sharon ... View more

Jane I just read your essays and - wow - they are good. They say it as it is and I give you my utmost respect Best regards Sharon ... View more

My lump was at "8 o'clock" if you looked at my right breast front on. My scar for the lumpectomy and clearance is from underneath and up around the outside of my breast so there is very little evidence of the incision at all. The only time it show is at the top by the armpit if I am wearing a vest top. Being a DD helps. The breast is slightly smaller than the other but the oedeoma keeps it well balanced Good luck with your op ... View more

I had hysterectomy and oopherectomy in Feb 2005 and was dx with bc in May 2007 Do you have a theory, pineapple? Sharon x ... View more

My original prescription for Arimidex from my onc was 1 month and I had to go back to my GP for my next prescription. He was about to write me another for 1 month when I asked him for months on the basis I was going away for 3 weeks. He was reluctant and when I outright asked him whether it was because each month of Arimidex is £72 he said yes and then gave me my 3 months!! Now I just send in my repeat request which automatically gives me another 3 months ... View more

Melba I tried Insure Pink last year when I was still undergoing treatment - they wouldn't insure me while being treated. I went with Aberdeen who gave me a good deal on an annual policy but it looks like I may not be so lucky this year! Sharon ... View more

My oncologist told me that it isnt a problem to delay by a week - I have had to do so because of business travel reasons and will have to do so again later in the year (I am 9 down, 9 to go). If you delay beyond 5 weeks they have to give you the loading dose again as the level in your body drops too low for the normal dose. Hope that helps Sharon ... View more

For nails, I recommend Nail Magic. You can get it on Ebay. It's fantastic. My nails have always been flaky and breaking. When I knew I was going to have Hereptin and Arimidex, I started using it last October. You use it on its own or as a base coat under nail varnish. My nails are fantastic. I have not broken a nail since I started using it - in fact I have for the first time in my adult life had to cut my nails. My onc nurses who give me my Herceptin always tease me about my beautiful nails. On the downside, yes my skin is dry and as for "down below" , well right now I am single and don't know how that will ever change with the dryness! Sharon x ... View more

I am fed up with the broad brush approach of the media/nanny state to "this causes bc". Those of us who have gone/are going through it know from the research we may have done or what we might have read on this site that bc is not just a simple disease. There are various types and sub types of those types. Personally, I could have been at risk because I am childless, a bit overweight, like a drink however I was 48 at dx (young for the disease), physically fit (gym 4 times a week). THen again my mother died of ovarian cancer at a youngish age and the view is I was genetically predisposed (testing for me and my sister ongoing). It's bad enough having to go through all this - I am a year from dx - chemo, surgery, rads and today I had the 9th of 15 Herceptin. Arimidex makes my joints ache and I would like one day when my body doesnt hurt in some way. I dont want to beat myself up because the government says I shouldn't have a wine or a g&t. Rant over Sharon x ... View more

I can contrast rarebird's experience with a call centre mentality from her insurance company with mine. I am with BCWA (through my employment). My case was assigned to an oncology expert (I think a nurse) who wrote to my onc to ask what the plan for me was. I have had chemo, surgery, rads and now Herceptin and have not had a peep out of them except to pay. Oh and to ask when I was due to start my herceptin to ensure there would be no issues in paying the invoices on time. They have been superb. I get to see a statement monthly on what has been paid out (Herceptin and all the associated costs is £4,000 a time - and I'm having 18 of them). By the time I have my final Herceptin in November the total cost of my cancer treatment will have topped £100,000. I don't know how that is realistic to the actual cost to the NHS for treatment. Of course, included in that is my private hospital room etc. I supose from my perspective, I pay a lot in tax/NI every year that may benefit others as I haven't "spent" it and it has cost me only less than £300 in tax in benefit in kind and I have benefited from private rooms, choice of appointments, less waiting time etc. I have appreciated having the private treatement. When I was having chemo last year, I had a 24 hour number to call if necessary. The worst bit was when I was having rads which had to be in an NHS hospital and every day my subsequent appointments changed to the extent my onc asked me to make a formal complaint. I think I have been lucky to have had the treatment I have had. My onc told me that if there had been any trials I was suitable for she would have got me on them but it wasn't appropriate for me. Sharon x ... View more

Hi Cecelia I remember you were "just behind me" in our treatment last year. I got my eyelashes back wonderfully after chemo but they did begin to thin again a couple months ago (I finished chemo at the end of August) They didnt go totally, just got a bit thinner. I wondered whether it was natural rhythm of losing hair - they came back together all at once rather than few by few so when some fall out (more than before bc) it seems more. Mine are back to where they were before bc but not a thick as when they came back post chemo All the best Sharon x ... View more

I was dx 1 year ago today - 5cm, grade 3, HER2+++ and weakly E+ & Pr+. I had 6x FEC before lumpectomy. If I would have had surgery first I would have needed a mastectomy. THe chemo did its stuff and reduced the tumour by 75% so I had the lumpectomy and total axilliary clearance. I had 23 rads and then Herceptin. I've now had 8 of 16 Herceptin I had my first annual check up today - mammogram etc. It was all clear. My right boob (the affected one) is (with the help of oedema fluid) pretty much the size of the left one. I was cut from under around the outside of the breast so the scar is hidden and it is fading quite well. It worked for me but everyone's different. Only you can decide for you But good luck for all your treatment in whatever order Sharon x ... View more

My surgeon told me that rule of thumb is Grade 1 takes 10 years to become evident to the touch, Grade 2 5years and Grade 3 6-9 months. I had a 5cm grade 3 tumour that was not there less than 2 years before dx because I had had mammograms and ultrasound at that time ... View more

I have commented on a past bc article on the Mail website and that didn't get posted either. Probably because I had a view different to whatever angle they were harping on about in it ... View more

Tracey My experience last year was that by the end of my 6 sessions of FEC I had lost my eyebrows and all but about 2 eyelashes on each eye. I found that the most difficult part of the hair loss, funnily. I had to draw on my eyebrows because it looked odd and if I put on make up had to put on dark eyeliner. Benefits cosmetics do something called "browzings" for the brows. Not cheap but helps the situation Lots of luck Sharon x ... View more

Yes, I was doing Body Combat or Body Pump 4 or 5 days a week for 5 years before my diagnosis. So yet again (along with my glass of wine) I am totally to blame for my illness. I gave up beating myself up for all the things I should or shouldn't have done because it's a waste of breath. I'd rather use my energy getting through it. Sharon x ... View more

Mine used to be shoulder length and a (most recently) gold/copper colour. Like you, I had dyed it for so many years I had no idea what the natural colour was. It has come back so it looks a dark steel grey and I am spiking it up with gel. Ironically, despite the colour, everyone says it makes me look younger!! I have had my first proper cut and I am very happy with it now and won't be going back to the time and money it took to dying it. I am 49 Good luck Sharon x ... View more