Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hello ladies, Long time since I've popped in! Lovely to read how well you are all doing, we've been so fortunate with the good weather haven't we? I'm feeling alot better. Finished rads and waiting to see onc for follow up appt. Hoping to hop over to Ireland if I can extend my herceptin appt, could do with a change of scenery to be honest!! Think my hair, (always MY biggest worry) may have stopped falling out, still on steroids for another week so I'm enormous! It's definetly been a long pull through this particular treatment but I'm getting there at last. Take Care all, Love Jackie x ... View more

Hi ladies, Just a quick update. I have my surgery tomorrow so won't be around for about a week. Getting a little nervous now, just need it to be over and done with, I know you all understand 🙂 Take Care, Jackie x ... View more

Hi Sharon, So pleased everything went well 🙂 Jackie x ... View more

Hi Sharon, Well frustrating as it is not to get on the trial the important thing is you are going to start treatment now. As Jan says your onc obviously has confidence in the taxol/herceptin combo so we're all praying for good results. take good care, Jackie x ... View more

Wishing you all the best for your surgery Paula. Jackie x ... View more

I'm due in for surgery in Fulham on 26th. I was told the ward was 8 beds by the BCN though I didn't get a chance to check this for myself. Jackie ... View more

Dear Sharon, Sorry to read this latest news. Your onc sounds fantastic and I think this is so important to have confidence in those planning your treatment. Obviously she will have made contact with Marsden re possibilty of Lapatinib trials. I am treated at the London Marsden and was on a combo trial there, Lapatinib and Capecetebine, until early last year. Frustratingly when the capecetebine stopped working I couldn't have the Lapatinib on its own so am back on herceptin. However I don't know if since then what new trials are on the horizen. In the meantime I hope all goes ahead for you on Monday. Would just like to add that I too cannot believe that you did not have chemo after your second mast. I was dx in 2005 and to my knowledge all IBC ladies are given chemo. Take Good care, Love Jackie x ... View more

Hi Penn, My skin mets are like a 4" eye shape above and below my mast scar. They began to blister a few months after first appearing and have been bleeding on and off for about 4 months or so. Herceptin has stopped them progressing (or herceptin and aromasin?)in that they have not spread any further, but they are beginning to look worse (bleeding/redder). They do not hurt at all. Originally I only had 4 tiny spots along my scar line, but when the capecetebine failed they did progress. I am due to have them surgically removed on 26th Jan and hoping the herceptin will still keep progression under control. My mets have never been tested for cancer although I had regular CT scans when on the cape/lapatinib trial. Mine are very localised and only in the skin, not attached to the bone. If there is any other help I can offer please ask away. Love and take good care Jackie xxx ... View more

Hello penn, Sorry to read of your latest problems. How long have you had bleeding and soreness under your mast scar? It sounds as though this has been left for some time but I may have picked this up incorrectly. The problem with IBC is that it attacks the tissues in skin layers, thus the bleeding etc. A second bout of chemo could work really well, even if you've had taxotere before. However, as with most chemo, any tiny micro cell left behind, will grow back. I used capecetebine for a few months when my mets appeared and it worked really well but eventually they progressed again. I'm not sure where you are based but would ask for a second opinion at the Marsden just for confirmation of your new treatment plan. I'm really pleased with how they are looking after me there. Jackie x ... View more

This bloody IBC, I'm so sorry to read this Pash. As to how you deal with it, yours is the only way for you. I hope the radio zaps the buggers good and proper. Jackie x ... View more

Wishing you all a fab Christmas and all of us a healthier New Year too. Glads the rads are done and dusted Jan and wishing you all the best with your surgery Dee, Love Jackie x ... View more

Hello ladies, lovely to hear from you all 🙂 My appt at the Marsden went very well, kind of!! They have agreed to reducing my 'good' boob but they also want to revise my mastectomy scar to cut away the skin mets....scary! They think it's a good idea to do this while I am asleep anyway. The mets are bleeding fairly regularly, so it will stop this, though they have not progressed in any other way since February. I've seen both the surgeon (lovely) and the oncs, the surgeon suggested the scar revision, so everyone agrees this is the best course of action. Eventually the herceptin/aromasin will stop working and further treatment would be required. The oncs have not suggested surgery to date due to the pain of recovery but as said above they feel it's a good idea while I am having other surgery. Now I've got my head ropund it all I feel for once we are being proactive rather than reactive and if it works it will be lovely not to have to see the mets every day. So I have an appt with the BCN to discuss recovery etc on 29th, pre admission appt on 18th Jan and surgery is booked (Marsden) for 26th Jan. Phew! Wow, that was a lot about me. You all seem to be doing really well both post surgery and rads wise. Here's to a happy and healthy Christmas and New Year, Love Jackie xxx ... View more

So pleased all went well Pash 🙂 Jackie x ... View more

Hi Carole, I'm absolutley chuffed to bits about the reduction. I know it will make a huge difference for me. As to the skin mets, well, I'm more wary of that! If Dr J does say yes I will be happy to have the scar revision but I guess because no one has ever suggested this to me before it's kinda come out of the blue for me. A little more to think about 🙂 Jackie x ... View more

Hi ladies, Appt went really well, I'm so pleased. Mr G at the Marsdon is lovely, was with him for @ 40 mins. He checked and double checked everything history/treatment wise. He is happy to give me a reduction and says he can avoid going anywhere near my mast scar. Obviously he pointed out the risks involved for me ie infection/my tissues not healing. He also said he has never seen or heard of skin mets progressing in humans due to further surgery. He has head of this happening with lab mice! Mr G also said he could revise my mast scar thereby removing my skin mets provided Dr J (onc) agrees to this. Dr J may well say no as touching the mets could indeed cause them to spread. Removing them in this way will not keep them gone,and he cannot give me a length of time before they will return but he said he feels it would be better for me if I don't have to see them very day. So thoughtful:) So I have clinic in 2 weeks and will discuss the mets side. The reduction is booked for 26th January so a good start to the new year. I'm really happy 🙂 Jackie x ... View more

Hi Andie, Cannot offer any help but wanted to say sorry to hear you are still suffering with this seroma, it's been going on for so long. I hope someone can offer you some info, and that surgery finally sorts it out, Take Care, Jackie x ... View more

Hiya Carole, Just want to wish you all the best for Friday 🙂 I have my appt on Thurs for second opinion re reduction, quite scary as it draws nearer! Love Jackie x ... View more

Hi Pash, Not strange to me either. I needed my breast removed to feel confident the cancer was gone. All the best for next week, Jackie x ... View more