Breast Cancer Now Forum

oh thanks Sam, will give you a wee call soon xxx ... View more

Hi tillycat - thanks so much for getting back to me - all a bit weird at the moment! I will have a look at your info and am sure I will be back in touch. It helps so much to have women with same problems. Hope you are doing ok at the moment. Be in touch soon xxx ... View more

Hi - just to say I found all your comments about the success of Herceptin so encouraging. I had primary BC in early 2000 and no recurrence till March 2009. That was just one tiny tumour on my pelvis, but more appeared in October 2010 - liver and more bones. I was given weekly Taxol and Herceptin and back on the old trusty Tamoxifen. I am still getting the Herceptin every 3 weeks and scans are still showing "continuing improvement" (whatever that means!). But as ever for those of us with SBC,there is that wee niggle of how long it will all keep working. So to hear from some of you still getting Herceptin after many years, is so encouraging. I know that doesn't mean it will work long term for me, but it has worked for you, so that's a great start! Thanks ladies - this is what Breast Cancer Care forum is all about Rosie xxxx ... View more

Thanks Pam will give them a try. Find the whole thing a pain in the arse(sorry, common Scottish expression!) but it hacks me off the insurance companies don't quite understand what is going on here!! ... View more

Hi everyone - I have secondaries in my liver and bones - 2009 - (first diagnosed 11 years with primary) and finished chemo 6 months ago. Still getting Herceptin and Tamoxifen. My oncologist is actively encouraging me to go on holiday cos you just never know what's round the corner. My last 3 scans have been very positive - shrinking tumours and continuing improvement. Then why oh why did Bromley insurance quote me £909.38 for a week in Gran Canaria. Yes, you read it correctly £909.38!!! Insure Pink said they would cover me for £71 if I can find out how many "hot spots" I had on my liver. Not a damn clue, so checking that out. I really think the whole travel insurance business needs a rocket to get up to date with treatments/state of health of patients/likelihood of any illness happening due to cancer on a week's holiday. No wonder many of us just don't bother with insurance to cover for cancer related issues and only for lost luggage etc etc. ... View more

Hi everyone. I finished 18 weeks of the lovely Taxol at the end of February and my lashes have mostly come back now. I tried the Rapidlash from Boots once treatment finished and don't know if it helped or not. My top lashes look long but are very "spidery" when I put on mascara and it looks a bit cloggy, if you know what I mean! My lower ones are not as long as they were, but fingers crossed they will get better. So ladies, they do come back!!! Now, if I could only get rid of the peripheral neuropathy, I'd be laughing ... View more

I was there too and very excited that this is going to start in Edinburgh. I was talking to Carol from Breast Cancer Care who is organising a Secondary Breast Cancer day here in September. She was delighted to hear this had started and was sure Breast Cancer Care would like to give us some support with it too. Look forward to meeting more of you in this same rocky boat!! ... View more

Thanks to you all for the information. I think it would be good to make it available to all of us in this situation - even if someone doesn't want to take it further. I was diagnosed with one small secondary tumour on my hip 18 months ago (9 years on from primary breast cancer). At a Breast Cancer Care day in Glasgow, all the other women had applied and were receiving the benefits and had Blue badges. I asked a Benefits Advisor in the Maggie Centre in Edinburgh and she made me feel a complete fraud and asked me lots of questions about mobility etc. which I didn't really know how to answer. I did get a one-of grant from Macmillan for heating and clothing, but didn't take the other things any further. Have recently been diagnosed with secondaries on my liver and other bones, so am definitely going to apply again. I have 18 weekly chemo sessions and I can hardly imagine what I will feel like during that! My secondary breast cancer nurse is going to get the ball rolling for me, so fingers crossed. I don't have a job, unlikely to get one now and have paid NI all my working life (now 59) and it would be fantastic to get some help. Bests wishes and love to you all ... View more