Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hello Everyone, I'm one of the Class of 2010 and very proud to be so. It wasn't my best ever year by far but I did meet some wonderful people on here who seriously helped me through something that I never ever thought that I could get through. Still on Meds (Tamoxifen) and having effects from rads BUT I have been back at work full time for 19 months with only one day off sick. I had a new second grandson born boxing day 2010. I have made sure that I have had endless fun as often as possible with my two grandsons. I have been on two cruises (the first one included a cyber cruise here on this site and was hilarious with everyone 'joining in' - you had to be there to appreciate it!). On that cruise my man proposed to me and we got engaged. The very next day we went ashore and had arranged to meet Jackwagstaff...which we did and have been good friends since. Since then I have met many more of class 2010, the very people who were a backbone through my treatment, and I must say...as bad as things were we did laugh a lot too...we couldn't help ourselves, what a rock these ladies have been. We have recently bought a house in Wales for weekends and I know I am very lucky to be able to do this and it is a godsend after a week in a stressful job working with kids excluded from mainstream school. What I am trying to say (and prove) is that (even though I would have never believed this myself before it happened to me) you can get through this . There will be ups there will be downs. Take each day as it comes but never lose sight that each day is one day closer to the end of the horrid part which leads to a confusing part whilst you 'grow' into the new you and find yourself again, which leads to life which resembles YOUR LIFE AGAIN We did it...and YOU CAN TOO. Bless you all hugs and hugs From Suzi xx P.S. For the record I had 2 lumpectomies - one each side as I had bilateral breast cancer (in both sides at same time- double shock syndrome for me - thought I was doomed I did!) Had 18 weeks of 6 FEC chemo followed by 34 rads (17 each side) - greedy I know! ... View more

Sending (((((((((((hugs)))))))))) to you Heather, what an awful tragedy, poor lady. Makes you remember how fragile we all are. Also sending hugs to anyone else who wants one. Still busy with work 7 more get ups then it's the 6 week holidays, thank goodness. Had a very teary weekend (mainly cos I sent for some new dresses for the Suze Cruise) and when I put them on they looked awful with my bloated tummy so ended up in floods of 'feel sorry for myself' tears. I now realise I have a problem as I keep buying clothes by the million and I think it's to try and find the new me or something not really sure, anyway I have to stop before my house sinks with all the new clothes!! Why can't I just wear pj's ??? Moan over, I know other people have more significant problems. Anyways it's late so off to bed Hugs Suze xxxxxx ... View more

Hi All, Just a really quick note to say I am still around and reading...been very busy building my work time up and am now back in full time...it is so tiring yet I just fall asleep when I get home. 4 weeks to the 6 week hols. I may be on my knees by then. At least we have the cruise to look forward to. Everyone at work has been brill and I am really enjoying getting back to work. Kanga and Sandra, thank you for the entertainment (even if you did get told off for it) it gave me a much needed laugh out loud so much that the dog thought I had gone mad!!!! Vickie, sorry for not being in touch for ages and ages we do need coffee meets but when I am not so sure, see what we can sort out Hi to all others, special hugs to Karen, hope the apptmt went well on Monday and very well done on the race for life so soon after surgery, I admire your determination you are a star xx :-))))) Hugs also to those who have relatives who are having yukky times, there always seems to be something. We have been toing and froing from Southampton as daughter has had some big problems the past few weeks too..crikey when I said I wanted life to be 'back to normal' I didn't realise it would include all the c**ppy things too!!!! Never mind it keeps me busy and my mind off other nasty things. Going for another scan on tum next Tues as still having mega probs with bloatedness...I am now thinking that it is caused by the Tamoxifen, had a chat with the pharmacist about it who said if the Tamoxifen is working then I would be inclined to just tolerate the tummy stuff...easy said though, he's not the one who's a walking space hopper every time he eats!!! Oh the joys well better sign out and get to bed....one more day then it's the weekend hurrah!!! Going to see Billy Elliott on saturday 😉 bye for now hugs for all my buddies Love Suze xxxxxx ... View more

UTM in the absence of our monitor 🙂 ... View more

Hi, just wanted to say ...Karen I am so relieved that it hasn't spread. Still sending you lots of love and support, here if you need anything xx Heather, congratulations on a beautiful baby, you sound so much better too I think your good news has been a much needed tonic, hugs to all the family xx Vickie hope you manage to get away.....will research hot air balloons just in case xxxx A big thank you to everyone for my birthday messages, I had a lovely day and lots of lovely pressies and cards...thank you all again xxx ok must dash, it's v late and I have physio in morning then work...busy busy busy. Hugs to all xxxxxx Suze xxxxx ... View more

Hello everyone, Just wanted to wish Karen well for tomorrow. Will be thinking of you all day and sending you many cyberhugs and lots of hand holding. Well done to roadrunner Vickie, what an achievement xxxx we need to meet for corree soon or our hair will be so long we won't recognise each other!!! Sandra on a bike then a trampoline...hmmm no comment....secretly in training for 2012 I reckon ;-)) Maria, Gill, Tracey Izzy and everyone else doing 'back to work' hope no one is too exhausted, Dee don't rush back, wait till everything has healed up properly and you are sure your energy levels are good. I am now up to five half days...the getting up early is hard as the week goes on, everyone at work has been brill with me (and the kids have been good for me too thank goodness). Kanga, I will have to find the timetable for the cruise and let you know when we dock in Gib. Our ship (the Grand Princess) is being refurbished at the moment so it should be very nice when it's finished. Went on a practice cruise last night on a barge called the white nancy along the macclesfield canal with a 3 course meal, looking at all the newly hatched goslings and ducklings and stopping to feeed then it was a really nice evening. OH struggled to get on the barge on his crutches but thankfully he managed. Heather hope you are ok, Carol how was the crystal healing? ok better get to bed, physio at 8 in the morning, fluid from rads and tenderness and scar tissue still sore yet :-(( bye for now hugs for everyone Suze xxxxx p.s. the pic said Brenda on a trampoline but we know it's Sandra don't we? ... View more

Hi angielav Firstly, sorry to hear your news about your gran. Now ,to answer your question..as chemo affects your immunity levels you are right to be concerned, however, to mix with people very soon after your first chemo I think that you will probably be ok as your immunity shouldn't immediately plummet as soon as the chemo goes in. DO be careful, avoid direct or close contact with anyone who appears to have a cold, avoid too many hugs (not easy considering the event), use antibacterial hand gel and don't eat any of the 'forbidden' foods of there is a buffet (ask if you are not sure which foods they are - similar to those foods you must be careful with during pregnancy due to possible high levels of bacteria). You will probably find that you can carry on more or less as normal at first (I can only speak from my own experience of course - I continued to work in a school for the first three chemos and luckily didn't catch any nasties I just had to be careful and conscious of those around me - Ironically I had a short spell in hospital during the long summer holidays, after chemo 5 and at a time when I had little contact with anyone!!) All you need to be is aware and careful. Hope this helps, ask if you want any more info, hope all goes as well as possible on Tues and of course on the day of the funeral too. Take care Hugs Suze xx ... View more

Hi Barryfan, Sorry to hear that you've joined us!! I've been here a year now as I joined last April and it has been the most wonderfully supportive place that I know and 'met' so many people who are on the same boat as myself. Our journeys differ slightly but in the main we all go through very similar processes. At the mo you are in the worst level of the ship but there are other decks which you will swiftly enter which are better than the place you are in at the moment. There are even decks where you laugh endlessly...I know that seems hard to believe at the moment but really you will. Stick with us, ask anything you want to, personal stuff like when to tell family is entirely up to you, there's no right or wrong, just find what's best for you. In the meantime we are here for you. Take care, here for you, be less terrified because you're in friendly waters now, just let us know when you need a hand holding or cyber hug and it will be on its way Suze xx ... View more

thread maintenance whilst official person makes birthday cake and enjoys being mum to a 6 year old xxxx have fun V xx A big Happy Birthday to our Thread wow one year old!!!!! Thank you Maria (hope you realise how many times you will be thanked for this thread over the next 100 years lol) xxx Happy birthday everyone.....time to party...xxx ... View more

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Ohhhhh Isabelle, I want a lamb to be bleating in my kitchen that would be soooo good - I have a dog bed that one could sleep in send me one pleasssse :-)))) Dee welcome back, we missed you (even though you only seem to have been gone for a couple of days), get the washing done before weekend....thunder storms forecast :0((( garden does need a good watering though but I do so love the sunny warm days. Tracy, sorry to hear your news and decisions you have to make and other family members and Maria same about your family too....we need magic wand i think. Gill hope the return to work is going ok, Jackie, make sure the work stays at work and not at home with you Heather, yes I had to push the wheelchair in Wales and yes it was tiring as I had to do all the driving and loading and unloading car and carrying cases upstairs in the cottage and everything...OH sees consultant again on Friday but he was told he'd be off his feet for at least 8 weeks... so...6 more to go yet :-((( Sewing...I make all the costumes for the dance school so yes I do a bit of sewing too....seems we have such a talented bunch of clever people on our adventure...shall we make some sails for the boat (cruise?) lol Sandra hope the haircut went well, I had mine cut twice now, weird how much comes off even though it is still so short you wouldn't think it could be cut. Like Maria mine is still curly/fuzzy/unmanageable....can't do a think with mine either, have some tiny straightners but it still ends up looking like a helmet!!!!! It's ok but it's just not me!!! ok look at the time...gotta be uo for work at 7.30 so I shall shuffle off to bed now hugs for all (specially Freddie and Norman the lambs) nite all xxxxxxx ... View more

Hi, just a little pop in to say hi. Just caught up on the last 4 pages. Went to Wales after the wedding so been away for a few days. Was quite tiring as I had to lift all luggage and wheelchair into car, do the driving etc. as OH still with broken heel bone. Had a lovely few days away though, gorgeous scenery in mid Wales, visited Lakes Vrynwy and Bala and had some fish n chips for supper at Barmouth. Stayed in a lovely little cottage. Carol glad your results were good ones, Heather hope your legs are getting better and your bugs have gone away. Dee have you been out on the bike yet? saw loads in Wales and everytime I thought of you. Sandra, glad your fruit trees are growing the correct fruits, not sure what you could do if the wrong fruits grew on your trees!! Maria nice to hear that you had a lovely visit to family, hope work is going well. I'm on my return to work now 3 half days this week and it builds up by half a day each week so by June I will be back in full time if all goes to plan eek!! OK it's late and I better get some beauty sleep...crikey I really need it !! Love to all mentioned and not mentioned hugs to cf Suze xx ... View more

Hello, just popping in to wish everyone a very Happy Easter, loads of sunshine and warmth too :-)) Not quite having the relaxing Ester as planned as OH was building a carport at his house yesterday and the ladder slipped, he jumped and is now in hospital with a broken heel bone. Because it's b holiday weekend there are no facilities and he needs a ct scan apparently..they say this will be done on Weds or Thurs...in the meantime he has to sit and wait and only have painkillers for the excruciating pain until late next week!!! We should have gone out for a meal last night which obviously was cancelled and tonight he had bought tickets to go and see Ghost in Manchester as an Easter surprise for me! Carol, you sound as busy as ever...retirement is good then lol. Don't overdo it...I noticed that on your long lost of jobs only 1 was delegated to your OH...I think he needs a bigger list lol xx Sandra, weeding and planting and mowing the tortoise, a busy bee. Then she is going to lay eggs all around the garden!, hope the sun doesn't melt them, have a lovely day xx Oh must go...OH neeeds me to go to hospital as he is trying to transfer.....catch up later Happy Easter Suze xxxxx ... View more

Phew Nell, very relieved for you. Good news you secret keeper you .....hugs xxxxx ... View more

Haha Carole, I can't help but laugh at the very irritating bride and groom.....they certainly are true to life..one step forwrd and two steps back lol xxx ... View more

Hi Hope, I indulged in fish n chips occasionally during chemo and have lived to tell the tale. Seriously I think that the warnings are because of high risk of illness caused by eating inadequately cooked foods, it is all just to be cautious so that you don't get any illnesses which could be serious when your immune system is low. We just have to be sensible and make good judgement whilst erring on the side of caution, enjoy you night off cooking and best wishes to you Suze xx ... View more

Sorry Dee to bear this news but I was told no swimming till 8 weks after rads (chlorine in the water may react) it meant I couldn't go in pool when we went to Turkey in Nov Have a good time anyway xxxx ... View more

Sun 🙂 sleep 🙂 laundry:-) ... View more

Hi, Quick post to say Happy birthday to our wise birthday owl and hope that she is enjoying the very pleasant day today. Weather was probably specially ordered for the occasion. K good to hear from you, enjoy the cruise, take it easy and be well, hope you and Mary have a fab time (and teddy blue too) Heather, green nails!, I passed through Banbury station yesterday on way back north from Southampton (passed through on Thursday on way down also) and waved my pink hand at you, I imagined you there on the platform waving back :-)))) Heather your pic of the wedding is beautiful you look sooo glam xx love it 🙂 Maria, hen do at your house will be great, can't wait :-)) ok have to dash.....catch you all soon Have a lovely evening everyone Hugs from Suze xxxxx ... View more