Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Sue I had third acupuncture session on Thursday after trying lots of other things (including steriod injections) and I do think it has improved the 'front' problems where he is specifically working. The hard lump above the implant I have which was painful to touch is now just a hard lump and also not got so much 'burning' sensation from it. I have one last appointment this week and will let you know how that goes. Do I understand that some of your problems were 'cured' when the nerve was cut and was that with a different surgeon to the original one?? Are you now left with pain management only? Best wishes Jennifer ... View more

Hi Jackie, I'm pleased there wasn't anything wrong when you saw your BCN. When do you have the other side done? Walking the old lad out was wonderful, he is a saint, sparkles when asked and plods when needed, though he's been known to buck beginners off! My daughter's Welsh D would rather trot everywhere, having been driven for years before being broken to ride, but even she walked quietly today. They all had their tails washed, though they'll look as bad tomorrow. I start Epi on 11 April, a week Friday, absolutely dreading it and keep wanting to opt out, but can't justify declining it to my kids and the rest of my family. I'm scared of the continuing inability to function, as much as I am of the side effects. 16 year old is really sulking about having more than usual to do, so much that I can't trust her to do anything properly, and it's getting worse during these holidays as the elder, who works full time, expects youngest to do more. Mediating between sisters is not what I want to be doing, so if I can ride out a bit it'll help keep me sane! ... View more

you can get small lumps (I did) in different areas which can be bad. Many doctors do not know about thee as there are a very rare type of secondary. But a scan wouldn't work as they are too small to show anyway. Needle check possible? But in the vst majprity of cases, I hasten to add, they ar just fine!! - I only gvie paranoid advice having had these myself on scalp as frst sign of retrun. Hope these are OK for you! ps 95 % prognosis = come bavk anywhere AT ALL in the body susie ... View more

hysterectomy/lumpy breasts Hi Jacks I have had a hysterectomy but they kept my ovaries in as they didn't want my breast condition worsening. I was diagnosed with DCIS at the age of 32 and had hysterectomy in January 2005 and therefore didn't need HRT. The lumps haven't gone and in fact I have just had a mastectomy too. I sincerely hope in your case that whatever they do works for you. Hugs Thinking of you. Fee ... View more

A womb with a view wasn't that a novel by Virginia Woolf? But I digress. I am not sure I want my womb removed as well as a quarter of my bosom. Anyway I fly to the US next Tuesday. needless to say I can't get any insurance for the period problem and I have just started bleeding again just in time for it to be happening when I go on holiday. Mole ... View more

first date in.. Hi ! Quick update as things here are a bit heavy at the moment. Pre-op assessment date has come through this morning and it\'s for this Thursday! Because they take pre-op bloods I am guessing the op will be in the next two weeks or so! Just want it over as I\'m finding it increasingly hard to stay cool with it all and deal with home at the same time. My \'armour\' is starting to show a few chinks in it at the moment. Can\'t afford to let my guard down at the moment so I hope the op date comes through soon. Don\'t mean to moan just having a bad day! I\'m off to look after my brother in laws little baby for 3 days as mum is going in to have a tumor removed from one of her parathyroid glands in the neck. Little baby has Brittle Bone disease so it\'s going to be pretty heavy there as well. Still, no time to feel sorry for myself which is good will just need new everyready batteries put in me after all this!!! How are you and your man doing? Take Care. Cathy x ... View more

great news catkin19 catkin so pleased for you, what a relief it must be, and good to know that your planning a holiday best thing to do put work at back of you mind , I also not planning to go back to work yet ,as I have heard rt can make you tired so not chancing it , plus my health is more important than any job . was at onc today and basiclly she went through results again and advised me what rt was and that it would be for 4 weeks, now have to wait for app to come through for a planning session, to be marked up for treatment ,then treatment should start within a few days she did say between 3-4 weeks before I start , so it will give my arm time to get better, At doc tomorrow to get started on the Tamoxifen, see how we both get on with that, hope its not as bad as some of the stories have read about it . Anyway you take care of yourself ,hope to hear again from you soon love liz xxxx ... View more

Thinking of you all the way!!! hi Scotty Good luck - I\'ll be thinking of you tomorrow & especially on 18th - you seem so up beat & brave. I have 2 boys 4 & 8, both lovely. I have been very honest with the older one & I know that he is worried for me - doesn\'t it all bring into clear focus how important these things are. I get the night terrors sometimes wondering where it will end, even though I know we are lucky that they are so cautious & careful for us. I am back to see my surgeon on Wednesday to ask some more questions & am waiting to see the plastic surgeons. I\'m pretty sure that I will go for it, it\'s not worth the risk & worry is it. Keep in touch - I\'ll be with you on Monday Felicity ... View more

DCIS Well Woman Insurance I was diagnosed with DCIS earley this year and had a well woman policy (UNI Direct, Croydon) which I took out 8 years ago. Because of family history (twin sister died of breast cancer,mother also had Mastectomy) I am about to have a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction. I claimed on my Well Woman policy but have been refused on the basis that DCIS is pre cancerous and non life threatening. Looking back at other DCIS chat forum it would seem that other people have been successful with their claim with this same policy provider. Is there anyone out there who has recently been successful with a claim? ... View more

Job interviews Hi Kipper1 Just thought it would be useful for you to know that if you are having treatment or have recently had treatment for treatment then you are classed as \"disabled\" under the Disability Discrimination Act. As such, any interviewer has to look at your suitability for the post applied for and not discriminate against you because of prolonged absences for treatment. Easier said than done I know, but you do have a lot of backup if you feel they have not been fair at interview. I\'ll be one year on from surgery in September but don\'t have my first mammo until December because of radiotherapy, so know what you mean about things playing on your mind. Good luck with your interview. DeniseG ... View more

Lavinia, I\'m pleased to hear you had good news and that you have a good medical team looking after you. It\'s always a worry when you have checkups/mammograms that something will be found, but reassuring that you can talk to the team between checkups if there\'s anything worrying you. I\'m sorry to hear that other people in your family have had health issues. I hope your mother makes a good recovery. It\'s good news that your husband\'s biopsy is clear. I hope you both have a relaxing and happy holiday - you deserve it. best wishes Daphne ... View more

hello i had mastec last nov for widespread dics ,then 15 sess rads which finished 5 weeks ago ,must say i have been quite good since even gone back to work part time (foundation teaching at local primary school) i am still waiting for my check up after my rads though rang hospital they said it could be upto 8 weeks before i hear anything !! so just as well i am ok .i am 51 and post menopausal, so dont have that to worry about .iam also waiting to here from Addenbrooks genetics as my sister has had bc twice 15 years ago in left breast then 6 years ago in right breast, so we have to wait !!!! ... View more

--- -I too had a DCIS of 2.5cms in my right breast in 2003 at the age of 62. It doesn\'t matter how old you are, the feelings are just as bad. It was compounded by the fact that the consultant told me about this the day we were signing the contract to move for the 1st time in 20 odd years, so I was moving doctors and hospital at the same time. I had the quarantectomy and then 3 weeks later had a further op: as they had found microcalcifications around the removed tissue. Luckily that one shows to be clear. I had chemo and radiotherapy. But I had a 6 month checkup 2 days ago and I have a lump in the other breast. Good thing is that it is painful, so I am hoping it is just a cyst. Re: kids .. yes...they can be a pain in the a**** even mine who are around the 40 mark. Once a Mum ...always a Mum, and they always believe you can fix it and do things they can\'t. As we all know, once you have heard the C word it really does change you in all ways. PS I LOVED the No Hair bit....so liberating....and it came back curly, the up side of all the downsides !! ... View more

Um.................... ..........I confess, I think this is where it gets tricky. I had high grade DCIS with no invasive component. My consultant did test for my Her status and I know it is Her2 +++. Now some argue that this is not relevant if you have not had invasive cancer. In which case why do the test in the first place. I do worry that this over expressing oncogene with eventually create more cancer somewhere, sometime. I know that if I had had invasive cancer I would have had a poor prognosis. Particularly as there is a history of heart failure in my family and I have a murmer, - so I may not be a great candidate for Herceptin should the worst happen. I\'ve never really been able to get a clear answer to this question. Sorry Celeste ... View more