Breast Cancer Now Forum

Brilliant idea, some of us have had our nipples tattooed, so surely you can have a larger one, perhaps avoiding going to far into the armpit. ... View more

Tomorrow it is five years since I had the mammogram which found my cancer, today I was discharged from the breast clinic. It has been a worrying five years, thanks for the support Breast Cancer Care. Looking forward to this Christmas in the knowledge that I have beaten Cancer. Merry Christmas everyone. ... View more

Hi Girls Just to let you know, that I am back safely from my travels, and guess what. We don't have to file anymore! All that stress for it all to change again, but I think I have made my point they won't make assumptions about me in future. Thanks for all the emotional support girls. My trip to the clinic yesterday went reasonably well and was reassured about my shoulder pains. But I got a bit tearful about how much my life has changed over the last few years. The Dr then tried to convince me I ought to see my GP for some treatment for depression. I couldn't convince her that there is a difference between being fed up and being depressed. (Felt pretty sorry for myself by the time I left, but got some good tips regarding pain relief). Still last mammogram on December 1st and hopefully moving on time. Love you all. Merlyn ... View more

I always use Bromley insurance, the girls are very helpful and the quotes have got cheaper as the years have gone by, whereas I found Pink went up a couple of years running, which is why I tried Bromley. ... View more

Hi Norberte The Breast Care Nurse rang me this morning and was lovely, very keen to write to my supervisor and include a lymphodema leaflet, but, and there is always a but, while we were talking I told her about the pain I have been having in my shoulders, neck and implant, which has obviously made it difficult to cope. She said she would organise some physio for me then she rang me back and said I ought to go for a bone scan just in case. Its a b...dy a nuisence isn't it because the fear of spread will always be with us. So now when I get back from Argentina I have to go to clinic. Still I will raise a glass to you all, while I enjoy my steak. Love you all. Trish ... View more

Well got my fight back but used a bit of nepotism, I am afraid. I sometimes get a lift home from one of the managers, and we have always agreed that we never talk about work, but today I just couldn’t resist it. She agreed with me that I know more about the side effects of breast cancer treatment, than anyone else in the department and what I can and can’t manage to do. She has been in the department for a lot of years, she wants me to get a note to say why I shouldn’t carry and file heavy records, and the difference to my health of playing badminton. I have rang the breast care nurses today and asked them to ring me tomorrow, and explained that I need them to write a note to my manager explaining the risk of lymphoedema etc. I am not just doing this for myself but for all those other ladies who will follow me in the future. One of my nice colleagues had done my filing when I got into work today, as well ( I love you Lynn)! ... View more

Hi Norberte Back to work tomorrow, and not keen to go. If I can manage to keep going for another three weeks then I have a three and a half week break. Hubby carrying two rucsacks and I are off to South America travelling. I must say we can't afford for me to give up work as have been living life to the limit since I was diagnosed. This is my second foreign holiday this year. If I can't cope with the filing I will have to do something but I am going to give myself time to think. Thanks for the concern, I will resolve my problem, I just need to get my fight back! ... View more

I rang the helpline today, and the lady I spoke to was very comforting and is going to send me some information, but I am not sure I want to push things anymore. I don't think I can take the pressure. I apologise to any of you that feel I am letting the side down but I don't think I am up to the fight. Thanks for the support girls, and I hope nobody else has to deal with a similar problem. Love Trish ... View more

Hi Tinfish I remember you from the past, and also remember being one of the people who recommended you had an LD reconstruction. I have to say four years on I wish I had gone for the TRAM. I will be very interested to hear how you get on at East Grinstead. Good Luck Love Merlyn ... View more

Hi loupylou I wasn't employed by NHS at diagnosis, I joined a year later. As I said at the beginning I coped while the work was light, its only been more difficult recently. I will try to bite my lip for a bit longer, at least badminton has finished till September and I go on holiday in three weeks time so I will get a break. After that I will make have to decide what I want to do. At the moment its resignation but I will contact occy health before I do that. Trish ... View more

Life doesn't get any better does it. Got called into the office today because I have made a fuss about filing, was basically told to lump it or get a note from the Dr to say that I wasn't fit to file. Someone came up to me and said that if my arm hurt so much how come I could manage to go backpacking with my husband and play badminton. None of those people have seen my husband carrying two large rucsacs or heard my groans everytime I try to smash while playing badminton. I make my decisions each day on what I am physically feeling up to but now I feel its going to work and nothing else. Yet again I have come up to the bedroom to cry what is the point in keeping me alive if my life has been taken away from me. I feel almost as bad tonight as I did when first diagnosed. By the time I got home it was too late to ring the support line and I couldn't get a Drs appointment either as I think its time for happy pills again. ... View more

Hi thanks Swift and Lucy, I will be in touch later. I will have to wait till Friday to make all my calls as there is nowhere private where I work. Till then I will have to bite my lip. Just off to the train now, have a good day everyone. ... View more

Thanks, I will ring tomorrow. I am so miserable as I use to love my job, the girls I work with are great fun. Instead today I was very ratty with everyone and this evening I have spent the evening upstairs on my own rather than be sociable. I am scared I am going to go down the depression route again. I work for the NHS for goodness sake you would think they would be a little more caring wouldn't you. ... View more

I don't want to retire, and have only been working for the NHS for four years, but I need advice. When I was diagnosed with cancer in 2007 I was working as a temp having given up my job as a school librarian a few months previously. After my breast reconstruction at the end of 2007 I applied for a job in my local trust working in medical records. Up till now I have managed to cope because I didn't have to file but over the last few months many of the staff have left meaning we have had to do more physical work leaving me sore and tired. Today I went into work to find I have been allocated even more physical work. I don't know if they can do this without discussing it with me first. I just dissolved into tears, because I am always in pain as it was my dominant arm which was effected but have bitten my lip and got on with the work even playing badminton but I really don't know how I am going to manage with filing heavy records. Has anyone any advice as to what I do if my job has changed since being employed? ... View more

Somewhere on the Forum I posted the comment that I was going to refuse to take any more hormone treatment due to the terrible pains I was suffering from from Aromasin. Sense has kicked in and I have agreed to take Arimidex. I am still in a lot of pain so going to speak to the Oncologist at my follow up in a couple of weeks, because what I want to know is how long will it take for the aches and pains to get better. I used to be very keen on sport and was playing badminton soon after my reconstruction but four years later I can barely walk up the stairs. I am terribly upset. ... View more

Compared to a lot of you, I was relatively fortunate. I had a mastectomy four years ago but no radiotherapy or chemo, but I can't say I have coped with hormone therapy at all. After nearly four years feeling ill on Tamoxifen I was place on Aromasin at Christmas. I can't believe how awful the last three months have been with headaches on waking and the most appaling joint pains. For someone who has always enjoyed sport this has been the final score. No more hormone therapy for me! Best wishes to all of you brave ladies who have had to deal with chemo etc and are still continuing with Aromasin etc. ... View more

That is exactly what my GP has recently suggested about Aromasin. I now take it in the morning and the headaches have stopped. (Unless I have had too much wine the night before). Thankfully I only have ten months to go and I will be discharged, no more medication for breast cancer at least. Counting down now! ... View more

Hi Jan Thanks for the information about Verapamil, I am also a migraine sufferer but this headaches starts right in the front of my head. I take Zomig for migraine and this does help with this new headache but I can't take it every day so I hold out unless it is really severe. I will mention Verapamil to my GP and see what he says especially as my blood pressure is on the high side, it may solve more than one problem. Ta Merlyn ... View more

I posted elsewhere about waking most days with a headache and today I decided to go to my GP as I needed some repeat prescriptions anyway. I wasn't sure if the problem was my sinuses, but he wasn't convinced. He has prescribed a nasal spray but he wants me to try changing the time of day I take the aromasin and if necessary try stopping it for a week and see how I get on. (This is something I have already considered doing). If the headaches stop when I stop taking Aromasin he wants me to speak to the oncologist. He also commented on the fact that it is a new drug and they don't know what problems people will have with it. Good luck all. ... View more