Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi All, I was diagnosed in 2010, 4 days before my second child's 1st birthday. I was still breastfeeding him and was 28 years old. My daughter was 18 months old. It was such a shock to me as there is no family history of breast cancer. All the information given to women says that having children whilst quite young and breastfeeding will keep you safe from breast cancer. Obviously not in my case! I had to quickly stop breastfeeding before my surgery. In fact my surgeon said that I was leaking milk as they cut into me. My surgery was followed by chemo and losing my hair (which didn't really bother me too much until it started to grow back then my eyelashes and eyebrows fell out!) and then 5/6 weeks of radiotherapy. This was then followed by 12 months of Herceptin which I was surprised to find was administered through a drip every 3 weeks. For some reason I had been under the impression these were tablets. I finished all of my treatments earlier this year. I have been back at work for 15 months and was just starting to feel like a normal person again. I went for a routine breast MRI a couple of weeks ago, got called in for a follow up scan. Had 6 biopsies taken at this scan in the opposite breast to my previous cancer. I today received a telephone call asking me to go in on Wednesday morrning. I am absolutely gutted. My thoughts are that if there was nothing to worry about I would have been told over the phone. Whatever happens I will fight this. I have to for my babies. Young women need to be told of the dangers. I feel very fortunate that my beast cancer was painful. I did not regularly check myself. All the information I have found says that breast cancer is not usually painful. If mine had not been then I'm not sure I would even be here now, ready to fight again if need be. I am trying to raise awareness at my place of work where many young women work and am trying to raise money for BCC in the process. If 1 young woman finds a cancer early because of people putting in the effort then it is effort well spent. It can mean extra days, months or years with their families. Sending love to all affected by cancer xxx ... View more

Hi Jen. I too was diagnosed with bc in July last year. 4 days before my son's 1st birthday and christening. I was 28 at the time, 29 now. I am just coming to the end of my chemo and can't wait for my hair to start growing although I am quite surprised by the length of time people are reporting - I was imagining a full head of hair within a couple of months lol. Wishful thinking. It's good to hear all the advice people have given. I may try the Lush Shampoo bar, sounds lovely 🙂 Good luck all with the hair growing! ... View more

Hi Jen. I too was diagnosed with bc in July last year. 4 days before my son's 1st birthday and christening. I was 28 at the time, 29 now. I am just coming to the end of my chemo and can't wait for my hair to start growing although I am quite surprised by the length of time people are reporting - I was imagining a full head of hair within a couple of months lol. Wishful thinking. It's good to hear all the advice people have given. I may try the Lush Shampoo bar, sounds lovely 🙂 Good luck all with the hair growing! ... View more

Hi Amanda, Thanks for your reply. It's really nice to hear from someone else who has had TAC, there doesn't seem that many people who have it compared to the others. Your experience sounds very much like mine and has given me the confidence to mention it to my onc! Thank you so much. Hope you are doing well xxx ... View more

Hi lella, Thanks for that, that sounds very reassuring. I may calm down a bit now lol. I'm not too panicky most of the time but am having a bit of a bad day today - doesn't happen very often as I have 2 toddlers so things have to stay as normal as possible for them which is actually a big help for me too. Don't know what I'd do without them! Thanks again. Hope your recovery is going well xxx ... View more

Hi Debbie, Thanks for your reply! Did you have pain before your secondaries were diagnosed? I had a bone and CT scan before I started my chemo, do you think something could develop that quickly? My onc did say that my cancer was behaving like a grade 3. It's hard not to panic about every ache and pain isn't it? I hope you are doing well Debbie. Thanks again. Becky ... View more

Hi mum of three, Hope your chemo went well yesterday. I start mine today (5th). Pretty scary stuff isn't it? I think I will feel better after my first cycle when I know what to expect and when. Everyone seems to have had lines put in. I asked about one as my veins are awful but they want to see how I go with my first treatment. What chemo is everyone on? I'm starting TAC today, Anyone else on that? Also on steroids which I started yesterday. Have had 2.5 hours sleep and now wide awake!!! Not good. Hope everyone is doing well. Becky xxx ... View more

Hi All, I hope your seroma sorts itself out soon Sarah - they do not sound nice. I was lucky not to get one although I did have my drain in for over 2 weeks which was a bit of a pain! My arm was a bit corded too but seems to be nearly better now with all the exercises. I think you are very brave wanting to work. I can't even begin to contemplate that - although I don't really enjoy my job anyway (dealing with complaints - ever likely lol). I was HER2 +ve so will have to have Herceptin for 1 year but can't have any hormonal treatments as hormone negative. I's amazing how different these cancers can be. It's nearly 8 weeks since my op now Tina and seeing the onc tomorrow - feels like waiting forever doesn't it?! Can't wait to get started because that means the end of treatment is getting nearer. Thanks for the advice Amanda. I too am used to working and looking after 2 small children (2yo and 14months) so can't really envisage me relaxing ha ha. Have you got 1 more cycle to do? Or more? It's so nice to hear that lots of employers are supportive. Mine have been brilliant too. Surprising in this day and age really! Take care all xxx Becky xxx ... View more

Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply and for the advice. It is much appreciated. I hope I get to look around the chemo unit - I think that would alay some fears of the unknown! Hopefully I wont get too sick as I never got morning sickness too badly. Tina - thanks for the link - very informative 🙂 Sarah - I hope all goes well with your appointment today - please update us with your start date and what chemo you will be having. From what I have read so far, TAC seems to be used a lot for women with Lymph Node involvement so we may be on the same stuff. Midge - how have you felt with the Taxotere? I know everyone feels different but I have also heard some scary things about the Taxotere! Thanks everyone, Becky xxx ... View more

Hi Lexxie, Just wanted to say that things do get better. I was diagnosed on 13th July, had a wide local excision and lymph node clearance on 02nd August and am due to meet my Oncologist this Friday. When I was first diagnosed I was completely traumatised and thought I would feel that way all the way through treatment (I am having chemo, radio and Herceptin for 1 year) but can honestly say that just 7 weeks post op I am feeling very positive about things and have been for quite a while now. Some days even feel quite normal. I do have a 1 year old and a 2 year old though so don't have much option than to get on with things lol. I had to have a bone scan and a CT scan - the results of which took 3 weeks - very scary time, but thankfully all was clear. I found the waiting time awful but tried not to think about it too much (impossible at times) and I too imagined every little thing to be secondary cancer. I was convinced I had cancer in my bones, liver and lungs!!! They wont know the rest of the treatment plan until after your op because they have to do tests on the cancer that they have removed so they know what chemo to give you and whether you need Herceptin. Try to be strong and stay positive as much as possible. Take care, Becky xxx ... View more