Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi ladies, just read your comments to each other and was interested to see something about a meet in Birmingham. Could you please give me some details. Is this something you have put together yourselves or is is open to anyone. Do you live in or near Birmingham. I live in Staffordshire but was born and raised in Brum. Hope to hear from you soon. Pauline ... View more

Hi Sara Well you have come to the right place for support. Unfortunately there are too many of us on here who are going through or have gone through the horrors of having breast cancer. I am one of the fortunate ones. I was diagnosed in January, had a 2cm tumour and 5 1/2cm of pre-cancer cells removed in February, started chemo in April and after having my last chemo last week I have to have radiotherapy on the 11th Nov for 17 working days. I was very lucky in that my lymph nodes were all clear and I have been told that there is no reason why I should ever have breast cancer again or any secondaries. I am not going to pretend that it has been an easy ride, in fact the emotions and treatments have been difficult to handle at times and it seemed never ending but it does end and believe me time does fly. I truly hope that you receive as good treatment as I received from Burton Hospital and I cannot thank everyone there and everyone on this site who have helped me throughout the past 9 months. Just take one day at a time. I found it helpful in the beginning to write down my feelings and emotions. Take whatever help you can and do not feel guilty if you can't do anything because you are tired. Dust and untidiness will always be there, now is the time for you. Keep coming on to this site, more people will eventually answer you. Virtual hugs to you and good luck. Love Mommyw ... View more

thank you fluffyduck and caroled for your comments, good luck to you both for the future Pauline ... View more

Thanks Jo. I had a message from Bertie, used the link but still could no join you. I managed to log on but there were no messages and I could not send one. Hope it can be sorted as I found live chat really helpful when I joined you some time ago. regards mommyw ... View more

Is there no-one out there living in Staffordshire - Lichfield, Cannock, Tamworth, Heath Hayes etc.etc. If so please get in touch we would love to meet other ladies in the area. It is free to join us and we all get on well and have a good time away from home for an hour or so. Pauline ... View more

Hello I am so sorry that you are having difficulties, you must been feeling very lonely and obviously very worried. I am the oposite of your wife - I talk to everybody who will listen to me but we are all different and cope in our own way. Have you talked to anyone at the breast care clinic or maybe go to your own doctor and ask for information and help in getting your wife to open up to you. She will be very scared at the moment and probably does not want you to suffer in the same way. I must admit that I talk to other people more than I do my hubby because he has a heart problem and I don't want to keep on about my troubles when he is worried about his own health. Your wife will, I am sure, in time tell you how she is feeling. How about writing a letter to her telling her how upset and hurt you feel about not being able to share her emotions - it might work and she might find it easier to write down her feelings also. Take care, keep positive. Mommyw ... View more

So sorry you are having such problems. The wait must be terrible for you. I know that you want to get things sorted a.s.a.p. I was lucky because I saw my doc on Wed a.m. had call from hospital 3 hours later and talked to lovely nurse. Went for tests the following Tues and had results 2 weeks later. I always think it is cruel when they make people wait, they really cannot understand the worry and pain we go through while waiting. Do you have another hospital within easy reach. If so go back to your docs and ask to be referred elsewhere. You have a right to chose which hospital you go to. Try this first before you eat into your savings, you should not have to do this. Please try not to worry too much, take each day one at a time. Keep coming on to this forum because there are loads of lovely ladies who will help you through this. I had my lump removed in Feb and are now half way through chemo. I then have to have radiotherapy, but should hopefully be clear of treatments by Christmas. I will then take Tamoxifen for 5 years. I am 62 (young 62) and have loads of living still to do, so this damned disease will not beat me. Think positive, get all the help and support you can, and GO AND SEE YOUR DOC. He/she might be able to get things moving. Take care, we are all here with you and for you. Love and hugs, Mommyw ... View more

Hello Angie What a nightmare for you, with both yourself and mother going through this at the same time. I know it is hard - and we all go through so many highs and lows - but take every day one step at a time. All of us here on this site have gone through, or are going through this. You and your Mom will be support for each other but unfortunately may not be able to look after each other if you are at the same stage. How old are you? How old is Mom? I am 62 and had my bc op in Feb and am now going through chemo. I am half way through almost but still a way to go and will have to have rads later. You can come on here at any time and rant and rave, share your high's and lows or just ask for advice. I am sorry you have had to join us but you are in the right place. I am thinking about you and praying for you both. Love and hugs Pauline (mommyw) ... View more

Hi. When I read your post it really made me sad. I have a young daughter and I really worry about her chances of getting BC. My mother - bless her - died of BC 11 years ago and I found my lump in January this year, so obviously there is a ????? on whether my darling daughter will develop it in the future. As the other wonderful ladies on this forum have already said, just listen, encourage your daughter to talk about her fears etc. hold her, cuddle her - but let it all be at her pace. God bless you both. If you want to know anything at all, you have come to the right place and will get lots of support and information. Don't try to be brave for your daughter because you will need to cry as well. We have all cried, screamed, cursed, cried some more - you really do have to release the stress and worries. Take care. Love Mommyw (Pauline) ... View more

Hi Nicky (and the rest of my new friends) I am afraid I paid the price for going out to Southport on Wesnesday. I went for chemo yesterday but my bloods were way too low so - no chemo. Apparently I am not tolerating the CMF very well. I have antibiotics for a week and complete rest and if my bloods are no better next week I have to have bone marrow injections for a week. They are also going to reduce my prescription by 10% so hopefully that will make it easier on my body. Feel a fraud lying in bed all day. Only got up a 6 o'clock because I was fed up of being shut up in my room so I thought I would come downstairs and watch the soaps then I will go back to bed. I can do sick but I can't do ILL. When you work you think how nice it would be just to lie around all day reading, chatting on the phone, having meals cooked for you but the reality is that when it is forced on you it stinks!! Anyway enough of me. Nicky I hope you continue to feel ok on CMF. I am just one of the unfortunate ones that it does not suit but maybe that is because I am still not fully recovered from my op last year and because of my age. Love and hugs to you all Pauline (mommyw) ... View more

Thanks Debs. Yes it was a nice suprise going out today and considering hubby is under stress because of his heart op in a couple of weeks it was a nice thing for him to do. We have been married for 40 years on the 31st May but I will have just had my second dose of chemo so I doubt we will do anything special so today was a treat. We would have been going to Memphis and Nashville if all had been well but these bl........ (excuse me)illnesses had to crop up and ruin it all. Still hubby is 65 next year so we will have to make that even more special. Hopefully if I am ok I will be on live chat tomorrow. Love Pauline (mommyw) ... View more

Hi. I am not on Tamoxifen yet but am undergoing CMF chemo at the moment. I have had really bad prolems with my eyes over the weekend. They have been so painful at times I have just had to lie with them shut. My eyelids have been extremely sore too. I went to my docs this morning who looked at them and said 'oh dear' - they must have looked sore. He gave me antibiotic cream and even the first application made them feel easier. Just about to do them again so hopefully they will be ok in a day or two. I could not even read or watch the telly they were so bad. I would suggest you go to the doctors as soon as possible or phone your oncology dept. for advice because if they get as bad as mine did they will hurt like hell. Hope this helps. Pauline ... View more

Hi Debs, being a bit thick but where to do I find tips to help through chemo - especially the go cake. Not too good finding my way round these sites. Thanks Pauline ... View more