Breast Cancer Now Forum

think we are right not to be worried, its obviously some side effect that affects some people. Im just worried how I am going to cope with winter! ... View more

Interesting to hear that other people are suffering too. Im not on Tamoxifen which I know can cause hot flushes. Nymeria, mine started way after bc was diagnosed and treatment finished so I dont think you should worry about it being a sign of anything sinister. ... View more

Thinking of you and sending positive thoughts for a good outcome from the tests and hopefully the results will be reassuring. karen xx ... View more

Hi Jo, Another triple neg survivor here! I was dx in August 2009, had surgery plus back in to increase safety margins, 6 x FEC chemo and then rads which all finally ended in march 2010. Had first mammo and check up in September 2010 and all well! As the other ladies are saying, chemo IS nasty but IS do-able and triple neg responds well to chemo, so go with it and bear it, knowing you are zapping it! there ARE good sides to being triple neg is that we dont have to cope with 5 years or so of tam or other hormone treatments which can knock you out and apparently once we get to between 5-8 years (depending on which research you read) there is very little chance of it coming back and we are no more at risk than anyone else who hasnt had the dreaded bc! Good luck with your treatment - there is fantastic support here on this site whenever you need it. Everyone is so willing to help - I couldnt have got through without it! Karen xx ... View more

thanks for all the messages girls! I had surgery first and had to go back to increase the safety margins, then chemo before rads so it wasnt to show where the lump was if it shrunk. Still not sure, but these seemed pretty big when they showed up on the mammo. Not due for another check up until later in the summer so will try to remember to ask! Hopefully someone else will pop up with the answer before then! ... View more

thanks ladies, all information is helpful to mull over and consider. My father died over 15 years ago and I know that he only had 2 older brothers and the only female in his family was his mother, and she was an only child so dont think I would get any more information there, even if I could track them down! so limited family knowledge, plus very few females doesnt add up enough information for them I dont think. apart from two daughters I have a younger sister and a younger half sister and 2 nieces, so obviously they would appreciate the information too! One thing I have learnt on this journey is how many different kinds of bc there are and how complicated it all is! Karen xx ... View more

thanks for all the info and input ladies - I will go and read that other thread! My problem is a dysfunctional family - I have no knowledge of my fathers family and my mum is an only daughter with 4 brothers. The only other female that I know of in my family is my maternal grandmother who died of bowel cancer but in her 70's so the limited knowledge I have of my family doesnt put me in the profile for testing! I just wonder if I should push for testing as I have two daughters in their 20's ! Karen ... View more

Hi, I finished chemo in February and used the herbatint hair colour from holland and barret about 4 weeks later as it came back through sooooo grey! It was fine but I made sure to do a strand and skin test first. I think after 6 months you can start using the normal hair colours but am happy with the results of the natural one so will prob continue to use it as it is supposed to be kinder to the hair! hope that reassures! Karen ... View more

I used the herbatint from holland and barrett 4 weeks after my last chemo and it was fine. I did a skin and strand test first and absolutely no problems. Im 7 months now since last chemo but am so happy with the herbatint colour, I think I might stick to it instead of using harsher chemical ones now! good luck! ... View more

Hi somerset lady, I remember talking to you and hope your tests go well too - they must be due! Its been one hell of a rocky ride this last year hasnt it but at least now we can tick of the first year - onwards and upwards! karen xx ... View more

Hi, I had two wigs. The first one the lady who supplied the wig was also a hairdresser and managed to style it really nicely for me. the second one I actually got via Trevor Sorbie and he styled it himself in one of his sessions at his Brighton salon. They both turned out really nicely and even when I washed them in the sink and left them to dry, they looked good! hope that helps too. K xx ... View more

Dear kittyhola, Good luck to your sister and hopefully she will find the support that she needs, either here or elsewhere. Just to let you know that I am 53 and was diag. with TNBC Grade 3 Stage 2 a year ago. had 2 surgeries to remove lump, chemo and rads and earlier this week had my first annual mammo and check up and all is clear. Same advice really as from everyone in that try to keep positive, throw everything they offer at it and fight it! good luck to her and I am very happy to talk to her if she would prefer a one to one. Karen ... View more

Hi Flora, stick with it, you have done so well and sailed through up til now, hopefully this is just a glitch! keep meaning to ask about your hair, I think you said in an earlier post that it seems to start growing back each session before the next blast? karen xx ... View more

Hi Phillippa, Theres a few of us coming up to our last chemo next week and due to start rads at the end of feb or beginning of march so will be lots of us here going through it at the same time hopefully! Karen xx ... View more

signed! ... View more

me too Karen xx ... View more

yes, Im up for that too - would be fascinating and maybe comforting to others that are coming after us! veins, low blood count, fluid retention, headaches, mouth ulcers - can think of loads of other questions that might/might not be relevant! God you have some energy girl - couldnt even begin to get my head round doing something like that at the moment! Karen xx ... View more