Breast Cancer Now Forum

Thank you for those inspirational words. I was diagnosed in July 2007 and am all ok now!!!! Fingers crossed.... I remember the days of surgery, chemo, rads, still on tamoxifen. I think these words would have really helped me then . I try and stay optimistic and will borow your words for my facebook page if that is ok, Take care and thanks, Dawn ... View more

Hi Lillian, I wanted to let you know how things have been for me. There is a light at the end of the tunnel !!! I was diagnosed in July 2007 with Grade 3 tumour, micro in one lymph node. I ate really healthily before and after diagnosis, juiced both fruit and veg twice a day. I went to Cherry Lodge Cancer care centre in Barnet for therapies and support.( If you have a centre near you it might be useful for you / or your daughterto go for info/ alternative therapies, massage, healing, acupuncture reflexology etc) I had 8 lots of chemo, not nice but do-able. Following that I had my lumpectomy operation, then full lymph node clearence, then Radiotherapy. Now I am on Tamoxifen for 5 years. Overall it took about a year. I went back to work prob a little too soon, and then sadly my mum who had serious dementia from age 52 was ill and I left my job and looked after her till she passed away. I stayed at home for a while then I applied for a new job and got it. I love my new job and I think that other than the hot sweats caused by tamoxifen and weight gain I am back to the old me. It is always in the very back of my mind, it will return but I will not worry about something I have no control over. I Know that it is very scary, the worries and the tears for you your daughter and other family and friends, remember that day or night there is always someone on this site to support you all and offer advice or reassurance that something is ok. You are not alone, always ask, no question is silly, honestly. Thats what kept me going, I hope that once you know the treatment plan and your daughter knows what's happening abit more, you can both feel a little bit more in control and positive about the outcome. Ask anything you want, Sending Love and strength to you and your daughter Take care Dawn XX ... View more

Hi all, things have been very up and down recently so I have not been on the site for a while, really sorry to hear about Dilys, please send her my love and wish her well soon. I will sign on to keep updated with the situation Thanks Dawnxx ... View more

Hi,Buzzy, Ihad problem walking after tax and applied with all details of cancer chemo and walking problems, letter from Gp and I got one. Good luck Dawn X ... View more

Hi Lolly, Me again, meant to say def gets even harder after radiotherapy so that can cause hardness too., I know you not there yet but thought best to let you know, I find that fore warned is better, cos then you know normal and less to worry about. Dawn XX ... View more

Hi Amanda, Like Lolly I have had WLE in March, and full clearance in April 2008, and both scar areas are hard especially where full clearence was cos I had a bad seroma and had to have it re-opened and cleaned!!! lovely, so double scar tissue. I have had mammo, ultra sound and MRI since and all clear, they said def normal. Get it checked out if it helps settle your mind though. Take care Dawn x ... View more

Hi Leigh, I am really pleased it's just gall stones,at least they can be managed, I was not getting any prob with mine, just surprised they were there when I had a liver scan. He said, did you know you had gall stones, total surprise!!!! Apparently in some research, women who have taken tamoxifen, 37% got gall stones and 2% did who had not taken it. I feel although I was concerned at taking the tamoxifen I hope it is doing me good and keeping the Big C away, but is affecting my body in so many ways. I googled tamoxifen and gall stones, few interesting articles. Good luck with bone scan Keep us updated take care Dawn x ... View more

Hi Leigh, I know exactly how you feel, I am a look up everything cos I need to know girl, but sometimes what you read can be quite scary and worries us unnecessarily. I read loads about chemo, taxotere and although it was horrid the reading scared me more, the same as the tamoxifen. I was worried when I had my liver and bone scan, but I am of the mind that its no good worrying over what you cant change. I have no control over all that has been happening to me. I try and eat healthily, well I always did, have the odd drink,and exercise, on the whole I look after myself. So I just hoped all scans would be ok if they weren't I would deal with that then and luckily for me they were. Hope yours are too. Where are you in the UK, this is the website for tamoxifen details re fatty liver. http://www.cks.nhs.uk Look forward to hearing how you get on. Take care Dawn X ... View more

Hi Leigh, I have been on Tamoxifen since July 2008, I have a variety of side effects, hot flushes, joint pain and odd sleep patterns and very hot feet!!!! very strange. Anyway Jan 09 I had blood tests which showed raised liver levels, had to have liver scan etc and CT scan, I had an odd thing on liver but is noral/ abnormal but all ok and they showed me I had gall stones, no pain though. Anyway I looked it up and on lots of sites there are links to gall stones and tamoxifen, but on the Memorial Sloane cancer hospital in the states site, which is brilliant for info and advice it says that lots of cancer patients have gallstones, did they have them before or poss from the medication they take. Also again this year I had high liver levels all tests were repeated, and showed I have fatty liver, very very low chloestrol etc and everything else good, def got to be from Tamoxifen, even says on NHS advice site, think its CKS or something, it says can cause fatty liver so good to print out and take with you. I have also had joint and rib pains, had scans and no probs, they said just side effects of tamoxifen!!! Ask anything you want and ill help if I can, Good luck, Hope you get it sorted out soon, Keep us informed, take care Dawn xx ... View more

Hi E, I had chemo in Aug 2007 and Right sided WLE in March 2008, full clearance and margins widened April 2008 and third op in May cos I developed a seroma which would not clear , so had 3rd op to open, clean and drain, was brilliant afterwards. Anyway I have developed lymphoedema in my left arm from the chemo, (very unusual), I wear a sleeve to keep the swelling down, I have it in my right breast, which is controlled well by taping although swimming is also very good. I have seen a lymphoedema nurse regularly and been to a variety of advice sessions,breast cancer care one in London was good she said to wear on flights, all have suggested wearing sleeves for flight and exercise, I wear 2 sleeves for flights and do lots of exercises, I have done two long haul flights and not had a problem with my good arm. Looks abit odd, flight socks and arm sleeves, it is abit hot but, I have got used to it. Def ask lymphoedema nurse about taping it has really helped me, Keep being assertive!!! Good luck Dawn X ... View more

Hi Star flower, Just letting you know my results , Hope saves you worrying abit, I had a hysteroscopy after my thickening of my uterus etc and spotting as described above, all fine, hope yours turns out the same as mine. Take care Dawn x ... View more

Hello all, Karen I hope you had a great time in Pollensa, I have been there a few times so beautiful walking along the beach. We hope to go back one day soon. Ruby Glad your op went well and seems to be healing well, fingers crossed leg will sort it self out soon as well. New bras sound brill, just what I need, unfortunately have gained so much weight on tamoxifen I have not got a clue what size I would be, so must go get measured soon. When is your charity day, I am near Barnet so could pop up with a few friends...let me know. Cecelia Sorry meds not settling down yet for you, it sounds awful, you poor thing. I have heard it takes awhile to settle down for some people. I am still on Tamoxifen, sleepless nights, hot sweats, fuzzy brain, some joint aches and pains, my feet and ankles are really bad in morning, i just like a granny, it takes me a bit of time to get going. I have decided to stay with it cos I am coping, write lists to my self at work,( but then I always did that) and I know a few people who have changed and got bad SE's so I will go with it until I cant cope anymore. Dilys. Hope hubby is getting better slowly but surely, does sound like he is enjoying being a patient... I love the cat stories and he looks so relaxed chilling out on that chair in your photo. I am off to Cyprus for a week at half term going on Saturday with a friend of mine, so excited a girly holiday, she has an apartment out there,but I have never been to that part of Cyprus before, loads of swimming and chilling out, reading, no one but us... lovely. Hello to everyone else Take care all love Dawn XXX ... View more

Hi, Debbie, I was diagnosed in July 2007, and remember how alone and isolated I felt even though I had friends and family. Dont know if you have heard of Cherry Lodge cancer care centre in Union Street Barnet, Fiona a McMillian nurse sees you for brief meeting, then you can go for treatments, massage, Reiki etc. I had acupuncture there all through my chemo to prevent sickness and I did not have to take anti sickness tablets until I had Taxotere. Google search Cherry Lodge and you will find a very friendly group of people, I used to go on a Tues morning for drop in and they do a Thurs eve as well. It so helped me to feel cared about and supported on here and there by people who really understand and have gone through or are going throught the same. I really appreciated all their help so I have been working as a volunteer in their charity shop in Barnet High Street to give something back. I loved it so varied and a good team but I am now back at work so only able to help them out in Half terms etc. But I met some great people there and am going out to the mind, body and spirit exhibition in London tomorrow with someone I met there. Hope you find your support group helpful, although it can be odd when you first go, if it does not settle down give Cherry Lodge a try. Message back if you want further details Take care Dawn x ... View more

Hi Suz, I was diagnosed in July o7, had WLE, full clearance, 8 chemo , rads and now on tamoxifen. I have hip, knee, ankle and shoulder pain, and was very worried, my blood tests were fine too, so they sent me for a bone scan. All fine other than normal wear and tear, 48 year old age related deterioation.... Lovely description but I happy cos no cancer. Get it checked out but all the hormone treatments can cause those symptoms. Don't just assume though , hope yours turns out like mine. Take care Dawn ... View more

Hi all. Hope you are all enjoying the sunshine, and planes are not too noisy Cecelia now double are coming in at night for a few days. Fantastic news Karen, the discharge word sounds very exciting to me!!!! Ruby, been thinking of you and sending good strong healing vibes to you, Take care and be kind to yourself Dawn ... View more

HI, Keremma, I have been on Tamoxifen for about 18 months, I also have gained weight and am very tired, and wake in the night very hot. I have had an odd voice too, like croaky throat but not sdore, apparently singers get voice probs when on Tam, although I am not a singer unless you call, singing nursery rhymes to my grand daughter being a singer. Like you I have had odd bouts of mouth ulcers, my pharmacist who is very reliable said prob the Tam and I have used Difflam mouth wash from chemist ( usually behind counter so you have to ask for it), I used it when I had ulcers when on chemo, works well for me, hope it does for you too. Other than that not too bad, As long as it keeps oestrogen away I can deal with side effects. Take care Dawn XX ... View more

Hi All, Just to let you know that Nolvadex D is still available in Spain so if you have any friends or relatives going on holiday they can buy it over the counter from the pharmacy there. Someone I know has been out there and brought me some back and they know someone who will send me more as I need it so I can hold off generics for a while!!! I think its about £7.00 ish a month. I wake up at night, have hot sweats and achy ankles but don't want anything else so thought Id try this for a while. Take care all Dawn x ... View more

Hi all, I had surgery WLE and a full clearance in March 2009, and developed a seroma which would not stop filling so I had to have opened again lovely!!!! anyway my armpit is still very numb and the back of my arm feels like it is slowly coming back to life. I was told when I asked that numbness is very normal and due to the nerves being cut when having clearance. take care all Dawn Xx ... View more

Hi Dilys, Sorry for having similar pic, hope you don't mind but it is my favourite flower. Have a beautiful poem and picture that my daughter did for me when I had chemo, about a flower, wilting and then getting strong again. It is beautiful, I will try and upload it if I can to show you. Take care love Dawn xx ... View more

Hi all, Sorry I have not been posting but I have been keeping up with all your news. I have started a new job which is brilliant, family stuff and had quite a few things going on health wise!!!! liver probs, dodgy moles, fortunately they have all turned out ok, ( waiting on one mole result but others have been fine so keeping my fingers crossed) but it does seem never ending sometimes. Cecelia, dizzyness sounds abit worrying make sure you go and get it checked soon, I am still on tamoxifen, not going to change me they said, so will stay with hot flushes and joint aches that I have at moment, few people I know on Aromasin said they have very achey bones. Totally relate to your googly eyes and your spreadsheet story, I am having to wear my glasses so much since working at the computer so much more.. Carry on moment with workman sounds fun, keep those windows boarded up!!! Dilys, Hope you are better from your D and V bug, there is so much going around at the moment, lots of the staff and children where I work have had it. Love to your sister-in-law, great no spread, and I hope that the chemo does its job well so she can move on to have her op. I remember having my chemo first and the op seems so long to come, but she will get there in the end, I sure you are a great support to her. Well done for Mc Millan opening wot a star**** Ruby. Glad all your scans, ct etc were ok ( that drink is disgusting, woman next to me kept saying, "all of it, do I really have to have all of it" you can soon move on to your re-con. Hope you are having a fab time sking, and look forward to hearing about it when you are back. Topper Hope you enjoyed Lancashire, sounded good, your recent swimming cossie story made me laugh, but also like Cecelia puts me to shame, its so easy to make excuses, I have had minor ops, Mole removals on my back over the last two months so cant swim but def starting again next week. Hello to everyone else I would love to meet up with you all again another time, Take care all Love Dawn XXX ... View more