Breast Cancer Now Forum

Was diagnosed almost 5 years ago aged 29 with IDC and loads of DCIS in left breast. Opted for a double mx and sentinel node biopsy. Had rads and chemo x6. Had breasts reconstructed with expanders at first then implants under chest wall muscle. Has all been fine until last couple of days. Was in A&E a couple of evenings ago as have been having chest tightness, heart palpitations, breathless etc and also have a really burning hot left hip and leg. Just come back from New York so docs did blood tests. Came back with high chance of blood clots (have been given thinners and booked for a scan in the morning) and my bloods also showed high levels of inflammation and abnormal liver functions. Have been on antibiotics for last 3 days now, not any better.   But the thing that has really upset me is whilst having ECG the doctor asked how long my breast has been so red and hot. A couple of days I answered. It's right around the mx scar and roughly where my original cancer was. Didn't even cross my mind to mention it! How stupid of me. So it's a red rash, just red no dots etc. spreading to the size of an orange. Hot to the touch. Dare I even start thinking of inflammatory breast cancer?!! I did notice a couple of red patches like red bruises on that breast over the last 2/3 months but stupidly didn't do anything about it and have had sharp stabbing pains and itching too.  My question is, with the fact I have had ductal before and then had full mx, can you then go on to have a different type of breast cancer? My cancer was sneaky, results were lymphovascular invasion. Grade 2 10cms and 20cms lumps, lots of DCIS and 1 sentinel showed a micro amount.   Getting it checked this afternoon at Marsden, fingers crossed! x   ... View more

Was diagnosed almost 5 years ago aged 29 with IDC and loads of DCIS in left breast. Opted for a double mx and sentinel node biopsy. Had rads and chemo x6. Had breasts reconstructed with expanders at first then implants under chest wall muscle. Has all been fine until last couple of days. Was in A&E this evening as have been having chest tightness, heart palpitations, breathless etc and also have a really burning hot left hip and leg. Just come back from New York so docs did blood tests. Came back with high chance of blood clots (have been given thinners and booked for a scan in the morning) and my bloods also showed high levels of inflammation and abnormal liver functions. But the thing that has really upset me is whilst having ECG the doctor asked how long my breast has been so red and hot. A couple of days I answered. It's right around the mx scar and roughly where my original cancer was. Didn't even cross my mind to mention it! How stupid of me. So it's a red shiny rash, just red no dots etc. spreading to the size of an orange. Hot to the touch. Dare I even start thinking of inflammatory breast cancer?!! My question is, with the fact I have had ductal before and then had full mx, can you then go on to have a different type of breast cancer? My cancer was a sneaky mo-fo, results were lymphovascular invasion. Grade 2 and 1 sentinel showed a micro amount. Going to be a long night!! ... View more

For those that knew Lou, you know just what an amazing person she was. After years of battling secondary Breast Cancer, Lou passed away in the morning of 18th March 2014 with her husband by her side and passed away peacefully. She sadly leaves behind her husband Mat, her son Ben and of course her family and friends.    May she rest in peace and look over us from the stars. Just one of the most fabulous of person you could ever wish to meet in life. xx ... View more

For those that knew Lou, you know just what an amazing person she was. After years of battling secondary Breast Cancer, Lou passed away in the morning of 18th March 2014 with her husband by her side and passed away peacefully.    May she rest in peace and look over us from the stars. Just one of the most fabulous of person you could ever wish to meet in life. She leaves behind her lovely husband Mat, her young son Ben and of course her family and close friends.  xx ... View more

For those that knew Lou, you know just what an amazing person she was. After years of battling secondary Breast Cancer, Lou passed away in the morning of 18th March 2014 with her husband by her side and passed away peacefully.    May she rest in peace and look over us from the stars. Just one of the most fabulous of person you could ever wish to meet in life. xx     ... View more

Hiya,   I had a double mastectomy in 2010 and all has been fine, had implants fitted late 2010.   I have just given birth to twins a week ago and obviously have not experienced any of the usual sore breasts you would normally get with pregnancy due to having no (or near to no breast tissue). But i have just realised that I have a significant thickening on my right breast not far from the scar line near my reconstrcted nipple. It is definately new and more noticeable when raising my arm.    Is it possible to have it return like this? Could it be related to pregnancy hormones?   I had cancers in my left breast, but decided to have both removed. Would this potentially be a local reoccurence or a new cancer? Have a bad feeling about it, like last time 😞   xx ... View more

I had a double mastectomy in 2010 and all has been fine, had implants fitted late 2010.   I have just given birth to twins a week ago and obviously have not experienced any of the usual sore breasts you would normally get with pregnancy. But i have just realised that I have a significant thickening on my right breast not far from the scar line near my reconstrcted nipple. It is definately new and more noticeable when raising my arm.    Is it possible to have it return like this? Could it be related to pregnancy hormones?   I had cancers in my left breast, but decided to have both removed. Would this potentially be a local reoccurence or other?   xx ... View more

Hi, I was diagnosed end of 2009 aged 29 with BC, stage 1, grade 2 on one side, lymphovascular invasion and micromet in sentinel node. I had a double mastectomy as there was lots of clusters of cancer in one breast, so the other was preventative. Anyway after Surgery, chemo and rads in 2010, I have been on Tamoxifen since. I have recently fallen pregnant whilst on tamoxifen and stopped as soon as I felt I was pregnant. I went to see my GP and she said as a caution she would send me for an early pregnancy scan to make sure the little bean was ok. A couple of scans later and we have twins in there, growing really nicely with good heartbeats. (I did not know this but apparently Tamoxifen is also used as a fertility drug hence the twins as twins does not run in my family) I am unsure on what to do about feeding as obviously I cannot breast feed. I don't think I am entirely comfortable about milk sharing, so looking at formula options. Now I wondered and thought it was worth a shot seeing as we will be having 2, whether there is a way of getting milk on prescription at all seeing as I cannot breast feed due to this bloody cancer?? Strange question I know, but with my other little ones, I breast fed so I am feeling a little down about the fact I cannot do it this time around. I am also concerned about the whole effects Tamoxifen may have had?? I am not going to research it as everyone knows that is not a good idea, but wondered if there are any positive stories out there? I also need to be mindful that I keep a check of myself as my cancer was very hormone receptive 8/8, so obviously a twin pregnancy will be throwing loads of hormones around my body. Also another thing I am completely dreading is blood tests...I know that sounds odd after everything I have been through, but I can only use my right arm and the veins are so scarred and affected from Chemo. Anytime I have to have a drip or blood test it takes alot of prodding and about an hour to do it, I feel like passing out. I know I will have lots of blood tests in pregnancy as I get that Itchy Liver condition called Cholestasis, so do you reckon they will allow me to maybe have a port or something? Sorry for all the questions!! Trying to re-assure myself all will be ok. xxx ... View more