Breast Cancer Now Forum

Remembering a very special lady, always helping others. A true inspiration to anyone with Breast Cancer. Sadly missed by her Edinburgh BC buddies. RIP Val xxx ... View more

Hi jane, Mine was found by MRI. My original BC was 3 small tumours but only 2 were seen on ultrasound and mammos so I asked for MRI........thank heavens! They recalled me saying they thought it was just a vessel but when they did an ultrasound the atmosphere in the room suddenly changed when they realised it wasn't a vessel! ... View more

Hi Jane Just as Lulu said I had a recurrence in my MX and recon breast in 2009 a year after my original diagnosis. They offered no explanations at the time so obviously I was worried! I had a lumpectomy and 5 weeks of rads. the rads were over 5 weeks instead of the more usual 3 to reduce any damage to the implant. I was never aware of any change to my breast. I have just had the implant changed but that was because I was never happy with its position. A bit too close to my chin LOL! I had to change surgeons a couple of years ago and I asked my new surgeon and he looked into it for me, discussing my case with the pathologist and they came to the conclusion that the new lump probably originated from some cells left behind in the biopsy tract. This made me feel safer, in that I hadn't sprouted a brand new tumour. I now refer to it as "left-overs" rather than recurrence, makes me feel better! The big problem as I see it, is the lack of imaging done on a reconstructed breast. When in reality mammos CAN be done ( I now have both breasts done annually) or ultrasound or MRI (which I also have annually) Would you feel safer if your recon could have mammos or be scanned? I have been fine ever since and am happy with my follow-up. Good luck with the decision Love n hugs Dot xxx ... View more

I know how you feel, I am fed up with sweat running down my forehead and my hair turning to ringlets! Venlafaxine can actually make sweats worse. I know it is often used to reduce them but a rare SE is that it GIVES you sweats! It happens with me, I am only on a small dose but if I increase it, the sweats get a lot worse. An old fashioned anti-histamine can be used to help with the venlafaxine, its called Ciproheptadine. I found it helped for a while but had its own SEs making my tired and increasing my appetite , neither of which I needed! Good luck ... View more

Debibay, I had almost exactly the same diagnosis as you( tubular is rare but very good type to have) in 2008 and my CI provider paid out really quickly. My prognosis is very very good but its the "invasive" bit that counts not whether it has spread or not. Good luck x ... View more

So sorry to hear of your wife's passing Ian. You have had a hell of a year and I hope things look up for you soon. Love n hugs Dot ... View more

The unsocial hours should continue at the full rate for as long as you are entitled to full sick pay and will then half when you go onto half pay. As Louise BCC says you need to check if you have had any sick leave in the last 12 months as this could affect how much full pay you get. If you have had no sick leave in the last 12 months then you will get 6 months full pay with full unsocial hours, then 6 months half pay with half unsocial hours. If you come up against any problems check with your union rep. I had to take my NHS employer to tribunal to get "on-call" payments while off sick. ... View more

There has been a ruling as Cheshire Cheese says. It allows you to carry over the statutory min no of days which IIRC is 24 days??. This means if you are entitled to say 33 days AL due to long service then only whats left of the first 24 can be carried over. And any Public Holiday entitlement cannot be carried over. Its really annoying as the timing(?)of your illness/absence can mean losing holiday time. ... View more

Kinden, great news, go celebrate! Moondog, I had a "recurrance" 1 year after my MX/recon. It was found on an MRI scan and if I hadn't had an MRI ,heaven knows when it would have been found as it was not palpable and I got no imaging of my recon at follow-up. No real explanation was given at the time which left me very anxious and upset. However, my surgeon then retired and my new surgeon was interested to find out what happened. He discussed my case with pathology and suggested the "recurrance" was actually cells left over from my core biopsy as they were so close to the skin i.e where the needle track was. I found this reassuring as I hadn't produced a new tumour after such a short time. It was also reassuring to think, if it had been there for a year it hadn't grown as it was only 1.5mm IIRC. I had WLE and rads with bolus to treat the skin surface intensely. I hope yours is just a hiccup in your recovery like mine and has no lasting effects. Love n hugs Dot ... View more

Hi Clare and the claredroppers! Another lurker here, I enjoy reading all your exploits and its great that some of you have met up. What a wonderful blog and I will be looking forward to the next months tales. Clare your spirit shines through and you really deserve to prove the Drs wrong. Love n hugs Dot xxx ... View more

Hopefully only 2 to go now xxx ... View more

Thats shocking Tors. Medical professionals should think before opening their mouths. I hope you made a complaint. Love n hugs Dot xxx ... View more

Hi Vodka, I think I remember you posting 4 years ago when I was diagnosed. So sorry to hear you have been left in awful pain. BC the gift that keeps on giving! There are many many things the pain clinic can try. So please get back to them and make another appt ,maybe ask to see someone else if that would make you feel better. I guess if you don't get in touch they will assume something has worked. (however it is shameful that they did not return your call) Ask about maybe accupuncture, injections or trying different drugs. I know there is an anaesthetist at my hospital that is researching into pain after BC surgery. So its maybe more common than you think unfortunately. Be a pain and keep on at the pain clinic until they find something that helps.........or refer you to someone who can help. Maybe write to them if that helps? I hope you get some relief soon,love n hugs Dot xxx ... View more

So sorry to hear this sad news. Nicky65 was a great support to many on the forums despite undergoing tough times herself. Love and strength to her family and friends (real and cyber!) ... View more

Thats wonderful,it brought tears to my eyes, the words are so true. Thank you for sharing Dot xxx ... View more

What a rubbish Birthday present Lottie! We all remember the date we were diagnosed ,how awful that its your birthday. Hopefully now you have a treatment plan you will feel a bit better and its good you feel that you are in good hands. Just think this time next week the OP will be over! I am sure you will cry lots more so I can recommend a waterproof mascara from the Bodyshop , its in a turquoise tube. Just so you can keep up appearances without the panda look LOL! I went to get my lashes tinted the other week and my beautician couldn't get it off! I hope you have friends/family around who can support you through this.But you will always have your virtual friends on here. Love n hugs Dot ... View more

I hope all went OK today. I am in a similar situation. The pressure I got from work to return after my father died recently has made me ill and I am now signed off. I am dreading returning as I face an HR interview too. I have suffered from depression/anxiety since my BC diagnosis and this too can be covered by disability, so I may have to do a letter similar to yours. Occ Health did write to my boss mentioning the points you made re flexible attitude to sick leave. Fingers crossed for you today x ... View more

http://www2.breastcancercare.org.uk/publications/financial-practical-support/employ-charter-bcc167 hope this works ... View more

I would have thought that as BC is covered by the disability act that your employer should make adjustments and allowances for you and I don't think downgrading you is acceptable. However how you go about this is something else! Do you have a union? There is a Employee Guide leaflet available that gives advice following a cancer diagnosis. I will try and find a link. Hugs Dot x ... View more