Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Gill Sorry about your seroma - I had such a bad one after my anc last year, it went on and on ....but then it went! 500mls was my top score!! You are quite right about left in limbo/life changing land. I have been trying to find a part-time job recently - that was me finally facing up to the idea that I could get back to work - now I don't know whether its worth it again. Oh well. Hope the heart scan goes OK. all the best Maggy ... View more

Hello I think I agree with Orange Cat that this group of threads is a funny one for those of us with local/regional recurrence or new primary. It took me some time to find it! It should be something like 'I am diagnosed again for the second, third or more time'! I had a regional recurrence diagnosed in Nov 2012, 3 years after a primary diagnosis in 2009, and I am now being investigated for another (maybe local) recurrence 15 months on from the last one. There is no better way of describing it all as a roller coaster of shock, convalescence, adjustment and acceptance, followed by a gradual return of hope and optimism, only to be whacked by another shock etc. - with steadily accummulating side effects from various treatments. To keep steadfast and functioning for my young-ish family often seems too much.....Maybe I'm just feeling jaundiced - I'm coming to the end of two weeks of 'waiting for results' hell - we all know how much that sucks. When you don't know what's going on your mind plays havoc! Anyway, the sun's shining and the sky is blue - have a nice day everybody! maggy ... View more

Yes I've been on different makes and have wondered about this since there was a conversation about different brands of tamoxifen. I've been on Generics recently but am just coming to end of 4 week holiday. Not sure what the Onc will say on friday. I've have much more mental clarity in last few weeks so am dreading going back on stuff again - my aches have been a little less but still there, the night sweats fewer and sleep better but not fantastic.  This is interesting thread - thanks cheers everyone Maggy ... View more

Hi Grumpy Thanks for your reply. Yes I guess I may end up trying a different AI. My decision whether to go for an oophrectomy or continue on Zoladex is one of those old chestnuts which I will continue to mull over...!  Good luck with your  treatments... cheers Maggy ... View more

Hi there, not sure if I can add much. I had recurrence end of last year, node clearance in Jan, then been on zoladex & anastrazole since feb (aged 53 & had been perimenopausal, stopped tamoxifen due to SEs in 2010). I am also on mistletoe thereapy which I believe helps with joints & mental health. I had more joint pain (RA) before I started anastrazole/mistltoe than now! Worst thing now are hot flushes - disturbs sleep, etc. Thought of being an anastrazole for another 4 1/2 years depresses me. I would stop now if I didn't have 14 yr son. Not noticed any hair effects. cheers maggy ... View more

Hi I bought Amoena contacts (I have had double mastectomy) last summer so that I could wear them with a certain kind of sleeveless dress for my daughter's wedding. I wore them successfully and I thought I would use them a lot afterwards (to justifiy the high cost!!) but actually they;'ve been in their boxes for the past 10 months! I found that they gave me an itchy rash and I felt quite hot with them. I'll have another go soon but they are good with revealing tops - not needed with 'secure' tops. May be they are good prostheses for certain kinds of tops/dres They are expensive! Good luck Maggy ... View more

The thing that I wasn't expecting was sitting in the waiting room for an hour & half drinking/sipping the litre of contrast medium (tho tastless it wasn't nice to have to drink so much fluid). I also wasn't expecting to have the cannula & injection. Otherwise it was fine! Good luck with it. Maggyx ... View more

The thing that I wasn't expecting was sitting in the waiting room for an hour & half drinking/sipping the litre of contrast medium (tho tastless it wasn't nice to have to drink so much fluid). I also wasn't expecting to have the cannula & injection. Otherwise it was fine! Good luck with it. Maggyx ... View more

Hi There... I use a shower puff (both sides cos bilat Mx) Its fine.. it works... the water drains out really quickly... its cheap! The only funny thing is when you get into the water, you get a cloud of little bubbles round you as it fills up!! Obviously if you dive straight in this wouldn't be a problem - just a wuss like me that goes gradually into the water! cheers Maggy ... View more

Hi Anna So sorry you've found yourself here. It sounds like you have enough going on in your life without breast cancer added to the mix. As Cybele as suggested, its a good idea to get some counselling. In the winter I was facing three biggies - a divorce (my husband left me), a recurrence (after primary breast cancer with double mastectomy three years ago) and my mother diagnosed & dying of leukaemia. Without support from the Haven in Hereford, input from the clinical psychologist (through breast clinic) and a very sympathetic GP I would have felt completely at sea. It is not easy coping with breast cancer oneself with these other major issues affecting your nearest and dearest. Accept all help from friends and family, and any other help you can access. Be prepared to spend a lot of your time talking (!) - it does help - and even think about using a journal, that also can help you cope with what's happening. Hugs Maggyxx ... View more

Hi I had SNB at end of 2009 with first BC operation, then I had FAC in Jan this year (3 years apart). All my lymph nodes (24) in affected side were removed. They will tell you about level 1, level 2, & level 3 nodes (how distant from the arm pit) in that nodes are in a ladder type arrangement. Recovery from FAC has been on a par with recovering from mastectomy first time round. I've been unfortunate enough to have on going seromas each time, but they do resolve in the end, and arm movement has always been good.Chances are they will take all the lymph nodes just for diagnostic/ staging purposes. Good luck with all. Hugs Maggyx ... View more

Hi there If you've got some leakage it would be a good idea to have a sterile dressing over it with some absorbency - you've probably done that! I had a really pesky seroma after my ANC in January - it has only resolved in the last two weeks. I was going every week to have it drained - at its most they were draining over half a litre off (early March). Hang on in there - things WILL get better. Still early days... Good luck Maggyx ... View more

Hi KahrenQ Good one!! Its great to feel you are stepping on through it all and you are getting back in control of your life. Exactly... enjoy the moment and have fun. I have found gratitude to be a very useful thing to exercise every day! hugs maggy ... View more

Hi Sumica Sorry that you've got worries over the timing of the scan and results. In my limited experience of one bone scan, I think you could expect the scan report (done by a radiologist) to be ready within about a week of having the scan - the results will be on your electronic patient records, so you could ask your BCN or anyone else in the BC team to access your records and tell you. I think its unreasonable to have to wait weeks for the results. Maybe you could try and set this up with your BCN with a telephone call or two? Good luck Maggyx ... View more

Yeah. I also felt uncomfortable when this came on. I really don't like the competitive edge to it..... BC takes women away from their children and families at such different ages - at terribly young ages.... I wish the ad hadn't mentioned BC. Let it just be about heart disease.... Maggy ... View more

OMG! I've only just started anastrazole - waiting for SEs but not had any (only two weeks). Oh well, my Onc said i'd probably be on them "indefinitely" so maybe I won't get the after-ending SEs! (when does he think I'm going to croak?) This is too much - we're perfectly fine at the beginning of all these treatments... then we get side effect which are Bl**dly annoying, and then we get after shocks!!! I'm fed up on your behalf Dolph xxxx ... View more