Breast Cancer Now Forum

Well, had surgery 1 May, when I went onto the ward one of the nurses said that it was the first time she had seen someone who had had a pedicled tram flap and I looked really well.  At the time I felt it, had a few problems since then but dont think they were related to the surgery, more to other ongoing health problems [I also suffer with Crohns disease, was anaemic and test positive for antibodies in my blood].    The boob is fab, no problems with that since operation.  I've had a few problems with wound healing on my tummy, it is healing but think its going to be a slow process and it is improving every day.   I've been wearing a soft and comfy bra from Asda, only £6 each so got a few to swap out.  Whilst it is comfy its been giving me the support I need.  Magic pants are full briefs with firm control [once the drains are out] to help the tummy wound.  Three weeks down the line I'm still uncomfortable but its manageable and improving daily.   I have found that the arm on the side of my reconstruction is a bit restrictive again so started the exercises I did after my mastectomy again.  I borrowed a long handled gripper [the helping hand] to help me pick things up off the floor, found them really helpful as I'm struggling to bend down too far.    Onwards and upwards now, hope all goes well with your ops   Shaz     ... View more

I've been on tamoxifen for a year and managed to lose 2 stone since July 2013.   Would still like to lose some more to get to healthy BMI but just taking it steady ... View more

Hi, not been on the site for a while.  At the beginning of December i was jaundiced and had stomach pain which was aggravated by eating.  I was an an unhealthy yellow colour and went to see GP.  He did blood tests and when results came in I was admitted to hospital [discharged after 5 hours as further blood tests showed improvement].  I went for a scan and was told I had fatty liver.  I go back to see consultant at end of January.  I've been ok since, even after a few xmas meals.  I've been doing a bit of research to try and find out why and found tamoxifen was linked to it.  I started on Tamoxifen at the end of March 2013 and have had Crohns for several years and no mention of fatty liver before [and I've had plenty of tests in the past].  I also had gall bladder out last year.  When I checked the leaflet that comes with tablets it states a side effect of:   An increase in liver enzymes or certain fats in the blood, or inflammation of the liver [which may cause yellowing of the skin], non-alcoholic steatohepatiats [fatty liver disease] and cirrhosis.   I'm taking leaflet to consultant appointment to see what he says and to see if he has spoken to my oncologist [I~ was discharged from her in August] ... View more

Hi Helen, I returned to work 3 weeks ago after a 7 month absence. While I was away someone else took over the desk I was using and I was assured that a new desk had been set up for me. Needless to say that didnt happen and I spent the first hour back looking for my chair and pedestal and setting up a new desk. My PC had also been taken over and I was given a laptop which I only got sorted out and fully operational this week. I returned to work when I did due to financial reasons and made the decision to return full time, again for financial reasons. For the first month or so I'm having the Wednesdays off annual leave to break myself in gently. I dont think management do know how to react to people when they return from long term sick. Initially, I felt I was being patronised by some of things I was being told, but managed to sort that out. On my first day my manager talked at me for over 5 hours, trying to condense 7 months of work and changes into that time. Not at all helpful and I havent a clue what I was told now! By day 3 I was travelling 50+ miles round trip for a meeting, so soon back to normal and so much for not 'knocking myself out'. I think the problem is that we are individuals and everyone is different. What may work for one individual may not work for another. The biggest problem for me was nobody asked what I wanted. Perhaps if they had asked you that meeting would have happened and you would have had a better idea of what was happening. And I wouldnt have been talked at for so long lol Kahren, I'm also suffering a bit with tiredness at the moment but luckily I work flexi time so can use that when necessary for an early finish or late start. Ive just started on Tamoxifen so am waiting to see what the side effects of that are. There have been 2 other people in the office who have suffered with breast cancer, but as I said earlier we are all different, with both the effects of the disease and our own personalities. I hope it isn't too long until we are all back in the harness work-wise Sharon ... View more

Hi amd, I'm in a similar position to you. I had mx last August and have just finished 6 rounds of chemo, last Thursday. I'm not having rads and start Tamoxifen in 3 weeks. I work full time and live alone. Wages are due to cease at end of March so need to get back to work as soon as possible. I'm speaking to doctor on Tuesday and am planning on going back to work 18th March. I don't have another hospital appointment until the beginning of May. I've been told I can contact the BCN anytime before then though. It is a scary time. Not just trying to find the new normal for me, but wondering how I will be received at work [I look totally different now to when I went sick last August]. I haven't felt 'ill' throughout the treatment apart from one bout of sickness during chemo but I have been tired and had a lot of side effects that have been manageable. I'm using leave to break me in gently to work. I'm hoping the distraction of work will help to stop me worrying about every twinge, ache and pain. At the moment I'm trying to do a little bit more than I have been doing in recent months, trying to build my strength and stamina up. Having a bit of a spring clean, so there is less to do when I go back, and going out for a walk when I can. Weather has been ok here for the last few days so if it keeps up I hope to tidy the garden up a bit too. Sorry I can't be more help at the minute, I'm just trying to muddle through it too Shazza x ... View more

Hi all, Had my last chemo yesterday, thank goodness! Just got to work through the side effects now before I go back to work on 18th March [had my mastectomy last August and no rads]. Just wanted to say a big thank you to you all for your support and for sharing your experiences during the last few months. Its made a big difference to how I've got through it knowing that what I've been feeling is normal, and will pass. Your positive comments during my down days and rants have helped too. Its been great not having to do this journey on my own. I feel I've got to the end of the tunnel and thankfully it wasn't a train Good luck to everyone as you approach the end of your treatment, keep strong and carry on sparkling! Shazza x ... View more

Number 6 all done and dusted! Feels a bit weird getting off this conveyor belt of treatment. Mentioned it to the nurse and apparently it affects a lot of people this way. Ending chemo is a bit of an anti climax, no pleasing me is there Am feeling a bit better today than yesterday though. Sorry your treatment has been cancelled again Susan, you will get there, keep strong Good luck today Jellymould, hope your last treatment has been ok Big hugs to everyone for their next treatment, keep strong and carry one sparkling! Shazza xx ... View more

Last chemo tomorrow. Thought I would be happy but on a bit of downer at moment. Doesn't help that I will be back at work two weeks on Monday either. No rads for me and thankfully been lucky with chemo side effects so far, all manageable. Keep strong and carry on sparkling Shazza xx ... View more

Hi Susan, I'ver had a few problems with my bladder through chemo, not sure if it is related but suspect so. Sometimes I have an urgent need to go to the loo and will do several times within a short period of time. I think chemo does irritate the bladder a little. I'm getting EC x 6. One of the potential side effects of Cyclophosphamide [the C bit] may irritate the bladder. I found this information on the Macmillan site, hope it helps. Cyclophosphamide may irritate your bladder | . It’s important to drink as much fluid as you can (at least two litres) during the 24 hours following chemotherapy to help prevent this. Epirubicin is red and, as a result, your urine may become a pink-red colour. This is normal and can last up to 48 hours after your treatment. Let your doctor know if you have any discomfort when you pass urine, or if you notice any blood in it. Shazza x ... View more

Hi Yvonne and Wendy, I've had mine the other way round, with mx first, and finish chemo on 28th Feb. I asked my Onc what would happen at the end of chemo, would they test to see if cancer had gone, etc. I was told they would just treat symptomatically so I'm assuming if I have any other problems they will check to see if its cancer. Other than that I think, because I have IDC [Invasive Ductal Cancer] any signs of cancer I have may be too small to detect anyway after mx and chemo. Wendy, I agree we are all different and in many ways its a blessing we don't know what the future holds. I did get a percentage 'score' for survival rates when I first saw the Onc that took into account the mx, the effect of chemo and Tamoxifen but treatments are changing all the time and I may get further treatment after Tam as I'm under 50 and hadn't gone through the menopause. Yvonne, I had my blip on chemo number 4. I sooooo didn't want to do it anymore for the same reasons as you, I knew what was coming. I did do it and by 5th one last week it was easier to think about. One left now and will be so glad when its over Keep strong and carry on sparkling! ... View more

Col, love the poem, and so well timed for me. I'm having delayed reconstruction. Mastectomy was last August. Still got another round of chemo but asked to see PS about recon as I know there is a waiting list and I wanted to know what options I had, especially if I had to lose weight first! Went to see him last Monday and I have 4 options: no recon, LD, Tram and implants. I go back in 3 months to see him so have plenty of time to consider options and lose a bit of weight. I've also secretly fancied perkier boobs, especially when they started heading south, just didn't think I'd get them via bc Hopefully I'll have a matching pair of boobs with a few scars rather than one C cup and one flat as a pancake [rather appropriate at the moment as its Shrove Tuesday next week lol] Think I'll go for the recon nipple and tattoo though. With my luck the stick on ones will fall off and end up in my coffee, probably while I'm sat in Costa! Keep strong and carry on sparkling Shazza xx ... View more

5th cycle done, can't believe it. One more to go then on to poxyfen. Yesterday I noticed that some of my hair is growing too, sadly most of it is on my legs! Too cruel Good luck to everyone with next cycle, hope the SE's after minimal, keep strong and carry on sparkling! Shazza xx ... View more

Hi Border, I had a similar problem on 3rd Ec but 4th was back to normal. Hope your next one is back to 'normal'. Phil, I know what you mean, I've struggled for last couple of weeks but got my 5th next Thursday so starting to think I can make it to the end now! Sorry others are suffering with Tax, thats one thing I've been spared. Keep strong and carry on sparkling Shazza xx ... View more

Evening Sparklers, I'm thinking of all of you now going onto tax. I'm getting 6 EC so don't have to go through that feeling of the unknown just yet. My 4th session is next Thursday and its going to be another EC. Just hoping the effects don't get any worse as treatment goes on. I'm having to think about going back work. I'm not having rads, I go onto tamoxifen after chemo. I'm aiming to go back to wortk mid to late March. Not sure how I will feel at that time but dont have a lot of choice due to financial reasons. Thats going to be an interesting time. Thanks for the tip deeh, I'll remember that if my veins don't last till 6th session. Welcome Lynsey-Lu, do have a look at the previous posts on this thread. They are full of tips and peoples experiences. Hopefully they can help you too. Hope everyone is doing as well as they can, keep strong and carry on sparkling! Shazza xx ... View more

Hi Sparklers Clarebare, your post did make me chuckle when I first read it. Had a mental image of you sticking frozen flowers in your bum till I realised you meant marigold gloves [I think] I know piles can be painful as I've had them in the past. Have a word with your GP as there are creams that can help with the discomfort. MandyP, I'm with you on the mood swings. One minute I can be fine the next I'm in floods of tears. Nothing really specific triggers it, it just happens. I sometimes feel that I dont want to go to bed too cos I know its just going to start all over again tomorrow. The only way I'm managing it is to go with the flow and make the most of the good, positive times and get through the down times as best I can. I dont have children and I live alone so my position is different to yours. Bordercollies, I've suffered from heartburn for years and have taken Lanzaprosol. I'm continuing to take it daily throughout treatment and it seems to be doing the trick for me. Might be worth mentioning to doc to see if you can get something similar. Deeh, sorry you had such a rough time on 27th. I found 3rd session the worst as it was the first time I was sick. Only lasted about 12 hours though so I was lucky. Hope number 4 is more straightforward for us both. Hope everyone else is as well as they can be, keep strong and carry on sparkling! Shazza xx ... View more

Happy New Year Sparklers! Hope we all have a healthy and happy one next year. Just want to say a big thank you to everyone for your support over the last few months. I couldn't have done it without you. Keep strong and carry on sparkling! Shazza xx ... View more

Happy birthday Jellymould! Enjoy it as best you can, then again when you are feeling loads better. Nobody said you can only celebrate it once! Shazza xx ... View more