Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Melykins   My mum was covered in a rash from her tamoxifen and her consultant changed her meds, not sure if this would be an option for you but surely worth asking. Hope you can find a solution and good luck for your big day x ... View more

Hi Ladies  Have you tried bettyandbelle.co.uk? They specialise in masectomy bras and may be able to help. If you can't see what you're looking for online give them a call they're very helpful & really nice. Maybe worth a try. Good luck xxx ... View more

Hi FrancesM You could try taking a antihistamine tablet daily to relieve the itching. I gave up with the hydrocortisone cream as I found it irritated me more as my sessions increased but that's just me & we are all different. Eventually I just used an organic aloe Vera lotion that was passed onto me by a friend & that worked for me. You're probably already doing it but keeping your creams/gels in the fridge helps too. I do sympathise with you & Hope you find your solution soon x ... View more

Thanks Wendy, I will discuss it with the nurse tomorrow when I go for my first injection. I've just been to collect it from the chemist & it hadn't arrived so they have reordered it & promised it will be here after 5.30 so fingers crossed it definitely will be. Hope you're keeping well.   Thanks again ... View more

Hi Joolz2000,   Thanks for your suggestion, I wasn't aware that this was an option although I'm not sure the Doctor would agree to prescribing it to me as I have only just started taking it, but worth keeping in mind for the future. Hope you enjoyed your Easter weekend.  Take care   ... View more

Hi Podge I bought a trulife swimform for my holidays last year, I think the name of it was calypso. I did lots of swimming every day in the pool & the sea without any problems and didn't feel self conscious or worried at any time. I also used it in my bra in the evenings & continued to use it until very recently & it is still as new.  I went to a specialist shop on the list provided by the breast care nurse and the service was excellent, where I was able to try several forms until I was happy with what I felt comfortable with. Hope this info can be of some use x   ... View more

Hi, I had two lumps removed from my left breast in January although not lobular cancer. One was a benign tumour and the other was a grade 1 idc. I have very small boobs and you can hardly see where one of the lumps has been removed and the scar is really neat &  very tiny. The only reason you can see where the other one has been removed is because of the position as it was right at the side of my nipple.  If there's anything I can help you  with I'll be happy to try, sorry you have found yourself in this position x ... View more

Hi      I started to use the aqueous cream 2 weeks before my treatment & think it really helped. Also this time have been advised to just apply it and let it be absorbed & not to rub it in as this may aggravate the skin.   I found it more comfortable not to wear a bra when if I was just in the house as I didn't want anything next to my skin, although it was unusually warm weather at the time & I think that made me feel more uncomfortable.   If you feel tired have a nap when you want one & don't worry about when the housework etc will get done, there's always tomorrow.I used to make the mistake of standing ironing for ages or hovering the whole house thinking I felt ok then end up feeling like I'd been hit with a steam roller afterwards so just do a little at a time then have a break.   The main thing is be kind to yourself.   Hope all goes well when you start your treatment. xxx     ... View more

Hi Ladies   I started radiotherapy last week & have done 5 sessions of 23 so far, also did 15 last year so if I can help to answer any questions or anything at all before you start please feel free to ask.  If it's any help I found it ok last time, my skin just got  a teeny bit sore but nothing major. Good luck to you both xxx ... View more

My bank offered to continue to cover me Lucy with the Breast cancer excluded. Although my treatment was complete and I was taking Tamoxifen so effectively no longer had BC, I wasn't happy to take this cover as if for example you tripped and broke your wrist they could say that your medication had caused your bones to become weak. That may sound a silly example but if some companies can avoid paying out for a claim they will do & personally I don't think it's worth the risk but it's whatever you feel happy with.  Best wishes xxx ... View more

Hi Eliz    Nice to hear you are looking forward to taking a holiday after your radiotherapy is finished. I had travel insurance with lloyds tsb through my bank account but as soon as they found out I'd had breast cancer they very politely told me it wasn't their policy to cover "this condition" even though I offered to pay an extra premium.    I took out a new policy with a company called  "insurance with" who were very helpful &  didn't charge a ridiculous rate. They didn't ask me for a fit to fly letter or any info from my oncologist or gp. I had a Wle, snb in May last year followed by 15 sessions of radiotherapy that finished in July & travelled in October.    Whilst trying to get insurance I found with some companies it was better to ring them than to fill in the internet form and then you got a quote more tailored to you.   Good luck & enjoy your holiday x         ... View more

Aw that's fantastic news, you must feel like you've won the lottery. I'm really chuffed for you, have a great time celebrating xxx ... View more

Hi Mac I had a small BC last May that was found by chance when I was having a breast augmentation. After wle & Ann I had 15 sessions of rads & put on tamoxifen for 5  years. At the end of December I found 2  lumps in the opposite breast so fast forward 2  surgery later one was benign, a papilloma and the other grade 1 idc but only 10mm & again er+.  I'm currently waiting for my rads planning appt and saw the onc on Friday to discuss my meds.  I was petrified at first &  thought I just can't go through this again but got my head around it after a couple of weeks & have been reasonably ok (with the odd off day). I know it could have been a lot worse but it still hit me hard.  Let's hope your results are positive news & you can look forward to celebrating you sons birthday. Will be thinking about you tomorrow xxx           ... View more

Hi Mac So sorry you are in this horrible place again. If I was you I'd keep focusing on those words "not unduly concerned" for now. Believe me I don't say that lightly as  I have been in your shoes & know how hard it is to remain calm.  Just take it one step at a time & hope that your results from Wednesday are positive news.  It sounds as if your BC team are very responsive & are not keeping you waiting which is a good thing in this situation. I will keep everything crossed for you & really hope you get good news. Best of luck xxx   ... View more

Hi Angie I Also found with some companies if you actually spoke to an advisor rather than completing the online form that sometimes made a difference to the quote, if you have the time to be able to do this. Hope you sail through your rads xxx   ... View more

Hi Kat, Good luck with your appointment on Monday, don't feel guilty for having a wobble hun it's the best way to get through it. You sound like a very strong person. Sending you hugs to get you on your way xxx ... View more

Hi Saltybeef,  I've been doing anything to try and keep my mind occupied. Playing games on my kindle, crosswords,reading. I've also being going out for a walk most days when the weather is fit & find this the best thing for me. Besides that just household chores like tidying out cupboards & draws you don't normally get time to do.  Sorry to read that you're already suffering from depression, without having this extra worry to add to it. Good luck with your appointment, fingers crossed for good news xxx ... View more

Hi Jillybee, so glad for you it wasn't anything too serious xxx ... View more

Hi Hadders,  I think we're all guilty of doing that and as much as we throw ourselves into household chores etc the mind will still work overtime once we stop. l've had one op to remove an implant because I had 2 lumps in my left breast. They didn't do a biopsy first so as not to puncture the implant. One turned out to be benign but the other was cancer (10mm). I'm now waiting to go back into hospital for lymph node biopsy and tissue removal to hopefully ensure clear margins. I also don't know the ER status yet as the results weren't available when I went to the clinic. So like you I'm patiently waiting and finding it very hard.  The best part of my day is when I go for a walk I think it just helps me to forget all about it. This is my second BC diagnosis &  all I can say is that last time,once I had my results &  knew what I was dealing with it was much easier than worrying what if.  Hope the next few days are not too long for you x   ... View more