Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hello Buddhawolf, Just wanted to add my "voice" to what others have said - I'll be thinking about you tomorrow too... take care, n have a big hug from me too! With much love, Shelley xxx ... View more

Hello again! Here are some links to pages for pretty detachable bra straps, like I mentioned in my last post. Mods, hope it's ok to post these links - I dont want to break any rules 🙂 http://www.mybeautifulbrastraps.com/index.php http://www.sassystrapz.co.uk/ http://www.glamorousbrastraps.co.uk/ Shelley xxx ... View more

Hello, I filled in your survey yesterday - good luck with your venture. We definitely need people like you, who are interested in designing bras for us. Just to add, there are bra straps on the market that you can buy for use with the 3-way mastectomy bras. They're the ones with straps that can be altered for halter-neck style, cross ways style etc. They usually come with those plastic, invisible straps as well as the self coloured straps. The additional bra straps I'm thinking of are usually metal ones, and are really pretty. They might have coloured crystals on them, diamante etc. I'll do a search for them, and paste the links into another message here. The only thing I've found is that the post surgery 3-way strap bras seem very stiff as opposed to other post surgery bras, and the fabric can make me a little sore, until I've washed the bras a few times to soften them. Anyways Buddahwolf, like I've said, good luck with researching lingerie for us, and please let us know how you go on. I filled my email address in, at the end of your questionnaire. With much love, Shelley xxx ... View more

Hiya TTM, I was really lucky, as I could wear mine for most of the day right from when I got it, which was six weeks post surgery. I can wear it from when I get up until I go to bed with no problems, although to be honest, if I'm not going out in the evening, I always take it out mid-evening. When I take it out/take my bra off, I'm always a bit itchy on my mx site, and always give it a gentle scratch. It's not that I'm allergic to the prosthesis or that it irritates me - seems just to be a little itchy when I take my bra off. Think it must be just the air getting to it or something. Probably others may feel like that too. It never feels heavy, but just sometimes it can be slightly uncomfy, if I havent got it slotted into the bra quite right - that's when it might sit on my most prominent rib which can be just a bit painful. A quick nudge of "Josephine the prosthesis" within my bra, n its instantly comfortable again. I have a high cavity, but thought my scar and cavity were quite flat, until I got fitted for my replacement prosthesis recently. The bcn said that I'd never be able to have a stick on prosthesis, as my cavity isnt flat and also I have a bit of eczema there. But, I'm really happy now with the appearance of my cavity and scar - am only size 34B, which gives a size 4 asymmetrical shape prosthesis. I really hope you have as good an experience from yours when you get it - feel free to pm me or comment here, if you want any more info. With much love - please let us all know how you get on with yr prosthesis when you get it TTM. Shelley xxx ... View more

Hi TTM, Both my first prosthesis and its present day replacement were chosen at the hospital, and they showed me loads and loads of different ones, before I made my choice each time. Also, they would have let me return my chosen prosthesis within two weeks, if I couldn't get along with it, and I would have been able to have another one instead. Think if I'd changed my mind after two weeks, I would have had to keep the prosthesis - but I thought it was great of the hospital to allow you to exchange within two weeks. Hope you can get similar, TTM. Much love, Shelley xxx ... View more

Hiya, mine's an Amoena Natura Comfort Plus in size 4, and it's fabulous. Like you Twinky, I really love my prosthesis - but I have no plans for reconstruction. Can certainly recommend this prosthesis to anyone. It's a replacement for my first one, which only lasted eighteen months, before it started getting bubbles inside it. The bcn said it was faulty, so it got sent back to Truelife, but I much prefer this Amoena one. The Amoena prosthesis is a much paler flesh colour, and as prostheses go, it's actually quite pretty I think. I didnt have a name for my first one, but this one is called Josephine. I apologise to any Josephine's out there, and also for my somewhat wicked black humour. It's just there was an advert (or similar)about twenty or thirty years ago, and the catch line was someone saying to a glamorous woman "not tonight Josephine". So, as my new prosthesis is also rather glamorous, it's Josephine. Fun things to do with it? I love to see it bobbing up and down in the bath, and the 50plus child inside me rather likes chucking it about in the bath water. Lol! Luv to all of you xxxx ... View more

Hiya! Have just seen this thread. I went through horrible hot flushes as part of normal menopause about 3 yrs ago. I couldn't take conventional remedies cos although my first breast cancer hadnt been er positive, they still wouldnt let me take anything with oestrogen in it, "just in case". Instead, I was given complementary medicine from my local cancer charity centre. Firstly, they gave me snake venom tablets (yes really!). They helped a bit in reducing my symptoms, but then they they gave me sulphur tablets, which really worked for me. You can also buy sulphur tablets from Boots Chemists, but there are two strengths, and I can't remember which strength I bought, so may be a good idea to have a chat with the pharmacist there. Don't forget ladies - plant oestrogens are in a lot of the over the counter remedies, n plant oestrogens arent counted as "safe" for us, just like the other forms of oestrogen. Also, Choccie, have you still got the container your tablets came in - if so, the pharmacist should be able to give you an emergency supply, to tide you over until you can fill yr prescription. I think they're allowed to give up to two days as emergency supply. When you get your script, they give you the script amount of tablets, minus what they "loaned" you. Love to all, Shelley xxx ... View more

Love to Everyone, Fingers Crossed Angelfalls, Thinking of You! Don't Come on Here Often Nowadays But Often think Of Everyone Anyways! Shelley xxx ... View more

Hi, just bumping this up! xxx ... View more

Oh Naz, am so glad for you. I don't come on here very often nowadays, and am really pleased to have seen your post. Congratulations on your "new addition"! xxx ... View more

If any one knows of any others, please copy this list and add to it. PIP implants not used by. The Royal Marsden NHS Lothian Worcester Great Western in Swindon West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds Countess of Chester "No NHS hospital in Norfolk and Waveney has used PIP silicone implants, and neither has the private Spire Norwich Hospital at Colney" "Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust has never used these implants (Queen’s or King George Hospitals)" "This brand has never been used at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) for breast reconstruction or breast augmentation. "Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust has never used the breast implants manufactured by French company Poly Implants Protheses (PIP)" " Milton Keynes Hospital can reassure its patients that it does not use French PIP implants and never has" Just been on the news non of the Leicester Hospitals have used them. I've just looked at Guys and St Thomas, who say the following ' NO Poly Implant Prothese implants have been used on NHS patients... ... a very small number of patients treated in our private patients unit, may have had a PIP implant.' helpline no: 020 7188 9988. No patients treated by Mr X (lead breast cancer surgeon) or any of the Plastic Surgeons at Bradford Teaching Hospitals have used PIP implants. All our patients can be reassured. University Hospitals Birmingham (QE and Selly Oak)NHS Foundation Trust have never used PIP implants. New Cross Hospital (Wolverhampton) - their PS confirmed that they have never used PIP implants, and gave me the ok to confirm that on the forum. Friarage Hospital - Northallerton - Breast Care Specialist Nurse said today (10th Jan 2012) the Friarage does not use PIP implants and that they use NAGOR implants and the hospital's response is that women should go back to the surgeon who had operated on them for further help and advice. Darlington Hospital have used PIP implants - don't know if all women treated at Darlington received PIP implants - you'd have to check with surgeon/specialist nurse. Gloucestershire GH-NHS-FT (cheltenham General and the Gloucestershire Royal) their website now includes this statement: "To the best of our knowledge, the Trust is confident that PIP breast implants have not been used on any of our patients. We keep careful records of the type of implant used in every procedure. The Trust is watching the matter closely and will continue to take advice from major bodies and the Department of Health" Countries where Governments have already advised women that PIP implants should be removed: 1. France 2. Germany 3. Netherlands 4. Czech Republic 5. Columbia 6. Venezuela University Hospital (formerly Cov and Warwickshire Hospital) and Warwick Hospital confirm that they have never used PIP implants (reported in Stratford Herald) Women who have had breast implants at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have been reassured that none of the silicon gel breast implants which have recently been highlighted by the MHRA have ever been used in operations. ... View more

Hello there Libby, I have a naturally small right breast and wear a prosthesis on my left side. At my first annual check up last year, I said I was starting to get a bit droopy on my remaining breast, and would they consider an operation at some point. In my case, they said that a well-fitting post surgery bra would have just as good an effect for me cos I'm so small. (I should explain that I'd been concerned that as I become more droopy on my remaining breast as I get older, I was worried that it wouldn't look the same as the prosthesis side, which wouldnt droop). Like I've said they didnt think an operation was necessary in my case. I know though, that the operation I think you're talking about is called a mastopexy (uplift). I found some really good information last year about it online, and it described at what point they might decide to do this op, and it showed diagrams of a breast to illustrate it. I've had a look again now, but I just can't find it for you. However, if you look on this website link, which seems to be reputable I think, then there's what seems to me to be a decent explanation of the op. I bet BCC have some info on it as well actually. Anyway the link to that other website is:- http://www.baaps.org.uk/docs/mastopexy.pdf I was really reassured that they didnt think I'd need an op, but my breast is only small, and I look ok with the prosthesis inside my bra. It's really important to us all to look and feel right with our bodies post-op, and if I was you, then yes, I'd definitely ask whether they'd consider doing the op for you. I really hope they can help you, and please let us know how you go on. About your swimming - I really feel for you as I too love swimming. It's quite a while since I put a post on another thread about swimwear, and I apologise if you were on that thread yourself and already know what I'm about to put. But, you mention you use a chicken fillet with your bra - would you be able to put a small size shower scrunchie (you know, those net pom pom thingies, for washing with) inside your swimwear in place of the chicken fillet? I use one inside my swimwear in place of my prosthesis, and although with it being netted you think it will show through the swimwear, it doesnt. I buy the small size scrunchies, but you can buy the normal size ones and trim them down to the size and shape you want. Good luck, and I hope someone with more experience of uplift ops etc comes along to help you further. With much love, Shelley xxx ... View more

Hello Sarahlousie, Oh poor you! I hope you have a decent weekend to make up for your horrible day yesterday. I had 25 rads ten years ago, and although I've never ever had migraines with the associated nausea n vomiting, I had sickness for about 4 days during the rads. It was awful cos I couldn't eat, and it seemed to be directly related to my rads, and not cos of a bug or anything. I lost some weight as a result, but they didnt seem concerned, until I said I wasnt coming in the next day for my rads, because I was concerned about being sick whilst on the rads table. I presume it's the same nowadays as it was then, where you have that bar thing come down over your affected side(s) and they position your arm in a certain way, to deliver the rads to the correct area of the breast. Well, I was worried I would be sick on the table and not be able to sit up cos of the positioning, so they said to me they'd come into the room immediately if so. I'd already been to my GP about the sickness but he said it was rads related and so the hosp needed to do something, not him. The hospital were saying breast rads treatment only causes sickness in only 1% of patients, so it was unlikely to be that. I said maybe I was one of the 1%, so if they couldn't do anything, I would take a day off to try and get myself right. That's when they acted - but I had to wait nearly 3hrs in outpatients to see the consultant, who told me it was motion sickness from walking 30minutes to the hospital each day (!!) Anyway, he gave me anti sickness pills which worked, thankfully. I think after that, they routinely wrote up patients for sickness tablets, so that they could cash a prescription straightaway if necessary, but that might have changed now as it's years ago. It may well be down to your migraines that you were so sick and unwell yesterday, but pls just bear in mind it might have been related to your rads. I dont want to worry you or anything, but just thought I'd mention it, just in case you're another of the "one percenters" like I appear to have been. Sorry this reply is a bit long-winded! I hope you enjoy this weekend, and if you feel sick at all again during your rads, just mention to them could it be rads related. With much love, Shelley xxx ... View more

I used to work in a dedicated cancer hospital, and my supervisor said to me when I started that cancer isnt just an illness, but it's also an emotion. Reading today's posts on here in particular, I can really see the "cancer as an emotion" element. Hugs to everyone on here - I guess I'd like the title to be different, but I really feel that I can live with it, now I understand more what it's about. I'm really glad to have been able to read the responses to what I'd put, and can see it from other people's point of view now. I think I've used humour as part of my own post mx recovery, in order to deal with things I've found difficult. That's been my way of dealing with it, eg "One tit, one life, live it" which I pinched from someone else's post on a different thread. Yep, at times Ive found it incredibly difficult body image wise, n i've had loads of support on here, but the "one tit, etc" saying is my way of sticking two fingers up to bc! Oh gosh, if there was a prize for world's best woffler, then it'd be me, for woffling on here. Thank heavens there isnt a maximum word count for each post - I wouldnt be able to cope. Why use one word when seven at a time does just as well, eh! Much love to everyone! Shelley xxx ... View more

Judes, thanks ever so much for helping me to see it from your point of view. I can see where you're coming from now. I'm really sorry that I was saying you shouldn't have taken your wig off. I'm glad you enjoyed that afternoon with your friends, and yes, I think we would get on if we met! 🙂 Nicky - my comments are similar to you too - thanks for helping me see things from a different perspective. Anything that helps to improve horrible or stressful situations is just SO good!! I don't think I've ever played the cancer card, but I've used other ways of dealing with stressful times, say by using humour - we're all individual arent we, and find our personal ways that feel comfortable to us. And.... like you say, what you're doing on this thread is sharing with others on here, what's happened and how you've dealt with it. Love to both of you, and to everyone else too! Shelley xxx ... View more

Hello Judes, Oh... it's not about not reading a thread if you're offended by it - instead it's about feeling ok about having your say about it. I don't expect others to agree with me, and I hesitated and cut out parts of my post, and changed other parts before I submitted it, cos I wouldnt want anyone to misconstrue and/or be offended by what I'd written. I agree with everything you've written - when people are unwell, they definitely need that extra help. But in my case, I didnt have chemo, so I wouldn't have been able to show a bald head, so my verbal request couldnt have been backed up by showing someone that I'd physically got cancer. You sound a really caring person, n with a great sense of humour - I suppose I just feel awkward that anyone would feel the need to back up their request by purposefully removing a wig. I'm referring now to your first post - they'd probably have moved tables round for you anyway, without you having to do that. It just seems that in removing your wig, it could be felt that you were making yourself out to be the victim you don't want to be. Words are enough aren't they? Shelley xxx ... View more

I have to say that just occasionally when I've read this thread, I've felt like CCL, and have felt uncomfortable about the way the "Cancer Card" has been played. I too agree with what KeeptheFaith has written, about having a thread called "Nice things that people do for us when they didn't have to." I really wanted to go to see someone on his UK tour, at our local Stadium. None of my friends wanted to go, and I didnt want to go on my own, so I didnt get to see him. I guess I could have played the cancer card and written to him to say I'd had two different sorts of breast cancer, and had also supported my parents through Dad's 3 cancers in the last two years. That way, I might have got to meet him backstage! But the thought never crossed my mind to do that. I havent posted for ages, and I really dont want to upset any of you by what I've written, because a lot of you have been people I've shared threads with in the past, and anyway we each have our own opinions etc. But, although I havent signed in or posted for quite a while now, I've read this thread most days since it started, and it's open to anyone accessing the website. Might there be members of "Jo Public" to whom we're inadvertently giving a sometimes negative impression of "playing the cancer card", rather than what is meant by you all as a light-hearted thread, showing how kind strangers can be? Or maybe I'm just a kill joy? With much love to you all, and I hope 2012 is a better year for Everyone. With much love, Shelley xxx ... View more

Just bumping this up for you 🙂 ... View more

Bump 🙂 ... View more

Hi again Deed, Yes, I'm keeping well Deed, but am having some counselling at moment - as well as my mx last year, Dad's had cancer 3 times (2 primaries) in less than 3yrs, so counselling is really helping! Just wanted to bump this post up for you Deed - take care, and hope you get some more answers from people who've had implants. By the way, would the ladies on the BCC helpline know. Think they're open till 6pm? Lots of love, Shelley xxx ... View more