Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Kirstie   Thinking about you - let us know how the dr visit goes.   Take care Jayne xx ... View more

Hi Kirstie - so pleased you got it checked and hope all is ok xx   ... View more

Kirstie, please go and get that checked out - don't want to worry you but my hubby had similar last year, woke up with a numb left arm for 24 hours then it was fine, he spent that 24 hours barbequing, drinking and eating at our street party so we really thought he was ok.  He was advised to go for a check-up which he did the next day and they found he had had a minor stroke (only showed on CT Scan, all neuro tests were normal) so is now on preventative meds and has been fine since.  It is not normal to experience those symptoms and much better to be sure so you can get the right treatment.   Fingers crossed it was nothing serious, you have been through enough!   Kay you are so right, C respects nothing - evil illness which ruins so many lives.   Hope everyone is enjoying the summer xx ... View more

Cant believe it was a year ago we were in Florida - where does the time go??   Just lost a very dear friend to cancer - he had non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, had chemo last year and went into remission for about 6 months.  We had just booked our 10th holiday with the family only to find out that two weeks later he had a recurrence, that was in February.  In early April they were told that there was no more treatment they could give him and on 9th May he passed away in the hospice.  Funeral was Thursday this week, so very very sad, he was only 56 with kids of 15 and 18.  We had his wife and kids round tonight for supper - feeling very sad for them all and at the same time very lucky that so far my outcome has been very different - makes my feel very grateful for what I have.   Hope you are all doing ok and those who are still suffering side effects, I really hope that you find some relief sooner rather than later xxxx   Jayne x ... View more

Hi Nonni   I am sorry to hear you have more treatment ahead, that is tough and I really hope you get through it with the minimum of side effects.   Well done on losing a stone, any weight off is in the right direction (at least that is what I tell myself when I go to class and have lost 1/2 lb!).   I hope your treatment goes as well as it can and that you find the strength to get through it.   Thinking about you   Jayne xxx ... View more

Hi all   I havent been on the the thread for a while so good to hear how you are all doing.  I hope those struggling to get back to work can gain strength over the coming weeks, perhaps the sun will help - today was lovely.     Getting the dog was the best thing ever, I really love going out for walks with her and it has certainly helped my fitness. I joined Slimming World in September and I have lost 2 stone which I am delighted about - only another three stone to go but I am sure I will do it.  It is slow but sure, not helped by the Tamoxifen, but I am determined that I will get this weight off.   Hard to believe it is a year since I finished active treatment, I still get tired very easily but have learned to rest when I need to.  Improving my fitness has helped too - I am lighter now than when diagnosed and I am working on getting stronger - might even join a gym but I want to make sure that I can improve my strength, particulary in my arms, before I waste any money.   Take care everyone and let's hope this is the start of some better weather 🙂   ... View more

My doc has prescribed low dose Zopiclone which I have been taking for the past year since I started on Tamoxifen, I take one every night (half a tablet) and sleep well and feel fine in the morning.  GP advised that I wouldn't become adicted and I have never been a good sleeper so happy that these tablets do seem to work.   ... View more

I have been on Tamoxifen for a year now and have been following the slimming World diet since September.  I have always been overweight, lost 5 stone on Slimming World 14 years ago and most of it crept back.  So far this time I have lost 1 stone 10lb, its slow but sure and I am not losing as quickly as I did last time which I think is a combination of being older and Tamoxifen but I will keep at it until I have lost the 5 stone again - I am certainly feeling much better now I am back in control of my diet. ... View more

By the way, the puppy is fab -Rosie has made such a difference to our lives, I walk her regularly so am getting the fresh air I craved and the exercise is great - that combined with re-joining slimming world, means I have lost 1 stone 4 lb since September and now weigh less than pre-chemo (still have another 3 stone to go but heading in the right direction).   Jx ... View more

Little Bear, I was also thinking about Xmas and reflecting on how different it was last year - we have held an Xmas party for our neighbours for years but couldn't last year, so good to be able to do it again this year.   I have been back at work full-time since May, I should only work a 4 day week but workload over the summer meant very long days and 5 days a week - the upside was that I coped, very tired but managed to keep going, that made me feel great as I knew if pushed I could be strong.   The upside is that I now have lots of days 'in the bag' so we are taking two weeks off over Xmas and are going back to Lanzarote on Boxing day for a week.  Hubby had a minor stroke in June, he is not high risk and it came out of nowhere so we are now in 'carpe diem' mode while we are both fit to earn money and travel - we also want our kids (both teens) to have some lovely memories as, if nothing else, the last couple of years have taught us that nothing can be taken for granted!   I hope you all have a good break with your families and Teej, I really hope you get a break too, take care xx   Merry Xmas all and its great to stay in touch x ... View more

Teej, it must be a nightmare having to go through more treatment, fingers crossed that the last two will be bearable, thinking of you x Interesting to read your comments about jaw ache Kay, I have that too and dentist thinks it because my gums are not as good as they should be - feels more like tight/tense jaw so maybe it is the drugs. I also have really weak hands and wrists, no strength when throwing a ball or opening a bottle etc. has anyone else had similar? Jayne x ... View more

Hi All   Halloween time again Pumpkins and I am reflecting on how different it is this year!  I hope that you are all moving on and recovering from the treatment and that you have had clear first mamogrammes.     It has been a while since I popped into the thread but still love to hear how you are all doing.   I have been to America again, this time for work and if there are any silver linings, mine was the company letting me fly business class as my GP recommended that due to tamoxifen, I should keep my feet up to reduce the risk of thrombosis - it was pure luxury, wish I could afford to fly buisness everywhere!   We have just enjoyed a few days in Rome, this trip was planned for last October but due to treatment we put it on hold.  We had a great time, walked miles although I still find that I am exhausted if I do too much - guess that is normal after what we have been through.  Rome certainly is a beautiful city, loved the Cistine Chapel, awe inspiring.   As others have said, its time to move on but thank you all for all the support over the last year and, like Janice, I will keep popping in from time to time to see how everyone is doing so I hope we all stay in touch however infrequent.   Take care all Jayne x       ... View more

Hello Octobr Optimists   I though I would drop in from the October Pumkins from last year to wish you all the very best of luck.  This time last year I was embarking on my chemo journeywith great trepidation and although it was not in any way pleasant, I did get through it, followed by radiotheraphy and am now on Tamoxifen for several years.     I went to Lanzarote to mark the end of treatment then to Florida in May for a pre dx booked big family holiday - both of which I was able to enjoy, there is life afer chemo.   I am now back at work full-time wondering where the last year went, I started my chemo on 27th September last year and have my first mamogramme on 27th this year (will be glad when that is over).   I cold capped during chemo and kept most of my hair, the upside was that as soon as it started to grow back, the thin bits filled in really quickly and my hair is thicker than it was before I stated now.   It is a tough journey and if you are like our Pumpkins thread, you will get a lot of support from eachother - we still do!   Good luck and love to you all and please ask if you have any questions that I can help with as someone who has been there.   Jayne x ... View more

Fifirosalle, could it be the brand of tamoxifen? I normally have Generics (now called Mylan) but last time thet gave me Relon and I had bad headaches and felt really miserable. After a few days it i occurred to me that it could be the change in brand so I got a new prescription back to Mylan and the headaches and miserableness disappeared over night - just a thought! I know that I was given Wookhard at one point and the hot flushes went off the scale. There are a few threads on here about different brands causing different SEs for some of us. we are not unionised but I am into 90 day consultations with employee reps - exhausting! Good to hear about the hair Kay, nice to start to feel normal. I just need to work on the weight now, my boss and I have decided to diet together after our respective holidays. We are off to Boscombe near Bournemouth week after next then on to Guernsey for a few days, I really need the break, Florida seems like a lifetime away! have a good weekend all and thanks for still being here jayne x ... View more

Hi. Can't meet Wednesday, have fun and I will see you in September jayne x ... View more

Hi all Kay, I have has numbness on the back of my upper arm since my op. it's still sore almost a year on. My scar is suddenly really itchy too, weird. i'm still working crazy hours and mostly with people who are being made redundant so very negative but I really feel for them (I work in HR so doing all the consultations). I have some holiday in two weeks time and I can't wait, I feel physically and emotionally exhausted, it's not doing my health any good that's for sure. Nothing I can do about it though as I work with a fab team who were brilliant through my treatment so we are all having to work our socks off to get through this reorganisation at work. I hope all having tests have the best outcome - makes my work hours pale into insignificance by comparison xxxx take care Jayne x ... View more

I got Relon this time, I usually have generics (now Mylan) - within 24 hours had nagging headaches and felt very low which is not like me at all, couldnt understand it to start with but now think it is the Relon as those feelings came on so suddenly - I have asked for a new prescription and to specify Mylan and will hunt down the few spare tablets I have while I wait for the new ones, I cant cope with feeling this headachy, exhausted and low when I know it is not me. I kind of hope it is the tablets so I get back to normal quickly otherwise, I have no idea what is causing these feelings. ... View more

Glad your Dad is ok Catzooo, at least that is one less worry. We did the race for life Reading today, me, my daughter, my sister, my two nieces and my friend, we've raised £470 so far with more people saying they will sponsor us so I am really pleased. Pumpkins got a mention on my daughters card she wore on her back, see my profile pic! I managed to walk it very quickly and even jogged the last bit..luckily we did the morning session while it was still cloudy and not too hot. i hope everyone is ok and coping with the heat, thank god for air conditioning at work 🙂 Jayne x ... View more

I'm thinking about you all as you start out on this journey. I was diagnosed a year ago this week and had WLE and SNB followed by chemo and rads and am now on tamoxifen. My active treatment finished in March and I have since been to Florida on a family holiday that was planned before dx. Great time but Disney Parks every day was tiring. I am now back at work full time and rushing around after the kids like before so yes, for a few months I was laid low but I have bounced back. When we told the kids (teenagers) about my dx we told them about the Florida holiday at the same time so they knew I planned on being around and fit enough despite the treatment I was facing. That gave them a lot of comfort and it was really good to get on that plane having come through it all. Good luck to you all and, whatever you are facing, you have friends on here who will help you every step of the way. Jayne x ... View more

I was diagnosed following a mammogram on NHS then when I said to the NHS breast care nurse that I have insurance through work she advised me to use it as I would have the same surgeon (who I had already met and liked) but would free up an NHS space for someone else. That made sense and the treatment I have had privately has been excellent and the breast care nurses lovely. The private hospital had a small chemo ward so I was never on my own and have made a couple of chemo buddiesthink was also given the gold standard anti sickness drugs and immunity boosters but they are also available on the NHS, just not given as standard. From the people I have met on this journey, private or NHS, the treatment has been excellent and if I hadn't had insurance I would have been absolutely fine on the NHS. Jayne x ... View more