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catseye
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05-10-2012
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01-11-2014
10:53
Dear Jellylegs, How are you and your family? I hope you have been able to find out a bit more about what benefits etc your sister may be entitled to. As Butterfly said, it's great you are being so supportive and practical. I hope her recent scan gave a bit more information as to chemo/treatment plan, as the waiting and coping with the feelings of helplessness are so difficult to deal with. Thinking of you and your family, X
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12-10-2014
08:56
Hi Jellylegs2, I'm not sure how much helpful advice I can give you, but I read your post and was so sorry to hear of your sisters diagnosis. I didn't want to leave your post unanswered and hopefully this reply will bring your thread up to the top again and more people will see it and reply. If you haven't yet done so do try giving the helpline a ring. I found them incredibly knowledgeable and always felt alot calmer after speaking to them. Macmillan also have a helpline and very useful website, they will be able to advise you and your Mum on any benefits that may be available. Have a look at www.macmillan.org.uk. If there is a Maggies Centre at your sister's hospital they are also able to provide benefits advice and will have information on what support is available locally.Try www.maggiescentres.org. I hope some of these suggestions help. Best wishes to you and all your family, Catseye
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26-09-2014
08:24
Hi Ali, I had stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma. My critical illness policy paid out with no problem. I would be pretty sure that yours will too. The cancer does not have to have spread elsewhere for most policys to pay out. However, quite a lot of policies seem to exclude DCIS ie ductal carcinoma in situ, as this does not have the same potential to spread. I would contact your insurer to see what the claims procedure is. Mine required a form from me consenting to them contacting my surgeon. Once they had a reply from her, I got the money in a matter of weeks. Good luck with this and with the rest of your treatment.
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26-03-2014
05:03
Hi spacebunny, Jmbrin2 and Seashell60, Thank you all for the replies...as usual it helps just to know I am not alone in this. As I mentioned, assertive (some would say bossy) in every day life, and a quivering wreck in the Oncology department. Oh well, will just make sure I have a list and take a few deep breaths before the appointment. I don't want to waste my 15 minute slot or whatever it is. Seashell: I know just what you mean about the physical examination, my last one seemed cursory in the extreme. In fact, as I think someone else once said on this forum, "I've had more thorough breast examinations on the London Underground!" How did you get on today Jmbrin2? X
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21-03-2014
08:07
I have a routine check up due next month, and was just looking for a bit of advice on how to deal with it. I had surgery, chemo,rads and have now been on tamoxifen for fifteen months. My problem is that at each follow up appointment, I always seem to answer "I'm fine", to all the questions the oncologist asks, when what I really want to say is,"Actually the hot flushes, sleeplessness, breast pain and pretty much any other menopausal symptom you care to mention do get me down, and if I could give up the Tamoxifen tomorrow I would". I think I feel duty bound to put on a brave face and underplay my symptoms because a) I don't want the Onc, (he is nice, but unfailingly upbeat, to the point of appearing a bit casual), to think I can't cope and write "worrier" in my notes, and b) because my partner is there and I don't want to upset him. I've tried writing down my questions/concerns and taking the bit of paper into the appointment, but somehow the discussion gets sidetracked. The clinic is always running at least an hour late and I think I'm taking up too much time and leave feeling I've got nowhere. In all other areas of my life I'm pretty confident and assertive, so any advice to help me get a better outcome from my next appointment would be great.
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10-01-2014
12:08
Hi jba, Are you taking steroids, eg dexamethasone, for sickness? If so, it may be these that are stopping you from sleeping. I had my FEC in the mornings and was advised to take the steroids straight after lunch, (not later than 2pm), otherwise I was very likely to be awake all night. If you think this might be the reason, it is probably worth giving your chemo unit a quick ring to check at what time they would advised taking taking the meds. Hope you are not feeling too bad otherwise, take care, Catseye
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06-01-2014
12:58
Hi Sheila, Oh yes, most of us on here know only too well about those anxieties..as you say, usually at night and when you're on your own! The general advice here is "Do Not Google"...I know it is really, really tempting but I for one have found it is a sure fire way to scare yourself stupid. Sites such as this one, Macmillan and Cancer Research UK are reliable sources of accurate information, but an awful lot of the others aren't. I really would suggest you make an appointment with your GP, because whatever is causing your symptoms, it will all be far easier for you to deal with when you know what it is! CateyeX
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05-01-2014
05:20
Hi Sheila, To me, your symptoms sound a bit more like frozen shoulder than BC - I've had both, and the frozen shoulder was very painful to lie on, however the pain was mainly around the shoulder joint, front and back and down the arm. Movement of the joint was restricted and I found osteopathy helped. I didn't have breast pain with either frozen shoulder or BC, and I'm not sure whether or not cysts can give you breast pain, but would certainly think a discussion with your GP would be a good idea. Why not make an appointment tomorrow and put your mind at rest? Take care, Catseye
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19-12-2013
06:46
Hi The, The effects and duration of fatigue vary loads, but I would say definitely plan to take at least a month off after rads finishes and before going back to work. If you feel better before, then great, (look at it as a nice rest from work which you can actually enjoy, rather than feeling rubbish). However, do not be surprised if a month isn't enough. I finished treatment in September 2012 and went back in January this year. Despite only returning part time, I still felt tired! Pace yourself, rest when you need to and try not to feel pressurised into returning to work until you feel it's right. Good luck with the rest of your treatment
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15-12-2013
08:21
Hi Mandeec, Did you have chemo before starting Tamoxifen? I had a really dry mouth for months following FEC and wasn't sure whether the FEC or Tamoxifen was to blame. It eventually got better though, so I assume it was the FEC. I did try some of the artificial salivia products, but actually think drinking loads of water and sucking lots of mints or chewing gum helped me most. As Poems say, it is worth having a chat with your GP to see what would help you. Hope it improves soon.
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29-10-2013
07:06
I'm on the REACT trial, and have not had any adverse reactions, but then I could be on the placebo...
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29-10-2013
07:02
Hi 3N3, I've no idea what it means, but just wanted to say Lucky You!! I started Tamoxifen in August last year, so am hoping I will be the same as you - by my calculations the side effects should be receding right about now! Seriously though, at my last appointment the Onc did say that in a lot of people the side effects do diminish, "after a while", which cheered me up. Then she told me I would be very likely to be on Tamoxifen for 10 years, which depressed me again. Here's hoping you continue to feel well, Catseye
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28-09-2013
02:50
Hi Ceely, I'm sorry I don't know the answer to your question, however it might be helpful if the mods could move this post from "Chemotherapy" to "Hormone Therapy" as it relates directly to Tamoxifen. Hopefully then someone more informed than me will see it and be able to give you some advice. Good luck with whatever decision you take, and I hope all turns out well with the GP visit.
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27-09-2013
08:16
Hi Sam, Thanks - but as Linda points out, this link is pretty well hidden. Latest posts was invaluable for a quick update on what was going on and very importantly made sure that "newbies" were less likely to be overlooked or have their posts missed. We all know that new users are ofen posting in a time of great distress and uncertainty and are in need of prompt support. I would hate to think that anyone would be missing out on this support. At the risk of sounding like a stuck record, please bring it back. Thank you
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26-09-2013
07:27
Nope!! I can't see it either. Please can the "latest posts" link be placed somewhere obvious? Thanks
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20-09-2013
02:20
That it a very good tip. At my hospital you were not provided with a gown. You took your top off in the radiotherapy room, and if they remembered, there would be a pillow case left on the chair where you left your clothes. This was supposed to cover your modesty fom the chair to the table. Pretty useless really. Wish I'd thought of the scarf thing. Best of luck with the rest of your treatment.
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20-09-2013
02:13
Hi, I too had pale, downy hair mainly on the sides of my face, post chemo. I also sprouted hair on my hands and knuckles and on my tummy. Thought I was turning into a man!! At the time I wondered if this hair growth was connected to Tamoxifen, but ladies on here reassured me that over enthusiastic growth was quite common post chemo, and that it would calm down. I'm happy to report that it has. There is still a bit on my face, (which I'm sure didn't have before chemo), but when I sneakily check the faces of non-cancer friends of a similar age, (mid 40's) they have it too!
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18-09-2013
11:17
Thanks - the latest posts link is very helpful but it needs to be made much more obvious. Perhaps in a BIG (don't mean to shout!), colourful button on the front page of the forum. The link in "featured threads" is far to easy to miss and as already pointed out, if people don't see it they can't use it and so the BCC mods will have no idea how valuable we find it. Please rectify ASAP, as I too have no wish to join Facebook!!
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16-09-2013
04:03
I finished chemo over a year ago, but in the last few months have had acupunture to help with the side effects of Tamoxifen, the residual side effects of chemo, and "generally having had cancer and being a bit fed up with it". It has definitely helped, but did take a few sessions to get going. It is painless and actually rather relaxing. The needles are very fine and single use, but even so, I think it is a good idea to avoid any in your "at risk" (from lymphoedema) arm.
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15-09-2013
04:03
Hi Rev Cat, Glad to hear it was "only" PVD and nothing more serious. I've got PVD in both eyes too, and notice lots of floaty blobby bits. Hopefully I will eventually stop noticing them. Like most symptoms, I find they are worse if I am tired or stressed, although I must admit I do occasionally find it vaguely entertaining to watch them whizzing around!!
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