Breast Cancer Now Forum

That is such brilliant news. I have kept an eye on both your posts. I really hope you hear something soon Olive. Keep me posted on here Micheke ... View more

Hi If it was an urgent referral I thought at the most it should be a month but usually it's within two weeks. It might be a good idea to give the hospital a ring on Monday to chase it up. Explain to them you are feeling worried and hopefully that will help. Keep us posted. Just wondering how Kiki is doing too. ... View more

Hi Kiki, I know it will be hard to relax but I really hope you have a nice holiday. When I feel scared I go and splash out on something like a dress or go for a nice meal. Have you got something that is a treat on holiday. Let me know and enjoy 🌞🌞🌞 ... View more

Bless you I remember how I worried about every slight detail given to me. I know that it was mentioned to me back in Dec 2011 that the margins were not as much as they wanted after undergoing a skin sparing mastectomy with immediate reconstruction with LD flap. In the end I think I wore myself out with the worry and started focusing on my treatment. I had micro static cancer cells in one of my nodes had two thirds of my nodes taken away and was followed by chemo to kill any little baddies that might be there. keep strong as the journey can be rocky but also full of joy as different priorities take over. Live life and stay strong 😻😻😻 ... View more

Kiki you are most welcome. Bless husbands sending you a big hug 🙅🏻 ... View more

Oh when you do have the hysteroscopy I recommend if you don't have any sedation ( I didn't ) is have paracetamol, ibuprofen and you may even need codeine as it was a bad cramp pain. I finished it off with a glass of wine 🍷. If you feel nervous I know you can have some sedation but you will need someone with you then.    ... View more

The hospital I am under has a fast track system so any unusual bleeding is seen in two to three weeks. A consultant gynaecologist  performed the ultra sound and hysteroscopy and was able to tell me the results there and then, although no biopsies were needed. The most difficult thing I found was telling a Dr in my GP practice what the next step should be when I first had bleeding. This is why this forum and information on breast cancer site is so useful. It certainly empowers me in knowing what should be the normal course of treatment. @Kiki2 wrote: I'm also going on holiday in 3 weeks, my doctor has done a 2 week referral so I should get the test before I go but probably not the results. As you say I don't suppose we'll be covered for anything related to this whilst away. Nic xx  Please let me know how you get on.  I work full time but do try to get on this site as much as possible❤️❤️ ... View more

Oh I forgot to say I have been taking Tamoxifen since July 2012 and will be taking it up to five years then my oncologists wants me on let rookie. My breast cancer was er+ and think it might have occurred due to the radiation I had for my non Hodgkin's lymphoma . ... View more

Hi, I had one period at the start of my Chemo in Feb 2012 then they stopped. a year later I had a period and therefore referred to Women's health unit. They did a scan and said everything was clear and that if it happened again they would do a hysteroscopy. A period happened again roughly five months later and did more tests and again clear. Bleed again about nine months later and went through similar tests and was clear. I am post menopausal but the Gynaecologist says with everything that's happened to my body the normal bio rhythm get alters and sometimes your body has a period. I only became post menopausal because of the chemotherapy especially as I had chemotherapy when I was 20 for non Hodgkin's lymphoma. I still need to get any bleed or spotting checked our but I hope this might reassure you that sometimes it's not always bad news.   Big hugs Michele ... View more

Hi, I only found out I was post menopausal this year. I have been on tamoxifen two and half years. Last week I had a period which I had not experience since starting my chemo back in February 2012. i had an urgent referral and they have said my endometrium looks good no signs of thickening which is a good sign. I was offered a hysteroscopy but just to put my mind at rest not because I needed one. I have declined this time unless I get more bleeding. Confused if I have done the right thing and considering an oomph rectory to reduce my risk of ovarian cancer. I am going to do some research. Hope this helps anyone reading this. Feel free to private message me anytime x ... View more

Hi Nikki, Its so good that you are able to talk about your worries on here. I have also used the help line on this site and found it really useful for someone to just listen. When I was diagnosed I was lucky and my BC nurse spotted how unbearable things were and got me referred to a clinical psychologist. I wish I could take that worry away but it good to hear you have a good partner and a project in mind. Keep strong Nikki and get whatever help you need to get through this Michele xx ... View more

Hi ladies, i had mastectomy, AND and immediate reconstruction which wasa lat dorsi flap. I had no implant. The surgery was done Dec 2011. I had to have a lot of seroma drained off my back which eventually resolved with the injection of steroids. This week I noticed a bulge on my back my consultant drained 250 mls from my back. He seems to think I have over exerted myself torn a muscle and this is where the blood is coming from. Now a space has been created from aspirating the haematoma its filling up again. I just wondered if there are any ladies who have had this happen to them. Thx Michele x ... View more

Hi Golilocks, I had mastectomy and immediate reconstruction as well as as an axilliary clearance.I think this may be the main reason I had physiotherapy although even just having the muscle moved to your front would require some input from a physio. The body needs to get used to where the new muscle is. I.hope this helps. thx michele. ... View more

Hi Spike, I hope by now the tight feeling in your back has resolved. Were you assigned a physiopherapist after your reconstruction. I was and she showed me the gentle massages on back to keep it supple. if you are still having problems it might be worth asking to ne referred to one who specialises in this area. Hopw that helps ... View more

Rhonda you go girl. It was interesting reading your post. I remember my oncologist saying some of the chemo drugs used for BC are similiar to ones that treated my NHL all thouse years ago. keep fighting and loving life michele xx ... View more

Hi, When I was going through treatment I used the coldcap. I did manage to keep my hair but it was a learning process of trial and error.I realised washing my hair in hot water stimulated the hair follicules so hair woukd fall out so I washed my hair in cold water. I also used baby shampoo and kept washing it maybe twice a week. i would use dry shampoo instead. Hope that helps x ... View more

Good luck, hope you keep us posted on your progress. xx ... View more

Aww Mandy, I am so glad to hear things went well. i have been thinking about you. I can still picture you with that gorgeous flower in your hair. its funny I was telling people at work how it seemed wrong for all thouse young women to have had BC.I then reminded myself that I had had cancef twice and was younger than all of the other girls when I had non- hodgkins.It does feel surreal again that this has really happened to me. i think its my self preservation to stop me cracking up. I am hoping some of the other ladies will keep in touch on here too. life seems good today. Help out on an ultra sound course and remember doing it in October and feeling so tired. Today im doing it and I know mybody feels a bit stronger. I know the ladies will get there. keep strong x ... View more

Hi All, I also had non- hodgkins lymphoma at the age of 20. I was 42 when I got diagnosed with BC. Ive had a mastectomy and lat dorsi reconstruction. Unfortunately I had a couple of microstatic cells in 3 of the nodes I was advised to have chemo as radiation was not an option. Thankfully the chemo was not as bad this time round and I got to keep my hair bonus. Its been a year since finishing chemo and on tamoxifen. It really hit me getting BC but I am determined not to get me down. I know these posts are old but i am hoping someone sees this and add if they have had this happen too. keep living life Michele ... View more

Dear Helen, I had non hodgkins in 89 which resulted me in having chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Thank goodness I opted into early breast screening as unfortunately I developed breast cancer. The only option was a mastectomy but I could have breast reconstruction at same time. The hospital I went to offered a full consultation with Breast recon. nurse who took details and preferences with me. i choose lat dorsi and hoped not to have implants. My surgeon managed as O had a lot of tissue in my back. I did have to have a lot of seromas drained and steroid injected into my back but it did settle down. I had the op Dec 2011 and so pleased with results. I am sorry the cancer has returned and it feels like you have to make decisions quickly. It was my husband who pursaded me to go straight for recon and I am so glad he did. It was almost a bonus considering what I went through and I still flash my new boob with pride. I dont know if that helps you. I know different trusts do it differently I am keepingy fingers crossed you reach the right decisions for you. Take care Michele ... View more