Breast Cancer Now Forum

Oh......Forgot to tell you this! Someone I know has a grandson who was chosen for the Christmas Play. "And what part are you playing?" she asked. "Unconscious Pilot" he replied! ... View more

Janice, I was so pleased for you both that everything went well with the operation and I hope O.H. soon recovers from his set back. It all must have been very worrying for you and I’m wishing you both good health in the New Year, flutterby! Emmy, I’m smiling at O.H. and his retirement. I bet he can’t quite believe it! I’m also grinning at the “to do” list he has waiting, ha, ha! Stella, so pleased your results are OK…what a relief! A holiday will have done you the world of good where you’re not reminded of things we’ve had to deal with at home. Doz, you too must be relieved, having your results. When Dan finally landed home, I’m sure I would have filled up just the same. How exciting for you to be looking forward to Wimbledon!! Woohoo! I think you both deserve it and you deserve to be spoilt. It sounds like you all had a really lovely upbeat Christmas and nothing can beat that! Jane, Glad all is well from your appointment. It makes a big difference when the onc is nice to you and sympathetic, you almost feel like crying when you are at a low ebb. When one young man I hadn’t seen before was nice to me and he said I didn’t have to go back for some time, when he’d gone, I told the nurse I could kiss him and she rolled her eyes and replied “so could I” although I think she saw him in a bit of a different light!! I was pleased to hear you had some time off over Christmas. How to plant ideas in your head from the BCN? And then the 3 patients….it certainly doesn’t take much to make us wobble….we are still fragile. I guess we’ll never be free of that shadow which lurks and can jump out at us! We need to know what‘s wrong, yet frightened to hear the results. Elsa-Jane. It’s certainly easy to pile on the weight. You have a goal to aim for and by the 6 months is up you could lose quite a bit and very gradually so it’s not too painful, ha, ha, ha!! Things have been very normal here over Christmas…only a Christmas dinner any different, really! I’d even forgotten it was New Years Eve for a while!! Start of new kitchen and wardrobes at Dad’s next week. Remember girls, you’re a link in the Butterfly chain, strengthening the future of us all, so thanks to everyone for being there. Happy New Year! Look after yourselves. Love from Ami xx ... View more

Janice, just wishing you both all the best for tomorrow. Glad you had a great Christmas with your family and before you know it, O.H. will be home in no time. Hope everyone else had a lovely time and haven't done too much to tire yourselves out. Be thinking of you, Janice. Love Ami xx ... View more

Flutterbys.....I hope you're not too stressed with all the Christmas preparation and hope, in some small way, my Christmas wishes show how much I appreciate you all. In the year that coming, I wish you health and happiness and peace of mind and hope we all keep in touch! Hoping Christmas fills your hearts with all that’s happiest. Sending big hugs……I’ll be thinking of you Love from Ami xx ... View more

Doz, So glad to hear your MOT went well. I was just thinking your mammo was OK when I realised you had to go back. It must have knocked the wind out of you, but at least they are being extra sure. I know that doesn’t make you worry less, flutterby, and your heart does a flip. I’m thinking of you and I’m holding out a hand for Monday. I hope the new year will bring some nice times for you and things will look up, you deserve it! I tried the knees up, but couldn’t bend them sideways! Back almost OK now though! Haven’t had any snow yet. Are you still looking at your cooker in the same light after trying it out? Really hope you can get to grips with it…that’s the trouble with any new appliance, we get so used to the old friend we’ve had. Jane, Thanks for asking how I’m doing. I’ve felt a bit off with the muscular aches and pains. This weather doesn’t help us does it? It’s freezing cold here as I guess it is with everyone else. The fog came down in minutes at dusk! Sorry, but I had to smile at the i-pad keeping you awake! E-Jane, hope you’re getting some sleep. I’ve been bending at ze-knees and I think that because I haven’t dared bend other ways, my other muscles have been stiffening up…. can’t win! I sympathise with you in wondering about the test and I feel for you and your family. Half of you would rather not know……opening a can of worms is a very good description, but you will be for ever wondering, I guess, if you don’t know, flutterby. About your dress, could you put same colour lace down each side of the V, or around the scoop neck? A lace insert panel going across would make it look a different style to the others, I think. Does it have a facing you could turn to make the neckline higher? If you tell them your problem, surely they would rally round and be only too glad to come up with something? Stella, have you got your mammo results yet? How did the sinning go? He, he! Janice, it must be difficult for you both to apply yourselves to anything knowing what lies ahead. I hope you can enjoy time with your family this Christmas even though it must be dominating your thoughts. I’m thinking of you and sending a big hug and so glad you have a date fixed. Did things go well with the assessment? Love to all, Ami xx ... View more

Janice, I just had to send you a quick post as I can only imagine how you both felt. You’ve equally had your share already so you must be quite fragile to start with and to be brushed aside like that must have felt awful! Just remember we are here if you feel like a rant and will be thinking of you so keep on posting. I’m glad to hear you got some anger etc out at the counselling session, letting the safety valve go! Usually things have a way of working themselves out in the end so I’m wishing things to get better soon for you, flutterby. I saw on the weather chart that it may be snowing up your way so keep warm and try to relax. I bent to reach a pan in the cupboard and my back went this morning, “what larks Pip!” Thinking of you, love Ami xx ... View more

Yvonne, I could just imagine you tutting at the onc, I think I would have felt the same, sometimes hospital stuff is never ending! You made me smile with the early Xmas dinner….was it a practice run, ha, ha? As for your fridge and washing machine, I find they all seem to go on the blink together! And I did laugh at you coming home with the 50” TV!!! Do hope your CT scan went OK, flutterby. Janice, the dog is still right here beside me as I type - like a shadow - have to creep about in the kitchen when I want food - he’s supposed to be deaf but not where food is concerned! Hope all is well with OH and family, flutterby. Didn’t realise it was so long since my last post as I seem to have been busy with Christmas and carpets etc. OH says I’ll be chucked out of the butterfly club, ha, ha! Only 2 weeks now until you see your son, woo hoo!! Aw, Emmy, I’m sorry you’ve been poorly. I hope you’re feeling a lot better by now. I think it takes a while for a cough to go and still wakes you during the night as soon as you lay down! You’re right about the weather having an effect on us. You just feel like curling up of an evening. E-Jane, work sounds rough at the moment for you. You can only do what you can with the given hours in the day. I hope you can switch off and leave it behind when you go home! Doz, hope you’re also feeling a bit better. I don’t think my body clock could do what you do. It’s bound to have a negative effect on you - no wonder you feel rough. I should think, like E-Jane, you’ll be glad to see the back of this year! Hope you’re resting this week! You have so much going on in your head, like waiting for your results, work, family etc.etc. not to mention your general health! I broke my toe almost 2 yrs ago, rushing around and walked into the door frame. It doesn’t half hurt and for a split second when you know what pain is coming, you think…..I’m not going to like this!!! Can’t believe how long your results are taking! Oh, how did your MOT go? Jane, lovely to read that you saw your family and have some well deserved time off - another one who’s body clock must be out of sync! I have to tell you that a neighbour has ecclesiastical curtains in her kitchen, I thought of you as they are a fetching shade of purple!! I wonder, could it be Stella, who is “sin-ing” in the church choir? Stella, hope Doz isn’t eating too much Dairy Milk and drinking too much wine or there’ll be another broken toe coming up!! Glad you’re seeing family at Christmas and those afternoons off will be very useful coming up to Christmas. As Emmy says, can you try and phone to get your results? It’s a long time to wait! Forgive me if I’ve missed anyone and I hope you’re al keeping warm, but don’t eat too much before Xmas! Love Ami xx ... View more

Jane, I'm really sorry to hear about your cat. You were only just saying how wobbly she was. No wonder you're feeling down, flutterby. I've had cats all my life and at the most 3, and I know how it feels when you lose one. I hope you have lots of photo's of her and you can look at them soon with a smile, remembering how lovely she was. I said I wouldn't have another but we've ended up taking a stray in from the cold the other winter as I couln't bear to see her suffering in all that ice. I'd have taken her in earlier but I didn't think she'd take to the dog but they've proved good friends. Have you left her at the Vet's or are you burying her? Hope you can take comfort that she had a long life and was lookd after well. Yes, the house does seem empty! Be thinking of you and sending a hug xx Ooer Doz, hope you enjoyed your Cornish Pasties! And thanks for thinking about me posting. Bye the way, my mammo results have always been in under 2 weeks and going for it was no difference to a routine mammo - just in and out and that's that. Hope you're not too stressed out at work tonight and all is calm for you, flutterby. Janice, I hope you don't have to wait a long time for your help, especially when you felt one chat to be beneficial. You need to strike while the irons hot, don't you? Did you enjoy Gambit? An escape from problems for a few hours in the Cinema! Sounds like you had a great day, GI Jane! The sort of euau de toilet water you don't want to wear! Hope you have a lovely weekend with your son & d-in-law. Yvonne, I thought footballers played in all weathers? Like on the golf course, I knew someone who when asked never admitted to any bad weather even when only playing a mile away! Glad you've got some result about your liver, will the problem resolve itself eventually? The Onc doesn't sound too worried, anyway, flutterby. Love to all, Ami xxxx ... View more

Sorry - as Jane said, I did edit but had no idea it would be out of sequence! I should have left it, as it was not important. I’m feeling much better today…I can’t tell how much you’ve helped with your words. Basher Doz, Deadly Emmy, not to leave anyone else out but can’t think of any other funny names, ha, ha, aren‘t you lucky?. Just like you, Doz, I’m jaded. Oh, and I’ve been stirring with those spoons all day! Perhaps that’s why? Thank you all for fluttering over me, or should I say flapping and kick boxing madly, ha, ha. Jane, I’m laughing at the 0.6 & 0.4 of a person! And yes the “Don’t worry” motto sounds good to me! Flutterhugs!! Like that! Or is it Flutterglugs?About birds. We have a few huge black crows and they are so funny. When we put bits of food out they stick out their heads and crow loudly with the message of “Pies are ‘ere!“ then walk down the grass like Charlie Chaplin, furtively look around to see if anyone’s watching, pick up a huge mouthful, more than you’d ever think they could carry and hide it under a little pile of leaves. They love to look at themselves in car wing mirrors too, especially upside down! Doz, we have geese sometimes, flying over in a V….the dog hates them and I think feels quite intimidated. Durhhh, took me a while to figure out the photo shoot, poor soul that I am! That name Survivors clinic, I don’t like it either! Only those who’ve had it know how we feel afterwards. Each time I’ve gone it’s been just like a routine mammo, nothing else, just a letter about 10 days later! It’s a long anxious wait. Yum, love the idea of the chocolate cake as reward though! Why didn’t I think of that?? Janice, I’m sending a big hug for you tomorrow, I hope the session helps, flutterby. Do you have to go each week for so many weeks? If you’ve used all your spoons you can borrow Doz’s cake trowel!! Stella, alarm bells start to ring when there’s anything mentioned out of the ordinary but at least they’re ruling out things and it’ll put your mind at rest. It’s horrid, isn’t it? Lovely to see you posting Angi, no need to feel alone with these motherly flappers! Sending a big hug xxWent for the Cornish Pasty’s MOT today, he’ll live to tell another tale. One of his meds is Tramadol but the vet asked me to give him plain old Paracetamol for humans, 1 x 3 times a day. They’ve been doing trials and the improvement in pets has been remarkable! Love to all, Ami xx ... View more

I could really do with that 8 weeks prescription thing! Be with you on Monday, Doz. You’ve had such a lot to cope with, it’s no wonder you’re feeling rubbish. You’re trying hard to keep your head above water but on’t go under! Jane’s made food, you’ve made your bed, ha, ha, and I’ve made an online grocery order which wouldn’t go through the checkout, grrrrh!The cooking sounds good E-Jane and I could just do with a walk to see the wildlife and blow the cobwebs away. Those tears in the car, a good way to get it all out, ready to cope with the day ahead, perhaps? The thing is, deliberating about going to see the doctor, it’s not as if we don’t know why we’re like the way we are, I wonder if we just need a long time? I think what Emmy has said makes a lot of sense - wise, wise, flutterby she is! Jane, my friend, so sorry to hear how you feel. I can empathise as I have felt rubbish this week and feeling rubbish is frustrating as I feel I’m wasting time! I don’t know how you cope, and when dealing with people it must be really hard to stay upbeat all the time. I imagine it’s easy to be swept in and go along with things you really could have done with saying no to. It’s a wonder you’re still upright, let alone talking to everyone politely with a smile. Long term tiredness causes all sorts of other illnesses. Please don’t let it go too far, flutterby, as it’s a long road back. Doesn’t anyone really realise you need help? Hope the ironing’s done, Stella, my 90yr old Aunt puts it under the settee cushion and after everybody’s sat on it it’s all put away “ironed”! This weepiness we talk about, I’m sure it’s as GI Jane says. We also keep it all within, looking like we’re coping to the outside world when really we’re like that little cartoon dog with the bandages on the advert who says “I’ve been in an accident!” I’ve had a horrible week, I pulled a muscle across the side of my stomach and the pain has taken my breath away. Been taking paracetamol and filling the hot water bottle but I feel quite fragile and could cry if I thought about it too much. Then to top it all I’ve had a bl***y awful weekend, with some people who tried, to threaten about something that was nothing to do with us. I’ve let it all out in the shower tonight…my fav place for that, but all this has left me even more fragile and makes me lose faith in people somewhat. Yes Jane, definitely flip flop. I might come and join you Janice, on Tuesday, ha, ha. Hope it goes well for you and just think about Doz in her bikini, not caring what she looks like! Love that! Hand free to give to all you who have appointments this week. Me on here….dogs cue to turn into a Cornish Pasty! Big hug and love to all, Ami xx ... View more

Emmy, you are so lovely. Thankyou for being there. ... View more

Emmy, you are so lovely. Thankyou for being there. ... View more

All this talk of Christmas shopping and I haven’t even got cards yet! Much better to be able do the Xmas shopping no matter how we hate it rather than not feel well enough to do it at all. Emmy, how are you after the injections? Pleased your bum is better and I do hope they help. The sausage roll is well and snoozing at the moment. He started trying to roll himself up as a puppy and now in his old age, he’s like a broody hen, chucking the cover about and whimpering until I come to his rescue. Doz, I don’t think we’ll be moving soon, it’s going to be a gradual thing as things need to be done beforehand. What a lovely idea for the picture of Dan, that will be a surprise! Sending love and hugs for those who are going to the hospital, I’ll be thinking of you all…no, what am I saying, I‘ll be with the others giggling in the corner, he, he. Stella, it’s lovely to hear some good news. I wish them well and it’s so nice you think so highly of your d-in-law to be! Finishing work at lunch time means you have the best of both worlds…great! Angi, a big welcome but….you’ll certainly be on your knees reading all our posts, ha, ha! It’s so nice to hear you feel less alone now. We’re all here to support each other and when one doesn’t post, another one does, so there’s always somebody who understands! And these butterflies have such good sense of humour! So…. commence, the new you!! Janice, you must have needed that release of tears at the doctors. Just talking things through when you go to counselling might just be the help you need. I think we all think of things and worry subconsciously even when we think we aren’t. Elsa, I’ve also been feeling a bit down this week, just can’t put my finger on anything and I’ve had some aches and the mind goes into overdrive. The alternative Xmas sounds good to me. It was Xmas morning when I fractured my wrist, last year! Hope you didn’t do too much cleaning! Jane, I’m thinking of you with envy at the dinner tonight. And 2 nights on the trot! Some people certainly know how to live! Yvonne, thinking about it, I think you’re right about still taking your meds, otherwise they’ll not know what to think.Have to go now and turn the sausage roll into a Cornish pasty!! Hugs to everyone and, Ami xx ... View more

Hi Sheila D, it’s so nice to see you posting as we are always here for each other and understand what we’ve all gone through. I was a late poster, having gone through the treatment fine, but I found myself suddenly at a such a low ebb, I just needed those who had been through it all. The ladies are really supportive and I’ve been so glad of their continued loving friendship. I was diagnosed Feb 2010, had a MX and then a Lymph node clearance, chemo and radiotherapy and now have a yearly mammo. I was told, as far as the hospital is concerned the chemo and radiotherapy has hopefully dealt with any odd cells left. I also see the oncologist yearly for a good examination and a rebook for the next year. I think this seems to be the standard follow up. However, we all have that niggle of doubt sitting there, ’cos after all….we’re on our own and I think that‘s when the worry sets in! It’s natural to feel the way you do and if you need some reassurance, as Emmy says, you could talk to your BC nurse. I try not to dwell too much on it or I will drive myself mad with negative thoughts. Lets face it, we could all be worrying unnecessarily for the rest of our lives and die from something else in the end, anyway, ha ha ! You have really been through the mill, flutterby and you need to do whatever it takes to make you happy and able to live and enjoy the rest of your life. Bye the way, what a lovely happy picture! Sending a big hug and remember….we’re always here for you. Post soon! Love and hugs to everyone else. Love Ami xx ... View more

Yvonne, I do think walking helps to clear your head and sort out thoughts and when you come back you always feel much better for it. Hope you soon get the Tamoxifen problem sorted, I’m not on it but you must be fed up, but at least it can be solved.Emmy, what an unexpected thing to ask which cheek?? I wouldn’t have known which to say either, ha ha, ha. Bit more fat on my bum these days, too. I tried thermals some years ago and I have to say I felt colder with them on?? So glad you’re back with us and OK!Doz, enjoy your week off, it sounds good. If you’re borderline for Tamoxifen, perhaps you might be able to come off it as I think there’s unwanted side effects from any medication we have to take. I haven’t suffered with Lympho, thankfully, but what a good idea for the heart shaped cushion! Don’t like these dark nights when we have to draw the curtains early, so keep warm and I hope you can all find something to do, like Janice with your lovely cross stitch, but I hope you’re not sitting in the outbuilding Doz, that wouldn’t do, ha ha. If you’re hoping to find something to watch on tv, well you’re luckier than me!Hope you’re good, Janice and Jane, Stella and E-Jane and anyone I haven’t mentioned. Love to all, Ami xx ... View more

Doz, I was so thrilled for you to read of Dan’s unexpected home coming! It really made my heart sing….what a great surprise! About the BC screening….I’m just glad I had it as that’s how it was found, despite the fact that I’d had regular screening. The BC was larger than first thought and had spread to many lymph nodes. I’m so grateful to everyone for the treatment I’ve had! Very confusing for people to hear the tv news. Hope you’re nearer to getting your tear duct seen to, flutterby. Jane, glad to hear you got a “me” day and painted. I used to paint but haven‘t for some years. Mostly commission work which went all over the place. Would love to know where they all are now. Keep thinking I might take it up again as it’s so absorbing and therapeutic that you switch off from other things. You lot up in the far north…. having snow?? I have to say, Yvonne, I hate the stuff! Oh, poor you, having mouth ulcers, how miserable, but you do sound more cheerful these days and that, I‘m so happy about! Hope your results are fine. Pleased to hear the lymph arms are improving for you ladies who’ve been having problems. Keep on stroking! Yipeeeeee, Janice, re your mammo!! Know that feeling!! A weight lifted….light as air! A fox crossed in front of the slow moving car I was travelling in today. It was limping a bit and slowed from a trot to almost a standstill to look towards us. It was late morning and I watched it pause at the bottom of a drive then walk up. I felt sorry for it. It seems rare to see one out in a built up area in broad daylight. Although I did see one run down the middle of my road in daylight and disappear down my neighbours path! Been looking at kitchens and wardrobes, so much to consider on kitchens. If they said you can have this one or that….which do you want, it would be simple, but so much choice on every little detail! Keep warm…….love Ami xx ... View more