Breast Cancer Now Forum

Thanks for the replies, my breast is no longer pink, but is painful still (nothing like it was), but by the end of the day, I'm feeling pretty poorly still. My temp this evening was 17.9,?which for me is still pretty high (after chemo, I know exactly what my normal temp is, and it's around 16.4, I'm always cold lol!) it is hugely swollen too. Although my Bcn seemed to think that it's been like that since operation, I can assure you it was half the size right up until infection hit, if anything it's bigger now than it was even after seeing her last Thursday, it's still hot to touch too. I know it's not right in my heart of hearts, but am too scared to say anything! I'm so fed up of not being taken seriously. I have an appointment on Thursday (my 6 week follow-up) I wasn't going to go, as they just upset me when I'm there, but feel I need to be seen, as it's my body, my holiday that will be ruined if they don't sort stuff out. I'm going to take my partner with me this time, so hopefully I can have a normal appointment, instead of feeling like they don't listen and fob me off. My Bcn gave no advice at last appointment, didn't say what to do if it got worse and even questioned if I had had an infection in the first place! Strange how I started to feel better after a 4.5 day course of antibiotics, if this wasn't an infection! I feel very let down by the two that deal with me 😞 I have always raved on about the nhs, but now just feel let down by a few, it's a shame, as I have written two letters to pals team about the fantastic care I have received, this time it shall be a letter of complaint 😞 ... View more

Thanks for the advice, I guess I'll get more antibiotics from my gp, do you think just another 7 day course of flucloxicillin will be enough? Is there another antibiotic that could be considered stronger/better? I don't want to be just keeping the infection back, only to find that just before our holiday I get really sick again. Honestly I've never felt so ill (not including chemo!) it really knocked me for six, I never take time off work either, but had three days off last week! X ... View more

My mum comes with me to appointments, but stays in the waiting room with my childminder children and son, so I don't take too much time off work, if I took a day off with each appointment I have, I'd sack myself lol! Just had to call them up, concerning a mammogram appointment they sent..I was pretty certain they couldn't do a mammogram of two expanders lol! My ct date is through..Tuesday 25th November and I've just had another letter through, cancelling my 11th dec appointment with surgeon and bringing it forward to 5th December. Very confusing and hard to keep on top of. Also worrying that they've brought my appointment forward 😞 I'm still concerned it is something more sinister, but I guess that is normal! ... View more

Hi cookie17 I've not had any pain relief, and to be honest no longer need it. My rib still hurts, but nowhere near as bad as it was, and I carried on childminding and carrying and lifting etc when it was at it's worst. It really was excruciating back then though! I haven't seen my scan, as she called with the results, but will ask to see it, when I'm next in. I've had a ct scan before, when I completed chemo and rads in 2012. I'd be interested in seeing and reading my report, but have never asked to see my medical notes before. I'm being treated in Milton Keynes. I'm 43 years old now (just turned), and would have thought they would bring up other bone issues with me, the fact they haven't, makes me think they're holding info back from me. Do you think my gp may be privy to this info, I trust her far more than the breast care nurses at the hospital. To be honest I've lost faith in the bc nurses in Milton Keynes. After my recon, the nurse and surgeon made me feel really pathetic for complaining about the fat necrosis pain I was getting under my skin, that when my rib went, I didn't dare mention it, until I saw a different surgeon, this was literally 6 months later! I hate the fact that I don't trust them anymore, but sadly that's the case. My expander op was 8 months ago and I still have them in place, no sign of implants, also they continued to fill one side more than the other, so for the last 8 months I've had ridiculously different sized boobs, which was unnecessary. I actually think my surgeon dislikes me, because I complained about my op being cancelled to his secretary. My reason for complaint is down to the fact I'm a childminder..finding temporary homes for 6 children is very hard on kids and parents, also my partner booked time off work and my dad flew over from America to help out! Only to get a call 5pm the night before my op! I missed out on a weeks work and pay, then had to book it all again the following month (without my dad for help with my 2 yr old), needless to say, after op, my entire family came down with a sick bug one after another, I was driving my daughter to school and steam cleaning carpets within days of op, so probably damaged my rib doing all that, plus I went camping in April and was putting up tents and sleeping on the hardest bed possible, which hurt like hell! Anyway all by the by now! My surgeon probably thinks I'm one of life's moaners, despite the fact that I'm really not! I just felt I'd let so many people down, due to the cancellation. I guess I'll ask at my next appointment about actually seeing my records and some explanation about everything. If I felt they were being honest with me, I'd be more inclined to believe them lol! ... View more

She called me with results yesterday. Apparently I have a "smudge" on my rib where it hurts. They think it was an injury from my recon op, but want to send me for a ct scan, because of my history and age. She seemed to think the rest of me was ok, which I find extremely hard to believe, due to joint problems for well over 10 years, I would have thought they would have mentioned at least some wear and tear. Am I again being paranoid? I get the feeling they're not giving me the whole truth. Not sure. Anyhow, I do feel better than I did yesterday! ... View more

Thanks carolsav. I only need to wait one more day, so I suppose I can attempt to suppress that horrible "elephant sitting on my chest" feeling. The last time I had this feeling I was called back for further pictures of my good boob, after a mammogram. I turned around and saw my picture and saw three clear white spots 😞 I said that the picture didn't look good and the radiographer agreed. I had a horrible half hour wait in the waiting room, totally thinking I would have to go through this all again! Only to be told that I was cancer free...phew! I opted for a mx of good side and although they don't normally do that, they agreed. The trouble is, I have bad joints and have already been told that my neck shows degradation of a 50-60 year old (I was 40 then) after an MRI. Would cancer be picked up on an MRI in my bones? Because I was told I was ok back then, but they only did my neck, because of weakness in arms after chemo. Going to have a couple of glasses of wine and get an early night lol! ... View more

Hi Swissmiss Thanks for telling me your story, gosh it sounds very, very similar to mine. I am 33 weeks pregnant right now, I have my mastectomy booked for the 14th November and induction of labour for 28th November, and yes, like you they would prefer a natural delivery due to healing etc, because they want to start chemo just two weeks later. I'm so, so scared! How was your recovery after your mastectomy? I have heard so many horror stories about not being able to use my arm properly etc (I'm having partial lymph node removal too), and tbh I'm going to have a baby to hold just two weeks later! I'm also scared for my baby's health whilst being operated on too. Then the very thought of chemo with a new baby to look after fills me with fear and dread, not to mention my other two children....well at the minute I'm trying to just think about getting over the operation, the big picture is far too difficult to comprehend right now, so I will take it a step at a time. I'm trying to focus on seeing my baby at last, who is so, so precious to us (we miscarried two prior to this one)...I do wonder how I could have possibly ended up in this hell hole lol! But I guess there are many other women who have gone through this situation too and come out the other side. How much help did you need with your baby when you were on chemo? I need to plan for the help I will need. I have a very loving and supportive sister and mum who live locally and want to help and my partner also wants to do what he can, but we need him to remain at work, as I have given up my job as a childminder now, due to the fact I could never work and go through this at the same time!! I guess at the moment I would really like to know how you managed..what coping mechanisms you used, really the reality of the situation I'm about to face I guess, because forewarned is forearmed! ... View more