Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi everyone Although i havent posted for a while i have read some posts on my phone Congrats to all those who have finished treatment, I love to hear some people have managed to get back to work, that is something i am looking forward to, probably till i get there and will prob be like I was never away. Congrats to Megsmum, being a grandmother must be fab what a nice thing to happen for you Thanks to all of you who have inquired after us absentees I have only 2 more rads to complete my 25 sessions. As you all know it is time consuming and as I have alsohad to get to different hospital every week to see oncologist It has been a long process. My axilla (armpit) is a mess has broken down and I have dressings to see too twicea day as well as underneath my breast. They are very painfull at night and my breast looks a mess. My nipple is darkand breast very red. I am fair skinned so other nipple very pink think I am gonna look a sight for sore eyes. Hate not being able to wear a bra, i am a bit busty for wearing just a camisole with hidden support. But nearly there. good thing inseeing onco every week he listens to chest and checks everything out, but fed up of constantly being examined although my son is recoveering quite well from his thrd neuro surgery unfortunatley my daughtr in law has given up on him and has lead us all a dance. I no longer feel proud to call her daughter. I accept she doesnt want to do it cos its hard but cant help feeling angry by some of the awfull things she has done. For example having a tatto onher wedding ring finger and putting her ring on the otherhand and often staying out alll night at nightclubs and gaining attention for herself whilst trying to convince people that he is disabled when he clearly isnt he is doing so well and looks after himself well. Anyway enough about that I have cried rivers and now needto gain control of my emotions. I found the worst part of the radiotherapy is the lack of dignity, staff walking into roomwhilst you are undressed, especially whilst having dressings, i will need to point out to them this not only breaches dignity but contravenes their infection control poilicies. Opps sorry not a very jolly post, see thats why i havent posted dont like being a boring moanie girl,will try to be more captivating next time I post Love to you allxx ... View more

Hi everyone Have had technology problems so havent been on for a while DULCIE thinking of you and big hugs CHASCAT you must have been thrilled with olympics trip we listened on the way back froma week at the gower. Just listening on radio was exciting enough Its great to hear some of you have finished treatment and are planning return to work I have meeting in Oct with HR to plan return for end of Oct I have had 3 rads so only 22 to go. Bit of a faf yesterday as have to go for oncologist appt on wed which is in different hospital Told just to turn up and they will let onc know i am there and he will come and see me they forgot to tell him i was there so waited ages. lets hope it goes smoother next wed. otherwise not too bad Hugs to everyone x ... View more

Hi everyone Marie67 and Peanut I tHink esa is what used to be incapacity benefit there are 2 types but the one of interest is the contribution based one for people who pay Ni Payroll (not HR as i said). Sent me a form when Stat sick pay was stopping at 28 weeks. It tells you what to do so i would google it and go on the Gov.uk site and get in touch with payroll. It does have strict criteria but radiotherapy and chemo are valid reasons for not working. It is different to means tested ESA Good luck everyone Love pops ... View more

Hi to those on half pay I dont know if this helps I have had 28 weeks statutarory sick pay which was included in my full pay from work (NHS). I am now onhalf pay so HR sent mea form to fill out for ESA.. I filled it out sent sick notes etc and they are going to pay some contribution based ESA. This is because I pay nat insurance. i did not apply for the other type which is means tested. I would never have thought to do this and is payed in addition to your half pay. I thinkthey also pay your NI stamp so thats not deducted from your half pay. Has anyone else been given papers to do this from your employer. Love Jane ... View more

Hi Danni, You are so positive and i think that will see you through. I am sure you will have your ups and downs but being pragmatic is a good way to approach it.. My Gp told me i am pragmatic and that myhusband is very practical, he also told me that somehow I would get through it al and when I finished would look back and wonder how I did it but I would somehow. As for the scars I didnt have a mastectomy but have a large scar from my lumpectomy but it is so smooth and has faded so well. We are lucky to have loving support from other halfs. Kitty keep going you are nearly there. I take my hat off too you for going to work during treatment. I was told I couldnt do cos I work in a hospital,however I think I would have struggled to go to work, well done Bettie and Gabby, I am sure the compliments are genuine I have seen people look beautifull with no hair. When I was a districy nurse patients very seldom covered their heads at home and I also met very confident womwn who had alopecia. Lots of love Jane ... View more

Hi Doodle I have also been told I am having 25 fractions, I think i saw something whichsuggested that15 fractions are what they will be going to work to soon, i think different oncologists have different regimes. ihad lumpectomy injan and recently finished chemo doesnt it take a long time love pops ... View more

Hi Doodle I have also been told I am having 25 fractions, I think i saw something whichsuggested that15 fractions are what they will be going to work to soon, i think different oncologists have different regimes. ihad lumpectomy injan and recently finished chemo doesnt it take a long time ... View more

Dannigirl how are you feeling about surgery love Jane ... View more

Hi Marchies Marie 67 I have been having reflexology from coping with cancer, it has been lovely,hope you enjoyed it. Bettie Hope you are not experiencing too many side effects, its done hooray Beryl Are you on a high after finishing treatment congratulations Gary Mapping is your planning for radiotherapy. I had mine today, they do ct scan without contrast so it is not of any diagnostic value just used as pictures to plan. Oncologist got his ruler out and drew all over chest and axilla to mark the area that he wants to treat. They then did a few tiny tatoos to use as markers. They gave me lots of info re skincare etc, and ask what times you prefer and tryand accomodate you. They gave me all 25 appts on a print out which is helpfull. Peanut how many fractions are you having and when do you start rads. i will finish mine on the 10th Sept but as you know oncologist doesnt want me to rush back, I want to go back as soon as I can but he seems to think i will need 4 to 6 weeks to recover whichwill mean I will beoff for 10 months. I am going to ask him to reveiw this. Like you i will have loads of leave and only work 3 days. Hi to everyone else thinking of those who are experiencing side effects orjust having a difficult time big hugs xxxx loveJane ... View more

Morning Patchcit ha ha you made me laugh. Joan when I told my breast surgeon I was anxious about something he kindly told me that I will be and that will be the case for a while. Its part of the process. another friend who has had breast cancer told me that when others moan about minor details she gets very cross with them she feels angry with them for being insensitive. I like to focus on what other friends who are health care professionals tell me is that many women go on to do very well after breast cancer, they become what the americans call survivor We need to keep telling ourselves we are survivors Lots of love Jane x ... View more

Hi Marchies GabbyLamb what a horrible experience, lets hope he never finds himself on the other side with real healthcare needs I saw oncologist today and he is seeing me tommorow for mapping so he can plan Rads so felt excited at moving on. he told me that I didnt look like I had just finished chemo. Thats what everyone says I thinkcold cap and no steroids means i look well Eb Hippp will Pm you Was`told thaht I will be prescribed arimedex so will be given prescription tommorow and be sent for Dexa scan which is to establish bone density I was also suprised that Oncologist doesnt think I will be fit for work till end of Oct Husband says he was concerned that I am over eager. He did say that I would probably get radiation burns due to having what the surgeon refers to as genorous breasts ( like that description it sounds clever) so i suppose that might not help love pops ... View more

Hi Bettie good luck with your last Fec. I have to say I found i have recovered well. from last Fec Dont know if it is psychological as no more to come or no side effects from neulasta. Good luck keep going you are nearly there love pops x ... View more

HiCarabel also sorry to hear that your mum is unwel Marie I have been off since 2nd of Jan Are you having Rads, I am due 5 weeks rads. I thought I would go back sooner but other nurses seem to think going back at end of Oct will be soon love Jane ... View more

Hi Claire I also am not young like you, I have a son your age ( who has had a major brain tumour this year) I am aware that it must be so awfull for you to go through this. I had to decide wether to have chemo or not and decided to do it. If you decide itis the right choice for you, there is a lot of support out there. I would suggest that you ask them to go through the pros and cons again, do you take someone with you who can digest all the info. A friend told me that when i made a deciscion I had to remember that it was the right deciscion for me at the time and that I should not then have regrets regardless of the outcome. Big hugs and best wishes poppy x ... View more

Hi Sika I have had 6 Fec, I underwent cold cap treatment and still have hair. You are probably feeling anxious but take heart. If I can you can it is a challenge but it is an acheivable one and I feel some sense of acheivement now its done Best Wishes you can always PM me if you want to chat Love Poppy x ... View more

Dulcie thinking of you it is so tough for you,big hugs Megsmum i am52 and think onco is going to go for arimedex I have appt to discuss tommorow. Itoo will have phased return and have lots of leave to use olanning on going back in oct Girls from work came to see me today it was great to see them love pops ... View more

Hi Joan Happy birdy hope you are able to have a nice evening. Chascat hope you are starting to feel better after last chemo,and home not too stressful ring if you want to chat. Amylou big hugs, you dont need people who make you feel bad about yourself. you have done so well just to get through the treatment. EB hippo let me know what time your Rads is wonder if we will be there at the same time. I dont want to sound tactless but I went to the hairdressers today and can now feel the benefit of having had the cold cap. I hope some of you other marchies get the chance to do that soon. I wont stay overnight in Birmingham but will come for the day. I can get toand fromBirmingham quite easily Best wishes to everyone pops ... View more

Hi everyone Beryl congrats on finishing your Rads hope you werent on skype. I still have blue stain on my breast from SNB so it looks rather odd and dont like looking at it. Waiting too I had drain after lumpectomy it didnt drain much sonsultant removed it 24 hours post op, he told me to imagine i was on a nice beach somewhere. so i thought about Verona cos its not on the beach but I love it and want to go back there soon. My fave beach is Rhossili down Gower but it rains there a lot. I didnt evenknow he had removed it. Marie 67 hope radiotherapy going well Lindy and EB HIppo when you starting rads hope we could meet up looking forward to glass of wine and tapas with neighbours tonite men banished to church social club coz they have a bar and pool table and we need aome girlie time dont get me wrong hubby been my rock but think I am starting to feel better and we both need some space i have been so dependant on him and need to become more like me xxxx ... View more

Hi evryone even though i havent posted for a while I do read posts on my phone, Wintersocks reading your post prompted me to post for some reason I sometimes feel shy of posting i suppose i feel a bit like I dont want to be too needy. Chascat thinking of you darlin if you want to chat give us a call hope you are managing to get by somehow xxxx Bettie i hope your dog is ok, you have had a difficult time this week hope your boil is better keep smiling you are always so positive Marie 67 Going back to work is a bit daunting as a Dn you are out there on your own it is busy and the environment can make it difficult especially when doing compression as you say it is an area where you may struggle, hopefully whoever schedules your work will be sympathetic. do you have to carry laptops into every house we did when I was a Dn which gave me some some problems with neck etc, you will need to be strong and stick up for yourself, sometimes easier said than done. I am very nervous about going back to work but wont be for a while. Hope all of you who are going on hols have a fab time thinking of those who are having SEs Patchcit think it was you who made the reference to Tom jones and knickers it made me laugh, all the welsh girls love a bit of Tom Parsnip love the idea that you may have benefited from better cleavage any positive is great and thats always a positive Carolyn sorry to hear about your FIL, When my husbands father died 2 years ago I nursed him through the last few weeks we became quite close and I was glad to be able to support my husband at that difficult time. My own father was only 53 when he died of cancer and that prompted me to do my nurse training I am doing ok at present have appt with onc next wed who is going to sort out rads etc, Son is staying with me this week and he is doing reallly well, love being with him.Cant beleive he has had 3 bouts of neurosurgery in less than a year. Who else is having there rads in leic Did anyone else manage to keep some hair with the cold cap, I have lost more than half my hair but still have a good covering Hi to everyone i havent mentioned lots of love Jane ... View more

Joan Thank you somuch for your encouragement wont make meet up but maybe next time have fun Love Jane x ... View more