Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi there  just wanted to reassure you that my leg pains are no where near as bad as they were when I finished in April … I’ve got lots more energy, still have the odd fatigue day but I push through whilst listening to my body.. good luck .. you can get through this xx  ... View more

@Strangely upbeat    I didn't shave my hair as figured growing from scratch would take longer when the time comes but do what you feel happier doing. I reckon I have lost 80 % of my hair now but I have a few long strands that when I wear a bobble hat hang down for effect of hair 😂 ... View more

I thought the exact same. I thought negative was good and I got that news on my birthday and even said that’s the best birthday present. I hadn’t read about it so I was in aware. I was diagnosed on 7th October and I’m having the lumpectomy next week so will be 7 weeks. Hope that is normal and I havn’t been waiting too long. The wait is agonising. I have a wire put in first while awake in X-ray, has anyone else had this procedure?. They havn’t gone through chemo yet as that’s the next step. I have had a lot of stomach pains which has been worrying me too but they say the can’t investigate till after the op.  Just isolating now for my covid test. The days just are not moving for me. Just want it out x ... View more

Hi Marie, I'm sorry to hear that your sister has had such a hard battle. I’m so glad that she hasn’t had any metastasis.  I too am having some fertility issues, my husband and I were actively trying when I found out the news and I suffered a terrible miscarriage a few months prior to my diagnosis. This year has been one for the books.   My sister has been a great support system for me and is planning on being a surrogate for me as I can’t try again for 5 years due to tamoxifen. 💗 it is so important to have supportive friends and family and I’m sure you mean the world to her as my sister does to me.   love, Dana ... View more

Ah Wendy, I’m so sorry to hear what must be everyone’s worst nightmare, but what a time your having - go girl!  Stay as positive as you are and enjoy every minute.  We are all here any time you need, but please let us now how the scans go. sending hugs and love.  Helen ... View more

Hello you lovely lot!  So good to hear from you all.  Gaby, I hope you're enjoying Italy. I'm sorry your husband is low - it does have a way of catching up with you when you least expect it. I think the best way forward is to talk to him and keep talking to him. I found that helped with Eve and Stuart. It must be so difficult for our loved ones. Lisa - that's fab news re your wig. I bet you're rocking your hair now. Mine is wavy and darker. I kinda like it, altho I have no control over it! I hope your house move went well. I think it's perfectly normal to have fears re aches and pains. I'm just the same!  Aley - I'm not surprised you walked out of the talk. I'm sorry you had to endure misdiagnosis and all that terrible stress you must have gone through. What are you thinking about re work then? New career or volunteering or something else entirely? I'm currently in Tenerife. I have another glorious 12 days here and I'm loving it. We're in the middle of no where, up a mountain and the drive up to the house is scary as hell. It's beautiful tho and we have an indoor pool that I'm using to it's full advantage! It just feels nice being warm, sat in the shade and thinking about what a roller-coaster ride this last year has been. It's so good to see Eve and Stu having fun in the pool and us all just relaxing with no appointments to go to.  I'm still having Herceptin til end of Dec and they started me on 6 monthly infusions of Zometa (zoledronic acid).  The Younger Women Together conference I went to was amazing and really changed my outlook for the better. I'm definitely coping better with everything. I even had secured a volunteer role with Breast Cancer Care as a Moving Forward course volunteer. I start my induction/training next month in Sheffield. I'm so excited to start it.  Right, I'd best try and sleep. It's so fecking warm. Least I can't tell if I'm having a hot flush anymore! 🤣 Lots of love to you all and I'll try really hard to be active on the site and keep in touch.  Love D xxxx ... View more

Hi Nikki,   It's great to read a positive post about implant reconstruction. I have to decide between lumpectomy to both breasts or double mastectomy with immediate implant reconstruction. Both have their pros and cons and it's a very personal choice and one I want to be as informed as possible. Apart from the more extensive surgery and possible complications my concern about implants was the feel of them afterwards as some posts I have read talk about them not feeling like part of you. I know they won't feel like your own breasts did because the sensation/feeling has gone but surely after a while they feel like yours but 'different'. Sorry to be so personal but I would really appreciate an honest answer from someone who has been through it and feels confident in a bikini again. The breast nurse described it as 'not giving you a new breast but a breast shape'.........honest but didn't fill me with positivity which is what I am trying to find right now. It's made me worry I would feel they had strapped two plastic bags to my chest that would never feel like 'me' . ... View more

Thanks Nikki49 for your reply.   I'm a bit ahead of myself, got surgery for mastectomy next Tuesday so dont know yet if i will need chemo.   I just want to know as much as i can and what options i have. X ... View more

Hey su,how are you doing? ... View more

Yeah thanks ladies it's lovely to read what has happened or happening to us ladies , it's the support we all need XX ... View more

Hi paulS glad you didn't hav a clot I know what you mean about tests but at least anything will be spotted early .since chemo I have developed asthma so my breathing isn't as good as it was and I seem to get more coughs now but hey ho . I was never told my.stats I didn't want to know bet you are pleased with your new stats . When does trial finish do they tell you whether you had placebo or not . ... View more

Thanks Mai - a really good thing to publicise . ... View more

Now know Lobular 24 mm lump but scarily 11/15 lymph glands infected !! Sooo worried now...... Is this as bad as I think it is ? ... View more

How lovely to hear from you CK, and so glad things are going well for you. And a new man! That’s an impressive achievement, alongside all that charity work.   I went back to work in July but I am finding it pretty hard, We are going through a major restructure and 40% of jobs are being made redundant. There is an interim boss in place to do this chopping.  My job is in the structure but she is pushing me to take voluntary severance, on account of my cancer,  It is all quite stressful, hence why I’m awake at 3am- I need to make a decision tomorrow!   Im still very fatigued at times but it’s hard to unravel as to whether that is due to the previous chemo/radio or surgeries or whether the ongoing hormone treatment, bone treatment or palbociclib (my trial drug) are contributing.  Or whether the work stress is just too much for me at the moment.  Had a couple of BC ‘friends’ progress recently which I think is also playing on my mind,   Im on the waiting list now for reconstruction, which is good.  I’ll have a DIEP flap, where they chop out your tummy far and create a boob.  Friend has just had it done but sadly has needed a dreaded PICC line back in for 3 weeks iv antibiotics .   anyway, I think of you lot often.  Would love to hear updates.   Jo xx ... View more

Newbie. Getting third lot of FEC next week, followed by 3 lots of T doxewhatsit. With MRI scans In between to monitor progress. The whole "journey" has been surreal and baffling, but I can hopefully offer some crumbs of positivity regarding the chemo sessions so far. The worst bit has probably been down to effects on the bowels. Any bloating/ strange pains in the belly area - get some Senna stuff into you. It works. Nobody tells you why you get constipation or diarrhoea, but both can be dealt with. Drink lots of water. Go out for walks. Don't be tempted to linger in your bed. Just get out. Meanwhile, we are in the middle of a heatwave - all that stuff about taking your temperature all the time is not helpful. You will be feeling the heat. If the heat feels different from hot weather or menopausal stuff, consult your thermometer. But don't sit with a thermometer stuck in you constantly - if you make sure you avoid random infections, just be sensible. The illness is new to us, but it need not take over our lives. I don't want to become a victim to this bastard. We are almost encouraged to expect the process to be crap, but it need not be. We can do stuff to make us feel we are in some sense in charge. Onwards and upwards!  ... View more

I have had surgery, chemo, radiotherapy and 18 shots of Herceptin and I am still here!   I used a cold cap and kept lots of hair and I fasted before chemo and had far fewer side effects that the women in my thread on here or my unit.   It is not something I would choose to do but it really is not as bad as your fears about it.   Have a Google about Valter Longo, chemo and fasting and see what you can find but I can recommend it.   Just come on here and ask what you want or even just to vent about your fears. Honestly this group are more understanding than the doctors or your family because we have been there and know exactly where you mind can take you xxx ... View more

Thanks for making me smile instead of worrying about having to do a lot of shopping! ... View more

Kirsteen and Cazzy, just thought I'd pop back in to let you know that after 6 months since I knew about this and 5 weeks post op, I've had my post op results. As you can imagine, I went in fearing the worst as it had a long time to to its own thing in there! I had convinced myself it would have gone walkabout and would have grown strong.   No! 1 grade 2 invasive piece has disappeared! The others have been cut out and my Oncotype score has come back low. No more than the one node from the level 1 clearance affected. No chemo or rads "just" hormone therapy.   Hope you are both doing well, but wanted you to know not to worry about the time scale. I can say this now I'm on the other side with the knowledge of my results. Fingers crossed for both of you that you get great outcomes too. Xxx ... View more

I hope so ann! I cant help but worry, i should trust in what they say they have been super quick with me so far as i was only diagnosed 6 weeks ago. I had i caught it early with a 15mm lump, im just fixated on the node involvment. Thank you so much for being so supportive ann xx ... View more

Hi Butterfly. Well done for ditching the hat. I've been going out without my wig for a couple of weeks but still wear it to work. I'm finding the wig really uncomfortable now. I'm booked for a trim and colour on 28 so will be ditching it for good after that. I can't wait. Glad your tummy troubles are sorted. Hope you are enjoying the sunshine. Love to you all Ali xx ... View more