Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Sofadays   I am nearly 3 years from dx and I only really started to feel my energy levels were getting better towards the middle of last year. I had surgery and rads but no chemo and I suffered from fatigue and thought it would never get better. I worked through most of it but I would regularly have days where I was pretty comatose by 7pm. I am so much better now but even still if I have a couple of very busy/long days in a row then I do suffer for a couple of days after.   I was also mentally all over the place, couldn't remember things etc. I try to do as much excercise as I can, write reminders to myself on my phone app - don't know how I would manage without it, and I have found cognitve training really helpful - Peak is really good.   I suppose its just patience and helping yourself every way you can that worked for me.   I hope you both see some improvement soon.   Take care.   Mary ... View more

Hi Mrs B   I've done lots of long haul since dx three years ago. I don't come off tamoxifen but I do take an aspirin a couple of hours before the flight and do as many stretches and walking about as I can. And absolutely NO alcohol on board.   Have a great time.   Mary ... View more

Hi   I am so sorry you have all this worry, we all know how horrible it is and how our minds go off thinking the worst. I really hope that you get reassurance from your check-up tomorrow, please let us know how it goes.   Mary ... View more

Hi   Another update in case anyone is interested!   My breathing difficulties came back later last year and I was dx with asthma, possibly seasonal. I was prescribed daily steroid inhaler which has worked fine but not happy to be on steroids. This has just run out and I'm not racing back to doctors to get a new prescription.   Mary ... View more

Hi Seabreeze   My experience and comments are different from Flora's, just to add more confusion!   I am 2.5 years post treatment and also feel an old me - new me divide. However I feel more laid back although like Flora I do not suffer fools but just take it in my stride. Things that I would have found hard to deal with I just get on with these days without agonising over it. I did find it took a while post treatment to get back into my stride and like you the tiredness was an issue and I thought it wouldn't get better. I wouldn't say I don't get tired anymore, because I do. But I would say that it is less frequent and I actually find the more I do the better I feel.   The worries about reocurrence, well, anything really could happen to any of us at any time so we can just deal with whatever turns up when the time comes. Life is really too unpredicatble at the best of times to try and plan around one particular scenario, this is how I feel now.   So I would say - go get the job that you can do as a job share, it sounds ideal, it will stretch you and increase your confidence in your abilities and you will also have lots of 'me' time - what could be better?   Good luck with the decision, let us know the outcome.   Take care.   Mary ... View more

Hi Runner   I cannot begin to understand how you feel, you have been through so much, yet it seems that you are still standing as you have reached out to people here. I don't know whether you have been on the site here before but everyone is so supportive and you can say anything you like, no one will be offended or upset.   Are you and your partner still talking? Did you live together? How old was your son when he died? It is early days for you yet, his death is so recent it is not surprising that you feel the way you do.   Please talk to us more if you feel able.   Mary     ... View more

Hi Jiggy   I'm sorry to hear about your eyesight problems. I hope you get the cataract operation soon.   I believe it is understood that tam can affect your eyes. My optician is aware of it and I always say that I'm on tam when I get my eyes examined and they do extra checks.   So far I do not have any additional problems.   Mary ... View more

Oooh Flora!   You can send them my way if you are worried about the potential effects!   We've already made a serious dent in an F&M hamper so I think I qualify....   All the best   Mary ... View more

Hi Misa   I am sorry that you are unsure whether to undergo the treatments that have been recommeded for you. Radiotherapy following lumpectomy is the gold standard treatment currently and provides as good survival rates as a mastectomy. The statistics for lumpectomy are not so good without the radiotherapy.   Your comments about the cancer conveyor belt and drug companies does not apply to radiotherpy. It is, in fact the 'poor relation' of cancer treatments despite the fact that it produces good results. Of course, for all these treatments there will be a small percentage of people who end up suffering more serious side effects but that is why you must do your own research and make an informed decision. You are entitled to refuse any treatment that is offered to you, or even, if you do not have confidence in your surgeon or oncologist, request a second opinion.   Take care.   Mary       ... View more

Hi   I think because the rads are every day they are prepared to listen to your needs regarding the time of appointments. At the hospital I went to they were open quite early, at least by 8am so it is possible to get it done before work.   You will find that different hospitals recommend different moisturisers and washing regimes. Not sure why, mine advised something called Doublebase which I got on prescription. I do think its important to start using something well before rads start so you are getting your skin in good condition, then use whatever your hospital recommends once you start getting zapped. And drink lots of water was the other think they said and I also tried to get as much excercise as possible, mostly walking at that stage as I started getting tired by the end of rads.   Mary ... View more

Hi Ladies   I hope you all cope well with rads. It is strange at first and I hated the idea of it all to start with but it becomes normal very quickly.   About appointment times - you should be able to get times to suit you. I asked for mid to late afternoon when I had them a couple of years ago so that I worked in the mornings then went off to hospital to get zapped after lumch.   And moisterise, moisterise, moisterise!   Take care.   Mary ... View more

Hi Maida   At your follow-up appointment they will discuss with you the results of the pathology report which would have examined the tissue removed during your op. This will confirm the stage and grade of your cancer and whether it has spread to your lumph nodes.This will guide your team as to what the next steps in your treatment plan will be. Its worth taking someone with you or asking the surgeon to write down the salient points for you as it is difficult to remember all the details.   Hope it goes well, take care.   Mary ... View more

Hi Twinkle   I believe that an inverted nipple can be a warning sign. It is really good that you at the clinic so quickly. Do be prepared for examination, mammogram, possibly ultrasound and maybe a biopsy on the day. And do be warned you may not get a definitive answer the same day so you may end up waiting and at this time of year it may be after Christmas.   The breast clinic staff are invariably terrific and you will be in good hands.   Mary     ... View more

Hi Twinkle   I am so sorry that you you are suddently facing this. It is a huge shock and nothing that anyone can say can stop the anxiety and the feeling that 'this it it'.   Firstly - have you been been referred to the breast clinic yet, do you know when your appointment is.   The positives are that you went to your GP straightaway and you will have it investigated very soon I am sure. Statistically you will do well. A much greater percentage of women survive breast cancer than die from it, and this figure is improving all the time. The treatments are moving on all the time too, there are so many trails and research that it is all getting better.   It will take time for you to start taking it in, but you must remember that you havent been diagnosed yet so try not to get ahead of yourself. Read the information on this site and McMillan if you want to find out more about breast cancer and the treatments available but do not google stuff and there is so much outdated and inaccurate information out there.   Ask anything you want on this forum, everyone is fantastic and the phone line is also brilliant.   Let us know how you get on at the clinic, take care.   Mary ... View more

Hi   I agree with Awil, these are not normal side effects from rads so please phone your team or tell them today when you go in for your next zap, take care.   Mary ... View more

Hi BB   I had somwthing similar but the other way round. I found a lump just under my nipple, when I went to the breast clinic I had mammo, ultrasound and biopsy. All came back normal and consultant said they were 99.9% certain it was not cancer but there was another procedure that they could do to be absolutely certain. I went ahead with this and the cancer was diagnosed.   So what I would say is do whatever is suggested and try and keep an open mind until you get further information from the results of your other biopsy. At that point you can decide whether you want the fibroadonema removed.   Take care.   Mary ... View more

Hi   You may have lymphodema, you need to speak to you bcn and arrange an appointment with a specialist lymphodema nurse to identify what the issue is.   Take care.   Mary ... View more

Hi Karen   That's great that you are getting support from your colleagues and that you know that the rest of the school community will support you. It makes such a difference to know that people are behind you. I hope that your meeting with the head goes well, tbh I think it would be a good opportunity to share with the children as well, I believe in being honest in these matters but obviously your head will have their own opinions.   Mary ... View more

Hi Karen   If you are happy with the school community to know of your dx then perhaps you could agree with your head that you inform them all by email? I do not work in a school but I told my team via email. I felt it was better coming from me rather than my line manager.   Good luck whatever you decide.   Mary ... View more