Breast Cancer Now Forum

I think every NHS area is different. I had my mastectomy 3 years ago followed by chemo & radiotherapy. Not seen the oncologist since his registrar saw me for the 6 week follow up after the radiotherapy ended. As for the Breast Cancer Consultant it is always the nurses I see at my follow up appointments, initially every 3 months, then 6 months and now annually. I feel it's going to be up to me to identify any recurrence which doesnt instill confidence given my 10 year survival prognosis is 50%. ... View more

Oh Sarah my heart goes out to you. I can't even imagine what you must have been going through. Thank you so much for sharing this with us, when you've so much else going on in your life. Only you can make the decisions you're going to have to make. I hope there will be people on these forums who can bring their own experiences & perhaps help you to decide. Love & big hugs to you and your family ❤️ X ... View more

Sounds like once again things are done differently in different parts of the country! My arm was at a 90 degree angle to my body supported on a rest when they zapped my chest & armpit. The worst was the planning meeting coz it took so long (90 mins).......the actual radiotherapy was very straightforward & I hardly had to wait. Glad to learn people are gaining in confidence and going about "wigless". I only wear mine for work & when I come back from holiday in a couple of weeks I'm going to ditch it completely. Hope you ladies still in pain find relief soon, I've been so fortunate with my side effects I count my blessings. I'm discharged now & stepping back to normality. I seem to have come such a long way since my mastectomy in Oct with chemo & radiotherapy afterwards but people expect you to be the same person as before....... But you're not. Hugs and best wishes to you all x ... View more

Evening ladies, really nice to see you haven't list your sense of humours, laughter really is the best medicine!!! Walking through Boots the other day, a sales lady asked if I'd like to try a new mascara. Really wish I'd said "oh yes please" just to see her face seeing as I've no eyelashes. But as usual I didn't think about it 'til afterwards...really made me chuckle tho. Week 2 of phased return to work and getting really fed up of people telling me how good I look-"yes because it's a wig & your not looking at my horrible deformed nails!!! I know they mean well but outward appearance doesn't mean you feel good inside. Jinny hope you managed to talk to someone & your feeling a bit better now x ... View more

Really good saying that Wynn, I like that. Please take help and advice from the helpline experts Jinny, my oncologist told me that I had a good attitude and it would get me through it. I really beleive negativity drains us but nearly everything has a positive element within it. Let them help you find the strength within you to face this. It is there you just need some more balanced info to reassure you. Good luck x ... View more

Jinny, I had my mastectomy in October and cancer was in 12 of the 16 lymph nodes they removed. I've since had 6 sessions of chemo and 15 sessions of radiotherapy. I'm now back at work everything is healing well and I'm getting my life back (going on holiday in 4 weeks) and planning some exciting things for next year. The scans showed it hadn't spread further and as regards the cancer coming back well I could get knocked down by a bus tomorrow so until/if it comes back I'm not going to waste my energy on it, I've given it the last 7 months of my life and that's quite enough. My sister died at the age of 46 just after I started chemo (not related to cancer) & so i want to make the most of my life & not waste a day. I know it's not easy but you can do this!!!!! Sending you love & hugs, ❤️ X ... View more

Sending love & best wishes to all you ladies still undergoing the traumatic treatments. I had my last radiotherapy 30th April & this should have been the end (apart from Tamoxifen indefinitely) but due to hospital **bleep** up I don't get my Hickman line removed til next Wednesday. I had ANC clearance & left mastectomy on 11th October & started chemo on 2nd December followed by the radiotherapy. I'm planning to start back at work part time on 19th May because I want to step back into some sort of normality. My hair is growing albeit slowly but my wig is ok. My fingers & toes still tingle but it's not major. I get shooting pains sometimes on the left hand side of my chest & in my arm but I'm hoping this is the residue of the radiotherapy treatment. Other times I get aches across my shoulders and in front thighs but again I'm hoping this is after effects of treatment & will fade. Lethargy/tiredness overwhelms me sometimes but I've learnt not to fight it- I'm fortunate not to have young children & I'm trying to focus more on myself rather than run around after everyone else but I find that quite difficult. Emotionally I'm quite positive but I feel I need to step away from the cancer label & start living my life again incorporating the healthier lifestyle choices I've made. So you will get there ladies and I sincerely hope none of us have to tread this path again. Love Ro x ... View more

Love & best wishes to all you guys having op's soon. I had my mastectomy and ANC back in October & then chemo & radio the last of which us next Wednesday. I'm fortunate in that I can not only see the end of the tunnel but I've nearly reached it. I think the chemo was definitely the most difficult stage although the drains were a nuicence (sorry can't spell) keep strong ladies you'll soon be through it x ... View more

Congratulations Petal, I've been fortunate not to need Herceptin, good luck to all you ladies who have to have it for so long x ... View more

Sending love & big hugs to Petal and anyone else who's suffering at the moment, I've been so fortunate with my SE I really feel for you guys who've a more difficult journey. Please hang in there ladies, we've nearly conquered the chemo bit and then some of us will have radiotherapy & some of us still have op's to face but we've come so need to recognise this & pat ourselves on the back........well done we've faced our fears & got on with it.........hears to being all cancer free soon.x 💗 💗 💗 💗 ... View more

A friend of mine was doing a Tropic Skincare party just after my mastectomy in October, I was reluctant to go but really glad I did, I was chosen to be the "guinea pig" for the facial & also the make up and in addition to the couple of bits I purchased, my family bought me some more for Christmas. I love the products and they are paraben free. It really does you the world of good to spoil yourself whilst your going through treatment & together with the extra water I've been consuming I can see and feel a big difference in my skin. You can buy Tropic on the internet or there maybe a part plan agent in your area x ... View more

I have just finished my FEC-T chemo, the oncologist was spot on saying I would start to loose my hair by day 18 of # 1 and a few days later my hairdresser shaved it down to a number 1 cut (so no itching). Not all the hair fell out ( I did not try the cold cap) so I now have some longer lengths about 3/4 cm and a fine down where the re growth has started ( started again after # 5 chemo). I had an NHS synthetic wig which has been great just remember not to go too near a hot oven!! I wash it every few weeks and always store on the synthetic head- it gives me a good hair day everyday with so little effort & everyone has commented on how good it looks. It was shorter than my normal hair but with more than normal & a darker colour- I think I actually prefer it but I'm not sure I'd be able to style my real hair like this! I wear it to go out but either use wooly or cotton caps at home or sometimes if it's warm enough I'll do without anything. I've made more of an effort to pamper myself ( which I never really did before) taking care of my skin & moisturising & that's helped me feel a lot better about my appearance as it's made a big difference. Good luck everyone is different, don't be scared just try & find what works best for you. X ... View more

I never realised Breast cancer was so diverse & complicated until I was diagnosed back in Aug. I had my mastectomy& ANC in October & have just finished chemo last Monday. Awaiting date for 3wks radiotherapy and will be on tamoxifen for the foreseeable future. We should be so thankful that all the research has identified the numerous different types & found the best treatment methods specific to each kind coz so many of us have different paths to rid us of this awful disease. Good luck and best wishes to all those who still have a long way to go in their journey 💖 x ... View more

Hi ladies had final dose of 6 cycles of FEC-T yesterday then moving on to 3 weeks radiotherapy in approx 3weeks time. Came away from hospital with Fuconazole 50mg once a day for fungal infection in mouth (assume this is oral thrush) but can cope with anything now I know the last dose is done!!! Eyelashes have all but gone & eyes have been watering quite a bit during T cycle 2, like you Tri I think it has affected my eyesight & ability to focus sometimes but hopping this will be back to normal soon. Felt a lot more tired yesterday & today than previous cycles but feeling really positive at the moment. Really feel for you guys still suffering with infections and setbacks but please take heart you will get there & then we can all close this awful chapter in our lives move on & take our lives back. Keep strong ladies 💗 x ... View more

Evening ladies, sorry to hear you are in hospital Bellablue, hope your levels come back up soon. Glad to hear your pains subsiding Petal & your coming thru. Sue have fun on Friday, sounds like just what u need. I had 2nd docetaxel on Monday & based on cycle 1 expected to be really poorly by today but fingers crossed has not been anything like as much pain this time. Maybe the remains of the FEC affected the new T in cycle one. Painkillers ready just in case tho lol x ... View more

Keep hanging in there girls, every day is step neared the end & getting our lives back. Our experience's have changed us all for ever but we can come through this 💗 x ... View more

I was scheduled for a PICC line in my arm but of the two veins they located, one was to close to an artery & the other was too narrow. I had the central line fitted in my chest approx 2 1/2 hrs before my 1st chemo under local anaesthetic using x ray to guide the insertion. Dis-Advantages: feel the cold in my neck and chest but just wear scarves whenever I go out. Have to wait in for district nurses to visit each Friday to flush the line & replace the dressing, I never know what time of day they'll visit. Initially it was uncomfortable to lie on my side sometimes but this is now fine (was inserted 02/12/12) Threat of infection but I have had no problems- where line has entered my body has scabbed over twice but pulled off easily by nurse with no pain. I would not swim or take a deep bath, I shower with no problem, i keep the water away from the dressing most of the time whilst washing then hold my hand over it whilst I wash near the dressing. Advantages: chemo is quicker coz they don't have to insert a cannula Easier to take pre-chemo bloods thru line. Less likely to catch/get in the way than a PICC on your arm. I just tuck the end of the tube in my bra & it's out of the way. Whichever u end up with its definately doable & if it makes having the chemo an easier experience it's well worth it if your veins are struggling. Good luck x ... View more

Hi Alice, I started my FEC-T in December like SJB. I've been very fortunate with my side effects so far but several of our December Angels have suffered like you. Have you looked back in some of the older monthly threads, it helps sometimes to learn your not alone & usually someone else has already walked your path before you- just don't let things worry you, we've all had completely different reactions to the chemo. I think what I wanted to say to you is be kind to yourself, if u feel like a little weep or you feel down don't fight it, you have to do whatever your body needs in order to get though this terrible time & get through it you will. The early cycles are harder emotionally, when you get further along (FEC-T # 5 on Monday) you feel better coz you can see the end. We need to look at chemo as a friend-it's helping us to stay alive for as long as possible. Good luck, hope u get the sickness under control x ... View more

Morning ladies, Sue I hope your mum is feeling better now, x Petal , I sailed through the FEC with minimal SE but the T threw me for about a week. Bad pains in chest, arm, upper thighs, feet, hands and lower stomach. They kept moving so one area would feel better & somewhere else would flare up. Also felt very bloated and everything tasted awful- even fizzy water tasted horribly metallic & I couldn't drink it. Lasted about a week then the following 2 weeks have been fine apart from an intense bloating when I went out for a meal which lasted about 3 hours. Looking forward to T number 2 on Monday & hoping the SE where due to the remainder of the FEC interacting with the new T last time -well that's what I'm telling myself anyway lol. Hope your all doing ok, x ... View more

Petal when u have the lymph nodes removed make sure you do the excercises they give you. I had mine removed in October at the same time as my mastectomy. Mobility in my arm is back to normal, I have numbness under the arm & sometimes get pains in the arm but they do not last. The arm itself is not swollen but there is some swelling still in the chest area near the armpit. My Physio was very pleased & said it was because I have done the exercises on 90% of the days since the op - she said so many people stop doing them & this is why they don't recover as much mobility. I've also had 4 back massages as part of my treatment which I found felt quite nice on the back/side on the op side. Good luck x ... View more