Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi all- Thought I'd share my experience with Travel Insurance. My partner was DX in November 2013 . We have had a trip to New York planned for this June for a couple of years & I found that a lot of insurance companies (even Insure Pink et al) would not insure her as she will not have finished treatment by the time we are due to go (ongoing Herceptin & Radiotherapy sometime at the end of June). Anyhow , to cut a long story short- I found World First who have insured her for just £67 on top of the standard policy (total £128), even though surgery (lumpectomy & Lymph node removal) was only a couple of weeks ago . I know USA can be difficult to get insurance for so hope it's useful for someone 🙂   ... View more

Yep- happens to my O/H all the time- we haven't reallly had any negative responses but quite often a lot of ''are you sures''. This is usually followed my me saying ''oh yes, absolutely sure, I fire blanks'' , followed by a wink ! We've had various responses to that but usually the penny drops & they at least smile ! ... View more

Hi Lollymum (& everyone else !) There is a thread somewhere about 'neo-adjuvant chemotherapy'. It seems it is given in order to shrink the tumor prior to surgery. My partner was diagnosed in November & started chemo in December - FEC-T but with the 'T' first (this too seems to be unusual looking at other threads). She has just had her first FEC (well, last Friday). She has seen really good shrinkage, the tumor was extremely agressive (it grew 4cm between DX & the MRI in December (about 3 weeks) reaching 9cm in all. Now (according to a CT scan 3 weeks ago) there is no evidence of it at all (currently waiting for an ultrasound). At DX she was told she would have chemo, surgery(probably mastectomy), radiotherapy as well as hormone treatment. I thought the idea was to try & prevent the need for a mastectomy (if tumor responds well), but I've read on the other thread that some people have still had this- I don't know whether that was a choice thing. Everybody's journey is different to some extent I guess. Although initially my partner was disappointed not to have surgery first (she just wanted it all gone) it has been reassuring to see it shrink (hopefully disappear)- I hope your response is as positive. Good luck 🙂   ... View more

Hi all- I am a little confused about the purpose of neo-adjuvant chemo. My partner has had 4 chemo so far, 2 to go . Early reports suggest good shrinkage . I thought the purpose was to shrink the tumor to hopefully avoid mastectomybut that doesnt seem to have been the case for most on here ? ... View more

Hi Sarah , I'm sorry to hear things aren't working out . I actually came on here today as I am the partner of someone with BC & feel I'm struggling having detached myself emotionally so I don't get hurt . Selfish huh . I think whether you have a partner or not , you need a good support network around you - different people offer different things at different times . I'm off to hunt for some help as I want to do everything to make sure my own 16 year relationship continues to grow & I can be the rock that I need to be . I think it is difficult & different to be in a lesbian relationship seeking help - I called the helpline this morning & they were at pains to point out that they were there for everyone but it's just not the same is it . To that end , I am determined to use this part of the forum more often to seek & offer advice if I can . good luck with chemo - it's hard but doable - remember to list side effects so you can be given things to help , my partner suffered terribly from mouth ulcers for instance but we now have a bathroom full of potions ! ... View more

Hi - I hope you don't mind me joining you . My partner was diagnosed last week with grade 3 BC. , we don't know if it's spread yet (MRI on Thursday ) lump is huge (7cm - how did we not notice?). We know there's going to be chemo for 4-5 months , surgery , radio , herceptin etc . But it seems like we're entering the great unknown , one minute we are planning to get married (June 2014 on my 40th) , the next minute googling side effects & hat shopping ! Any help , reassurance would be great for both of us - it all seems so 'pink' out there if you know what I mean & not geared at us at all even though everyone we have encountered so far (I know, it's very early days) . ... View more