Breast Cancer Now Forum

I decided to have some semi permanent brows done.they are really good.its amazing what a difference they make,they have given better definition to my face and I feel a bit more like the old me.it wasnt cheap but it was definitely worth it. ... View more

I just read the posts here and it about sums up me at the moment. A year ago this week I was starting my chemo, I had radiotherapy and have been on a gradaul return to work since January. I thought I was doing OK but I've reached a bit of a crossroads this last couple of week. The return to work stuff isn't working too well. Im still tired and seem to spend the time I'm not in work recovering from the days I've worked. I want to try and get back to somthing like normal. I had quite a responsible job before I was ill, now I lack confidence have no motiviation and the fear of failure seems to be driving what I feel I can do. People keep telling me to take things slowly but I find it so frustrating that I cant do the things I used to and I dont have the confidence I used to have.I feel I just want to go away and hide but I know thats probably not the right things to do either. ... View more

These posts echo exactly where I am now. I've gone back to work and Ive been trying to build up my hours. I overdid things big time last week and was wiped out all weekend. Its hard to explain to people how tired I get and how easy it is to do too much. People at work think as Im back I must be better. Ive got  strange looks from people when I leave early. I have decided I'm no going to let it get to me.  Im  trying not to feel guilty about leaving early and doing part time and Im not going to let it get me down. I am not usually one for going to support groups but I have found one locally, which was advertised in the breast care unit at the hospital. It is great to talk to people who really understand where you are in terms of your treatment as they have all been there. There are ladies all at different stages, some like me diagnosed last year, right up to others who are over the 5 years.  It really has been my lifeline these last couple of weeks, so I would recommend it if theres anything near you. ... View more

My hair started to grow back about a month after Rads ended and about 2 months from end of chemo. I dyed my hair before my treatment. My hair has grown back more slate grey ( before treatment the grey was much lighter) . It started to grow quickly at first but now seems to have slowed down alot.   I'm not sure what to do about dying it  now and also wondering if I should keep it natural. Because of joint pain and other stuff I feel I've aged so much in the last year and my hair being grey and short only accentuates that feeling. ... View more

Hi Matty2     I have been on Anastrozole  since the end of September. I want to try and persevere with it as Im assuming that I was given this drug as its the best for my type of cancer/age etc. ( I have a meeting with my BC nurse tommorrow and thats one of my questions)   I have had bad joint pain which is worse in the morning.I also have very dry skin and itchy red patches that come and go. I havent found any body moisturizer that doesnt make it worse. I have been given some base cream from the nurse at the local hospice outpatient where I go for acunpuncture. The cream is not the best for general body moiturising as its quite thick but it is free from additives and I can use it to relieve the dry patches.   x ... View more

Hi Ali yes it does appear to be helping a bit. I don't know if it will completely resolve it, Give it a go I'm sure you'll find it Ok. ... View more

Im having accupuncture for Nuropothy, I hate needles but try to look away when getting bloods etc done. I have had the one session out of 6 so far and I didnt find the needles a problem at all . Someone I know is having accunpuncture for hot flushes and she said its definatey helping so I would give it a try. ... View more

My experience with HR isnt good. I work for a large company and I had expected better. They seem to be doing things based on what is written down somewhere rather than based on any experience.   I have written my own return to work plan - but I have no idea if its over ambitous.  I havent been in contact with anyone from occupational health. It was quite funny when HR asked me for permission to release my occupation health records to thier insurers. If I am unable to return to work full time - they have an insruance policy that might cover part of my salary.  I presume that my occuaptional health records didnt have much information in them.   The best advice and support I have had on returning to work has been from the local macmillan representative. ... View more

Thanks - they have sent me a SSP1 form dated 23 rd December which says it ended in August so they have clearly failed. I think they have made the letter that came with it vague so that they can see how I respond and if i just "lie down" they will reclaim it.   I have sent them an email requesting 6 points of clarification on the letter content and copied in the HR director, as Im not going to lie down and accept it.   ... View more

Thanks very much - I will see what is best to do. Im really annoyed that they have sent the letter to me so late, without any apology.  The letter is vague about claiming it back - it implies rather than states it directly which may mean they realise they are on a "sticky Wicket" in that respect ... View more

Thought I would add to this older post rather than create a new one.   I have been off work since february and have been lucky enough to have a years company sick pay - Ive just had a letter from my employer to say that the SSP that they have been paying ran out in August and they shouldnt have been paying it and I should have claimed ESA . I wasnt aware of this and at that time (in August) had just finished Chemo and was about to start radio therapy it was the last thing on my mind.   Im so annoyed that my employer sent me this letter almost 4 months too late, and without any apology.  Employers letter indicates that they will reclaim the money from my company sick pay..   Question is can I make a back dated claim for ESP?  Ive never claimed anything before so all this is a bit new to me.  I will try and ring them later today when visitors have left and find out but thought someone could enlighten me.   Im hoping to go back to work part time in January anyway so its a bit crazy ... View more

I have nerve problems particularly in my hands and feet. Im going to try acupuncture and have a consulatation on Friday. I have heard that medication  does have these types of side effects. ... View more

Whilst I think the aqueous cream  with sodium lauryl sulfate wasnt making the rash any better, stopping  using it hasn't made it clear up completely.   The rash seems to go away for a few days and then it comes back in  red patches which are very itchy and which get warm. I would have though if it was the Anstrozole that was causing it, then why would It go away for periods of time and then come back. It t must be something else that Im using /doing.   Ive stopped using any bath products ( I was using Sanex).   I suppose its like trying to track down the causes of an alergy, but its driving me mad.  Any ideas? ... View more

The actual Rad sessions were Ok , just a bit tedious having to go every day. I found the fatigue afterwards difficult.Each week I look at what I can do and realise its a little bit more than I could do the previous week. Its a slow process for me but I know I am getting ther ... View more

I was diagnosed in January 2014, surgery february, chemo ended in August and Rads in September. When I was diagnosed the BC nurse said if I had Chemo to expect to be off work for at least a year.   I didnt believe her but I do now. nine months on I still feel very tired and cant see me going back to work till the new year. However I also feel that I need to get back to work to get some normality, I will get a phased return, my manager has been brilliant and I know that I wont be pushed by him to return early.   Throughout my treatment  I have been constantly been told that everyone is dfferent and what works for one does work for another. So for me,  the return to work question is about listening to my body and how I feel, being honest about how I feel to myself and my manager, and to not feel presurised to go back to work too early. I just hope I can follow my own advice. ... View more

I was advised to use Aqueous during radiotherapy and I didnt have any problem - the main problems with the rash started about a week after radiotherapy ended.   I was advised by a lymphadema nurse during an awareness session during radiotheraphy not to use aqueous post radiotherpy but she didnt say why and I wasnt on the "ball" enough at the time to ask.  She also advised not to use E45 as well. I wish now I had asked her why? ... View more

Thanks - sodium lauryl sulfate is in so many things such as shampoo, but I didnt realise it was in some version of Aqeuous, With Shampoo etc it gets washed away. With cream applied to moisturise it stays on the skin. so has more lasting effect ... View more

That fits in with my appointment schedhule - finished Rads 16th Sept and my oncology appt is December 3rd. ... View more