Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi jill, just to let u know i had a right mastectomy April 2013 i am going for reconstrution November 2014.I did have chemo and radiotherapy The surgeon said it will be about 10 months later when all the swelling has gone and my new breast has settled down  he will match my good one to the bad one as i am only small and am going up 2 cup sizes. hope this helps Yvonne ... View more

Hi Melena I had mactectomy april 2013 I find genie bras do the trick the ones with removable pads I took the pads out and popped my prothesis in the pocket it does fit in. I dont try and pull them over my head I just step into it and pull it up they are so comfy nothing on them to bite or nip. Hope this helps ... View more

Hi Curly05 I can relate to how you feel ,I had the same op's as you 4th April 2013 my mind was made up from the off that I'd have recon when I look at myself naked I just say 'it won't be forever its just for now' I have never taken my eye off my goal. My-my how fast as year has passed at the end of this month I got an appiontment to discuss reconstruction I can't wait I've only got small breasts my BCN said I can ask to make both bigger yippee and I can have which ever surgeon I want, and to see another surgeon for a second opinion as they may offer different surgery.I just picked out all the advantages of the recon and keep that to the front of my mind .So I know how you feel I just felt ugly but I snapped out of it we both been through to much dont give it the satisfaction of getting you down,before you no where you are you will be a year ahead, now Easter is here the rest of the year will fly by stay strong. Yvonne x ... View more

Hello everyone  Not long for you now Angie I told you it soon comes round lol. Good luck tomorrow Kathy and dont forget take some aqueous cream with you and after treatment before you get dressed plaster it on while skin is still fresh and warm . Yvonne ... View more

Also forgot to say I don't get any joint pains thats all stopped just got to sort my weight out now lol Hope this helps ... View more

HI Tw211 I too suffered some side effects i have been on tamoxifen since end of September,the only one i didnt suffer from what you mentioned was stomach upests. I changed a few things I cut out all caffine i only have decaff,I changed my duvet to a goose filled one I only wear cotton pjs and got my doctor to change my  tamoxifen instead of taking a 20mg at bed time I now take one 10mg in a morning and one 10mg at bed time over all I am sleeping much better and im only getting 2 or 3 hot flushes in the night instead of one after another - after another but because I changed so much at once its hard to say which one is the secret weapon @Tw211 wrote: Well, I skated through the first month and was doing well,however, the SE are coming at me strong. I am having the flushes, joint pains and a whole lot of stomach upset/pain. I wanted to ask anyone if they changed the time of the dose due to side effect and if so, did it help? I take my meds at 6 am and thinking about trying a different time to help. This is terrible to feel like this all day long! When I think about feeling like this for five years, I could just cry 😞   ... View more

Happy easter to you Hattie eat loads of chocolate and goodies can always sort the out the pounds we gain later ha!ha! enjoy the hols. Yvonne ... View more

Hi Jane yes im sure you can ask for double mastectomy my friend has just been diagnosed with same as you,she has very large breasts (she hates them)and hers is at the side no where near her nipple and was offered a lumpectomy with a 50 percent chance of it returning so that is a defenate no-no they offered her a mastectomy and she asked for a double and they said yes,she goes in hospital on thursday 17th April. hope this helps Yvonne ... View more

Hi podge-1 I got mine from the hospital.The one i wear day to day i got free but the one for swimming is made of different materials so they sell them for 50 pound. Have you asked if your hospital has them. Im shocked to find that people have to out and buy them. Yvonne ... View more

Hi Franqwerty,just pop in to say when i was on chemo last year my cousion gave me some good advice on many things and one was if your on steriods take them before 2 oclock in the afternoon if you take them later they will keep you awake how right she was one day i forgot and took them at tea time i was bouncing of the walls at bed time 🙂 I never made that mistake again hope this helps. Yvonne ... View more

Hi barbersdrove I had my mastectomy 4th april last year with full lymph node clearance at first they didnt think I would have to have chemo but it had spread to another lymph node so 2 out of 12 were infected at the time I was gutted but now its all behind me I look bk and im so glad i had it, I know now that they have thrown every thing at it I had radiotherapy and im on tamoxifen for 5 years.I agree with what rosie14 and taxiforjac said it is for the best and waiting around can drive you gar-gar,I m going to see my consultant at the end of the month for reconstruction I still got a way to go.Good luck with every thing. Yvonne ... View more

Hi Wax I too am so sorry to hear about your Dad, to say this is a very difficult time for you and your family is an under statment. I started my chemo last may and finished in september. I used to have long blond hair down to my waist on the wednesday before i started chemo (which was on the friday) I had it cut into a short bob but left it long enough to tie bk.I thought i would give the paxman cold cap a try and im pleased to report it was very-very sucessful i lost a bit on the top so i pinned my fringe up to hide it and when the summer came and every one was complaining about how hot they were in thier wigs i was glad i stuck with it I would recommened any one to give it a try,how ever my cousion went through all this in 2012 she didnt cut her shoulder length hair and she started to lose hers on the 2nd treatment but as you know we are all differant.Good luck with your treatment. Yvonne ... View more

Hi reds have you got any problems keeping your arm straight and raising it above your head. Yvonne ... View more

Hi Debs sorry you to hear you not been well, as for the cold cap I lost hair every time I had chemo 6 x fec my biggest loss was on the second one but what you must remember before chemo I bet every time you brushed your hair some came out mine did its only natural my hair went very thin on the top and I pinned my fringe up to hide it I combed it once a day and tied it BC I handled it as little as possible. how ever when the new hair started to grow bk it has come much much thicker then before, I finished my chemo in September at Christmas when I went out I couldn't do much with it so I wore my wig for the first time I bought it in June as a back up ,as for any head aches take some pain killers about an hour before hand I did and I never got any head pains. I do hope you stick with it and when the summer comes and its too hot for wigs you will be glad you did too I know I was. Hope this helps good luck and get well soon. Yvonne x ... View more

Hi FrancesM my onc never gave me aqueous cream he gave me diprobase cream and you can not wash with that so I used simple shower gel and as for my hair I shampooed and conditioned it with my favorite one, if your worried if I was you wash your hair first then your body second but the beauty of a shower you have fresh clean water flowing over you consistently im more of a bath person but I never washed my hair in the bath only in shower.  Hope this helps. Yvonne ... View more

Hi jan yes it does make sense and the worse thing is we get these little thoughts that have a way of creeping up on us, I was diagnosed 13/3/2013 talk about unlucky 13 lol I had a mastectomy and a full lymph node clearance on 4 April 2013 but I can still remember all my thoughts and feelings like it was yesterday,I would go about my business then id have a little cry dry my face then carry on with what ever it was I was doing but all the time I stayed positive and would often tell myself 'I will take what ever they throw at me and l'm lucky it could be a lot worse' As the days pass it does get easier its just so difficult getting your head around it all.I only told my immediate family and at work my boss and two work pals I didn't want any one to know I didn't want any horror stories or that sad smile people give you I just wanted normality.I had my op easter week after that I didn't care who knew.We all have different ways of dealing with things. Good luck with every thing.Yvonne ... View more

I too have a sister just the same we are very lucky aren't we. My BCNurse came out to visit me at home I hope yours does and she can give your daughter some peace of mind.My 1 and only child is 21 and he just freaked out he couldnt deal with it, i made him take the morning of work when she came and it did help him. Yvonne  ... View more

Hi francesM what ever you decide to use get on prescription don't go out and buy it (not sure if you can get aloe vera on prescription) Hi Angie I also want to tell you to get some oilatum from doctors for bath or shower as you said you have very dry skin to start with just dab a bit on after you have washed.  You ladies do know you get free prescriptions for 5 years dont you. Yvonne ... View more

Hi kalo i too am sorry you have had to find yourself here,i had my mastectomy 4th April last year with chemo and radiotherapy and the best advise i can give you at the moment is dont go to any appointments on your own your head is a shed and they give you so much info you can not take it all in.Its difficult for me to say what questions to ask as i dont know every thing they have told you.What i did i kept my note book and pen with me at all times and i wrote all my questions down because you do forget,when my breast care nurse came out to visit me and the family she answered them all.I also bought myself a big diary so i could keep track of all appointments and i filled in daily when i was on chemo.Hope this helps. Yvonne ... View more

Hi Angie glad it all went well and trust me 25th april will soon come round 🙂 ... View more