Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Saffronseed   Many thanks for your uplifting story which I read on a day when I am having a wobble and feeling scared about the future. I am N.E.D and coming up to my first cancer anniversary this April. I hope I will get to post in 4 years 2 months my positive story 🙂 xx ... View more

Hi Lupin1172   I think most women with BC are anxious about the spread of the disease. We wouldn't be normal if we didn't worry. I am 7 months down the line having had two lots of surgery and six rounds of chemotherapy under my belt to treat an invasive ductal grade 3 hormonal but small (1.2cm) cancer. My results came back as further breast tissue taken and 8 lymph nodes being clear of cancer. However I had chemo before the second surgery so will never know if there were cancer in my nodes or not. I am cancer-free now but there is that anxiety in my head that even though the nodes came back as clear that the cancer could have spread another way. I am just hoping that the chemo would have killed the cells that may have escaped and the 10 years of tamoxifen will be my insurance to keep it away forever.   I was like you at the beginning, terrified of eating anything unhealthy and didn't drink alcohol for months as afraid that one sip of alcohol will cause the cancer to come back. I have calmed down a bit now and allow myself some treats. I drink wine at the weekends but in strict moderation. Have heard wine, red wine in particular, has good anti-cancer properties. Yoga is good for you so don't give it up. It won't cause the cancer to spread at all. As for pill, if the cancer is positive for hormones that is a good idea to stop taking it and consider taking non hormonal contraception instead.   I have felt anxious today about the future and not knowing if this time bomb in body will go off or not in the future. Then I remind myself that I have had belt and braces treatment which is designed to CURE me. The treatment you will be getting will be designed to CURE you. My advice is to take every treatment going to ensure that it won't come back. Breast cancer is the most treatable form of the disease and the vast majority of women are cured and go onto live long and healthy lives. Just keep thinking that and hope for the best. That's all we can do.   There is a FB page for women under 45 with BC. If you want to join, all you need to do is send a private message mentioning you have a BC diagnosis. The name of the page is Younger Breast Cancer Network. You will be able to chat to other women and no subject is off-limits. The group has been a lifesaver for me. Hope to see you on there.   Big hugs and hang on in there xxx ... View more

thanks Jane 🙂 xxxx ... View more

Hi Sisterjayne, PaulS, Mel66   My BCN phoned me this evening with results of the surgery. Its good news, the further breast tissue and 8 lymph nodes that were removed came back as clear from cancer 🙂 don't know if chemo killed the cancer cells or there were no cancer cells there in the first place. If chemo did kill the cancer cells in the breast and the lymph nodes then its probably done the same to any rogue cells that may have escaped into my body. I am now cancer-free and absolutely over the moon that I have finally had good news after a hellish 7 months.   Will be starting tamoxifen next week for the next ten years and radiotherapy will start in the New Year then it will be the end of active treatment. At least I will have a break in treatment over the xmas period and look forward to finally bringing a truly horrible period in my life to an end.   Hope treatment continues to go well for you all and keep in touch xxx     ... View more

Hi PaulS, Mel66 and Sisterjayne   Lovely to hear from you all and that even though chemo has been tough it has been manageable for you both. Good to hear Sisterjayne that you not getting too many side effects with the tamoxifen. I will be starting tamoxifen in a couple of weeks time for ten years.   Been to the hospital to have the drain removed. Slight pulling and a few seconds of discomfort and it was out 🙂 I am now drain-free. Still feeling a bit sore and the underarm is all numb and feels squishy which makes me cringe when I touch it. Still doing my exercises religiously three times a day and my arm (touch wood) looks normal and has full movement 🙂   Your chat with the oncologist was indeed interesting to read, in particular in relation to exercise and statistics. I have been told that walking can reduce recurrence by 40 - 50%. Since diagnosis I have walked every day, I mainly did it to calm me down and to take me back to the present moment. Walking has done wonders for my mental state and also helped me to bounce back quickly from chemo and surgery. I have read that exercise is truly a wonder 'drug' and that daily exercise should be prescribed alongside conventional cancer treatment.   I have also read that vitamin D is benefical in relation to cancer. Many women that are diagnosed with BC are vitamin D deficient and that sufficient vitamin D levels may lead to a 50% reduction in recurrence risk. I had my levels tested and i was found to be insufficient in vitamin D so I am taking two supplements a day. The next thing I have read about is the role of a low dose of daily aspirin in stopping the spread of breast cancer. This is controversial as regular aspirin can have side effects such as stomach bleeding. However there has been a link between aspirin and how it may halt the spread of breast cancer but its been said that the link is just observational and more research is needed. A nurse's study found that aspirin taken 2 - 5 times a week has a 64% reduction in metasases and 71% reduction in the risk of dying from cancer. Something to think about. I just want to do everything possible to keep this disease at bay.   Is your oncologist saying that the figures you were given were wrong in terms they should be higher? I was given 87/13 at 10 years but my mum thinks they are probably higher than that as the NHS tend to cover their backs and give you the bottom figure. My Breast Care Team and my oncologist have told me that the treatment I am getting is to cure me but then they cover their own backs by saying there's no guarantees. I do believe that most women are cured of BC and eventually die of something else. Its the fact we do not know if we are lucky ones that are cured that is hard to live with. Having to live our lives under this cloud of uncertainty is worse bit of having this disease.   I have had no scans so far and been told only have them if you start having symptoms. I heard they don't like to give unnecessary scans due to the risk of radiation and the fact they can give a lot of false positives which causes stress and worry. Been told that due to having breast cancer that my daughter will go into breast screening a lot earlier. I was diagnosed at 40 so my daughter should be in the screening programme at 30. Really hope she doesn't develop this diseasde when she's older.   Think it good to have this knowledge in our arsenal against this disease and hopefully this will help to keep it away forever. Go back for my results on 26th November, will keep you posted on how it goes xxx ... View more

Hi Sisterjayne, PaulS and Mel66   I have had an elective WLE and ANC on 11th November and so far so good. Had a major meltdown at the pre-op appointment where I told the nurses I can't do this anymore. They had to make me a cuppa and calm me down. The day before the op I was totally terrified and cried all day. Then the day came and I was totally calm and no tears!   Had the op and woke up with a drain in. Went home the next day. I have taken advice on board and have kept on top of the painkillers and the exercises. As a result, even though I am sore under my arm, there has been hardly any pain and have good movement in my arm 🙂   Results in a couple of weeks and hoping that's the end to the surgery so can move onto radiotherapy. Will be starting tamoxifen in a couple of weeks.   How has chemo been for you PaulS and Mel66?   How has things been for you Sisterjayne?   Hope to hear from you soon xxx         ... View more

Hi SarahJane71 The FB page is called younger breast cancer network. It's a private page so none of your friends and family will see any of your posts. I have been on it for a few months and its a great source of support as everyone on there are going through the same journey as you. There are also meet ups happening throughout the year. Thanks will let you know how the op goes. Hope you get your treatment plan soon so you can start beating this horrid disease! Xxx ... View more

Hi Sarahjane71   sorry to hear you joined our horrible club 😞 its such a shock when you get diagnosed and your head is spinning with it all. I was diagnosed in April this year and so far I have had unsuccessful surgery, 6 rounds of chemo and now I am facing more surgery in a few weeks. I didn't cold cap so ended up losing my hair but it is starting to grow back now.   There is a younger breast cancer network on facebook for women up to the age of 45. If you want to join you need to message them with details of your diagnosis and then they will send you a friend request. You can then chat to women similar in age to you who have B.C. Hope to see you on there.   PaulS - its reassuring to hear that your surgeon says that BC is highly curable and that most of us won't die from BC. We just have to hope we are the lucky ones. Its just the uncertainty of not knowing if we are cured or not that is hard to cope with. Hope my node op will be straightforward and painless as possible. At least when the surgery is done and everything comes back as being clear that I can then move onto radiotherapy the last stage of active treatment. Then its the case of getting life back onto an even keel again! xxx   ... View more

Hi Sisterjayne and PaulS   Nice to hear from you both 🙂 sisterjayne - glad that you had a good holiday in Canada with your brother and that you not having too many side effects from the tamoxifen. I have decided to have another lumpectomy plus radiotherapy as been told the risk of local recurrence is 10% over a 10 year period. My surgery is the week commencing 10th November.   Found out a bit more about my cancer today, the original tumour was 12mm but didn't realise that the tumour was partially high grade DCIS. DCIS is non invasive cancer so it looks like the tumour only partially erupted the ducts and became partially invasive. Was told that they can't say for certain whether any cells did escape the breast but gave me chemo as insurance. I am really hope it didn't escape anywhere but if it did i hope the chemo has hunted down the rogue cells and killed them all. So this news has given me a boost when i was feeling scared and low.   PaulS - I have had 3 lots of tax. When I was told I was having tax as part of my chemo treatment I was quite apprehensive when the oncologist listed the possible side effects as it sounded horrific. I was dreading the half-way point in chemo as it was the change to Tax. However I found that tax wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Its less sicky than EC, I didn't hardly have any anti sickness medication with the tax. The aches and pains associated with tax hit around day 3 and last for a few days. I kept on top of the aches and pains by taking painkillers to take the edge off but for me they were fairly mild pains. I felt a bit fluey and achey but just took it easy and rest. The other side effects I had was nosebleeds, constipation, indigestion, brittle and discoloured nails but these were minor in nature. I hope I have put your mind at rest about the tax.   I am still dreading the node op. The surgeon is going to reopen the sentinel node scar but make it bigger to get to the nodes. I am still stressing over the possible pain, stiffness and swelling in the arm. I hope it won't be as bad as I am building it up to be in my mind. At least when the surgery is finished, it will be radiotherapy and then active treatment will be finished. Truly can't wait for this horrible to be finished and to get back to a new normal xxx   ... View more

Hi Kf791   Yeah all rational thinking is gone in the early days of diagnosis. I was convinced it had spread to my knee and was on the phone to my BCN who had to reassure me that it was very unlikely to spread. Every ache and pain takes your mind to some very dark places.    Once you have your treatment plan in place, you will feel more in control to beat this dreadful disease and get your life back. Its been the worse 6 months of my life so far but on the positive side I have met so many inspirational and brave women thats battling BC, made new friendships and about embark on new challenges that I wouldn't have dreamt of doing prior to diagnosis. Having BC makes you realise what is important in life and not to worry over little things anymore.   Breast cancer care also do 2 day workshops for younger women where you stay overnight in a hotel (its free). The workshops are on a variety of issues such as early menopause, sex and intimacy, lymphodema, nutrition, benefits of exercise etc. I went to one in Leeds a couple of weeks ago and I would highly recommend it. I met with lots of ladies there (some of them are on the FB page too) and made new friends.   Anyway good luck with the CT scan and hope to see you on FB 🙂 xx ... View more

Forgot to add that this group is strictly private and that any posts you make on there are seen by members only. So no family and friends will see what you post xxx ... View more

Hi Kf791   Sorry to hear you have joined our horrible club 😞 it is really a worrying time when you are first diagnosed with BC and there is so much waiting around for appointments which makes the situation more intolerable.   I am further down the line than you - I was diagnosed in April. My life was turned upside down and in the early days I was absolutely terrified out of my mind. In the six months since diagnosis, I have had unsuccessful surgery, 6 rounds of chemo and now facing more surgery in a couple of weeks.   There is a facebook group for younger women under the age of 45 with a BC diagnosis. Its called Younger Breast Cancer Network. If you want to join you need to send a private message with details of your diagnosis and then they will send you a friend's request. Its a great group as its good to talk to women that get it and are in the same situation as you. We all support each other.  I have been part of this group for a few months and have met up with several of the ladies from there at BC social events.   Hope to see you on there and remember you are not alone in this truly horrible situation.   Big hugs xxx ... View more

Hi all   Just a quick update. Had my last chemo on Wednesday, the last of the Tax 🙂 glad that 4 1/2 months of chemo is finally over and hopefully the experience will never have to be repeated ever ever again! Hair is growing back and I have a thin covering. I keep using the lush shampoo bar every day to encourage growth.   Surgery is the next line of treatment but can't really decide until i see the surgeon. So I am trying to revise for my upcoming maths exams in early november which is helping to distract me from horrid cancer even though I keep making silly mistakes!   How are you getting on with chemo Mel66 and PaulS?   How is the tamoxifen Sisterjayne, any side effects?   Anyway hope you are all well and hope to hear from you soon xxx   ... View more

Hi Sisterjayne   Hope you are well and that treatment is going well for you.   Thanks for your good wishes 🙂 had chemo no 5 on 10th September and have mainly been fine. Had a few aches and pains for a few days which eventually passed. Next and final chemo is on 1st October. Will be glad that part of the treatment will be finished and hope its something i will never have to experience again. Surgery is the next step and I am still anxious about the ANC - its just that I have heard so many horror stories about the op. Just that I have heard that it is very painful due to the nerve endings being cut and there's the sensation of numbness in the armpit and the shoulder which in many cases is permanent. There is also the fear of finding out there was cancer cells in the lymph nodes and whether it could affect my prognosis.   Truly can't wait for the treatment to be over and try to get back to a new normal way of life. However I imagine that will throw up new challenges in terms of being healthy diet and exercise and having to cope with the fear and anxiety about recurrence. Life after cancer will never be the same as it was before pre-diagnosis. xx ... View more

Hi Rabia   I have extensive LVI which scares me but when I bring it up with the oncologist or the chemo nurses they don't seem overly concerned about it. In fact they seem confident that they will be able to cure my breast cancer and say I have a good prognosis. They say that chemo will take care of any stray cells that may have escaped. Think LVI means that the actual tumour has developed its own blood vessels in which cancer cells can be transported in. However this may have not happened and even if it did then chemo will mop any cancer cells.   My friend had BC about six years ago with LVI and she is still cancer-free today 🙂   ... View more

Hi Sisterjayne, Mel66 and PaulS   Thanks for your comforting words about the upcoming ANC op. Some women that i have spoke to seem to have a lot of pain and discomfort with this op which scares the crap out of me whilst others (Mel & Paul) seems to have coped well with the op with minimal pain and discomfort. Think we are automatically trained to concentrate on the negative and not on the positive stories. I had a kidney removed in 2003 by keyhole surgery and even though it wasn't pleasant I got through it so don't know why i am being such a wuss over this ANC op!   I have had chemo no 5 (second tax) last wednesday and so far I haven't suffered with the aches and pains like I did last time. I have a manky mouth, some nosebleeds, conspitation and some aches. I can remembering being terrified of chemo and had a meltdown at the first chemo when I saw the syringes of chemo drugs being lined up for me. Chemo for me, has been relatively kind to me in terms of side effects. Think these last few days the shock of having cancer has hit me again and the disbelief that this is actually happening. My hair is starting to grow back and I can't wait to have hair again. That has been the hardest thing to deal with having to look in a mirror and be constantly reminded of the living nightmare. I don't blame women for cold-capping as to lose your hair is the worse thing ever but I was too chicken to stand the cold cap lol.   Mel66 - how has chemo been for you so far?   PaulS- good luck with the chemo. I am sure you will be fine. It can be tough but is doable.   Sisterjayne - hope the rads have finished for you and that you are on the road to recovery 🙂     Sandie xxx ... View more

Really worried about the impending surgery especially the ANC operation. My anxiety levels about it are sky high 😞 worried about the pain, numbness and the risk of lymphodema. Really do not want to have the operation at all. I have coped with the first op and 5 cycles of chemo (1 left to do) fairly well but the prospect of this operation terrifies me. The fear of this op is that bad that I would have rather have chemo over and over again rather than this op.   Just feel totally down with it all now and hate this hideous disease so much 😞   ... View more

Hi all   Done my 5th chemo today, now waiting for the side effects to hit this weekend. Hair is starting to grow back, got a lush shampoo bar that supposed to encourage the hair to grow back. Going to try it later tonight and see if it works 🙂   Was feeling upbeat until I saw an announcement about on the younger breast cancer network FB page about a member passing away presumably from BC. Just hit home how serious this disease can be and that it takes young lives. I know that most women nowadays don't die of this disease and only a small minority do. Just hope, like everyone does affected by this hideous disease, that I am one of the lucky ones.   Hope everyone are doing well in their treatments and are kicking cancer's arse xxx   ... View more

Hi Sisterjayne, PaulS, Mel66 and all the other ladies   Not posted for a few days as been on a short break to Center Parcs in Sherwood Forest where there was no wi-fi. The trip was paid by the Willow Foundation who specialises in short breaks for seriously ill adults up to 40. The tag of being 'seriously ill' certainly feels strange as I feel perfectly fine 🙂 had a lovely time - went swimming, cycling, bowling and went for a woodland walk - all this just 9 days after my fourth chemo. Went to a spa on my last evening there and walked about with my bald head on show lol. Was nice to relax in the turkish baths and the steam rooms. It was just NICE not to think about cancer constantly even though it was never far from my mind.   Sisterjayne - glad your radiotherapy has ended and that you have started tamoxifen. How many years do you have to do? Any side effects yet?   PaulS & Mel66  - had my 4th chemo on the 20th Aug. It was my first TAX. The first couple of days I felt fine but by the 3rd day the aches and pains kicked in, along with indigestion and a manky mouth. I felt like i had a case of the flu and was either in bed or lying on the sofa. However I didn't mind the aches and pains as i took it as the chemo was working and beating the crap out of any cancer cells. Did hobble around like an old lady for a few days lol. I took painkillers just before the first injection in the tummy and this took away most of pain. So best bet to avoid any major joint pains is to be pro-active and take the pain meds between day 3 - 7.  After reading so many horror stories about TAX, I can say for me that TAX was doable and not that bad. Now got two more chemos to go before its finished. Then its surgery with the dreaded ANC 😞   Has anyone seen the Macmillan press release about just walking one mile a day can prevent cancer recurrence and death by 40% particularly in breast and prostrate cancer patients? They are going to encourage the medical establishment to prescribe physical activity as part of the cancer treatment. Since diagnosis, I have stepped up with the exercise with walking almost every day. I must say I am fitter than ever and feel this has helped me to bounce back quickly after each chemo. Ten days after the 4th chemo, I was riding a bike round center parcs, bombing down water slides like I am not going through this horrid ordeal at all. I definately going to continue with the exercise to stay healthy and hopefully reduce my risk of recurrence even further. It has taken cancer for me to wake up to the benefits of exercise and how important exercise is to health. Exercise could end up saving my life in the long run 🙂   Hope you all have a good week despite of **bleep**ty cancer xx         ... View more

Hi Carly   Sorry to hear you have joined our horrible club 😞 It is a very scary time indeed but like its been said BC is very treatable nowadays thanks to medical advances 🙂   There is a FB private page for younger women with Breast Cancer. Its called Younger Breast Cancer Network. You need to send them a private message asking to join and a brief description of your diagnosis.   Hope to see you there xx ... View more