Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Weeburd I'm so sorry for your loss. Sending big virtual hugs in your direction.  I hope you get your mammogram soon as it will be one thing less on your mind. I've never heard of "someone like me". It's sounds such a good idea.    Hi Chrissy68 I've been working from home since the end of March. Didn't think I'd like it as I live on my own but I've surprised myself. The 1st twelve weeks when Support Bubbles didn't exist I followed the rules & didn't see my partner. We normally see each other at weekends anyway so it wasn't too bad.  Thank heavens for modern technology as it's massively helped. I did struggle with dark days & nights to start with as I don't tend to go out when works finished but I make sure I go during lunch break.   Around July/August I had a health scare but the hospital were fabulous. Thought I found a lump and couldnt shift a cough I'd had for months. They didn't dismiss my worries and arranged for ultrasounds and scans. ALL CLEAR. I was so pleased to be wrong lol   Xxx ... View more

Hi Chrissy I too found the little 2018 group so helpful.  Great Christmas had even in these weird times.    Stay save and stay healthy everyone x ... View more

Hi ladies   I cannot believe how far we have all come. I'm so pleased to hear you are all do well (ish) and let things get you down too much.   Flora I love the idea of travelling around in the camper van and yes you need to get the lump looked at. If only for your piece of mind.   Chrissy I most certainly do remember the Hair Bear Bunch lol. Hope the acupuncture works for you so you can get rid of the Tens machine.   WeeBurd I'm glad hear all is well with you. Hope you have a fabulous birthday and lovely time in August visiting Ireland.   I found out yesterday I'm on Letrozole for another 4 years and maybe more. Oh joy. So that means still being injected once a month with Zoladex. It's taken a few months for a BC Nurse  to get the info for me as no one had told me. Too be honest I also forgot to ask when I saw Onc in Jan/Feb. They really are amazing.  I'm mostly ok but struggle with awful flushing and aching joints. Bruise worse than normal too which is daft as Ive always bruised easily. The latter is probably because I'm still on anticoagulant tablets.   I'm 50 in a few weeks and am not looking forward to it but at the same time I'm grateful to still he here. If that makes sense. We've booked to go to Australia in January to see my best friend as part of my celebrations. Cannot wait.   So pleased to hear from you all.   Flora get checked out please    Xxxxx ... View more

I'd forgotten I was told that. Too be honest.I think I used cream then went back to razors. X ... View more

I finished chemo in June 18 and it took until Jan this year to get a hair cut. Since then I've had it cut 2 more times and I've noticed the curls have suddenly gone to waves. There again that could be the drugs I am on. What's weird is the 1st time I had chemo back in 2003 I didn't get "chemo curl"   X ... View more

Hi Chrissy   Glad you got it sorted    X ... View more

Hi Kate   I am on Letrozol and Zoladex but not the other drug so cannot fully compare.  Oncologist prescribed 1 calcium tablet a day (Adcal) but only after I queried something. Actially the same thing happened with the Zoladex. Recently had a Dexa bone scan and he's upped calcium to 2 tablets. All I know is my bones and joints ache like hell and go all stiff. Is this what you're experiencing?  Teresa ... View more

Hi Puddin   Sorry I have only just seen your post from October. As it's now Feb 19 I trust and hope you're doing well.   Yes it is incredibly scary we will keep having to go through this.   Xx ... View more

Hi Flora29   Sounds like you have an awful week but have managed to stay upbeat. I suppose if we can drag ourselves through chemo we can pretty much do anything? ( " note to self -  I must remember this when I feel worried & scared about the future" lol)    I hope your recovery is quick    X      @Flora29 wrote: Morning all, and well done to all of us for making it to a year since chemo started.  Hugs for everyone still going through it.   I had my last Herceptin last week so tentatively rang that bell.     Tentative was right too, as I had my ovaries removed the next day (to be assured I’m post-menopausal and can take letrazole) and then 36 hours later was back in A&E as they had caused a bowel obstruction when they sewed me up.   More surgery and 3 days in hospital but I’m home and fixed now.  Let’s hope that really is the end of it!     Chrissy, definitely look up the disability laws and reasonable adjustments that should be made for you. Reduction in hours should be a simple thing to comply with.  I went back to full time work after rads in May, save for Wednesday afternoons off to herceptin every 3 weeks. I now have 3 weeks off to recover from this surgery and then back to it!  But I have a great boss, and a brilliant team around me. We all support each other. Could not ask for more.    ... View more

Hi Flora29   Sounds like you have an awful week but have managed to stay upbeat. I suppose if we can drag ourselves through chemo we can pretty much do anything? ( " note to self -  I must remember this when I feel worried & scared about the future" lol)    I hope you quickly recover from the operations    Xx @Flora29 wrote: Morning all, and well done to all of us for making it to a year since chemo started.  Hugs for everyone still going through it.   I had my last Herceptin last week so tentatively rang that bell.     Tentative was right too, as I had my ovaries removed the next day (to be assured I’m post-menopausal and can take letrazole) and then 36 hours later was back in A&E as they had caused a bowel obstruction when they sewed me up.   More surgery and 3 days in hospital but I’m home and fixed now.  Let’s hope that really is the end of it!     Chrissy, definitely look up the disability laws and reasonable adjustments that should be made for you. Reduction in hours should be a simple thing to comply with.  I went back to full time work after rads in May, save for Wednesday afternoons off to herceptin every 3 weeks. I now have 3 weeks off to recover from this surgery and then back to it!  But I have a great boss, and a brilliant team around me. We all support each other. Could not ask for more.    ... View more

Yes Wee Burd it has been one hell of a journey for us all. Glad to hear you're doing okay xxx ... View more

Hi Chrissy   Lovely to hear from you too. I only had chemo so worked after each 2 week cycle.  Was on reduced hours up until end of July. In Aug I worked full hrs but started late and made time up with a reduced lunch. From October I went proper hours.  Won't lie it's taken it's toll on me as I leave the house at 6.45am and on average don't get home until 7.  In Nov and Dec I took more time off to recover from Wide Local Excisions.    Sorry to hear your boss is being less than supportive. You are covered by the Disability Act and always will be because of the cancer. She should treat you in accordance with those guidelines. It might be worth you reading up.    I have had 2 hair cuts now. Mine came back curly lol. Keeping it short in a pixie - ish style.    Take care of yourself.   X ... View more

I am so pleased this question has been asked. My scan in July showed my chest and right lung were now clear, had another scan a few weeks ago and results are the same which is fantastic. Now they don't  need to see me until after my next BC check up which is nearly a year away. I Should be happy  that I am currently No Evidence of Disease, and I am, but lack of scan is scary.  ... View more

Hi ladies   Not sure if any of you are still about? Tomorrow is the 1 year anniversary of my first chemo treatment. Feels appropriate that today I was told I am cancer free - No Evidence of Disease.   You all made the last 12 mths easier.  Thank you and take care.   Teresa   Xx ... View more

Hi again. I had a hospital appointment today. It was 2.5 hrs late and only lasted all of 10 min max. However, I'll forgive them as they confirmed the 2nd WLE was successful so there's NO cancer in the surrounding area. Just have a CT scan and Onc appointment in 5 weeks to go through before they can say "no evidence of disease". Got my first Post Chemo hair cut today as well. Feeling happy XX ... View more

Happy New Year ladies. Hope you're all okay and had a fabulous Xmas and New Year xx ... View more

Hi Wee Burd it most definitely sounds like you had a better day than last year. Well deserved too. Macneech - that's a hard choice for you to make. I chose a Diep back in 2003 and just had enough tummy fat for it. Mine was done at the same time as my Mastectomy. I did need a little lipo after a few months as it was too big but I've never regretted having done. Take your time, if you can? And ask to see photos of the surgeons work. I didn't have the luxury of time but my surgeon showed me photos and it helped me realise I'd made the right decision. Good luck with whatever you choose. Chrissy - my family and friends are also shocked we don't get regular scans. Because I've had two recurrences now I asked whether my boob would now have regular ultrasounds? NOPE was the response so again it will just be down to my vigilance. It doesn't seem right especially as they didn't show on CT scans. The scan I am due in Jan/Feb is for lungs and chest. Too be honest I want a full head to toe won every 6 mths and I think all cancer patients would. Like Wee Burd said- thanks for all your support this year. It's trully helped xx ... View more

Hi Ladies How's everthing going with your radiotherapy, hair growth, lymphedema etc? Getting there I hope. Had the re-excision of my Wide Local Excision yesterday. Pretty much slept from 8.30pm to 7.30 am this morning. Still feeling tired and now the anaesthetic has worn off I feel uncomfortable but that's to be expected. At least this time I don't have to worry about having a drain in. Now just the dreaded 2 week wait to see if the clearance is good. Last time they got 0.8 of a millimetre and they need 1mm. Who new the margin only had to be that little? Also, this week I have had an appointment with Oncology. The apt went well. Was worried I'd need more chemo as tumours that were removed 6 wks ago were grade 2 & 3 but I don't. Having a CT beginning of Feb which will be about 6 mths since my last one and I hope I can finally say Woo Hoo "no evidence of disease". Wishing you all a fabulous Christmas and New Year. I think we have bloody well deserved it. Xx ... View more

Hi lovely ladies Got to have another operation 😔. They cut out the 2 remaining cancers that chemo couldn't shift cancers which is good but they didn't get the clearance they need. Got 0.8 of a millimetre rather than the 1mm they want. Who knew that's all they need to start with? This time round it will be less invasive so no guide wire needed and doubt I need an overnight stay. I'll pretty much be up for anything to try and stop me having a 3rd recurrence. WeeBurd - have you had your results back yet? Xx ... View more