Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hey missmore - good luck for tomorrow. Hope all goes well. Amberstone - completely get what you mean about it being a strange new language! Yes - rads are radiotherapy. Everyone reacts slightly differently so I can only tell you how I got on, but it really wasn't too bad. I had fifteen daily sessions plus 4 booster days where they target the exact spot of the tumour. There was a planning session beforehand when they drew on me with lots of felt tip to make sure everything lined up as you have to lie in the same position every visit. Two minuscule blue tattoos as well which helps them line the machine up. Just tiny dots, smaller than a freckle. Some days I was literally in and out in five minutes as you have a scheduled time and my hospital was pretty good at sticking to it. By the end of the sessions my skin looked a bit like it was sunburnt but I didn't really peel - got a fabulously crusty nipple though which fortunately is now back to normal (too much information!). The only thing I wasn't prepared for was the culmulative fatigue - probably partly due to travelling back and forwards but also down to the treatment. It peaked about 4 weeks after I finished treatment and I'm now back to normal. Hope it goes well for you and good luck x ... View more

Exactly the same as you ladies - I didn't find a lump which makes me doubt my ability to check for anything suspicious going forward. Really appreciate your replies. Not the sort of question you can easily raise as general chit chat at work but it's been preying on my mind! ... View more

Thanks Wemblo. I'm sure it's nothing but asking the question will help lay my mind to rest. My bcn only works Tuesday to Thursday so it will be another day before I get the chance to speak to her. ... View more

Last boost tomorrow and all had been going well but woke up this morning to see a spot of blood at chest height on my bedsheet. Bleeding from the nipple was what led me to be diagnosed in the first place. Trying not to panic and will speak to bcn next week but gutted as I was so excited to be finishing rads. 😞 ... View more

Thanks for describing the booster session for Deelush, Wemblo. I'd been wondering what to expect. I have one more normal session and start boosts on Wednesday. Can't believe how quickly the weeks have passed! Skin pink and I have a slightly nippy nip but apart from that it's ok. Hope sessions go well for everyone tomorrow. X ... View more

Hi all. I hope today's been kind to you. I had session 9 today and tomorrow I'll be just over the halfway mark. Hurrah! Skin a little pink and feels warm in the evening but so far so good. I'd expected something more severe at this stage just because I burn easily so I'm happily surprised. One of the radiotherapy team said that effects often start to build at the end of week two so time will tell but so far so good! X ... View more

Good luck all starting today! X ... View more

Fab thanks Deelush 🙂 Arrived for second appointment way too early again but the team are just lovely and make it all very easy. 10 minutes or so for the treatment and the only bit that's slightly uncomfortable is holding the position in the arm rest but it's only minor. 2 down, 17 to go! mel51 - hope yours went ok. X ... View more

Thanks Boa and Deelush. It went well - arm got a bit achy holding the position so long but the radiotherapy team were just lovely and completely put me at my ease. It's all a bit Space Odessy with the machine and couldnt feel a thing. just pleased to know what to expect now. I can see that the daily trek is going to get boring very quickly but at least everything's moving in the right direction. Good luck with yours - not long to go now! ... View more

I'm currently sitting in the hospital car park killing time as arrived way too early. Just want to get this first session out of the way! I think I'm having 15 fractions plus 4 boost but forgot to ask and don't remember them saying. Just know 19 in total with the last on the 1st December. It's just over an hours drive each way so think I'll be feeling it by the end 🙂 ... View more

I'm so pleased for you. Take care. 🙂 xxxxx ... View more

Hi sparkle57. I really relate to your feelings. I went to the doctor after i noticed a change in my breast (I had a little bloody discharge I was concerned about but wasn't aware of a lump). When she checked, she said she felt a 'thickening' in the breast and put forward an urgent referral. During that time I too felt the lump, which then disappeared, and then came back, and then seemed to shrink...I was paranoid that I'd be thought of as a time waster and spent the time until my appointment prodding and poking myself to try to confirm I still had a lump and googling symptoms. I think I can understand what you're feeling and it's natural. But your doctor agreed to refer you for a reason. It's what these services are there for. It's important you get checked. When I finally went for my appointment the discharge had all but stopped and I struggled to find the lump. The doctor I saw also struggled and didn't seem hugely concerned but referred me for further tests. Mammo showed nothing of concern and ultrasound looked good but one small area picked up which they decided to biopsy. I'm eternally grateful they persisted as it turned out to be invasive breast cancer. I hope you go for your check with a clear conscience tomorrow, knowing you're doing the right thing, and I hope you get the all clear 🙂 xx ... View more

Thanks for sharing your experience Jo and I appreciate the tip about physio. This is all like learning a new language and these little bits of info are great as I'm finding that sometimes I don't even know the questions I should be asking! ... View more

Hi kmb. I'm sorry to hear of your diagnosis but think you've been brave to share the info with your son and daughter and definitely shouldn't feel guilty. I'm starting to process the whole situation now and I'm finding that being open was the right decision for me. Like you, I hate the people I love worrying about me but I just keep thinking about how I'd feel if roles were reversed and they didn't share with me. I've been very lucky after some initial problems and I'm just counting my blessings that they found the damn thing! Take care, be kind to yourself and use that emotional support from the people that love you. ... View more

Hi doggyvonne. Not exactly the same situation but similar. I was referred by my gp for urgent tests and she strongly recommended the nhs route. She stressed the main benefit to be that all the tests could be done in the same place. As it turned out there is a backlog of referrals where I live and I would have had to wait 4 weeks instead of 14 days. I went privately through my insurance but the hospital did advise there was a certain type of biopsy that they wouldn't be able to do. One of the nurses actually commented that the screening equipment used by my local nhs was state of the art and could do some tests in a way that theirs couldn't. If I had gone the nhs route I would have been looking for private care after the results without question, but the most important thing is that you're seen quickly. Good luck and I wish you well. ... View more

Spoke to the helpline as recommended and they were just fantastic. Helped me draft a list of questions for tonight when I get the mri results. I'm absolutely terrified. It's all starting to sink in now and I'm processing the fact that this is the start of a long but hopefully worthwhile journey. They offered such great support that it was a little overwhelming but I'm sure once I've made a bit more sense of things I'll take advantage of what's available. I was making plans for my 40th birthday in October just four weeks ago. I can't believe how things have changed but I'm just grateful that they found it. My best case scenario tonight will be that's it's just the small area they initially spotted on ultrasound and there's nothing on the other breast. Today is going to pass do slowly. ... View more

Thank you so much and I'll look out that leaflet Keeks. I have my MRI this afternoon and I'm keeping my fingers crossed it doesn't show anything in the other breast. Should get results on Thursday and then work out where we go from there. Took so long to get the initial tests done it's just great that things are finally moving. 4 week wait for urgent referrals on NHS where I live at the moment. Thank you both very much for your replies. It's good but also very sad to know that there are people out there who know how you're feeling. ... View more