Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hello ladies Isn't it lovely to have a couple of days off all the travelling and being zapped. I've just finished week 1 of 3.   We have all got to the radiotherapy treatment via different routes - I'm lucky I've avoided the chemo but my friends do seem to think that because I've avoided it the radiotherapy will be easy.  Well it's not is it!!!!  Hours of travelling for ten minutes' zapping.  And the knowledge that whatever you have planned for the day you still have to add the extra travelling time to get to your appointment.  Then there's the tiredness that is starting to creep in.  I purposely booked my zapping for the end of the day so I could come home and put on my PJ's and flop and that's what I'm finding I need to do.  The left boob is getting a bit prickly and my armpit feels a bit tighter and I do find myself looking to see if there's any physical difference - so far none.    I hope you all have a safe week and are gentle on yourselves. Hot flush coming so must sign off quick xxx ... View more

Hi ladies,   Firstly thank you for welcoming me into the November Rads Group.   I think the common nuisance for all of us (apart from the obvious) is the travel and waiting time for a relatively short period of time to be zapped.  My team at Guildford Royal Surrey Hospital are lovely and all the radiographers are incredibly kind and helpful.  That said, they omitted to give me the booster zap on Monday so I had to meet with the Dr on Tuesday to have that explained.  This meant a long appointment time, but they are back on track and will have to give me a single booster on 1st December.  I'm on a trial for both doses to be administered at the same time, so they have to refer back to those in charge of the trial to see what to do.    The treatment room is cold so I do take a small fleecy blanket with me and this has proved to be a very good idea - thanks to whoever suggested it.  I can be covered up almost to under by breasts and it just keeps me warm and I have something familiar with me - literally my "comfort blanket".     The whole process of lying there on the bed and being measured and lined up then having the machines whirring round and doing their stuff does bring it home that I have to have this treatment to get rid of the chance of recurrence so I take this as a positive.    Does anyone have a good aluminium free deodorant to recommend as I hate the idea of smelly armpits!!   Keep positive ladies - and keep in touch Gentle hugs,   Diane xx ... View more

Hi ladies   I too start my radiotherapy tomorrow (10th) so can I tag along to the group of fellow zappees?   I'm having my treatment in Guildford and am on the IMPORT HIGH trial 2.  I have the intense radio in the tumour bed in the same session as the regular radio to an area surrounding the tumour bed then no radio to the remaining breast.  My total number of sessions is therefore reduced from 23 to 15 so I shall be finished by the end of November. My journey without traffic is about half an hour each way and apart from tomorrow at 11.20 I'm hoping most of my sessions are at about 4 p.m. so I can go home and take things easy for the rest of the day.  I had my 10 mm Grade 3 tumour removed at the end of August so I've had quite a wait for radio.  The surgeon found some LCIS surrounding the tumour but I decided not to have a re-excision, so that delayed starting the radio.  My onc said that as I had choices and was referred to him, the decision to have radio and Letrozole was a good one so I'm keeping very positive.   Won't it be wonderful to get the radiotherapy out of the way and put the procedures side of all this behind us. Diane xx ... View more

Hi Barbara I too have had a bit of cording but it is easing off now.  I have been lucky enough to return to my normal routine of exercise, and managed to walk the golf course three times last week, just playing about 13 holes and not using my driver.  The surgeon said gentle golf would be fine and  I think the golf swing has actually helped.  I've also religiously been massaging in Vitamin E oil on the two scars and  particularly the area round the lymph node scar and that has also made a difference.  I'm glad you've come to a decision - I think that's one of the hardest parts of all this, plus the waiting for appointments.  But now you've made one you can move forwards and plan for being better.  I've always kept the attitude that it was a nasty lump which had to be removed and that there's a mop-up process and once that's over, its time to get on with life and enjoy it.  Your journey will take a bit longer, but you'll get there too. More gentle hugs and keep me posted Diane xx ... View more

Hi Barbara   Just wondering how you've got on this week.   I have made my decision to go for Option 1 which is radiotherepy, tamoxifen and careful monitoring as I don't fancy more surgery.  Also my LCIS markers are just that ... markers for something that may or may not happen in the future.  So as long as I'm watchful, if something does crop up, the team and I can be on top of it.  When asking friends/medical people - I was told I was lucky I have options.  You must remember that too.  All of this is fixable.   LCIS is different to DCIS - I think in your case getting the surgery out of the way is a good thing, and if you can have the reconstruction at the same time, even better.  Not sure which way round regarding chemo.  I think if it was me, I'd have it after the surgery but your surgeon will know your case best.  Good luck with the next steps Gentle hugs,  Diane xx ... View more

Hi Fridak How are you getting on?   Getting the op out of the way is a big relief.  Three weeks post op I have two thin scars - the one on my areola is hardly visible and the one under my arm is disappearing nicely, though very slightly swollen.  The worst part to get over is the tightness under my arm.  I have a little cording but am religiously doing the exercises to stretch it out.  As far as I am concerned - "it's" gone.   My surgeon has found some LCIS and I am going towards the option of no more surgery and careful monitoring, together with tamoxifen and radiotherapy.  My surgeon asked me if he found more LCIS in a re-excision, would that then sway me towards a mastectomy.  I said no, so he questioned whether it is worth further surgery.  I have had a recent MRI scan and apart from the tumour which is now out, and the historic lump which was a papilloma with no cancerous tissue round it, my breasts are clear of cancer - so for now I am cancer free and that's how I look at it.  People are very quick to announce that if it were them they would have further surgery and/or a mastectomy - but IT'S NOT THEIR BODY!!!!   How is your treatment plan progressing?  There's so much to take in isn't there? Gentle hugs,  Diane xx     ... View more

Hi ladies I had my op on Friday afternoon and came back home Saturday morning.  Inserting the guide wires was not pleasant, but the surgeon said very necessary as the lumps would have been really hard to find otherwise.  My great news is no cancer in lymph nodes - he removed 3 and all clear.  I have two scars both sutured and superglued so no dressings at all.  A very neat job and the one on the areola should disappear completely in time.  I am very bruised and a little tender but have full mobility in my arm and apart from some numbness under the armpit and my small "batwing" everything feels normal.  Tiredness takes over and I sleep but am delighted to let you know that I am continuing to be positive.  I hope your recovery goes as well.  Oh yes - I stopped the codeine as it made me floaty and constipated!  Just on the paracetamol. Diane xx ... View more

Hi I saw my surgeon yesterday and as my malignant lump and benign papilloma are both so tiny and moveable, he is inserting guidewires into both.  Has anyone had this done - and is it painful? Tomorrow it's the blue dye then Friday ... the Op.  All scary but a means to a positive outcome. good luck girls Diane xx ... View more

Hi ladies I am due to have a lumpectomy and SLNB on Friday 29th.  My journey sounds similar - found a tiny lump at the end of June, diagnosed as Stage 3 invasive ductal carcenoma after core biopsy.  Doctor thought it was a fibroadenoma so wasn't really worrying till she told me.  (It hadn't shown up on the mammogram.)  Surgeon asked for MRI scan then thought they may have diagnosis wrong - so renewed hope, but another ultrasound confirmed it is cancer, and took biopsies of a three year old fibroadenoma for testing as well.  I'm seeing the surgeon tomorrow for biopsy results and to hear his plan for Friday.  It's all quite terrifying when you think about it, so I try not to.  It took me until last Tuesday to brave telling my two sons who are in their twenties.  We lost their dad Christmas 2011 to pancreatic cancer so the "C" word is not good in our house.  I think the worst part is the waiting and wondering what is ahead.    So good luck for your surgery this week and keep positive.   Love  and gentle hugs Diane xx ... View more