Breast Cancer Now Forum

Glad the appointment went well today Sunflower. I have mine on the 23 June. Already have my first Mammogram appointment booked for next March. Been whittling about the June appointment so glad to hear its just a quick check up x ... View more

Hi ladies hope everyone is having a good weekend and enjoying the sunshine. Proud mum moment today. My daughter took part in the Race for Life in Nottingham this morning. She is someone who doesn't even walk anywhere never mind run! She did it though because of what we as a family have gone through this year and also her friend at work who is a currently being treated for a different cancer. She has raised about £370 x ... View more

Hi I received my Tamoxifen prescription 4 weeks after surgery but told not to take it until finished radiotherapy which was another 5 weeks. Think it depends on which hospital is treating you ... View more

How nice to be on the next stage of the forum. Glad to hear you are all having a good time. I am in Harrogate at the moment celebrating my 50th birthday. Went to Thoresby Hall Hotel for Champagne Afternoon Tea to celebrate my wedding anniversary on Tuesday 20 years. So nice to be doing these normal things even if emotions are messing with you underneath. Start Tamoxifen tomorrow. Have decided it isn't going to get the better of me. Hugs to everyone xx ... View more

Well done ladies glad we have reached or are nearly at the finish line as far as rads are concerned. We can all look forward to a lovely summer. Going away this weekend to celebrate my 50th birthday. Thought I would be sad saying goodbye to my 40's but with how the last few months have been I can't wait. Best wishes to everyone. Looking forward to the next stage of the forum x ... View more

Great idea. What about Sunshine after the Showers? Certainly feels like the sun has come out now treatment has finished. ... View more

Hi everyone, hope all ok. I have finished!!!!!! Weird feeling. Lovely to know that I have finished, but strange that for a while no one will be keeping an eye on me for a few weeks. The team spoke to me whilst they were setting me up about my skin and what to do. Afterwards I had a Rad Review where I was given my Moving Forward pack and other bits of information-all useful. Will get an appointment in the post for Oncology Clinic for 6-8 weeks time. Just got to start the Tamoxafin now!   Sunflower hope you are enjoying your hot tub and enjoy your cruise. To all the ladies finishing Monday enjoy your virtual celebrations.   xx   ... View more

Well done Nenya x Just shows how what we are all going through messes with us. Have told several friends today who have texted me and wrote earlier on this thread that this evenings session was number 9. It was actually number 10-bonus!!!!! Two thirds done and got in 20 mins earlier. x ... View more

Hi Hawkeye Most of my appointments have been in the evening between 7 and 8. The swelling is at its worse a couple of hours afterwards. My quality of sleep is not good due to Fibromyalgia so I try to avoid sleeping in the daytime so I don't make it worse. The last few days though I have had to give in during the day. I hope your wound starts to heal very soon. I have been quite lucky as my scars are healing really well. I still cant sleep on my left side though as too tender x ... View more

Hi everyone Francine so pleased to hear you are back home. Hope you feel better very soon. Sunflower not long to go. Hope all ok with the BCN today. Hope you are enjoying your hot tub. Suebee so sorry to hear about your cat. They leave such a gap. Its a year today since I lost Sid who was also 17. I also lost Charlie 15 and Ally 13 last year. Miss them all. Like you Nebsminty you can see the outline of the treated area. I'm so sorry to hear your sad news. 9/15 this evening. I am still swollen but the swelling hasn't got any worse. The tiredness is the hardest part for me at the moment. Take care xx   ... View more

Francine so sorry to hear you have been so ill. Hope you start to feel better very soon. OH sounds like a good support to you. They really are amazing wouldn't have coped without mine. Nebsminty, Sparkle, Eileen, Judi and Sunflower glad all going well for you. Hawkeye hope your wound is holding up. Had 6/15 last night. Swelling hasn't got any worse which is good. So far I have either been in on time or gone in early which is a bonus. Next session is this evening and then can enjoy the weekend. Hope the weather stays good for us all. The sunshine makes such a difference. Andrea x ... View more

Hi everyone welcome Lorraine hope you are finding the forum helpful. You know you are not alone when you come on here. The oncologist isn't concerned about the swelling from a side effect point of view but there was concern that my breast would be changing shape etc with the swelling so obviously there could be a problem with me getting correct coverage. The radiographers had checked with planning and all ok so good news. 6/15 this evening so almost at the halfway mark. Andrea x ... View more

Hi everyone 4/15 done. Radiographer has got to discuss with my oncologist about the amount of swelling I have. My measurements have changed already. Is anyone else suffering from swelling? Nebsminty I can agree with you it is weird laying there whilst they take measurements and draw on you! Can't believe after today I will be a third of the way through treatment. Hope everyone is ok Andrea x ... View more

Hi Jaye thanks for the tip. Will be taking a bottle of water with me tomorrow. I have been putting cream on for the last 4 weeks so will see how it goes. Enjoy the rest of the weekend x ... View more

Morning ladies Had my 2nd session yesterday evening. Great time to go. Traffic was minimal and able to park easily. There was only one other person in the waiting room it was so peaceful. Came out feeling fine. We called at a friends for a cuppa on the way home. By the time we got in my breast was pink and swollen. Is this normal after only 2 sessions? Felt quite off as well. Woke up this morning and everything has settled back down again. Quite surprised you had no follow up appointment Jaye. I have clinic on day 5 and also on my last day. I also will have a check up a few weeks after rads have finished. The day I was given my post op results in March I was given the appointment for my first mammogram March 2016. Why don't you ring your BCN to see if you should have had a check up? ... View more

I was told my planning would be done with and without holding my breath. As I was able to hold my breath with ease they only planned with me holding it. Don't think there is much difference to cost just a little extra time. I believe they only do the breathing technique on one machine here so that they don't have to train too many radiographers. My tumour was also quite deep. Anything that helps to protect me I will try! ... View more

Nebsminty the gown is made of a soft thick navy material. It has a full length zip up the front and each shoulder seam has Velcro fasteners. I feel well covered whilst sitting in the waiting room. Once I have laid down they undo the Velcro fasteners and the zip to position me and then they are able to partially cover up my good side. Once treatment is finished they just fasten me back up and I then get changed. The gown stays with me for the duration of the treatment and I can wash it if I want to. ... View more

Hi I have to take Tamoxifen for 5 years. My oncologist has told me to start taking them once I have finished radiotherapy. I also have decided to leave a couple of weeks break before I start to take them so I know which side affects belong to which treatment x   ... View more

Hi Kim68 I saw my oncologist on the 24 March. At this appointment I had a check up and discussed my results. They then discussed the next stage of treatment and the risks etc of having radiotherapy. I then signed the consent form. I also met the senior consultant as she likes to meet all her ladies and then a member from the radiotherapy dept who showed me photos of the machines and explained the treatment. I had my planning on the 31st. I had a CT scan and they took lots of measurements. As the cancer was in my left breast they checked to see if I could hold my breath for 20 seconds as this offers some protection to my heart and lungs. I received my modesty gown which I will use for all the sessions. I should have been given my appointment times but the booking desk had closed for the day (it was after 5). I was able to state my preferred times. I started yesterday so everything happened quickly. Hope this helps x ... View more

Hi Fuffs123 Thank you for the welcome. Sorry to hear you have had such a bad week. Hope you are now able to move on and complete your treatment. I find this forum a big help to me x ... View more