Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hey Linzz,    I've had two operations on my back in the past due to herniated discs, so it wouldn't surprise me at all if it was because of bulging discs.  In fact, I have had pain in my leg too and started doing my physio exercises again to try and fix it!  It's funny really...I'd completely forgotten about how bad my back can get!  I have the doctors on Friday and have my mammogram on the 16th September so if i still have the pain then and haven't already been sent for a scan i'm going to request a scan then and see what happens.     I'd love to invent a machine that you could put above your front door at home that is activated in the mornings when you walk through it - a little like the security checkpoint you get at the airport.  It would ping and turn green as you walk through it to tell you that everything is ok....you don't need to think about BC today...That would be ace. I'd make one for everyone! 🙂 xx ... View more

Hi All,    Hope everyone is ok.  I haven't been on for a while...It's been crazy busy at work, which is a good thing! I had my holiday, after the Tunisia cancellation (!), in Cyprus and it was amazing.  I actually forgot i'd been poorly for a little while.  Then I came back... and back to full time work after being part time for a while.  Ugh.  How I managed to do everything before, i'll never know. I feel like i never stop.    I've had pain in my right side...and I'm scared...again.  I never used to do 'scared' or 'paraniod' and now it is a daily occurence.  I still have breast oedema, which is driving me potty and now I have this niggle under my bad boob.  It's just at the bottom of my ribs and a little underneath like where a stitch would be.  I've had it for about a week now and it scares me.  I called the BCN who said not to worry until it is around 3 weeks of pain, then get my arse back in. I've got a doctors appointment on Friday and I'm really hoping that by Thursday i'm cancelling the appointment.  Sometimes i get it on the left side, but only very intermittently, but the right side is constant.  Has anyone else had this? Murphy....i see you've had the pain and you've been sent for scans.  I do hope it's all ok for you!   It's been a year and 5 days since i got diagnosed.  How things (and I) have changed since then... x ... View more

Good luck for tomorrow Peta! I've been massaging since the appointment and haven't yet seen much of a difference, although my consultant said it could take some time. I was supposed to be on hols today...in fact i should be on my way to the hotel right now! Only the hotel is in Sousse...I got a phone call from my other half on Friday and he simply said 'we're not going'. I put on sky news and just stared at the screen for what felt like hours! We've had a full refund which is great but we didn't book with a package type agent so looking for a new holiday has been too hard. Flights are full and those that aren't are ridiculously expensive. I keep thinking about how it so easily could have been us there on the beach. It's so scary. I can't imagine what people affected are going through. It did start a bit of a debate yesterday...Do I have the greatest guardian angel ever or is someone determined to finish me off?! I like to look for positives so I will say I have the best angel, although I'm beginning to wonder! 🙈 ... View more

Hey everyone, I've been to see my consultant today..he said I have breast-oedema and it is extremely common following surgery and radiotherapy. I've been advised to use cream and massage the breast area every night for at least 10 mins. He was actually showing my other half what motions to use, which I couldn't help but giggle at!! He was so sure that everything was fine, I didn't even have to have a mammogram!! Yippee!! He said that it can be months and even a year following radiotherapy that this sort of thing can happen. Oh and I need to go 'new bra' shopping. I was so pleased coming out of there I instantly went shopping and but only bought holiday items!! Keep us posted on your results LainieG...must be stressful waiting for them. Hope you get them before the 23rd! Peta, I hope you're feeling better. Good luck with the scan! Fingers and toes crossed for you both xx ... View more

Hi Peta,    I had all that issue with a letter from the doc being faxed and having to call and chase etc... and in the end the BCN said (when i finally got through) i didn't need it - that she could get me in at the first available appointment if need be. "there's no need for a re-referral" she said...   Let us know when your scan is!  Sending all positive thoughts.  My boob has been a bit achy today - i keep getting like a shooting pain through it, which i know can be from the radiotherapy.  I'm just struggling getting my head round having side effects 2 and a half months since i've finished treatment! It seems i'm having more troubles now than i did during the chemo and radio!! It is still bigger than the other one and feels quite heavy. Can't wait for Wednesday to get looked at properly.   Hugs xx ... View more

Hi Peta, I was back at the docs yesterday and was given more antibiotics. My boob is still larger and much heavier but no longer red. I'm starting to think I had an infection along with fluid retention but if I'm honest I'm still worried. I called the BCN line and got my appointment for a scan. At first, she was quite flippant about the symptoms but when I said my doc was going to refer me she got me an appointment. I'll keep you updated! Let us know how you get on today speaking to the doc and BCN xx ... View more

Hi Peta, I was back at the docs yesterday and was given more antibiotics. My boob is still larger and much heavier but no longer red. I'm starting to think I had an infection along with fluid retention but blind I'm honest I'm still worried. I called the BCN line and got my appointment for a scan. At first, she was quite flippant about the symptoms but when I said my doc was going to refer me she got me an appointment. I'll keep you updated! Let us know how you get on today speaking to the doc and BCN xx ... View more

Morning everyone,    Yes, this thread certainly has legendary status.  Whenever I was feeling low or hard done to, I'd have a read and give myself a slap as i was quite fortunate with side effects and never ended up in hospital!  In fact, i was pretty fortunate overall.  I found the lump very quickly, there was no spread, I had clear margins and no lymph node involvement, i didn't have to have a mastectomy etc etc ....it all could have been so so different....I think this is why i'm super vigilant now, so that if it happens again, i find it quickly!!   So - update - after speaking to my consultants secretary and my doctors again this morning, i've gotten through to a BCN who, in lightning speed, has got me an appointment for next Wednesday....it's the earliest one they have.  I'm happy with that and can manage for a week (I think!).  I am usually the most positive person there is.  I was the one comforting others when i was sharing my news (which i'm sure you all did to). Positive mental attitude, a smile and a "let's do this" focus goes a long way and helped me massively.  I just think that i believed i was all done and could move on, but actually i've just turned into a paranoid wreck! I'm trying my best not to worry and I did always say that i would be much happier after a follow up scan (which wasn't due til September) so i should be grateful i'm getting it earlier i suppose.  At least i will be able to enjoy my holiday and relax.  Fingers crossed it all goes well!     Thank you for all your positive thoughts and hugs xx ... View more

Hi both! Thank you so much for being so welcoming! 😊 I called the Breast Clinic today and was told they needed the letter from my GP so called the GP and had them fax it over...then called the clinic again and apparently my appointment has been sorted but they couldn't tell me when it was. I need to call back in the morning so fingers crossed it's soon. I got myself all in a tiswas this morning and ended up crying all over a colleague...turns out my expensive Maybelline mascara is not as waterproof as advertised!! 🙈🙈🙈 Feeling more positive this evening and will be doing my best to remain that way!! X ... View more

Hi June, thank you for this - My post appears to have disappeared! haha - I did edit it slightly. Is that why? Thanks! Bex ... View more

Hi everyone!  This is my first post on a forum, even though I’ve finished treatment (for now at least), albeit i have another 9 years and 9 months of Tamoxifen to take!  I need advice, reassurance, and some straight talking and I thought this would be a good place to go…I've always followed this thread as i started my treatment in October, although i didn't post anything - i did get support, some cries and some giggles from reading everyone's posts.  What a group this is!!  The other threads even speak of this group and they can't believe some of the traumas that have been faced!!   I was first diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma of the right breast in August 2014. My lump was 18mm and a Grade 3. I had a lumpectomy and 4 lymph nodes removed, all of which were clear and I had clear margins.  6 rounds of chemo (3 x FEC and 3 x TAX) as well as 15 rounds of radiotherapy later I finished my treatment on the 2 April and rang that bell like no bell has even been rung before!!    Now, a couple of months on, I found myself at the docs with a swollen breast (same breast as cancer site).  I had noticed it was heavier and larger than the other and felt like a water balloon.  It was also a bit hot. The doc has given me antibiotics as he believes it is an infection, however he has referred me back to the breast clinic to be absolutely sure.  I’m due to go on holiday very soon so am desperate to get this scan done as soon as possible so I can either be relieved or prepare for another fight.   At the moment, after 2 days of antibiotics, there is no improvement.  I feel a burning where my scar is through to the nipple area, the area around the nipple looks quite large but flat, if that makes sense, and either I have very large pores or there is some dimpling going on.  I’m petrified it is inflammatory breast cancer (stupid bloody Google).  Is that even possible so soon after the treatment finishing?   I just wondered if anyone out there had experienced something similar?  All good news stories and bad news stories welcome!!  I don’t want to burden my friends/family with this if turns out to be nothing, so I’m reaching out to people that will understand like no other people can.   Thank you,    Bex ... View more