Breast Cancer Care Forum

Sorry here’s the article https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jun/03/how-to-get-through-chemotherapy-decca-aitkenhead-cancer-treatment ... View more

SLB really very sorry to hear your story. I think there is some group action going on in the states. My sister sent me this article on stick-on hair by Decca Aitkenhead that you might be interested in. I don’t know what it costs though. It makes me really angry that the NHS is still prescribing a drug which can cause permanent hair loss. There are similar drugs which have the same track record on cancer without the risk of permanent hair loss. I guess it’s probably about money. Some of my hair took a year or so to come back. x ... View more

Marie I lost 40-50% of mine too, but it’s worth persevering because it grows back faster & I didn’t get chemo curls, so much easier to handle. We were told no hair dye until 4 months after. I used Daniel field watercolours because they were recommended after chemo. You could use topik hair fibres on your roots in the meanwhile to hide the regrowth. I got them from amazon & they’re quite effective for bald patches too xx ... View more

V if you google AMAROS trial you will find articles showing radiotherapy to armpit is just as effective x ... View more

V sorry to hear you have another primary. I read a research article saying radiotherapy to the armpit is just as effective as node removal. Both carry a risk of lymphoedema, but not sure if radiotherapy rusk is lower. Worth asking your BCN or Onc. Know just us you feel at the thought of more surgery just as you’re coming through the first one. I had two & was devastated, but once it was done you just get on with healing again. Lots of love & a big hug for you. What bad luck getting it again xx ... View more

Good luck Miss Green. Big hug BB x ... View more

Sue I had several people regaling me with tales like that. Quite odd really. I think, in a weird way, that they’re trying to empathise with us. They haven’t had BC themselves, so use a story about someone else. I had the same thing when phoning round my parents friends to tell them about dad’s funeral. They all wanted a really long conversation about everyone else they knew that had died! I was barely holding it together & had a huge list to get through. It was gruelling. You did the right thing. Don’t signify it with a response. She just didn’t think how that story might impact you. xx ... View more

Jane my heart goes out to you. What a dreadful decision to be faced with.  As you said, one thing to need a mastectomy to get rid of a malignant tumour, but quite another just for an infection.  Have they said why you are getting recurrent infections? Your body & immune system are at such a low ebb after treatment that they are not as good at fighting iinfection as they would be normally. How can they say for sure that it will go on for a decade or more? I’m not a doctor, & the NHS being the way it is, i’m sure they wouldn’t have suggested another operation unless the6 thought it was the only way.  I wonder if it would be worth you chatting it through with the nurses on the hotline.  They’re really very good.  Have they said whether they will be able to manage to do a reconstruction for you? All things to consider.  I would be tempted to do everyth8ng you can to try & boost your immune system to see if it can get on top of the infection eg diet, exercise & alternative therapies like acupuncture etc etc.  Sorry I can’t be of more practical help.  Big hug coming your way though xxx ... View more

Sue & Jill really sorry to hear you have both been struggling. Hopefully just part of the recovery process that you will eventually emerge stronger from. Wishing you all the best & good health to all in 2018. xxx ... View more

Hi Caroline please see your GP if your pulse was only 30.  It should be a bit higher than that. They will just do a check ECG to check all’s well. Really pleased you’ve finished x ... View more

Yes! Quite scary too. I definitely find it hard to say no to people & I am interested in what all the survivors did. Funny how so many things can lead to cancer. Guess it's bad luck if you get enough of them all at once & you get BC. x ... View more

I've found onicolife drops are good for nails & Biosil makes them grow fast & strong.  It's also supposed to help your hair. I'm not sure about that, although it went back to it's prechemo texture two weeks after starting biosil, I'm not sure if it would gave happened anyway as I was 18 months post chemo & it could have happened anyway. xx ... View more

Really pleased to hear that.  You angiosarcoma sufferers really drew the short straw of cancer world. I remember Tat saying it took her 18 months to be correctly diagnosed & that she had letters from doctors saying ' you categorically do not have cancer' when she persisted, feeling things were not right. Look after yourself xx ... View more