Breast Cancer Now Forum

Happy New Year Craig, and welcome.    I lost my mother to this horrible disease when I was in my early 20s but she had been ill since my teens. A cruel and indiscriminate disease and I still feel angry at mum being taken so early, for what she lost as well as the life we would have gone on to have together. Definitely worth talking about. I didn't realise until I was diagnosed myself, how much of that hurt and anger was still bottled up inside of me and have - in great part thanks to the wonderful friends on here - been able to talk it through. I never think it is good to keep these things bottled up. How lovely that you now have your own son. Your mum would be so proud of you and her grandchild. Hope 2017 is an excellent year for you. Mary Grace ... View more

I had radiotherapy a long while ago now, 5 years, and I remember having an effect almost like sun burn / sun tan for a while after; a darker square and darker freckles, but that faded and pretty soon the feel and colour went back to how they had been before. I'd say within weeks everything was pretty much normal, although the odd darker square took a while to go, just as it would if you get odd shaped strap marks while sunbathing. ... View more

Hi Salzie, Sorry you find yourself in need of the woods, there are plenty of quiet glades here to sit in for reflection. Sending hugs x ... View more

We always said that Helly. Despite everything we had some good laughs in the woods. A place to find warmth and companionship (along with gin, cake and our own pub ) x ... View more

Hope everything goes well and not too much soreness. Enjoy the drive in the sun, that sounds fab x ... View more

Ditto Mezzomamma Super Trouper.    Is there anything we can do other than joining you in some well chosen rude words? Of course always here to listen and support but if there is anything beyond that just PM any time. Sending hugs.    Hope the trial does it stuff on the squatters   MG x ... View more

Hi Deb, The dark wood thread was set up by SCACO (Stay Calm and Carry on) back in 2010/11 while going through chemo. It was known for its mad (somewhat dark and silly) humour and was a bit of escapism while going through treatment. It is rather long, and you probably need to read the first few posts to have any idea what people are talking about, but it may give you a few laughs if that is your humour and coping strategy, Mary Grace x (one of the "Woodies" who hung out in the dark woods). I will see if I can post a link to it (though not sure if that works) but if not, you will find that when the forum was changed a while back, it somehow found its way into Moving Forwards / Living with Cancer although it wasn't specific to a particular stage of treatment, more to a general raising two fingers to cancer. I will post in it to bump it up to the top for you     https://forum.breastcancercare.org.uk/t5/Living-with-breast-cancer/Standing-outside-the-dark-dark-woods/m-p/518904#U518904 MG x  ... View more

Definitely need to hoist that two fingered salute at the squatters SuperTrouper. Hope signs and monitoring stay just that  I'm collecting firewood to get the fires going in here and doing a spot of tidying up. We'll need a few flamethrowers on the go to fight the nasties.    That Brosnen chap is fine to serve drinks and mop fevered brows but for goodness sake don't start him singing again! It took us ages to get him to shut up last time... MG x    ... View more

Hugs from me too Supertrouper,    I'll dust around some of the tents and see if I can get the fire going. Drinks of the alcoholic and non alcoholic variety available for all who care to join us. Sorry to see you back in here ST, hoping for positive news on the CT scan, MG x ... View more

Hi Sorry for the slow response, I don't come onto the forum as much these days.    I had 4 lots of lipofill to fill in a pretty big dent left by my WLE and re-excision.    I am delighted with the results and it hasn't re-absorbed to any great extent. Bruising only lasted for a couple of days. Depending on where they took it out, also meant it hurt different amounts on different occasions.    1st time, difference to dent was frankly disappointing. Some improvement, but still a big dent. Fat taken from thighs and bruising limited.    2nd time, BS said she was more ambitious with how much she transferred. Taken from further up thighs, again bruising minimal. Much happier with result, top end of scar filled out but bottom still had big gap.    3rd time, meant to be the final time, I was on an early NHS trial and they were keen to see what the marginal gain was if they did several smaller grafts. Top end of scar back to the right contour, bottom quadrant fleshed back out more. Delighted with it. Fat taken from stomach, more bruising and seemed to take longer to settle down though.    4th time, to try to fill out the bottom quadrant, we both agreed that it would be the last time. Apparently if they do more than a certain number the lumpiness of scar tissue starts to outweigh the smoothing from the process. Initially a little disappointed that it still wasn't perfect, but she told me that gravity would help over time and she was right. Actually now the results are very impressive. Graft from hips, ouch!    I am 5 years post surgery, 4 lipofills starting from 1 year after and finished at 3.5 years, so over a 2.5 year period.    All in all, I would definitely recommend. It hasn't reabsorbed significantly, if anything it has got better over time rather than worse. They were pleased with how it grafted and has taken.    My advice would be, be patient... I am the least patient person in the world, I wanted it done, as much as possible as quickly as possible, but building it up, reflectng on previous result and then amending a little more has evened out my wonkiness and given a good result. I am far less self-conscious about my scars now and feel better about myself.    I took arnica to minimise bruising but obviously that is a personal choice. Some surgeons tell you not to.    Hope it goes well x         ... View more