Mutual support thread for breast cancer patients. All welcome including non-cancer patients who want to chip in!

[anorak]

There seem to be quite a few of us now so I thought we might like a place where we can congregate to laugh, cry, share, compare notes and give each other a bit of support.

It's all gone very quiet around here. How is everyone?

Bumping to check everyone is OK. I have got my appointment with the Platics man again for a months time for all the pictures etc

I've still managed to dig the garden despite sodding puffy hand. My fingers are just horrible. Anyway, I've managed to change the lymphodema clinic appt to a bit sooner.

I'm starting to reconsider the surgery and having the implant taken out and changing it to something less lumpy. My new boob doesn't really feel as though it belongs to me and I don't like to touch it, especially when it feels like thick hardened folded rubber. Yuck.

How's everyone getting on?

hi all - hope you are all ok.

got my first chemo session tomorrow (6 hours of joy!) Bit nervous but glad to be getting started on getting better.

Started taking steroids today so my house is nice and tidy!!

Hello all

Good luck today with the chemo huffpuff - hope it goes ok!

Bla that sounds like a PITA with the puffiness. Glad you could get the clinic apptmt brought forward.

How are you doing with the weight loss TheMadHouse - is the warmer weather helping or not?

Lots of love to everyone
xx

What's PITA? Anorak mentioned it too. Are you taking Prednisolone, huffpuff? Steroids are magic drugs, but I had awful psychological side-effects.

apologies for not reading the whole thread, but I am hoping that someone might be able to answer a qn for me...

A good friend of mine has had a couple of harmless lumps removed a few years back. Then last spring she had breast cancer but it was low grade, she had it removed, went through the radiotherapy and was given the thumbs up in the autumn (although it has taken longer than that for her to come back to full strength). Anyway, she started getting exhausted about a month ago and they have now found two lumps in her other breast. Thanks to Bupa she is in hospital straight away, and will be operated on today. She is terrified that this time she will have a masectomy (apparantly they think that one lump is malignant and one benign but I think if they find both are malignant then the masectomy will definately happen??)

Is there a way I can find out more without asking her? She is a very private person, and I am a bit in the dark and don't want to ask/say the wrong thing. Obviously it is very bad to have appeared again so quickly, but I don't really know how bad? Any advice much appreciated.

Hope today goes well for you huffpuff.. my mum is in having number 4 today too. Her hair is starting to come back around the sides, very soft and fluffy. She's been going without hat/scarf while out a bit as well. I'm so proud of her

Bladebla, PITA - pain in the arse?

Squiffy- I have no idea about what your friend is facing, but just wanted to point you towards the breast cancer care website and forums - they have areas for families/friends affected and you could probably ask the questions on there and get a bit more information - hth

squiffy, might not be bad indicator that cancer has appeared in the other breast - could just be bad luck. TBH, if the docs recommend a mastectomy, I imagine it is likely to be for cosmetic reasons - if there are two lumps to remove, it may be that having a lumpectomy might not produce a cosmetically good result. the prognosis for having a lumpectomy and radiotherapy vs a mastectomy is pretty much the same. There are many uncertainties with cancer, and from what you've said, even the doctors won't know yet what the impact on your friend's prognosis is. I think the best thing you can do right now is just be there for your friend - let her know that you're there for her, make some food, take cake, offer to put a wash on, do dishes, etc, etc. She's probably in a massive state of shock, and those kind of supportive actions will help.

JRocks advice to visit breastcancercare and cancerbackup's websites is very wise!

Hello all

Sorry you're not feeling too great, Bla. You shouldn't be gardening with lymphedema - but if you do then don't overdo it, don't do any heavy work, and wear gloves. Any little cut can cause an infection. It would be better to wait till you've had treatment.

I'm approaching the end of 20 weeks of chemo now - 2 more to go. Feeling so much better that I have started exercising like merry hell to try and get back into shape. But very tired today.

Hi all. I'm back from holiday. I had a lovely time with my family. It was a bit odd boiling the water and not swimming or drinking, but lovely and relaxing.

It feels a bit odd to come home and still have cancer iykwim, I keep expecting someone to tell me it has all been a big mistake.

hope the treatment went ok huffpuff and that you are not feeling too sick. The steriods can make you feel very down, which they don't warn you about.

Bla - you really shouldn't dig the garden with lymphodema, but you know that.

Thankyou for your replies yesterday. Much appreciated. I will check out the sites as you advise.

hi all - thanks for your replies.

I have been ok today - lots of energy and so have done all my housework. I know there will be a crash soon though.

Not much appetite today and really thirsty. Had a good night's sleep last night which was good as my 2 yr old ds seems to have forgotten what sleep is!

Next chemo is 23 June.

Saw consulant todat and the tumour is not as aggressive as they thought which is good news and it doesnt seem to have spread very far into my lymph nodes.

Hope you are all going well and enjoying the sun!! XX

Ha ha lol @ Pain In the Arse . It may be the steroids giving you energy, huffpuff. Must do kids' supper. Toasted cheese. Yum.

Hello. I've been on holiday too. It was great apart from getting an abscess in my wound. Ouch. And then it burst squirting green pus. Nice .

I have an MRI and a consultation with my liver surgeon on Thursday.

Thingone - that sounds horrible

Well I have lost the grand total of........................2 kg

So I need to step it up. I am a bit nervous tonight, as my aunty is back at the hospital tomorrow for her remission tests. So fingures crossed

It's OK madhouse, I found a cocktail bar and self medicated until the pain went away. I hadn't had a hangover for years but it wasn't as bad a sore bum and I (naughty naughty) self medicated that with some domperidone! Nice chemo nurse told me last time I was there that it is sold OTC as motillum, essentially as a hangover cure. At the time I laughed and said I didn't really drink. Now I'm glad I listened .

Good news! My hospital is going to fund the genetic testing. Hoorah! (Well, kind of hoorah that they are going to do it because now I've got to get my head around what happens if the results come back showing that I've got the blasted gene thingy) - but anyway, that's a worry for another day. I'm celebrating today.

Somebody very wise (my breast care nurse, I think) said to me to take one day at a time as far as dealing with all the ramifications of this disease. Probably the best advice I've had.

hooray about the funding anyway

lalaa

Congratualtions on getting the funding. I had councelling with Mcmilliam prior to the blood test and and then it was the same McMillan nurse who gave me the results. She was great, infact she is great we are still in contact.

I got the date for my ovaries and tube remove today 23rd June - typical the week we are going to North Wales, so they are going to rearrange it

That's good news lalaa.

hi all - not been on in a few days as been feeling quite grotty since my chemo last week (one cycle down, 5 to go!)- hope you are all ok.

Apart from feeling tired, have all but lost my taste buds, have sores all over my head and am constipated!!!

please share your chemo side effects with me - i am feeling very alone atm and finding each day very long and hard.

the hair has also started to thin.

my birthday on saturday so am looking forward to that!

Oh huffpuff, ((((((hugs)))))). Is there any local support where you are? Breast Cancer Care provides help over the phone. How old will you be?

I've just had a bloody shock and got a + pg test. Really don't know what to do or think. I only had my coil checked a couple of weeks ago. I thought I might be a bit menopausal, but no, I'm getting fatter and fatter because I'm up the duff.

BlaDeBla! Congratulations?!

Huffpuff do you have the details of the young women's support group at the hospital? I think they list phone numbers if you want someone local to talk to? I know my mum would be happy to talk, and she said some of the others at the group are really helpful. They all had a trip to Debenhams in Truro after hours last week to try things on and have some fun, sound like a nice bunch. Take care xx

Hello, sorry you're feeling ill Huffpuff. I had an awful time with the first drugs I was on but after 8 weeks I went on to a different one that isn't anywhere near as bad. I do feel for you. Get lots of rest and stock up on the things you feel you can eat. Let everyone wait on you. The sores on your head sound horrible, especially if you lose your hair you will want to wear something over your head and it might prove uncomfortable. I read somewhere that you should go on using shampoo and conditioner even if you lose your hair as it keeps the scalp in good condition, so that's what I've done. It seems to have worked somewhat and my hair started growing again about 3 weeks ago. I have my last chemo on Thursday at last after 20 weeks. Getting very very tired now.

Congratulations BlaDeBla, I see your illness hasn't totally cramped your style