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.

Sfxmum good luck with your breast exam, you know that nine times out of ten it is a cyst or something. So please don't get too worried. Breast cancer in women our age is really rare, especially if there is no family history.

We ladies on this thread just had very, very bad luck.

Pigleto - we have the same memories - I think it is an age thing. we are determined the boys grow up outdoors. We even have purchased a tent. I didnt go abroad until I was 17 and DH is the son of a farmer

They had so much fun with a couple of wooden swords at the castles. But then they are only 2 and 3.4 years old.

It looks like my Aunty is having her double mastectomy and reconstruction week after next

thanks for the support ladies I feel selfish amidst all that you are going through.

my sister is a senior oncology nurse and tells me the same, however we you have young kids all sorts of things, inevitably, go through your mind.

it is weird but I seem to have this feeling of life being 'suspended' for now until I know what is going on

many thanks

sfxmum you're not being selfish. Anyone would be preoccupied with their situation when waiting for tests or their results.

I have learned during this illness that cancer patients spend a lot of time waiting for test results and being blinded by statistics. Let's hope this is your first and last time of having to worry about tests and results

I've just been for lunch with Bermuda's breast cancer support group - my first time there. There were 30 ladies there and all very nice, I will meet up with them again.

Just checking in to see how everyone is doing

Hello again! We've actually MOVED!! I bought the most enormous sofabed, which I would have left alone had I known how big it was. Anyway we had to take the front door off its hinges to shove it into the sitting room. It's very big and very comfy and we've been sleeping on it. The girls are now in their bunk beds and have been so excited. It's hard dog-proofing the garden. The garden has a lovely hedge all round it, but it's full of holes. There are lovely walks around the place and people seem very friendly.

DD#1 has been accepted at the local school. It seems a good place and a happy place, and it's just round the corner.

I could be in London on 18th July if I planned it. I am going to a party on 20th, so it may be nice to come a day early.

After all these scans and feeling terrible and partying hormones, I've had a miscarriage. I went to the family planning today and had a scan. Even my coil has gone. It feels like a great relief. The past week has just been horrible.

Congratulations, anorak. Fantastic news.

I hope you start getting some answers soon sfxmum. It is awful waiting and not knowing.

hi all just to say thanks for making me feel welcome and normal

thankfully I have a benign fibroadenoma which requires no further treatment

being me I talked to a few women at the hospital (Royal Marsden) at various stages of Breast Cancer and to some of the staff which I must say where amazing

will know get some fund-raising sorted, will enter a race and donate some cash

wishing you all good things and if you don't mind will keep an eye and see how everyone is getting along

many thanks

So glad to hear your news sfxmum!

Bla I think I am going to cancel the meet-up. My schedule while in the UK is going mental.

What area are you in? Maybe week could meet anyway? I will be staying with my folks in Shepperton and Ashford Mx, also with friends in W Herts.

sfxmum - Glad that the news is good, must be a hugh releif

Bla, sorry to hear about your miscarriage.

sfxmum glad to hear you are OK.

I'm feeling sore and miserable at the moment, however, the sun is shining and I am going outside to play.

Hugs to you, pigleto. I hope you enjoy the sun! I had my seroma drained yesterday and it's so much nicer not having a pocket of liquid sloshing around on my back! The man who drained it has worked with my surgeon in London and knows the team, so that was somehow reassuring.

The heat makes my hand puff up a bit, but it's not nearly as bad as it could be, so I haven't really got much to complain about.

A great friend of mine's dad has just been diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer. He's in his early 60s. They were looking for bowel cancer in me when I was in hospital again after the mastectomy, but found colitis. It was very scary.

I'm going into the garden to sort out a bit more hedge!

We're in South Norfolk, anorak. I would like to make a trip to near Milton Keynes, so I guess W Herts isn't that far? See how your plans go!

pigleto I hope you feel better soon.

Bla, I didn't know you'd miscarried, I'm so sorry . It's always those with the most to complain about who say 'I haven't really got much to complain about'.

I also want to go to MK to visit my aunt. Do you want to go there for shopping? Perhaps we could do something...?

Pigleto - hope you are feeling better and managed to get outside - it has be peeing down all day here.

Anorak - hows the hair?

hi all - big hugs to you all!!!!

Feeling low today - can't seem to get my positive vibe going and can't see an end to this.........

any tips?

Oh huffpuff, we all have days like this. Big hugs from here. Have you listened to any music you really like? Sorry to sound so trivial, but when I'm feeling crap I forget to do anything that I might enjoy. Sometimes it just fills time to read a really crappy magazine.here's a link to some really BAD album covers

I hope you feel better soon (with or without some dreadful record covers)

HuffPuff - I dont have any practicle experiance, but when I am feeling low and believe me it used to be quite often then:

It often helps to list the things that make me smile ie my boys smiles, the dew on the grass or even the smell of a roast dinner.

I often find that it is the little things that make it worth going on.

Keep posting

TMH my hair is still very short and thin but still growing. It's too thin to go on display just yet when I go out but I go bareheaded around the house now and visitors have to lump it!

Huffpuff chemotherapy is pants and I remember feeling really low during my treatment. In fact I read somewhere that low spirits is one of the many side-effects - though I've no idea how you would distinguish it as a side-effect rather than a normal reaction to spending months being systematically poisoned!

All I can say is that it does come to an end. We threw a party last night to celebrate my reaching the end of chemo and it was a very very happy occasion I'm beginning to feel reasonably well at last after so long I'd almost forgotten what it feels like to feel properly well.

thanks guys - i've had a chest infection the last week which hasn't helped. Just feel permenently crap!! Mouth ulcers, horrible taste in my mouth, can't sleep................... i am such a moany old cow!!!!!!!!

Cycle 3 is a week tomorrow - if i still have m cough will they put it off?

Also, i feel so frustrated at being so tired all the time - i have 5 and a 2 year old who dont really care for me being tired!!!!!

Thanks for all the replies. XX

Huffpuff - you are allowed to be an old moaney cow - espeically here.

Have you tried the corsodyl mouthwash and gel for the ulcers. I had a serve attack of cold sores and ulcers (needed aclovair), same virus and the pox which both the boys have and it has been great. Expensive, but works.

Are you getting help with the children?

TMH - can i get Avoclair (sp) over the counter or do i need to get a prescription?

My mum and mum in law are both helping out with the children and my youngest goes to nursery for a day and a half. Its so frustrating not having the energy to do much. Still, chemo finishes in September!!!!!!!

i can barely eat anything cos my mouth is so sore

It is really trying not to be able to play with the kids Huffpuff, mine are 2 and 6. They give you a nice hug but then they want to get the paints out or do some baking which I really haven't the energy for at the moment.

I am counting down the days until this treatment is finished (3rd October) and then I will be having a giant party.

Pigleto - how many cycles are you having and what cocktail are you having? If all goes to plan i should have my last one on 15th September - i am counting the days down!! Good idea about the party - might copy you! Am also planning on a fecking good Christmas!

I am on Herceptin, Taxotere and Carboplatin (TCH) and will have round 3 a week today (HALF WAY THERE!!!!!)

My children are 5 and 2 and very good really - they only want to play but even that is too much sometimes. Feel bad that they have to go through this.....

Huffpuff - I needed a prescription for the medication, it only helps with coldspots.

You are going through this for the children and your l,ong term future. They will not be harmed and possibly not even remember.

I am glad you are getting some practical support, what about councelling or suchlike?

huff, if you are feeling really low, your breast care nurse may be able to refer you to a psychologist - I was offered this.

I am on EC90 x4 and then Taxotere x4. I am half way through. My dd is trying to pinch the PC so she can hit poissonrouge website.