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.

thanks for that explanation, very helpful

Sorry for all the spelling mistakes. I wanted to get it all down in 5 mins before the boys started fighting

I have to say we have been really lucky regarding the genetic testing, had fab councelling through McMillan and just great treatment.

You really do need to think about it though, as it may be able to affect insurance, mortages and other stuff from 2011, if you have a test.

I went to a kite-flying party yesterday (traditional Easter activity in Bermuda), the first social event I've managed to go to since arriving here on Nov 1st. It was such a lovely change from hospital appointments and having to turn down invitations I wasn't up to attending. Met some new people at last, and we ate delicious food, and I got a bit of a sunburn on my arms!

And I drank some lovely rum punch, my first alcoholic drink for nearly four weeks - and it didn't upset my tummy.

What's more we have been invited to someone's house for dinner tonight as well. Things are definitely improving.

And I just did my last blood-boosting injection this morning - the chemo nurses say I won't need to do them with the new chemo drug I start next week.

I am a much happier (Easter) bunny today.

Anorak - I am so glad that you had a great day - weather in a stark contrast here. Hail and snow in North Yorkshire.

Yey to no moore injections

Great that you had a good day anorak

Just a quick post to wish every one a happy easter - I hope that you have spent the weekend with people you love and people who love you.

I am so glad that you feel a bit better now Anorak. It is so good to hear from someone further down the road, it makes it seem more acheivable if you know what I mean. I still have not got a date for my op, but it will be next week some time.

Hope everyone else had a good Easter.

Pigleto - How is the sleep going and how was the spa day?

Been away from this thread for a bit, sorry, and now crashing in with insomnia.

How are you all doing? I started my second cycle of chemo today and I'm feeling very nauseous and can't sleep. But otherwise OK. I wish I was half way through!

Just popping in for a shameless brag. The woman quoted towards the end of this article was my best friend at school. She is so brainy it's a miracle her neck is strong enough to support her head:

breast tumours put to sleep

Hello all, thanks for that link ninedragons. ThingOne, get as much rest as you can and don't try to do anything if you are too tired or ill. I hope the nauseous feeling wears off soon.

I have to go and see my oncology doctor this afternoon for a review of my first 8 weeks of chemo and to confirm the next 12 weeks with a different drug.

I've been horrendously tired this week, I am becoming anaemic despite all the injections, iron supplements and good diet. I never seem to get enough sleep no matter what time I go to bed.

ThingOne do you have much support from family and friends?

Hello everyone! Hope everyone had a nice Easter

Remember Anorak - chocolate is good when you're anaemic

Pigleto I hope you're doing ok with the waiting... keep your chin up. It sounds good that you have family and friends nearby to help DH & the kids while you are in hosp and recuperating

Yes, anorak, I have good support. It makes such a difference.

Have you got both sorts of anaemia? I only managed to get my (iron-deficiency) Hb levels back up to 10.8 before I started so I hope it doesn't get too bad.

The oncologist says my haemoglobin is very low and that I can be given a once-a-week injection to stimulate my bone marrow. If that doesn't work I will have to have a transfusion. He also said the prominent vein in my arm is thrombosis where at one point I must have had a blood clot, he says it's more annoying than serious and will gradually soften up again.

I then had to go for a blood test and nearly fainted - something that's never happened to me before - and had to lie down for a while before I was allowed to go home. I had blurry vision for a while.

I've decided that I need to try and have naps in the afternoons, I'm just exhausted and my DH is never going to see me if I keep going to bed at 8 or 9pm.

Good idea Anorak - short naps are very good for the body and mind And remember to get some of that lovely sunshine that you have there, as the vit D will keep your immune system strong.

Hello ladies

Anorak - I hope you have been resting and are feeling OK.

Pigleto - Any news on dates yet?

Well I have had to perspone my surgery to remove my ovaries and tubes, as I have a low iron level 8.9, also my B12 levels are very low. So I am waiting for a referal to a gastro consultant to see why this might be. Either Chrones, colletis or percanious anemia It does explain why I am so tired, having trouble sleeping and palpertations though

Hello all, hope you're having a good weekend. Just back from a short break to Wales - took mum to visit my brother as a bit of a distraction from starting chemo on monday. I think she enjoyed herself, she laughed a lot anyway.

JR Rocks - Wales sounds great - I hope you mum does OK with the chemo

Hello all. I am going in this afternoon for my mx. I'm scared stiff but I can't wait to get this cancer out of me.

I will be in for 6 days apparantly. MIL asked if I had packed knickers. Like I often go away for a week with only one pair of pants. duh.

Best wishes to you pigleto. Try not to worry - soon it will all be over x.

Best wishes from me too pigleto, hope you have a speedy recovery x

Have been with mum in hospital for her first chemo this morning. Quite an eye opener it was too. All good so far (she was worried about allergic reactions), but obviously the hard part is to come..

Hope everyone is doing well

Adding my best too Pigleto. Hoping for a speedy recovery

Hope you're doing OK Pigleto - you and all your pants

Glad to hear you had a nice w/e with your mum JRocks - best wishes to her for the chemo.

MadHouse - sounds like you're in for more tests then. Hope they get to the bottom of it.

xx

Hello all. I had my three month check up with my surgeon yesterday. He is quite concerned about the prominent veins and swelling in my arm and thinks I have lymphodema. So he is going to consult with my oncologist and call me next week with a plan. I think he is going to send me for massage. I'm relieved it's nothing too serious anyway.

I've just had my second cycle of my new chemotherapy drug too. I feel sooo much better. No more sickness, no more headaches. I even went for a long walk with my DH last night, for the first time in months.

Pigleto should be out tomorrow. Hope she is ok.