The Great Recovery part 4

[TopOfTheCliff]

Time for a new thread. Welcome aboard!

You may have finished active treatment for cancer, be in remission or NED. You want to look forward not dwell on the past. You know you ought to be eating well, exercising more and picking up the threads of your old life. Join us and share the ups and downs of recovery. We understand!
Here are some resources we found helpful:
The Mountain Lion
https://www.cancerpal.co.uk/post/what-it-s-really-like-to-receive-a-cancer-diagnosis
Peter Harvey on Psychology of recovery:
https://workingwithcancer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/After-the-treatment-finishes-then-what.pdf
Resources from Penny Brohn:
https://pennybrohn.org.uk/our-approach/resources/
Breast Cancer Now Moving Forward:
https://breastcancernow.org/information-support/support-you/moving-forward
Get your Oomph Back with Carolyn Garritt
http://www.oomph.london/home.html
Charity providing treats for cancer patients:
https://somethingtolookforwardto.org.uk/
Exercise is good for you:
https://www.webmd.com/cancer/features/exercise-cancer-patients
Any more suggestions? Post them below
There is also a thread for those suspected to have cancer, or newly diagnosed and facing treatment, and also a thread for those with Stage IV cancer who want to talk to others in the same boat.

Hey all.

im graduating from the cancer support thread to this one if that’s ok.

im back at work. Week three now of my phased return.

im 9 months post diagnosis chemo surgery and radiotherapy. Slowly piecing life back together.

Welcome @ememem84 and congratulations on getting through it all and graduating! If you read through some of the thread you’ll find out that a lot of us have found the period after treatment ended to be difficult for various reasons - maybe it’s not the case for you, but if it is then we understand! It takes awhile to come to terms with stuff and get your life back together, but we’re here to share that and motivate each other! How is being back at work?

Welcome @ememem84 Glad you are through treatment and getting life back on track.

Just had my bone scan details through and it says whole body bone scan which seems to be quite slow though at least will do all the bones. On Friday. Ones I've had before have just be a few bones and pretty quick.

I had one last year @MsPengiuns and apart from having to drive 20 miles north to get the nuclears injected then south to get the bone scan it was quick and painless. Happily all clear although they muttered about arthritis.

Welcome to our new graduates. Take a deep breath and slow down a little. You are almost ashore on the sand washed up after the storm. It’s nice here!

I’ve just been out on my allotment at sunset picking the first strawberries and potting up extra courgette plants for the nice young men who have taken on plots next to me. It is all looking very promising thanks to the warm dry spring.
This week is a bit calmer after the child care whirlwind of half term. I’m happily gardening tidying and exercising. Have you all been following the news about exercise reducing cancer recurrence? We are ahead of the game here 😂

www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jun/01/exercise-better-than-drugs-after-cancer-treatment-international-trial-finds

Had an apt yesterday with physio who specialises in lymphadoema. She did my measurements. I don’t have it. Phew.

wondering when I’ll next see oncologist. I imagine I’ll be summoned soon. There was talk of me taking more meds

That’s a relief @ememem84

I went to see the BCN about my swollen right arm but her gadgets said it was just “post surgical swelling”. I am puzzled as to why my right arm and leg are bigger than my left now. My vet friend says I just have a dominant side! She sees this in horses apparently. What is odd is that it is a recent thing. I used to be symmetrical. At least it’s not an illness, just another oddity!

@TopOfTheCliff ues same with me. Swelling in left boob. Expected. Left arm was smaller that right. But physio said that since surgery the right arm was doing the donkey work so left has had less work.

That’s good to hear, @ememem84 it’s the gift that keeps on giving.

First annual mammogram today 😬. A bit anxious - I had a lump scare after chemo (unlikely I know) and the nurse checking the remaining boob pulled up its mammogram from last year when I was diagnosed on the other side. She wondered out loud why they hadn’t questioned something on this remaining side, pointing to a blob on the xray. I’ll raise this today but it doesn’t make me feel any more relaxed.

Hope this goes well for you. I'm coming up for my annual mammogram soon and has brought up a lot of memories. Am also v anxious, Especially as with lobular breast cancer I feel they should be giving me an MRI (lobular doesn't always show up on mammogram and mine didn't pre diagnosis). But I'll pay for an MRI myself after the mammogram if it comes back all clear. Hope they reassured you today when you questioned about the blob on the x ray.

I have been lurking in the background, reading your posts and enjoying hearing about everyone's lives as have been through incredibly busy period of work and exhausted by end of each day! Not helped by not sleeping as much as I used to (I wonder if it is because of hormonal changes due to tamoxifen)
@FairyWren7 I was sorry to hear about your operation not going to plan and hope you are OK.
You too @MissMarplesNiece

Thanks. As ever, it was completed with sensitivity and she was lovely when I filled up with tears at the end. I’ll get a letter in the next 3 weeks. Wish it wasn’t such a long wait.

Also at hospital today for bloods and a full bone scan - most of bloods are now in and almost all seem normal including calcium so that's good. They said scan would go back to consultant. There was a wait between injection so went for a walk in the countryside along the river with DH and had a lovely scone, jam and cream, was still warm and freshly baked and ate in an apple orchard.

Then got home and found DS had flooded the bathroom, the kitchen, the upstairs corridor and the downstairs bathroom whilst we were out. He seems to have ran himself a bath then must have gone to garden and returned too late. He did put towels everywhere at least and at least we get PIP/UC for him though not how we would ideally spend it. He's been trying to dry it. The downstairs flooring will be OK as it tiles and something waterproof in the downstairs bathroom. Upstairs flooring is carpet which may or may not survive but was close to a change anyway so that doesn't matter too much. Its the ceilings, kitchen one can see cracks in though at least lights still work.

Internet was off for a day as well though that was a village thing not DS.

That's amusing press have just picked up on exercise Top We are trailblazers here 😂

Hope the mammos come back all clear. Hope everyone is having a good weekend. I'm just having a cup of tea and will catch up on the TV I missed whilst the internet was down. We thankfully already had a plumber coming out on Monday arranged, just might have more work for him now. DSs hair is really long now and he's got muscly, very tall and looks like some wild Finnish logger.

@MissMarplesNiece @MsPengiuns and to others who have posted nice messages - thank you.

I’m healing. Drains are out thank goodness. At least I got those bloody awful expanders out but now I’m left wondering if that’s it….

I can’t put myself through that again … but I know I need more information. I haven’t spoken to my surgeon yet. But will on Wednesday. I have a big long list of questions.

@MissMarplesNiece sorry that you are having issues as well. I’m also on a lot of antibiotics and am convinced that my dodgy immune system which includes an allergy to penicillin has not helped the situation because it is quite obvious that the antibiotics were not working as well as they could have done.

I’m now looking into prosthetic options online - It’s mildly off putting seeing lots of pictures of other users of fake breasts for other purposes!!! Although I am supportive of all the colours of the rainbow…

Husband is out on photography weekend so I have nice coffee and chocolate and a good book. But missing my family dreadfully as usual. Back to work next week.

Hello to the newbies on the thread!

I’ve been absent for ages, apologies. I’ve been feeling guilty at my lack of exercise due to the sinus problems I’ve been having. But reading everyone’s posts has reminded me that this place is much more than just sharing our exercise wins. I’m so sorry for what you’ve been going through @FairyWren7 And everyone else who has been experiencing challenges.

I’m finally back to walking regularly again so that’s something. And my job is going well. DD will be home from Uni in a few days for the mid year break - 6 weeks! I’m excited to have her here again.

@MsPengiuns That sounds such a stressful return home, I hope the clean-up & repairs are trouble free and quick.

@FairyWren7 Do you take any probiotics? I'm going to do a bit of research round them - their effectiveness, best sort to take etc. There's a lot of hype around them plus publicity from those with vested interests, so I'd like to sort out fact from fiction.

I’ve looked into the probiotics thing @MissMarplesNiece and I think the jury’s still out to some extent, I think they may have some effect, some more than others. I Do you have live yoghurt and sometimes kefir, I eat fermented food, and try and eat a range of plants, but of course those things may not really work very well If you’ve already got digestive issues as they may cause more problems than they solve, I do have to be careful, things have not been quite the same since chemo. I was also advised to take sodium butyrate when rebuilding my gut after chemo, although it smells horrible!

We have accepted an offer on DM‘s house this week, so that’s quite big news, Although there is a reasonably long chain so chances are it might break down, So I’m not getting overexcited at this stage. Also my DD is about to move into a flat with her boyfriend, so quite a lot of change happening here.

Sympathies to those going through tests, I have my routine follow-up at the beginning of July, and already feeling a bit apprehensive, though typically they don’t do much other than check my CA125 And have a bit of a peer into my vagina 😂.

I’ve also been feeling a bit miserable about my ability to exercise, I’m really enjoying playing tennis but every so often I have a group where some blokes decide that they really want to belt the ball at us with no chance of return without risking injury. I comment about it to them, but nobody else says anything in the sessions they just say they agree with me afterwards, so it makes it look like a me problem. I’ve also had a bit of joint pain, and I’m not sure my pelvic floor is up to running anymore. I was feeling a bit sorry for myself, I spent years as a single parent and then looking after both of my parents and now when I have some time to do something for myself, I’m too old and knackered (mid 50s). I do have a nice group of women to play tennis with locally though, so that’s good!

I’m just off into the city to meet a friend for brunch this morning, not quite sure what I’m going to do the rest of the day, I’ll take my gym stuff and may go for a swim or something, or I might just have a wander around the shops!

@FairyWren7 I would also feel the same as you around having to look at fake breasts and finding men doing it for sexual kicks. It’s long been a problem searching for stuff if you are lesbian or a bisexual woman, with too many pornified men also seeking the same 😱

@Remaker I am glad you are walking and the job is going well. We should never feel guilty when we don’t do as much exercise as we think we ought to. Life is all about getting through!
I am enjoying a few days on my own while DH is away with friends. I have been very busy volunteering with my club. Yesterday I helped host a funeral wake for a sweet elderly member who had been part of the club for many years. It was quite life affirming. I am considering celebrating my birthday there in a couple of months. I missed out for my 60th due to Covid and chemotherapy. But there again I don’t much like being the centre of attention. Tricky!

It has been easy catering without DH. I made a big veggie curry and am eating dollops of that each night. The time I am most at risk of “bad choices” is when I fill the car up with diesel at the fuel station. I managed to say No to the bag of Revels by remembering how sick they make me feel when I scoff the whole bag. Also I remind myself how lovely it is to be a healthy weight again and fitting into my clothes. I must be looking better as people are commenting. Hmmm.

I went to see the Salt Path film yesterday. Having loved the book I was surprised to find it didn’t move me as much as I expected, but it’s a life affirming story with great scenery and will do wonders for tourism in my home county.

Today I am on safety duty for a club activity then DD1 is coming to stay for a couple of days. I will have to cook some more food!

@MsPengiuns hope the mess is clearing
@SierraSapphire exercise is meant to be fun! Your story about the tennis men shows why we need women only spaces.

Have a good weekend folks.

@FairyWren7 Im really sorry to hear of your troubles. It’s a turbulent time anyway without this. I have one implant which needs a prosthetic topper to match the other. The surgeon had mentioned symmetry surgery and a nipple tattoo but I just cannot go there with any more treatment.

I’m gradually easing back into work (own business), although I will not be going back to the same capacity that I worked at before. Partly due to tiredness but mainly because I need the time for me, family and friends. We will cut our cloth accordingly.

Thanks @TopOfTheCliff for the support - It’s David Lloyd where I’ve had the problems and none of the (male) coaches ever address it, women just go away, don’t say anything except privately, and don’t come back.

I’ve just messaged a couple of friends to see if they want to go and see The Salt Path Tomorrow, although they’re ignoring me at the moment 😂.

Why don’t you have the party? In my experience of holding lots of parties when I was younger, if there’s lots of people there are lots of opportunities for people to socialise with others they don’t necessarily see and you don’t necessarily end up as the centre of attention anyway!

I'm sorry to hear your news @MissMarplesNiece and @FairyWren7

I didn't have reconstruction post mastectomy and every now and then wonder if I should have done, but I don't want more surgery. I'm going to leave it for a year or so and see how I feel then. I also get some very strange results when looking for prosthesis.

I'm also sorry to hear about the flood @MsPengiuns, is it something your home insurance would cover? I hope the scan results are quick and with good news.

I've also been reading the news about exercise and feeling slightly guilty as I don't think I'm doing enough, but will keep trying. I read an article earlier which said Japan has something like an 80% lower breast cancer rate than the US, and wondered how that was possible.

I've got an oncology review next week, it will be strange going back to that hospital.

I hope everyone has a good and not too rainy weekend.

Thanks for the nice messages @remaker - glad you’ve been getting back into the walking.

I’ve taken the dog out twice today and have been every day since they let me out of the hospital. I was doing laps of the ward at one point.

@MissMarplesNiece I did take probiotics for a while I can’t really say they made a huge amount of difference to me. I’m not currently taking them. I do however have a lot of ginger and tumeric in my diet. I think that helps digestive health. I also tend to have quite a lot of yoghurt.

I sometimes wonder if I had been able to restrict my dairy etc if my health in general would have been better. Removing gluten really helped but I just couldn’t kick the cheese.

Very difficult to get it right. And frankly food is one of life’s pleasures.

@dancingwhilstfacingthemusic so you have one implant and one original breast?
There are so many different variations - at one point I had one in and one out which was concerning and a new variation for me.
The fact that both failed has meant a certain pathway ahead for treatment I suspect although it’s early days to even think about it. I suspect my surgeon won’t want to try implants again and I just can’t face the idea of a diep going wrong. So what other option is there? Stay flat I guess.

I’ve got the sewing kit out and have made myself some cute little inserts for my bras. I chucked the ones they gave me out after the surgery appeared to be a success. If anyone has any success stories with specific products/brands please let me know.

Been watching a great detective show - department q I think it’s called - set in Edinburgh. Also watched Operation Mincemeat as well. Both really good. Cold here now, so rugged up with dog and cat tucked in.

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

@FairyWren7 I would just focus on looking after yourself for now but if you reach a point where you want to try again then I was offered alternatives to DIEP using own tissue. They can take it from other places on your body like your upper back. I wasn't keen on that as I swim but it maybe there's somewhere that could work for you. I think there's pros and cons with all the options. I dreaded DIEP going wrong but the success rate is pretty high with only a few percent going wrong. The first week was very tough going but after that it wasn't bad and I love the results. Re prothesis I used this one https://www.amoena.com/uk-en/breast-forms/leisure-and-swim-breast-forms/aqua-wave-swim-breast-form-clear-1149/ Its supposed to be just for swimming but I used it all the time and liked it as it had a fairly natural shape and could wash it and take it in the bath. Lasted pretty well, about 2 years with heavy use from swimming. The hospital gave us one of the more expensive ones not for swimming which looked good but didn't last that well if it got wet and was three times the price. The sizing is a bit challenging but hospital measured me. Once you have the size its easy. Hope you can find something that will work. Initially the hospital gave me nothing and I got a knitted knocker which was lovely of them but didn't look right.

Thanks Demi Hope the oncology review goes as well as it can.

Making progress with sorting things out from DS flooding the bath and downstairs bathroom is now fine, upstairs corridor and bathroom are just the 8 year old inherited beige carpet affected and it seems to be drying out with a dehumidifier we got yesterday night and old bedding / towels down and looks like will recover. We needed a dehumidifier anyway. Kitchen units appear fine, the wooden worktop has been dried off and appears fine but we will need to re-oil and floor is thankfully tiled so fine and DS dried that off and then put the towels on to wash so he has been helping without us asking. So now its just the kitchen ceiling really. Just drying everything first with dehumidifier and will see if it needs repair - the spotlights in it still work which is a good sign. I don't think we can use the insurance unfortunately, we have a thatched cottage and its hard to get insurance and we also have a high premium to get it relatively cheaply. I do wish someone would invent insurance that covers asd boys but its probably not commercially viable. 😂

Thanks Top You are stronger willed than me saying no to revels. I always regret it after but sometimes I am just I don't care I want chocolate and I'm going to have it.

Yesterday being at hospital all day was not the greatest food day health wise, Portuguese tart, then scone with jam and cream, milkshake, apple and raspberry juice, water then water with lime juice and a steak sandwich with onions. I am trying to be healthier today and did have a good lunch - cheese with pickled red cabbage, radish, figs, passion fruit and drinking water with lime juice. Tonight will be homemade aubergine parmigiana. I am doing well on the exercise and have an average of 5 hours each week since the start of the year and according to my scales have excellent muscle mass, no idea if that is accurate but I'll take it.

Congrats on the house offer @SierraSapphire and hope it goes through. That will be quite a change your DD moving out but good she is progressing. You seem to do lots of exercise.

Thanks @MissMarplesNiece

Glad things are going well @Remaker. My DD is also back in a few weeks time and will be nice to have her back for a few months.

@FairyWren7 I meant to say I’m glad you are slowly recovering from your dreadful experience. It sounds as though a few of us are enjoying alone time this weekend which is lovely for a while. I hope you get time to process what happened and heal before you have to make any more decisions. It is easy to get battle weary and want to walk away from more treatment.

I had a strange experience yesterday. I did my safety duty during intermittent thunderstorms and had to rescue one team which wasn’t difficult or dangerous and all went smoothly. Afterwards they were buying me drinks and I suddenly realised they (a bunch of younger men) were being respectful and are impressed by my skill level. I don’t think that has ever happened to me before!

@FairyWren7 I use a trulife prothesis. It was expensive but I wear it every day so figured cost per wear over 3 ish years is minimal. It was the best one I found and you really can’t tell the difference. I got fitted at Nicola Jane in Chichester, but I think they do online fittings too. My SIL says she’s only replaced hers once in 5 years. https://www.nicolajane.com

I use an M&S sponge one for swimming but will probably invest in a proper swim on (again from Nicola Jane) when I get paid later this month. I also saw a company online called Boost that I might try.

I’ve also started using the Amoena curalymph Linda bra and it’s sooooo comfortable and gives me a nice shape. https://www.amoena.com/uk-en/lymph-care/curalymph-comfort/ I have mild lymphodema and the nurse said to use a sports bra or one from Haddenham - but these are rather medical and don’t look great under floaty tops or v neck shirts.