Hi Margaret,

Welcome to cancer chat.  You are in a sinilar position to myself. I have had 2 bouts of primary breast cancer and am currently undergoing more tests for something further down.

I too have had great support from family, friends and grandchildren. In my early days of diagnosis, I also had some fantastic support from cyber friends on Cancer Chat. Sadly, these great people have lost their fight and are no longer here, but I felt that I have now reached a stage where I want to give something back. I remember what a help it was to me to discuss my worries and fears with non-family members and to discover that nearly all cancer pilgrims suffer the same emotions and uncertainties.

Your input will be very much appreciated.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thank you Louise,

As far as I am concerned every day is a bonus. Life is too short for the average person and, by the laws of average, mine is likely to be shorter, so I intend to make each day count. You were very brave to go out without your wig. Did you get lots of stares when you did this?

I have Lymphoedema in both arms and hands as a result of having had a double mastectomy. As a result I have manual lymphatic drainage twice a week for 2 weeks every 12 weeks. This is followed by manual compression bandaging. When I have these bandages on I look like the Michelin Man. It doesn’t stop me from going out either, but I do get some very strange looks and some very strange questions. For the rest of the time I wear an elasticated compression bandage which doesn’t look quite so grotesque.

Take care,

Jolamine xx

I am so sorry to hear that.Do you know how long you have got ?

Don't worry what everyone else does or says to you they have got nothing better to do than to stare because they are affraid to talk to you.

They also did the same to me but i told them if you have got somethoing to say then say it to my face or don't say anything at all.

Just try to live life the best you can 

Take care 

From

Louise

Hi Louise,

Like so many on this site, I have no idea how long I've got. I don't worry any longer about the staring or the questions. In my opinion this makes people more aware of cancer. Instead of talking about it in whispers to a selected few as we did in the past, I feel that it is about time that we speak out about it.

regards,

Jolamine xx

I couldn't have put it better myself.  I'm hopefully going to be speaking out about the cancer I had 8 years ago and it is daunting talking about that topic and what people have gone through.

Hi Shila and welcome to Cancer Chat.

I am sorry to hear that you have had to have a double mastectomy for your breast cancer. Did your surgeon do a sentinel node biopsy at the time of your mastectomies? I too had a double mastectomy 6 years ago and I have since developed bilateral Lymphoedema in my arms and hands. This was my second primary cancer. I had a lumpectomy the previous year.

I think that all people with a cancer diagnosis become frightened at the thought of metastases, yet there is nothing that we can do to stop it.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. There is always someone here if you want to talk.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Mid,

I am so glad to hear that you are a cancer survivor.

You raise an interesting point which may give hope to others on this site. There are many who wonder how they are going to cope with cancer because they do not have anyone to support them through their surgery and treatment.

I am glad to hear that you turned to Macmillan for help. Support doesn't have to come from family and friends. I have been fortunate in that I have had great support from this quarter, but I have also had tremendous help from other areas without needing to burden my family. I have also joined some self-help groups, where we have supported each other.

There is no need for anyone to feel all alone with a cancer diagnosis and I hope that your post will encourage them to seek assistance from some of these wonderful volunteers.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx