Hi I'm 45 and just found out that a lump I had on my breast is cancerous, I had lump and lymph nodes removed last tues, so I'm now waiting to hear what treatment I'm going to need, My consultant has said most likely 8 sessions of chemo every 3 weeks, so 6 months in total and then radiotherapy mon-fri for a month, so i'm kinda in the unknown zone at the moment. Not looking forward to the hair loss, terribly vain i know, but my hair is very important to me like most women, I colour it blonde which will obviously have to stop. As far as I know my chemo will be given intrevenously, so my hair will most probably fall out. I am going to look into getting a real hair wig as I dont think i've got the guts to go au natural, I've also picked up a couple of bandanas to wear about the house. My partner says it doesnt matter if my hair falls out, as long as i'm here. Luckily I've found the lump very early by self examination whilst on holiday and my consultant is very positive about me getting better. I'm very wary about the next 9 months but feel quite determinded that chemo is a wonder drug and will make me better. My girls are 22 and 20 and are amazing, they have read stories in magazines about Kylie, sally from corrie etc and are determined I will just do what the doc says and get better, my partner who ive only been with for 2 years is the most wonderful guy ever, dunno what I'd do without him, he's been with me every step of the way. I was worried about losing my breast, but fortunately I had a lumpectomy which looks amazing. my consultant says put your life on hold for the next 6-9 months get better and you'll never look back, oh yeah sounds easy, but im trying really hard. I hope I'm still this positive whilst I go through my treatment (def not I hear you say) lol, but I'm a determined ***!

Hope to chat to others in the same situation xx

hi colly

just had my lump and nodes removed thursday (12th Aug) so will know my treatment shortly. I am expected to have radiotherapy and chemo but i thought radiotherapy came first, seems on here it is the other way around - perhaps I wasn't listening. I'm feeling a bit daunted at what comes next but more so for the effect it will have on the family - i worry too about not being the glamourous vital woman i was and will that change my realationship with my partner and so on. Although we are planning to get married. So much to talk about! it would appear you will be going through treatment at around the same time as me, so if you would like to stay in touch and discuss our good and bad days, please do !!! my email is simplysara1@hotmail.com

wishing the best of luck to you

sara

Bed time is murder when they are 2 ,you have to catch them when they are tired but not too tired which is a skill in itself.Soon you will be able to run after him and sort him out !!We have been blackberry picking today,had loads and put them in the freezer for crumbles and tarts in the winter.i used to make blackberry wine but still have some from last year so wont bother this year.

Going to watch The Bodyguard on telly now for the 20th time,I do like Kevin Costner.

Have a lovely night and congratulationsAt last :love:

Rose xxx

glad i'm not here all alone! family is great but they're not 'the girls and tony'! nice to see you're there rose, you're the only one on-line with me by the looks of it! poor caroline; that must be bloody awful. all my hopes and thoughts are with you love.

cheers rose

raise your glass for a cyber *****!!!

xxxxx

didnt say anything rude then. just meant the noise when glasses go together for a cheers.

sounds lovely rose, think i might send the boys out for some. enjoy your film n lots of love

night xxxxxx

Wow - the positive feelings coming out of here the last couple of days even with the dreaded results due and feeling like crap! And even more suprised was I to see so many of you enjoying a glass of something good! so with my bottle on its way to me as we speak - my last drink for a good while as 2nd surgery this Monday, I will be drinking to your successes and for good news for the rest of you.

i sometimes come here too and find there is no one here to talk to - but if anyone has MSN just add a 1 at the end of my name the usual AT and then hotmail dot com. I would love to have more of a 'chat' than just post messages, its a bit more personal.

By the way - I hope you ladies have been checking out "LOOK BETTER FEEL GREAT" for those of you who don't know - it is a make over for ladies with cancer - how to do makeup and a small bag of goodies too. A real pampering session - free of charge - find it on the net !!!!

I had my grand children here today. Little sophie (4) was no trouble but my little Aiden (2 ) - well he wears me out just thinking about him, so for all of you with little ones, I sympathise! They keep you strong but wear you out!

Have a really good weekend all, and I will check in with you all later in the week.

Sara xxxxxx

Hi ladies.

Leonie, congratulations honey.... I am so pleased for you.

Roses, thank you for being my sanity line today

The great thing about this group is that you never have to cope with anything alone

Thank you

Love Caz xxx

P.S. Leonie, I raise my glass of Merlot to you honey. Xxx

cheers sara,

glad you're having one with us. good luck for monday, be thinking of you. speak to you when you're next online. i'll try n sort msn next week when time. are you on facebook? im not but jon is. wishing you all the best hun n lots of love to you.

xxxxxxxx

Hi Sara,

Enjoy your tipple ,how long will you be in hospital?

I love having my grandchildren over (3years,9 months and 3 weeks) but they do wear you out .As you said i take my hat off to anyone going through this and looking after young ones.I keep getting tearful at things Harry says,especially when he says I am his best friend.( blubbering grandmother )

Good luck for Monday.Stay strong,

Rose xxx

Good luck for Monday Sara

We will be thinking of you and praying for you

Love always

Caz Xxx

thanks caz. means a lot. sorry to hear you didnt get results today, must be awful for you. we'll all be here for you thats for sure. try n have a good weekend hun. gonna look at your other page so i know more about it n how you feel.

chin up lovely girl, n cheers!!

love xxxxx

Hi Leonie,

Nice one!

Sorry I didn't manage to get back in time from Southport to be one line with you. Had to go and do a spot of babysitting. My grandson's mum had an appointment and was having trouble trying to find someone to look after the kids.

Patricia x

Hi Leonie,

Nice one!

Sorry I didn't manage to get back in time from Southport to be one line with you. Had to go and do a spot of babysitting. My grandson's mum had an appointment and was having trouble trying to find someone to look after the kids.

Patricia x

Hello Ladies & Tony

I hope you do not mind me joining in on your chats, I am really here for some advise as I have been reading through the threads and some of you seem to be where I am in my treatment, I had number 7 on Friday so 1 more to go befor the radiotherapy stars. I had a consultation with my Oncologist on Friday and he informs me it will be about 4 weeks after my chemo finishes which will be on 24th Sept that the radiotherapy starts, well this I am dreading as I have heard so many different stories, even after reading through the threads what would you all advise to help the skin not getting so sore. I have always creamed my skin so hoping this will help but what creams have all you ladies used.

It was good to be able to chat to my BN as well as I was looking forward to a holiday n the sun in December, my christmas present to myself but am informed not a good idea so soon after treatment advise was to wait 8 weeks plus after treatment, wasn't best pleased but hey I would rather go away and enjoy after this year.

Also can anyone give me advise on this I was also told that it would be a year after Radiotherapy befor I can have my reconstruction, I was so shocked as I thought it was a year after the enitial surgery, apparantly it is to give your skin time to heal, this has really upset me as I was hoping to feel like a real woman again, I do not mean to sound bad but after all we go through and then we get another blow, it just doesn't seem fair. I am so sorry it is all moaning from me but I just feel so fed up today and do not know why, I just feel so fustrated with everything.

Well ladies I better go now as have to have something to eat to take the steroids oh what joys, and once again sorry about the moan

Take Care and speak to you all soon

Littlesis

Hi Littlesis

Just to let you know, I'm a bloke!

Having watch my partner go through the stages of breast cancer from "News" right through to "Clear" this March, I can tell you, moan away! It's the best medicine. We would talk for hours about things and she would trawl the net for info. I am not medically qualified to answer some of your questions and remember everyone's body is different. Your oncologist will know your bod! Since I started raising funds for various charities related to breast cancer I have met a vary large number of people. Opinion is a great leveller but don't rush things. Everyone has different ideas and some people tended to believe the "shortest time for this and shortest time for that" others were the completely opposite! One thing, sadly,that some didn't do was talk to qualified peeps! Any doubt, pick up the phone. Email your oncologist, call CRUK have a chat with a nurse or call the people in green (Macmillan) Either way, from what I can gather, you are through to "the other side" and patience is the next and most frustrating step. You have done well, keep up with the moaning, have a rant, if it makes you feel good then it is good!

I wish you all the very best.

RD

Hi Littlesis,

Moan away sweetie,thats what we are here for.We all have days when it all gets on top of us.

Well done on nearing the end of your chemo.Everyone is different but i had no side effects at all. on radio..I used aftersun cream every day but you need to stay out of the sun as the skin will be delicate and burn easily.I hope you sail through it. I had reconstruction 8 months after radio finished as the skin wont heal if it is too soon after treatment I know you want it all to be finished as soon as poss but it really is better to wait and get things done properly once and for all.You have come so far,it will all be done soon,honest !!

Hope you feel better soon,keep posting

Rose xxx

Hi there,

its nice to know that you are not the only one who is going through this! i had my lumpectomy on 26th july, so they did the reconstruction when they removed the lump. i have made it quite clear to my breast care nurse that i will not be going to have the other breast done has it was to painful! i start my treatment of chemo on the 17thsept. so scared not knowing what side affects i may go through. hope someone can tell me not to worry!

regards dizzy

Hi there,

its nice to know that you are not the only one who is going

through this! i had my lumpectomy on 26th july, so they did the

reconstruction when they removed the lump. i have made it quite clear to

my breast care nurse that i will not be going to have the other breast

done has it was to painful! i start my treatment of chemo on the

17thsept. so scared not knowing what side affects i may go through. hope

someone can tell me not to worry!

regards dizzy

Sorry guys

No results again today

My head is a shed and I'm fuming

Don't know how much more I can take

Love Caz xxx

Littlesis,

The laydeeees on here will keep you straight and have already been telling you not to worry about ranting....this is what the site and us are here for and we all share the emotional pain!

Can't help on the reconstruction bit although I am sure someone will advise - as far as radiotherapy is concerned, it affects different people in different ways so no guarantee things are going to be bad although I suppose in a way it is better for you to prepare yourself for the worst just in case.

Stick with it, rant all you like and have lots of cyber hugs from us guys and girls <<>>

Much Love

T xxx

Hi Caz,

Sorry about this...you will keep taking it and putting up with the emotional and physical pain...easier said than done but try to control the stress...The bloody waiting is the worst as we have discussed many times on here...think of a way of not having to go down to the 'Jasmine' each time they promise and get them to call to confirm on the morning. It is wasting your time and theirs to keep getting you down there!!!

Great blog by the way!

Much Love

T xxx

Hi Patricia hope your well. A wee question for ya. After you finished your treatment did you have any kind of scan to make sure everything was clear? I've had so many people say no and I can't quite comprehend that, why wouldn't they how do they know it's gone. 2 more chemise and radio and that's me done. Hope the rest of you girlies and Tony are well. Col x

Hi Col,

Sorry to disappoint you but there is no scan available to detect such small levels of cancer. I had a cyst removed to discover that it had cancerous cells inside. The recommendation was to have my breast removed although at the time couldn't understand why if the cancer was inside the cyst. In hind sight this was the right decision as one or two cells were found. They found that there was clear flesh between me and the removed breast and that there was nothing in the lymphnodes. The chemotherapy and radiotherapy was just an extra precaution to kill off any wandering cell which may have managed to escape. I will, of course, still have to be monitored regularly for the next five years but as far as they are concerned at the moment, they have got it all.

I'm starting to feel half way near normal,each week that goes by I feel slightly better. Off to London at the weekend, my ex sister-in-law is taking the week off, I'm staying with her. One or two plans in pipeline, theatre, spa, meals, Thames festival and a visit to Bath staying overnight at her son's house. Can't wait!!!!

So glad for you that you are getting near the end of your chemo treatment. The radiotherapy is so much easier to deal with. Chin up.

Patricia x