Hi,

I am sorry to butt into your discussion but just wanted to wish you all well.

You all seem like tough cookies and am touched, truly.

I am currently waiting, I have my breast clinic appointment on 27th oct and really nervous, not eating or sleeping much to be honest but then I don't eat much anyway lol.

Really don't know what to expect with this appointment just that I will probably be having an ultrasound as I'm only 24.

The reason I went to the GP was because I have bloody nipple discharge and a rather deep dimple. I can't help but think the worst but do understand there are benign causes for this out there. Just glad my GP took me seriously.

Do you mind if I ask how you ladies felt at this stage? Am I insane or am I being normal?

Best wishes everyone

Kylie xxx

No Kylie,

You are not insane..... first let me say you are very sensible to see your doctors immediately.... you would be surprised how many think they are too young so don't bother.

I know this is a very scarey thing to try and come to terms with... and the waiting is the hardest bit.... If I had to discribe how I felt when I was waiting for appointments and tests then I think the only word I could come up with is....LOST... Very emotional and scared to death.... but I now know that all these feelings are perfectly normal.

If you are worried about what to expect, why not ring up your breast clinic and ask them.... they are normaly really good and have no problem explaining what you should expect.

When my doctor refered me to our local breast clinic, I was examined by a lady doctor, then I had to have a mammogram and an ultrasound scan..... I would suggest you take somebody with you... maybe your partner / Mum / friend just for a bit of moral support.... but I have to say that the breast care unit and all it's staff were brilliant and really did well to calm all my fears.

If you have any questions at all, please feel free to come here and ask, there is always somebody who has been in the situation you are in and able to offer help and advice.... we are all here for each other.

Take care honey... and try not to imagine the worst (easier said than done)

Love Caz xxx

Bless you Sara

what a lovely thing to say, I guess with a bit...no change that...with a lot of make-up I guess I dont look too bad, for me its the night time when everything comes off I just feel so low, however Tuesday is coming and I just cant wait for it to be over then hopefully I will be able to inspire you guys with a full recovery.

Colly you said your hand was the same as mine is now, what happened when you went for your last chemo did they use a different vein ?

Lots of love

Lee xxx

Hello all my lovely friends, I wonder if someone can tell me how the NHS wig thing works. I have a wig place attached mnt Vernon Hosp where i see the chemo nurse on the 3rd and have made an appointment to call in. The lady was lovely - i told her i had seen a wig almost identical to my own hair - only better - and she is going to try and source it. She did say in her email however, that i need a referal letter from who ever is treating me, although I do have the health exemption certificate. So who do I ask for a referral? The chemo nurse, the surgeon or the oncologist or can my breast care nurse do this for me? If I have to pay then so be it, but ideally I would like a change of wig too and paying for two wigs really will break the bank right now.

Also ladies- please if you have any unwanted wigs, remember the WIGBANK who offer a fantasitc service. i was thinking of starting a new thread dedicated purely to tips on coping and looking good from wigs to hair dye to false lashes and so on. So many of you have had such great ideas and tips - let's set up something we can all access in one space?

have a lovely weekend all, speak to you very soon

Lots of love,

sara

hi sara

not sure if wig thing works differently in different areas(i live in west sussex ) but mine was arranged thru the orthotics dept at the hospital i did need a referall but i asked my gp who faxed aletter then she(the wig lady ) had direct line to the wig shop i used and sent a voucher worth £120 and i paid the diffence i also got 2 wigs but they vary in price so much and u also dnot pay the vat i didnt think it was too bad ,obviously it depends on what u pick. the girls in shop were fab we had a laugh (and bit of a cry when hair actual fell out ) they even cut wig to make it bit more indivual for me.

regards the make up thing do u have a look good feel better workshops in your area i havent done it yet but they are free and run by in certain hospitals they give u loads free samples and teach u tips have a look online i think u register and then just go to local one i am goin to look into it also ask your nurse i keep u posted how it goes my friend did it and said it was fantastic dnot know if other ladies have done it

hope all goes well love and hugs nina xxxxxxxx

Hi Folk.

My partner went through the wig issue. She found it so tough emotionally she went completely the other direction! Ended up buying a black bob and an electric blue one too. They came in at a staggering £7.99 each from the fancy dress department!!. She ended up buying scarves to mix and match with the wigs and her clothes. One new scarf here one there all colours and types (About £2.00 each). Cowboy hat, baseball hat and other bits and bobs. Used them as an accessory rather than a starting point. All from 2nd hand shops and the odd market stall. Everyone is different but it worked for her and she pulled it off with some style. I was and still am so very proud of her.

The "Look Good Feel Better" is worth doing. She did that too. Walked out looking and feeling a million dollars, holding a nice bag of goodies worth over £300 at High street prices. On a side issue, I took a photo as she came out, she entered it in an "Ask Jeeves" on line contest and won a pink phone Double happy!

Which ever way you go it will be right for you. She is out the other side now and complaining about the cost of haircuts! (She has had two since chemo ended!)

With a strength of feeling I wish you well, which ever route you choose to take.

RD

Hi lee my veins had practically disappeared all together and nurse was going to use one on my wrist which I didn't fancy, but we just steeped my hand in hot water and eventually a vein came up. Good luck! X

Hi Girls,

Thank you all for you support.

Well panic over, relatively good news. They think my son has got gynecomasti. He had to have an ultra scan (made me laugh when he was complaining about being covered in the gell and trying to get it off, said 'now you know how us mothers feel only you haven't had to drink loads of water and need a pee! LOL

I did get to meet my new breast consultant/surgeon as well, the other one I had had a heart attack a week after I had my surgery back in Janurary and so decided to retire once he was better. She seems very nice, will be seeing her myself at the end of November.

Patricia x

I,m soooooooooo glad Patricia,you can have a good nights sleep for a change.!!

Always something to keep us on our toes.

Have a good weekend

Rose xxx

dear patricia

so pleased for u enjoy your weekend

love hugs nina xxxxxxxx

Thank goodness patricia, you must be so relieved x

Hi all, so pleased for you patricia, if I had a drink - I'd be drinking to you both. Nina, the look good feel better have a CD (can't remember where I actually got it) and i watched it this week, it is really good. I have the details of my local one which is at the hospital I have to travel to for chemo and radio, but I am definately getting in on that one. Anything to help me feel i look normal and feel pampered has to be good.

RD, your message really meed me smile, what a wonderful lady you must have! i have to say I felt inspired and thought yup, time to get a grip girl, and i hope i can be as brave and find a new style for me. And colly thanks for the tip on hot water and veins - i haven't even started yet and it was worrying me. I always feel when I come here that I have something to come away with that makes me more prepared and more comfortable about the journey ahead. thank you all.

well, it's half term week and the little ones here are unwell with sore throats cough and high temperature. I've got a bit of a sore throat so hoping it stays where it is and doesn't turn into the awful bug the kids have. On a brighter note, my man said last night we should give up smoking. Oh yes yes yes, at last I don't have to do it alone and wont be miserable every time he lights up and I want one. So, nicotine gum and inhalers ready - just need the lozenges - just in case..... wish me well all as the air in this house will be blue, and the doors slammed a few times before we really get to grips with detoxing the nicotine. What a time to choose - chemo coming up, kids off school, none of us exactly well and the bills are all due this week too. Never mind - still smiling and just one more step to a healthier me.

Love to all

sara

Hi all, so pleased for you patricia, if I had a drink - I'd be drinking to you both. Nina, the look good feel better have a CD (can't remember where I actually got it) and i watched it this week, it is really good. I have the details of my local one which is at the hospital I have to travel to for chemo and radio, but I am definately getting in on that one. Anything to help me feel i look normal and feel pampered has to be good.

RD, your message really meed me smile, what a wonderful lady you must have! i have to say I felt inspired and thought yup, time to get a grip girl, and i hope i can be as brave and find a new style for me. And colly thanks for the tip on hot water and veins - i haven't even started yet and it was worrying me. I always feel when I come here that I have something to come away with that makes me more prepared and more comfortable about the journey ahead. thank you all.

well, it's half term week and the little ones here are unwell with sore throats cough and high temperature. I've got a bit of a sore throat so hoping it stays where it is and doesn't turn into the awful bug the kids have. On a brighter note, my man said last night we should give up smoking. Oh yes yes yes, at last I don't have to do it alone and wont be miserable every time he lights up and I want one. So, nicotine gum and inhalers ready - just need the lozenges - just in case..... wish me well all as the air in this house will be blue, and the doors slammed a few times before we really get to grips with detoxing the nicotine. What a time to choose - chemo coming up, kids off school, none of us exactly well and the bills are all due this week too. Never mind - still smiling and just one more step to a healthier me.

Love to all

sara