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

Hi Sara everything you've said to caz is so true and hopefully she will put it all into practice. As for hair loss, I held onto mine till about half way into the 3rd cycle, even then it didn't all fall out, I lost a couple of eye lashes at top and nearly all of bottom lashes into 5th cycle and all other hair about 3rd cycle, I kept most of my eye brows, so it's really diff for everyone. My hair is coming back in now and I finished 6th cycle of chemo on 6th oct. Hope this helps. Oh and my nails are a bit of a mess they are very brittle and all white, so be prepared for that, it didn't happen till last chemo xx

hi sara

i think we have said before i think our paths are very similair we were i think diagnosed same week 3oth july x

i have had x3 fec chemo i started to lose my hair day 14 it was freaky but in scheme things it will be back !!

you give great thoughts and advice i know u will cope it is emotional but go with  it then embrace the savin on shampoo cuts colur time dryin striaghtnening products !i know iam bein crass but have bit of cry and then move on it is weird but its ok .scarfs wigs bandanas people r greatxxxx hope u chemo goes well we can all do this xxx

lots love hugs nina xx

Hi Ladies,

i just wanted to tell you (cos my old man doesn't think it important lol) that i was getting stressed about losing the hair as i didn't have a wig and the hospital said it would take at least another week and then I'd have to try it on and stuff. My aunt (bless her) said she'd lend me the money til the end of the month to get one. so off i went and tried on loads and loads, and found a great wig, but not the right colour. I was quite upset and thought I'd have to wait til the end of the month and go up town or something. Anyway, the lady at the hospital told me what wigs i could have and i went to the website and found the exact one i had tried on and loved. Although it will take another week to come, i gave the lady a range of almost dark brown to mid brown with red tints (i have always changed the colour) and now she reckons it will be here by about wednesday. I just thought it was so funny that with all the emotion you feel when you know you will lose at least some of your hair, that getting a wig is exciting. It made me laugh when i thought about it.

I'm also looking for some advice, where does a balding middle aged toothless old woman go to get warts on her nose? I know Halloween has gone by, but oh boy, think of the looks when i go shopping in a black cape with the witches hat in hand. Tony - not meaning to sound sexist - but how does one make a broom?

Nina, please tell me how you are finding your chemo. I haven't had any major problems- so far. And who else here knows the Mount Vernon Chemo suite?

ok, off to clean my mobile tooth, love to all xxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi Sara,

Dont know how to make a broom as I usually just buy one :-) As for MV I know the area well as used to live in Rickmansworth a while a go, know loads of people still around that area....I would love to bump into some of you guys and the amazing thing is we may even walk past each other in the hospitals...I am going to a well know east midlands cancer hospital.

Anyways up all last night with a chemo side effect so I need to get to sleep!

Night Night all and remember....just be careful out there!

Much Love

T xxx

Hi everyone

sorry its been so long but ive been in hospital for the last week with a very bad chest infection, had a wonderful birthday so thankyou to everyone for their good wishes but I guess I paid the price, lots of people about with colds and virus's and pubs were so busy, anyway  Im back now and have been busy trying to catch up with everyone, Caz im reaching out to you with all the warmth and strength I can muster, Sara my hair came out around the 3rd session eyelashes are still there but very very short, Tony I do hope you feel better soon and I just thort Id leave you all with this poem that I keep by my bed, It helps me when I feel like giving up and I hope it can help you too xx

When things go wrong

As they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging

Seems all uphill,

When the funds are low,

And the debts are high,

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit-

Rest if you must, but dont you quit.

Success is failure turned inside out -

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell how close you are,

It may be near when it seems afar,

So stick to the fight

When your hardest hit.......

Its when things seem worst

                        That you must not quit !     

Hi Lee,

Sorry you had to go to hospital,I,m glad you are recovering.

that is a very apt poem,although it is hard to be positive all the time we must try.You always know how to lift spirits.

Keep getting better.

Rose xxx

Hi all,  sorry you were so unwell Lee, what a shame there is the cliche about sexy young female nurses and none about the male ones. Maybe we should complain about the lack of eye candy I'm sure some hot to trot wonderful bedside mannered male would make us feel better. Watch the wiggle when they walk and all that.

I just spoke to my sister and we were saying how living with  this disease you become a different person, and for all the crap i think i have become a better person and i have NEVER met people as warm and wonderful as all of you here. Please remember about unused wigs and scarves - already i have someone in Kent with a poster going up in two charity shops and the Macmillan centre tomorrow for collections. I have also had a lady ask if i can find her a short dark blonde wig. Funny thing was, i have one my aunt gave me so I rang her and asked if I could send it on. She agreed and for about £3 this lovely has a wig on its way to her tomorrow - duly washed and disinfected. The emotion in her voice at the releif of being able to have a wig before her nhs one comes throughand not costing her money she doesn't have made me feel very humble. I am glad I have decided to do this, I need as much support as I can get to make this BIG and widely available.

Anyway, the weather might be crap but hearts here are always warm. I have had such pleasure in helping someone this weekend it has lifted my spirits no end. My love to you all. xxxx

Hi lee, sorry you haven't been too well, hopefully on the road to recovery. Have you had a date when you're radio has to start? X

Hi Colly and everyone, Im feeling much better now and once I have finished my course of antibiotics I am going back to the gym,   I wont  be having rads as I had them 18months ago when I had my first bout of cancer so cant have it again will start taking tamoxifin tues for the next 5 years and hopefully all will be well   glad to hear your hair is growing back so quickly Colly I keep checking mine in the mirror but nothing yet!. and dont forget girls and guys maybe next summer we can all meet up for a well earned drink and toast our good fortune to have found each other xx

lots of love Lee x

Hi lee, glad you're feeling better. I do remember no you did mention before you've not to have radio. Think ive to start tamoxifen on first day of radio. My hair is coming back in, feels spiky lol. I still have a sore neck but breast doc thinks I just need to be patient and let chemo get out of my system, so hopefully it will get better soon. How are your nails? Mine are a mess x

Hi lee, glad you're feeling better. I do remember no you did mention before you've not to have radio. Think ive to start tamoxifen on first day of radio. My hair is coming back in, feels spiky lol. I still have a sore neck but breast doc thinks I just need to be patient and let chemo get out of my system, so hopefully it will get better soon. How are your nails? Mine are a mess x