Hi. It looks like this discussion thread has been going a long time and i hope i will be able to join the community here. I was diagnosed with breast cancer just after xmas and have had a mastectomy last week. I have a secondary tumor in my hip and possibly in my head so will have to face chemo and radiotherapy although I dont know the details as yet. I would love to make friends on here who i can both support and find support from on this journey. I have 2 grown up children and they have surprised me recently as to how supportive they can be. It certainly is a case of role reversal in my house. Chassis x x

Hi Chassis

Welcome to the place no-one wants to be.Hope you are coping with the mastectomy and glad to see you have support at home.I had mastectomy 4 years ago and have recurrance in the lymph glands in my neck and chest .I have been on chemo for 2 years to contain it and like you have 2 grown up children and 3 grandchildren ,so plenty of reasons to fight on.Hope you have a good medical team looking after you.What part of the world do you live in?We are a well scattered lot on here.

Stay strong.

Rose xxx

Hi Shents, not spoke to you in ages, hope all is going well, keep us posted about your mammogram, thats my treatment all finished, but was just saying to lou, ive got a really sore lower back and now got myself worried that its something more sinister, I was told at beginning it hadnt spread but maybe has now, I'll need to phone tomor and get an appointment, I just want them to scan me and tell me it hasnt spread, but they dont seem to do that here, sorry just babbling now. Speak soon Col xx

hi colly

its so natural to worry about every ache and pain speak to nurse/or orncologist. I had bit worry 2 weeks ago i didnt tell any family or friends cos i cant stand putting them thru any more . ihave another little lump in other breast i am sure its fine dr not overly worried (well a bit ) but starting radio wed i am also having another ct scan as there was a couple of things on previous scan they wanted to check. hopefully all fine . my husband is completely freaked about the possibility of it coming back but i am not going to let that happen i feel i have spent enough time on thi s ********* disease .

you lot are such a life line thank u all for fab support

love and hugs xxxxnina

Crazy that the first 6 letters of ****mas were starred out of my message to Shents, I will have a word!

Grrr it did it again...let's try C-h-r-i-s-t

Hi Nina thanks for replying I know I am probably worrying about nothing, at least you have had a scan, the hospitals here dont if margins are clear as were mine, consultant removed lump and took some surrounding tissue to check it hadnt spread and it was clear, therefor no need for scan, scotland prob different lol xxx

Nina

lets just hope that you have the same problem I have..... just Narcosis...  but i know what you mean, I was terrified when i found my new lump.

Please let us know how you get on...

Colly... you got to remember that your body has been through such a lot... don't sit and stress... make an appointment at the doctors and give yourself some peace of mind

Love always

Caz xxxxx

Hi Nina

Good luck with the radio tomorrow.Hope you have no side effects,lots of moisturising  and chocolates and flowers Hope your other tests are OK as well,always something to keep us on our toes !!!

Stay strong Nina

Rose xxx

Hey Mr T

Thanks for the kind message - you got there in the end!

I'm sure everything will be ok tomorrow. I do hate the thought of getting my boob mangled by the machine and core biopsy-ed again, and then the waiting for results...total pants!
My lovely hubby will be with me though - and I know you'll all be there in spirit too.

Love Shents xxx

Hi Rose

Thanks for the kind message. After the drama of elbow dislocating, my dear 7 year old is, as we speak, lying on the settee with duvet, telly, jam sandwiches. She was throwing up all night, bless her - must have poisoned her with my cooking!
It nice to have her around - she's a good distraction!

Hey Colly

Try not to get yourself wound up about the back pain - its natural that we will all interpret every ache and pain as something more than just a pulled muscle, trapped nerve etc. but to put your mind at rest get yourself an appointment with your GP or give your breast nurse a call. It is a worry that we're left to get out into the big wide world after treatment and don't have the reassurance of a scan that says 'hey, you're fine - go and relax now.' Its always in the back of your mind - 'What if there was one little stray, rogue cell that was hiding when the chemo was flushing around?' If you're the slightest bit concerned, go get yourself checked. Let me know how you get on.

Shents xx

Hi lovely girl,

Your poor daughter is having a rough time but I know I liked having the children home to spoil for a day or two (novelty wears off after that).

I always wonder how many men would have a test for testicular cancer if they had to put their do-das in a machine to be squashed like we have to with a mammogram.

Good luck,will speak soon.

Rose xxx

Hi lovely girl,

Your poor daughter is having a rough time but I know I liked having the children home to spoil for a day or two (novelty wears off after that).

I always wonder how many men would have a test for testicular cancer if they had to put their do-das in a machine to be squashed like we have to with a mammogram.

Good luck,will speak soon.

Rose xxx

shents, nina

just want to wish you goodluck. i was sorry to read about new lumps n more to deal with. just want you to know im thinking of you n hoping they are benign.(hope i spelt that right)

lots of love xxxxx

Rose,

ROFL...................perhaps I shouldn't laugh but just couldn't help it, mental images etc!

Hi Everyone,

Update....thank you so much for your kind thoughts nd wishes. My son and I are both bearing up, still can't believe what is happening but not quite so angry as  last week.  Went back to work on Tuesday, body there, brain was not. Also went to the hospice on Tuesday evening to the support group as after Monday at the cancer hospital in Manchester seeing the radiotherapy machines brought things back.  Have to say they were absolutely brilliant at the hospital with my granddaughter, nothing was rushed, infact they took ages with her, playing games getting her relaxed.  She was measure for a mask, which to be honest would have freaked an adult let alone a child. They had to make one for her Piggy (Winnie the Pooh) comforter first before she would entertain having one, which they can then decorate with stickers and paint to turn it into a princess mask. Then they let her play with the buttons moving to bed up and down etc. They deserve medals those people. Tuesday she had to go back for some more scans for measurements and now we are just waiting for the first appointment for the treatment, which will last six weeks.

Patricia xx

Hi Patricia,

There was a programme on TV last week showing this very thing.The mask and the children decorating it  and the process and while the adults were wary of it the children didnt give it a second thought.

I hope you are looking after your health as much as you can.I cant even begin to imagine how you all are,it is just too cruel.

All the luck in the world.Give her a big hug from us all.

Rose xxx

Hey Patricia

Thanks for the update. Things do tend to get slightly calmer when things start to happen re treatment etc. Something else to focus on, I suppose. And as you say, once you start to get to know the wonderful staff that will be looking after your grand daughter, then hopefully it will help you all to cope - even just a little bit.

Big hugs to you all coming from breezy Northumberland. You're in my thoughts and prayers.

Keep us posted as and when you can

Shents xx

oh bless you patrica. cant imagine going through this. just heart breaking. thank god for the people that do that job.

always in my thoughts. xxxx

The Case of the Disappearing Grains of Salt, by Shents...

Hey all

Just had the wierdest trip to a hospital in my entire life.

I had a mammagram, then a magnified mammagram, then an ultrasound scan. They were looking for the 'grains of salt' that were found on my mammagram 2 weeks ago. Something that could have been fine, but might not have been...

At the end of all these procedures, they said - 'We can't find anything. We've been asked to take a biopsy, but there's nothing to take a biopsy of...'

'Sooooo, that's good news right?' I asked, a little puzzled, and my heart beating like the clappers.

'Yeh,' the radiographer replied. 'A little strange, but good news....'

So here I am - a few more gray hairs after the worry of the last 2 weeks, but all in one piece.

Thanks so much everyone for your kind thoughts and Tony for your prayers....the good vibes and the big man upstairs have done their bit for me today.

Much love to all

Shents x

Oh thank goodness Shents.What a worry but a good resultDo you have to go back for a salt search in the future or is that it?

Have a large glass of wine and a good nights sleep.

Rose xxx

Wahoo!

I am hoping the same for me in 3 weeks or so when I have my scan

T x

Hello Ladies and Gents

Firstly I would like to say sorry for not being on lately but I have been so busy at work and then so shattered when I get home I drop into bed. I have been keeping up with all the posts though and some are so sad I find it hard to believe their is a God in this world. My thoughts are with you and you know who you are.

Caroline I was so pleased to see your post about going out, like I said to you brush yourself down and go for it. How did it all go and when is the next outing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tony am so glad I am back reading your posts you always have so many words of wisdom, we all oew you so much

Well I have some news, I had a CT Scan this week and the results came in today, all is clear, nothing showing in my lungs, heart, bones etc so now I will have to keep my fingers crossed. I have another mamogram on the 16th Feb as you do and then I have my consultant on the 17th Feb, am asking for a second opinion for my reconstruction as the plastic surgeon I saw wants to do a tummy tuck and reconstruction at the same time using fat from my stomach for my boobs. Well my oncologist was not very happy when I told him about this so he is arranging for me to see someone else.

Well all you lovely people I must stop now as I am at work and want to get home so I may celebrate with a very nice Vodka and Diet Coke lol

Have a great weekend

Love to you all

Littlesis (Linda)