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

Thanks everyone for all the good wishes - it was such a relief - but its wierd, I didn't really feel much like celebrating, because in the back of my mind, I was thinking - 'they've made a mistake, I'll get a phone call in a minute to say they need me back in.' Almost too good to be true really. But my lovely Mac nurse phoned me the next day to confirm that the first mammagram that caused the alarm bells must have had dust on it or something....maybe the radiographer was eating a shortbread biscuit whilst studying the slides..who knows, I'm just thankful, very very thankful.

This little episode has reminded me to focus on something my mate Einstein said - 'There are only 2 ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. the other is as though everything is a miracle.'

Much love to all

Shents x

PS - Patricia - how about starting your own thread re your granddaughter? There may be some people within the forum that have experience of what you're about to go through etc. that may not have read about it in this thread. Its just a thought. I know you have all of the girls plus Tony on here rooting for you, but there may be someone out there that can offer some good practical advice for you - and of course, we'd all follow your thread and give you whatever help we can. xxx

Hi everyone, sorry to have been away so long, the days just seem to be flying by now what with working and going to the gym and regaining my social life.

I do however take the time to read your posts and have had a few smiles and a few tears, Shents Im so happy to hear you got the all clear, you have been such and inspiration to me, and Caroline - you are a star! you go girl...Ive prayed so hard for you Ive got blisters on my knees...lol xxx.

Patricia I have tried so very hard to think of something to say that will help you thru these difficult times and I just find myself jibbering and then getting upset so to hell with the blisters Im back on my knees praying for a miracle for you and your dear family.

Anne so glad to hear you are feeling better and I know what you mean about feeling like it was all a dream, dont get me wrong I still look at the scars and am reminded what we have all been through ..but thankfully it feels like a distant memory now.

Lonie hang in there girl the finishing line is in the distance, youve come so far and done so well I am so full of admiration for you.

Rose good to hear from you as many of the girls have said before me you really have helped so many even when you have been at your lowest.

Colly glad your getting to the gym and swimming...great exercise! we shall all be feeling aches and pains from time to time but remember we have been through a lot and these are still early days our bodies need time to recover....listen to me! if only I would take my own advice, Im currently in training for the race for life in Rhyl on June 5th this time I want to run it, anyway I may not be on here as often as I used to be but be sure of one thing you are all in my thoughts and prayers and not forgetting Tony, sara and lilsis and all the other lovely ladies hugs and kisses

Lee xxxxx.

Hi Lee, glad youre doing well, I will be going back to work april time, so looking forward to that to be honest, jsut want back to normality, as def my imagination is running wild, as you say our bodie have been through a lot and under normal circumstances I wouldnt think twice about having a sore back, but now I just think any pain is a sinister pain and im sure thats something that will take along time to get over. Ive been swimming most days, trying to build up arm muscles where lymph nodes have been removed, dont want bingo wings lol. Got my hair cut and colured, colour not really what I wanted but still a bit short to get anything else done to it, at least the grey is gone, its now a very light brown, think if i want it any lighter i will need to get some bleach in it and dont want to do that just yet, what stage is yours at now lee and anyone else who has finished chemo, im very curious. Lots of love Col xx

hi Coll,

I haven't finished chemo yet- one more to go, but i read rubbing olive oil in the hair and scalp can help with growth.   My hair has always been slow growing, and very fine, but i have been using olive oil since week three of first chemo when i was more or less bald. I now have about 3/4 of a cm of hair on the head, it is quite strong too!  The oil doesn't smell too great so i put it on about an hour before a bath and head rinse. The massage actin stimulates growth and the olive oil is (virgin) is so near to our own skin oils that it really does nourish and of course protect the new hair. I hope that helps, another lady is trying cocomut oil and her hair growth is much slower.

love to all

sara xxx

Derr chemo brain - forgot to mention, in the chemist it is about three quid for a tiny bottle, in somewhere like tesco it is about three quid for a litre ! save some pennies and treat yourself!

sara xxx

I hear chip fat works too, although you may smell like a chippy! Just Kidding.....

I did a little bit of research and have come up with the following steps, one of which mentions olive oil...I think it must be American as it mentions letting someone else take care of the 'check' book....I am sure you ladies ain't gonna be letting go of the purse strings - there are some other good points though... Remember the golden rule though check in with your oncologist about taking any other meds or supplements even vitamins.

I hope they help as know how much it means to you all to have your hair...me as an ex Skinhead love a shaved head!

1. Take a multivitamin every day. Since vitamins are essential for healthy hair, it's important to make sure that you get a lot of them. Try to opt for a multivitamin that includes Vitamin A, D and C. Calcium and iron are also both very important nutrients to have.

2. Eat a well-balanced diet. Remember that taking a multivitamin doesn't mean that you shouldn't also get many vitamins in your regular diet. Fruits and vegetables are both great ways to get all of the vitamins the body needs. Once you have these vitamins, the hair will be more likely to grow. It's also important to eat foods that contain protein and iron, which are both essential for the body.

3. Try taking a prenatal vitamin. They are believed to work wonders for both hair and nail growth. Be sure to speak to a primary care physician before making the decision to take prenatal vitamins, however. Depending on other medications that you may be taking, it's possible that you may be prohibited from taking prenatal vitamins.

4. Find ways to reduce any stress that you may be experiencing. This may mean taking a yoga or swimming class. It may also mean allowing someone else to take care of the checkbook or children for the time being. Since stress can lead to hair loss in most people, keeping any stress in your life will prevent hair from growing faster after chemo.

6. Take an herb called horsetail. Most oncologists recommend it to their patients. Horsetail will prevent the hair from growing back brittle or dry. It will also promote quicker hair growth, making it ideal for anyone who has suffered from hair loss due to chemo. Be sure to check with your primary care physician before taking any herbs, especially if you are on other medications.

7. Massage olive oil into the scalp on a daily basis. It will make the scalp very soft. More importantly, it will help ensure that the blood in the scalp begins to flow. This may help promote quicker hair growth

Much Love to all,

T xxxxx

hey you

sent a post fair few days ago but not heard back. hope you are ok n your family are coping well. just wanted to know how you were all coping with it all, thats all. like the advise. did you see a post about hair growth? will look again n let you know what was recomended. but was a shampoo if it helps now. slightly tipsy, wouldnt like to give false advise! will look n let you know... love you all lots n lots. xxxx p.s how the bloody hell are you tony????

much love. leonie xxxxx

Hey Colly

Lots of great advice from our pal Tony there! I think just being as patient as you can is the way to go! Your hair will grow in it's own time- but I agree with the diet thing - that will help the strength and quality of your lovely new hair.

Mine has come back very grey and very curly. But y'know what - I reckon that's it's natural state (which I haven't seen for a while thanks to my lovely hairdresser!)

I posted a few photos on my blog recently after my first haircut in 12 months. You can have a look www.letyerhairdown.blogspot.com

It's in January's posts under 'chop and change.' I've included photos from skinheed stage to granny grey hair stage, then finally, short, chic and styled. It's great to have hair again, but looking at those photos as a skinheed, I think I quite suited that look!

Great that you're swimming by the way, and much easier with short hair!

Shents xxx

Hey you,

You don't sound tipsy at all...lol

Seriously though, I am sorry I missed your previous note...I have just looked back and found it.... Frankly it is all a bit strange as we are carrying on as best we can normally but have moments when I just get so bloody angry with everything. I absolutely HATE chemo and the biological stuff as on a mixture of Irinotecan and Avastin and have a scan in about 3-4 weeks time to see how it is getting on...I am hoping they will find nothing but not getting my hopes up too high...

Apart from that rare glimpse into my brain, I am doing okay, still working as best I can and loving my new motorbike although I am doing more polishing than riding as riding a big bike (or any bike for that matter) with a chemo head is not good .

I leave miranda locked in the shed for the two weeks post chemo then have a 3 days window the third week where I get her out to ride her then the cycle starts again...

p.s. Miranda is my motorbike in case you were wondering!

Much Love and thanks for asking.

T xxx

Hi Tony.

Firstly naming your bike is perfectly natural! I have guitar called Bernard After Alvin, My drum kit is "The Office" Named well before the TV Show, and my percussion rig is The Office Junior!! I still haven't got round to the final part of my bike test. Work has been slow so it's on the back burner. What is hotting up is my Breast Cancer Campaign "Project 350" Having been awarded a place on the Vodafone World of Difference scheme means that March and April I can just steam on with it. Raising awareness about breast cancer in men and women, raising funds and at least calling to the fore partners of breast cancer fighters. Lots to do. Big press stuff this week. It is being rolled out in Kent first so anyone reading this from Kent wishing to join in please just let me know and I will forward them details.

Love and best wishes to you all.

Phil. x

Hi Tony.

Firstly naming your bike is perfectly natural! I have guitar called Bernard After Alvin, My drum kit is "The Office" Named well before the TV Show, and my percussion rig is The Office Junior!! I still haven't got round to the final part of my bike test. Work has been slow so it's on the back burner. What is hotting up is my Breast Cancer Campaign "Project 350" Having been awarded a place on the Vodafone World of Difference scheme means that March and April I can just steam on with it. Raising awareness about breast cancer in men and women, raising funds and at least calling to the fore partners of breast cancer fighters. Lots to do. Big press stuff this week. It is being rolled out in Kent first so anyone reading this from Kent wishing to join in please just let me know and I will forward them details.

Love and best wishes to you all.

Phil. x

hi all

just wondering where everyone is?? n how you are? keep checking daily n nobody been on. do hope all is well n i mean all of you. please get in touch. know i need to write more too. got pain management app in 2weeks. cant wait to manage it n not put up with it. joined facebook n am addicted! had a 4 hour chat with patrica on sat nt! was great. keeping in touch with lou through it. great catching up with old old friends too.

rose hope you are still improving? think of you often.

lots of love leonie xxxx

Hi leonie, I've not been on for a few days, we were away in fuerteventura, just back tonight, was lovely to get away and to go walks in the sunshine. I just wanted to ask if any of you girlies who have went into menopause because of chemo or just because it's time lol have tried the lady care menopause magnet? It costs £20 from boots and basically you put it down front of your pants lol and it helps with the flushes, it seems to be working for me, google it and let me know if anyone tries or has tried it. Lots of love col x

Hi Col,

hahahahaha!  I haven't tried the magnets but my sister-in-law has and although she said that they seemed to help her with the hot flushes especially at night but you need to be careful.  She told me tales of being at work and they had some filing cabinets that were used as a sort of partition between two areas, she was talking to someone on the other side and 'clunk' stuck to it.  Also metal shopping baskets and reaching into the boot of the car can also cause a problem.  She had me in stitches when she was telling me about it.

Patricia x

Hi Patricia, yeah I've read stories about things like that happening to people, luckily not to me well not yet lol, John came in to room other day with it on and said look col I'm a fa**y magnet lol it was so funny, gotta laugh, it does seem to be working, so fingers crossed, I'll catch up with you on face book xxx

Oh Colly,walks in the sun,How lovely that sounds I had to laugh about the magnet,i had a mental picture of all the trolleys in Tesco attached to someones crotch and following them round like a crocodile

I,m so glad you are at the far end of that tunnel now,All good things to you  darling.

Rose xxx

Hi Colly

I must say that when I read about the magnet it sounded like the answer to my prayers! however I did google it and there was an article in the daily mail where a professor said that he believed the reason it might work is that it could maybe raise female hormone levels. I have to take letrozole for 5 years to reduce oestrogen which is apparently what my cancer (Lobular breast) feeds on. Having read that I intend to ask my GP or breast nurse if they know anything about it. I was taking HRT before the breast cancer and it was great no hot flushes or any other symptoms of the menopause. They are all back now big time!!  As I didn't come into any other 'catagory' of women most likely to get it - age having children - breast fed -  didn't drink - wasn't overweight - my medical team seems to think it quite likely it was the HRT.

I don't want to worry anyone using the magnet but think it wise to check with your doctors first

Jan x