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 colly is the magnet still working? just read your post it tickled me i'm having a hysterectomy on the 8th which will send me in to early menopause so i'll try anything that will help with symptoms thanks donna xx

Hi Donna I would say the magnet has reduced the night sweats a good bit, but still having flushes during the day, not so good hate these side effects, but suppose thats what chemo does to you, I posted on your other page to ask you how docs knew your cancer had spread or when did you find out, ive finished all my treatment and theyve said no scans, im worried that some horrible we cell has escaped, i feel as tho im a total worrier now about my health and never used to be xx

Hi colly I'll have a look for one of those magnets. I put a reply on my thread for you,I know how you feel I worry about the slightest thing now I woke up this morning with a sore throat and my first thought was what if it's spread to my throat which I know is stupid but I suppose we can't help ourselves.but try not to worry about things and just chill out and relax  I know it's easier said than done.Donna xx

Hi  Bonjovi, yep I know all about worrying about every pain or slight bump under the skin and now i do know how these other lovely ladies and gents have felt about being paranoid. I started having what i thought at first were hot flushes and then wasnt so sure as they seemed to be a bit different from what others experienced. However, night sweats were blooming awful. Now i keep a cold glass of water or bottle of water by the bed, and a wet flannel in a bowl beside the bed. I rub it on my head neck and wrists when i burn up and the flush goes very very quickly. In fact as mad as it sounds, i am having fewer of them and wondered if maybe by conteracting the effects they have lessened. I also carry wet wipes so i can cool off if i am out. It really helps.

i am trying to get back to some sort of normality now chemo is over, but i am looking for some advice on radio if any one can help. I know it sounds mad after coming through the chemo and i ony have 3 weeks plus a booster of radio, but i am terrified. Is there anyone who didn't have the tattoos? i am so worried about tiredness, and i thought a short walk (20 mins) to my local hospital to catch the free bus to the cancer hospital and a walk back might ease the fatigue, but I don't know anyone who has been through this thing or how it affects you. The doc at the cancer hospital said that tiredness was partly due to the waiting around at the hospital - which i can identify with - its a long day! For the first time in what seems like forever, i am so positive, i have come through the chemo, i am coping with things at home, finances are sorted and my birthday is next week and i can go swimmingand have a drink before the radio!!! But the unknown is driving me mad!

Also to the new people here, I do not know how i would have coped without the love warmth and adivce from everyone here. It is thanks to them that i have come through the emotional and physical difficulties of dealing with this awful disease. It is always heart wrenching to hear yet another person has a diagnosis, but here you are not alone and the help and advice is invaluable. We will all do our best to help you through.

Love to all my special friends here

sara xxxxxxxxx

Hi Sara how's you honey? Don't worry too much about radio, it is a walk in the park compared to chemo, I'd say it is tiring because you need to go every day, I went for 6 weeks, but to be honest I was fine. The tattoos I did get but it's 2 little dots size of a pin head, can't even find them when I look for them, dunno if everyone gets them, basically I was told it's so they no when you're getting radio where to line you up so they blast the right bit, the boost is much quicker session, just use the aqueous creme, I did but still got burned tho that was after 4th week so you may be ok, I was told not to swim till after 4 weeks of finishing radio as chlorine can irritate the skin. Hope this helps. Maybe the sweats are less frequent because your chemo is over and your body is getting back to normal, did you still have a period before starting chemo? I've been told mine will prob never come back as I'm on tamoxifen for 5 years. I also keep water and a wet flannel at side of bed, def helps. Lots of live col x

Hi all

big hi to those just joined sorry to meet u in these circumstances but we are all here to chat and help xxxx

Sara Colly is right radio is breeze compared to chemo . I have my last on tomorrow !!!! boob is sore has been for about last week I had same regieme as u 3 weeks then week booster .its very quick its just going every day is drag. my boob is just like sunburn sorest bit is underneath(thats the droop !!) 1%hydrocortisone cream helps bit but its not that bad boob feels bit numb /tngly but please dnot worry its fine nothing like chemo .Just need keep skin hydrated. I think its cruel irony that it looks like sunburn when u cant put it in sun !!!!I love the sun gonna have try cope with that one !!

I havent got much time to enjoy my treatment ending I am having knee op on 8th march and will b on crutches 4-8 weeks but will keep lookin forward i may be on here alot as i will be stuck at home !!!!

hope you all doing ok Colly loved your hol pics . Sara have lovely birthday . love to alll

love hugs nina xxxxxxxx

Hi Nina thanks, its amazing how well we can look compared to what I looked like during chemo, my face was the size of a ball and I was all puffy, I too love the sun and when I was in fuerteventura 2 weeks ago I had on factor 50, now im a factor 10 then 8 then 2 girl, but to be honest I got a lovely tan, I just wore boob tube tops to cover up the boob area and put a little cotton top up round my neck area where nodes were removed, so lots of high factor and stay covered up during 12 and 2 ish. Have a lovely day, sun is shining here in Scotland xx

Hi Sara

As Colly and Nina have said, rads is a breeze compared to the chemo. I had 4 weeks and found it was the few weeks after that my skin reacted.  Also found my skin generally has been very sensitive, I come out in red blotches at times around my neck and on my face and my eyelids are dry and itchy.  I thought  I was allergic to the cat we have just taken in but I think it is all related to the chemo, herceptin and letrozole.  Hope they get better soon as it is a pain not been able to put make up on.  Still I am feeling loads better and getting stronger everyday, have bought some plants today and just been out putting them in the garden, in between the showers!  Anyway good luck with the treatment I am sure you will be fine and don't worry about the tatoos you will never find them after.

Lovely pic Colly, cannot wait to get in the warm sunshine, we are off to Majorca in April.

Good luck Nina with the op, hope you are not laid up for too long.

It is sunny here at the mo - hope you all have some sunshine in your life today.

xx

Oh you lovely ladies, I am feeling so much better now about the radio.(special thanks to nina Anne and colly xx I have been out buying wallpaper for the spare room which is all mine mine mine ! i have put in most of my clothes, makeup and wigs and now just need to put up the paper and next month get the carpet. i feel so indulgent, but it is a wonderful feeling. I had a glass of red wine last night and just coloured the fluffs of grey so i can have the confidence to go without the wig this up and coming weekend. i have decided to make the most of the 'clear week' between chemo, blood count drop and radio starting to go for a swim and a dip in the hot tub! I won't be alone so i have no worries about feeling hot!  I took a really good look at myself in the mirror and i have got a bit more used to not having hair, so it will be the very first time i go wigless on friday. My bikini shows the scar and the boob sits strangely in the bra cups, but i thought now or never, it is the only way to get back  confidence is to go out there and do it. I also looked back at some of the lovely pics of you ladies here, and i still have to say with hand on heart, that most of you look absolutely fantastic without hair! That was another reason i decided to go wigless this coming friday. strange thing thou -  My other half actually asked me to shave my head last week as he said he really liked it, but i told him i will see how i feel when i can have a crop. The warmth and advice from everyone here has been so invaluable and helped me no end, so i know it will help all you new ladies. It really is true that things get better, it just takes time, so grieve for hairloss and let it go, allow the emotions to come out and scream when you like or cry, but remembr to get back on your horse and kick *** too.  I know about the garden Anne, I can't wait to get started on mine - just give me some sunshine!

Has anyone heard from Caroline?

love to you all

sara xxxx,

Hi Sara, you go girl, im sure you will look just beautiful. Do you have facebook? if so add me Colette Jameson. Spoke to Caz today on facebook, she has hosp appt tomorrow to discuss reconstruction. Col x

Hi Sara, you go girl, im sure you will look just beautiful. Do you have facebook? if so add me Colette Jameson. Spoke to Caz today on facebook, she has hosp appt tomorrow to discuss reconstruction. Col x

Hey Colly - just sent a friends request- hope it comes through, will be adding some of the other wonderful people here too! i am sara carson - no profile pic as yet !!

hi all

just to let you know was at pain clinic yesterday n theres not much they can do with nerve damage but give more meds. i did however get some anaesthetic patches to put on n this helped yesterday. just got to take more pregablin if i can cope with it. it makes me very drowsy n unable to function. but got to do what you got to do!

glad you are feeling better about rads sara. will friend request you in a mo. addicted to it now..

rose hope you are well? will check on you tomorrow.

love to everyone leonie xxxxxx

hey leonie see you there in two ! Nina i just logged onto phils face book n sent request - my god you look so beautiful in every single photo, you are an inspiriation to us all - anyone who feels down about their looks in this awful journey should go see your pics !!!

xxx

hi all

Sara so glad added on face book  thank u for kind word re pics (cant see it myself ) look forward to chats xxxxxxxxxxx prepare to be addicted xx

love hugs to all and happy birthday tony xx

Oh my god............ 7 weeks today!

Thats when I get my reconstuction.... 20th April...... I'm going to have new boobs for the summer Yeeeeeeeeeeeeey

I'm sorry... I'm just so happy

And there is more good news........... Claire Rogers (my surgeon) told me that we are going for the inflatable implants, but she uses the new self sealing implants so.... (fingers crossed) if the implants look ok..... I will have the one operation in April, then when they are fully inflated and have been allowed to settle.... I will have another operation , under local anesthetic, to remove the tubes and ports..... and have nipples made at the same time.

And the best news of all............. My new boobs will NEVER sag.... I never have to wear a bra again if i don't want to.

I'm sorry ladies, I know some of you are still going through some serious stuff at the moment..... but I always seem to coming on here with bad news.... I thought it was about time I shared some good news with you.

I must admit, I was dreading summer... all those lovely vest tops that I didn't think I would be able to wear...... Guess who's going shopping today?

Love always

Caz xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Shout as loud as you like!

It's great to get good news.

Well done you, keep smiling.

Hi All

I thought I would would say Hi to you all as I have not been on in a few weeks, we had some bad news last week my 28year old niece has Lukiemeia looks like a bone marrow transplant as well, her sisters have now been checked and awaiting results, if they do ot match then the rest of the family have to be excluding me as my cancer team say I am not allowed, I just feel so bad as I can not do anything to help. Fingers crossed one the the family will match her as she is having a very bad time at the moment and is now in isolation. Has anyone got any knowledge on this as it would help me a bit?

Well I am back at the hospital next Thursday (9th) for a mamogram and to see my consultant, I am hoping to be sent to another plastic surgeon as my oncologist was not happy with what the first one wanted to do for a reconstruction, using tissue from my stomach which would then mean a tummy tuck as well, hey I wasnt complaining lol, will keep you ;posted on how it goes

Well enough of the doom and gloom

Caroline I am so happy for you it is about time you had some good news, how was your second night out on the town with the girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tony I hope this finds you well and how is it all going and how are the family

Colly how are things with you I am sorry I have not been in touch for a while but as you can see had a lot going on

Lonie I am pleased to hear they are trying to help stabalise your pain some of us have been so lucky in some ways.

Well I would also like to say hi to everyone else there is now to many to mention, take care you lovely people

Love

Littlesis

hi Caz, thats great news, go you sexy lady!

Littlesis so sorry to hear about your niece, fingers crossed everything will go ok and someone in the family will be a match, unfortunately dont know anything about this at all, maybe google it, tho sometimes that can give you just too much info that you really dont need. Im doing grand thanks, got my first appt with oncologist since treatment finished on 10th march. Keep in touch or set up a facebook as most of us are on that, add me under Colette Jameson

Take care xxx

hey rose where are you?? getting worried now. looked through n havent seen any posts from you on here at all. please tell me you are ok! thinking about it, you should of had results shouldnt you. oh please just hope you have been tired n its not more bad news!!! i hope so much you are ok. couldnt bare anything with you too. you are a little diamond n care a lot about you. get in touch when you can. lots of love leonie xxxxx

Leonie that is really spooky i was just thinking the same about wheres Rose ?and logged on to see , hope all ok

lots of love all xxx