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 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 sorry i've been so long replying i've had a rough few days,i've got the flu on top of everything else at least its only the flu which was a relief! thanks for the advice i'll be trying  them and probably a lot more before i'm finished lol.i was scared stiff before i had my first radio but it was nothing like i imagined it was going to be and today i had my last one yay!! the tiredness was the main thing i battled with my advice would be rest whenever you feel tired,i didnt at the start of my treatment but i soon learnt that you need to rest when your bodys telling you to.good luck with everything take care and keep in touch.donna xx

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.

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

Hey Littlesis,

Thanks for asking...me I am fine, just waiting around as ya do.

Good luck for next week, will be thinking of you on the 9th...how quickly do you get the results.

Also sorry to hear about your niece, keep us informed as we need to support you through that journey too x

Much Love

T xxx

Hi Girls,

Sorry to worry you.I have been rough lately.In bed for a few days and my laptop doesnt work upstairs..Every time I get up I am sick and cough and for some reason my arm is like a sausage.i have never had lymphodema but the GP came out and said the arm is infected.It is red and sore and I cant rest it to hit the keys  so I am on antibiotics which make me feel even less like eating but this time next week should be better.

thank you for thinking of me lovely girls.

Rose xxx

I am hoping you are including me as an honorary girl

Rose, it breaks my heart to thing of our dear friend struggling....I hope and pray this is a glitch and that our positive thoughts and prayers will help you through this latest stop in your journey....don't stop there too long!

Thinking of you.

Much Love

Tony xxxxxx (I don't think I have ever given 6 kisses, but reckon you absolutely need the extra couple and even more, you deserve them too )

HI all

Rose so glad to hear from u sorry u not too well .just want u to know thinkin of you and will be sending much positive vibes for speed recovery xxxx

iam going into hospital for knee op tuesday dreaded but worse is just heard my mum is goin in same day !!for hip revision complicated old problem she has other health issues and i want to be there to help her but i will b on crutches and she lives in jersey bloody worried sick!!it never rains !

please get well soon

love and hugs to everyone xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx(beat u on the kisses Tony i think we r in need of them xx)

Hugs to Rose, hope you are starting to feel better, and hugs for Nina and hope you are back up and about in no time.

I just signed on today really for two things, first to say i know you will all nag me and support me on this one. I had my last cigarette last night - and so did my lovely other half. I didn't think he'd be able to do it! But for all you smokers out there, i can tell you from expereice that these electronic cigs are better than itchy patches, manky tasting gum and hard to hold inhalators. There is no smell, only vapour which is harmless, but the taste as you inhale is a bit like smoking, so you don't crave half as much. They do look like cigs quite a bit and as mad as it sounds - the end lights up when you 'drag'. I have to be honest and say i dont care how it looks, it is helping and so very much easier than trying last time especailly as that hand to mouth habit is as difficult to go without as the nicotine. But it is quite funny that they are slightly heavier than cigs and so i kept dropping mine, and then panicing that i might burn myself or the carpet..... what a plonk! 

I hope anyone who wants to quit will give these things a go - buy them on line at amazon not in the garage forecourt, you'll save a fortune!!!!

best wishes   sara xxx

Hiya Rose, sorry to hear you haven't been too well, get better soon, lots of rest and TLC and hopefully you'll be up and about in no time.

Nina good luck with the knee op, try not to worry about your mum, just look after yourself.

Sara, Im an ex smoker myself and loved a ciggie, but ive stopped 5 years ago and I wouldnt ever go back, you go girl and good luck, my friend had one of those ciggies and it helped her. Keep going!!!!

Col x