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

Sorry Leonie - we must have been typing at the same time.

That's amazing that we're all doing a fundraising event/challenge this summer. You're so right, lets try and raise a whack load of cash.

Much love

xx

Was devastated when I saw the news earlier on facebook.  Lovely lady and like the rest of you never realise she was that ill.  My heart goes out to her family. I thought I would also share the poem I posted

Patricia that was a really lovely poem - very apt and very comforting.

How's everything with you at the moment?

What terrible news.Lou was one of my first contacts here and a lovely person.The world has lost one of the good on.esWould it be OK if I let them know on the other forum that she introduced me to ?

My heart goes out to her loved ones.

Rose xx

We were so sad to hear that Loumack lost her fight against breast cancer over the weekend.

Everyone at Cancer Chat send sends their condolences to Louises's family and friends and our thoughts are with her fiance Nigel and her lovely children.

Sarah

Cancer Chat Manager

Leonie,

Thanks you dear friend for sharing this terrible news....looking on facebook she was a real beauty inside and out...not just cliches and the type of thing people say after someone has died, but true fact.

She really struggled and I thank-you for keeping us informed on here and private messages.

You say you never met her...as if, something was missing in the relationship however there was nothing lacking in Lou and your's friendship.

We will all miss you Lou Mackenzie.

Much Love

Tony xxxxxx

Dear All

Such sad news I am at a loss for words.

My heart goes out to her partner and children.

God bless you Lou.

I cannot think of what else to say, I am truly saddened.

Anne

x

of course rose. you should let them know. really hope that arm gets better very soon. much love xxxxx

I am so sorry to hear the sad news.My prayers are with her family

Just wanted to say big hi to everyone xxx

Its so sad cant  get Lou out of thoughts cant stop thinking of her family and all of us !!

just wanted to say thinking of you all in a really BIG way !!

lots love and hugs nina

ps has anyone heard from  Sara Lately  XXXX

Just wanted to say big hi to everyone xxx

Its so sad cant  get Lou out of thoughts cant stop thinking of her family and all of us !!

just wanted to say thinking of you all in a really BIG way !!

lots love and hugs nina

ps has anyone heard from  Sara Lately  XXXX

Hi everyone, sorry i haven't been around - i have been fine just busy. It was a real blow though to come here today and read the very sad news. I don't think I can add to anything that has already been said, but I do believe that  Lou would want us all to do what she kept telling us to do, and stay strong and positive. As she was such an inspiration to us all, we owe her that much and to carry on the tradition of helping and supporting those who follow our footsteps. Love and hugs to her family.

Well i am still on the electric ciggies, but they really do work! I have been trying to build up my health by using the cycle and stuff ready for radiotherapy. I see my surgeon this wednesday and for some strange reason it makes me really nervous- maybe because he made the original diagnosis - funny how some things stay with you and affect your thoughts! Then i have the planning meeting on April 1st for radio and should start two weeks after - right when all the bank holidays are! Does anyone know how the booster works? Is it a one off or a course? I am nervous as it is the left side and since getting hot flushes and night sweats i also get palpatatons. Gosh the things that we worry about, but the feeling of not being alone with the guidance and help here is always a great help.

I must get back on facebook and catch up properly, but for now, my love to you all, keep your spirits up and stay well.

love sara xxxx

I am in shock

As I write this, tears are rolling down my face... I can't believe Lou has gone.

We kept talking about meeting up, but never got round to it...... and now we never will!

She only lived about 15 minutes away from me

When I was first diagnosed, Lou was always here with a reassuring word when everything got too scarey.

I don't know what to say....... Loads of love to her family

Lou Mack..... be at peace honey

Gone from our sight.... but always in our hearts

Caz xxxxxxx

Hi Everyone

Like you all I am in total disbelief with what has happened, I did not realise how bad Lou was, all I can say is my thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends at this time.

I feel bad now giving you the good news I have had, I went for my first yearly check and all was clear, I do not know whether to shout or cry.

Like so many of you I am doing Race for Life in July all the more reason to do it now for Lou and to help all the people coming up behind us who may have to go through the rollercoaster.

Well Caroline how are you and glad to hear your meeting went well about your reconstruction, I have to wait until January 2012 but hey I am here so I have to be greatful for that.

Anne how are doing we have not had a chat in a while now, hope you are keeping well

Lonie you are always so kind and thoughtful to others you are an absolute inspiration

Tony my good friend, how are the family and of course yourself, we must catch up and soon

Well all take care and I am sorry if this post upsets you talking about other things but I am sure Lou would not want us to stop chatting, I do not mean this to be harsh.

Take Care all you lovely people

Love

Littlesis

Hi Liitlesis

congratulations on your good news, I bet you feel relieved?

Its very very sad about Louise, she was such an inspiration to us all.

Hope everyone on here is doing ok, weather lovely here in Scotland, going to go for a nice walk.

Take Care Col xxx

Never ever feel guilty about good news We all need a boost after the weekend so it was lovely to hear about you.Keep up the good work !!!!

Rose xxx

I was sat the other day watching a movie with my daughter...... it's called "the last song" and stars Miley Cyrus...... pretty good film about a girl who loses her father to cancer..... when suddenly Micky (my daughter) turned to me, with tears rolling down her face and said "Mum, you're not going to die, are you?"...... Movie off... "where did that come from".... so we sat down and had a long talk about my cancer..... and cancer in general

At her tender age of 15, she has never known anyone that has had cancer and NOT died..... it doesn't help that my mum has "gasto intestinal stromal tumours" and is terminal....... Micky thought i was just not telling her to protect her.

So I bought her onto this site and showed her all your posts....... telling her "all these ladies have fought cancer... some are still fighting..... but we are all still here, helping each other with our story's"

I also explained that there is no way they would even consider reconstruction if the cancer was still around...... she had a lot of questions, and I answered them all.... I also explained that IF the cancer comes back, she will be the first one to know... but we are not going to dwell on it..... we are not going to wait for it..... we are going to LIVE.... and enjoy life... and she seemed a lot happier.

So I would like to say a big THANK YOU to all of you ladies (and Tony) because it was because you all posted on here that I was able to show my daughter that some of us win the fight..... and some of us carry on fighting.

I know a lot of us are still reeling from losing Louise..... but when this happened I thought I would share it with you..... because they always say, you dont know what goes on in a child's mind...... but kid logic...... people have cancer and they die..... Maybe my experience will help somebody else with children have a bit of insight in how their child is thinking... sometime's when we think that things are finally  calming down, with hospital visits and treatment etc...... a child thinks that no news and no more treatment means we have given up.... my daughter may be 15, but she still needed that reassurance that everything was still good.

Take care everybody and keep fighting...... Louise would want you all to.

Love always

Caz xxxxx

How is everybody doing?

it has been a week nearly since anyone posted on here and I just wanted to say hi and ask how you all were?

I am going on holiday on saturday... nothing fancy, just a week in Brighton with my daughter.

She deserves a break and this will help keep both our minds off the impending surgery.

I find it very hard to believe that it was 7 months ago I was diagnosed...... so much has happened since then.

but 2 weeks tomorrow i will be having reconstructive surgery.... I am so excited... (and a bit scared too)

I hope everybody is ok

Love always

Caz xxx

Hi Caz, leonie was just saying today on facebook that we havent been on for a while, think we;re all a bit stunned after Lou, glad youre feeling a bit more upbeat and that youre getting away with your daughter for a few days, it will do you the world of good doll, Hope everyone else is doing well, im back at work, tired but glad to be back to some kind of normality. Speak soon xxx

Hi Colly, Hi Caz and a big Hi to everyone else, I am guilty of feeling sorry for myself after Lou passing away, I guess I was reminded how precious our time is and how lucky we are to still be here. Caz Im really pleased for you and it looks like I shall be having my reduction on my righrt breast on 26th April so we can both feel good this summer I hope everyone else is feeling better and all looking forward to a wonderful summer xxxxxxxx

lots and lots of love Lee

P.S my Hair!!!  OMG I look like Art Garfunkel at the moment....tight little curls and getting bushy lol xx