Hi i have been on this site for a while but havent really got into the chatting, just reading. A friend of mine told me to get on here and that it would help me  as you are all very supportive. I was diagnosed in Dec 09 with breast cancer, i had surgery, reconstuction, 6 chemo, 5 weeks of radio therapy and i am currently on tamoxifen.

I would love to chat with you all as i dont know where my head is at. I have a young son too, and trying to cope with things day to day is a struggle for me. AS some of you have said i am also very tired and i have no energy. I was looking for some advice. I have to back to my onogologist on Wednesday and some of you have said about getting a bone scan, do you think i should ask about this as my ankles ans wrists get extremely sore at times, but my gp said it was a side effecty from the tamoxifen, but i am now so worried in case this has spread to my bones. Can some help me as i have asked the doctors about the statistics of cancer coming back, and i do realise that no one can say if i will get secondary cancer, but unfotunately stories that i have read not only on this site but on other sites, women that i have talked to or read about who had grade 2 breast cancer and  a similar experience to me all seem to have had a secondary cancer. i would love to chat with you and find out your experiences as i have myself so worried and i woukld love to hear from you all. Thanks and love to you all.

Elaine

xxxxxxx

Hi- I am new to this and have been a keen supporter of breast cancer research as I had been carer for a family friend of mine, who had fought breast cancer for 12 years and sadly passed away last year after the breast cancer relapsed..  She tried everything but I was annoyed at times when oncologists wasnt able to give any help/guidance beyond chemo etc..

However, one thing that kept her going was that she attended yoga lessions at Haven Group in Bristol - it made her feel less stress and tired and that was what kept her going...  I just had another friend who was diagnosed with grade1 breast cancer and had a surgery, she had been practising for yoga for years but find that she cant do her normal practice but she still wants to do something from home - are there any yoga resources - books/yoga instructors/videos that she willl be able to use/ find useful? I tried contacting Haven but they only provide lessons in the centre..

Hi Colly

Great to hear you are doing well, I also put on weight and have been trying to lose it, walking, pilates etc.  I am in Australia at the moment, it was a bit of a hurdle to get me back here after 2 years, but I am so glad I came.  The weather is great and I am catching up with my sister who lives here.  I am going to a cancer group meeting tomorrow night as one of the ladies my sister works with had bc about 10 years ago and asked me if I wanted to go, I thought I would see how the treatment is out here compared to ours.  I will let you know how it goes.

Maki - sorry I cannot help re your scan as mine were ok, but I am sure the experts will get it sorted, best of luck with it all.

Where has the past two years gone hey? 

Love to you all

Anne

xx

Hi colly

I too put on weight with the chemo and steroids and generally not being able to exercise, but I have since begun the P90x programme from the states and its fantastic (but very hard)

Anyway Im doing great however I may have to go back for another operation as my right breast has stretched scarring from the reduction.

I shall try to update my photos as I have had hair extentions put in and feel like my old self again.

Much love to you all

Lee xxxxxxxx

Hi All,  Can't quite believe it's two years today since I started the dreaded chemo......but more significantly it's also two years today since I gave up smoking!! I too put on weight, have managed to lose half a stone since middle of January but now seem to be stuck, of course, it doesn't help that I cook for a living and hence have to taste everything. Am hopeful that as Spring/Summer is just around the corner (is that gales of laughter I can hear?) that this will spur me on. 

Love Patricia x

Hi Patricia,

Funny the anniversaries we mark, I bought loads of cakes and took them into work on the anniversary of my diagnosis (just in Nov), think I might jet off someplace to mark the second though.

Well done you on giving up smoking though, my aunt did the same when she was diagnosed, she's 5 years down the line now (and heading to China next week), me, I never smoked, drank or ate junk food so I can't think of what to give up (please don't suggest chocolate).  I gained a stone and a half during chemo - but I think I needed a  bit of padding, but I have lost half a stone of it.  I feel pretty stiff at the moment but hopefully the joints will ease off.

I'm away to take the dog to the park for a quick romp around, that should do us both good.

Keep well, and keep up the good work

s x

Hello Ladies

It is good to hear that you are all doing so well and feewling good. Well I can't belive it was 2 years ago last weekend that I gor diagnoised and I go back into hospital on the 30th March for my reconstruction, I cannot wait.

Well I am enjoying life again and like so many of you put on the pounds during treatment but now loosing it again thank goodness. Last year was a tough time as I lost my niece to cancer she got diagnoised on the anniversay of my mum which is the day after I got diagnoised so last weekend was a tough one in some ways.

Has anyone heard from Lonnie or Caroline? Tony I read your posts quiet often and as for all you other lovely people I do miss the chats we all use to have but hey life moves on and we are all here to move with it. As for all the new people on here I'm sorry you are going through this but you can all do it as we all have.

Well take care everyone

Love littlesis (Linda)

Hi linda,

When do you go for your reconstruction?  I've just had mine and it's looking ok, still off work but doing fine

Speak soon

S x

Hi Girls, glad you are all doing well and its not only me thats put on the weight, I staryed weight watchers but only because I need guidance when it comes to eating as Ive got a really sweet tooth, but have being doing well and was at gym today, Lee your hair extensions look great, ny daughter does them part time, she does the micro loops, I was thinking about it but my hair has grown rapidly. Linda, leonie and caroline are on facebook All the time and they are also doing well. Im seriously thinking about asking for some kind of surgery but I dont know what as my lumpectomy has left my boob perlier and a bit smaller than the other and I dont like it tho i feel bad as i should be greatful i kept my breast and that im alive.

Anyway girls catch you all soon, we will need to decide if we are having a catch up, all us girls here on the forum?? xx

Hi Colly,

I don't think we've really "chatted" before but it's nice to meet you.

I went a bit haywire when it came to diet, it took me a while to realise that running with weightwatchers AND scottish slimmers isn't the way to do it, well one diet really leaves you hungry!!! In truth I think if I said I was to seriously diet you'd slap me, yes i did put on weight during my chemo, but if I told you that before I was diagnosed I had lost a lot without trying (ok so I didn't know I was poorly) then you'd say it was a good thing that I put a bit back on.

I've not graced the gym with my presence for over a year now, but I'd love to get back in the saddle soon (I mean literally), will check with the surgeon to see if he gives me the go-ahead at my check up in 2 weeks time. I was riding last year but hadn't realised that I had fractured my spine so had to stop while I healed.

Anyhow about reconstruction, would you not ask for a reduction on your "good" side if you have enough to lose a wee bit - Bea28 can tell you how she go on with her as that the route she went, I had a full mastectomy so the only way for me was up (and my good side got  a wee boost too) - happy days.........well actually it does still take a bit of getting used to, but my "bad" side is what it is, and we have to count our blessings that we are still here.

Anyhow this post is long enough for now, so hope to hear from you soon

S x

Hi Susan thanks I think I will ask for that as I would prefer to go down a size, I've got an appt in may so I think I will ask then, I just don't want to sound ungrateful but it's annoying me now. Speak soon xx

You don't sound ungrateful, but these things can make the recovery a bit easier if we are happy with the results.  Ok so we know they won't be perfect but at least if they are roughly the same size then it helps.  I don't need to false advertise now as it's all me - woohoo!!!  Still not what you'd call big, so Jordan is not loosing any sleep but I'm happier with my good side, and just kinda ignoring the not so good side - once it's tucked in you never notice any difference so that's ok.  And I've decided not to go for the "finishing" touch, i can live without any more surgery.

Hope you get on ok at your appointment.

S x

You don't sound ungrateful, but these things can make the recovery a bit easier if we are happy with the results.  Ok so we know they won't be perfect but at least if they are roughly the same size then it helps.  I don't need to false advertise now as it's all me - woohoo!!!  Still not what you'd call big, so Jordan is not loosing any sleep but I'm happier with my good side, and just kinda ignoring the not so good side - once it's tucked in you never notice any difference so that's ok.  And I've decided not to go for the "finishing" touch, i can live without any more surgery.

Hope you get on ok at your appointment.

S x