Hi Greeny,

It's great to hear from you, although I'm sorry to hear that your emotions are all over the place. This won't have been helped by your hubby's redundancy - I hope that he manages to find other employment soon.

I am glad to see that you've got an appointment made to see a therapist on Friday. I found that attending some of breast cancer now's courses on Moving forward, were very helpful. Maybe you would benefit from them too?

Jolamine xx

Hi Greeny

I'm so sorry to hear you're all over the place at the moment, and double whammy with your husband's redundancy.  I was made redundant last year so I know how devastating it can feel.  Mine turned out for the best though as I now work for an amazing company who have supported me so well during my diagnosis and treatment, even though I'd only been with them for 3 weeks when diagnosis was made.  I really hope your husband find's something soon.   Same as Jolamine, I found the Breast Cancer Now Moving Forward courses really helpful and met some lovely ladies who have been (and continue to go through) similar or same journeys.  I hope you manage to find your way back to your normal self soon.

I'm doing ok thanks, I was wiped after my first Zoledronic acid infusion back in August, for about a week, but it improved after a while.  I had my final immunotherapy treatment on Thursday and got to ring the bell!  It was quite an emotional moment.  So I'll probably be a bit tired this week, but hope to be all good and ready to prepare for Christmas soon!  At least this year I get to see the family.  Woohoo! 

Take care of yourself and speak soon.

Carol x

Hi Pippin

Weekend was lovely thank you, I just holed myself up for most of it and avoided the wet and windy stuff!  Though we weren't too bad with the winds up here in the East Midlands. 

Goodness I didn't even know they'd do radiotherapy on Boxing Day!  I'm glad you've managed to get it shifted though so you finish on Christmas Eve.

How can a wound be healing too quickly?  Sometimes the medical profession baffles me (well, frequently actually lol).

I'm doing well thanks though I was mortified when I was weighed at my final immunotherapy session to find I'd put on a stone since I finished chemo!  Need to get that in check immediately!  But the upside is I got to ring that bell.  Woohoo!  No more treatments now until February for my next Zoledronic acid infusion.  In the meantime it leaves me free to prepare for and enjoy Christmas this year and see the family.  I didn't get to see them last year as I was too poorly to travel.

Good luck with the radiotherapy when it starts next month.  The travelling will be the worst part unfortunately but the treatment itself will be a walk in the park in comparison to everything else you've been through. 

Take care 

Carol xx

Hi Carol, I too avoided going out in the awful weather, sat and watched a couple of Christmas films instead. 

I was a bit surprised myself when they said wound was now healing too quickly. Apparently it was granulating too quickly. This means the tissue starts to form too quickly, which will then die off before wound has healed. They've now changed the type of dressing to address this.

So pleased that your immunotherapy has now finished and you got to ring the bell. Another thing you can now tick off. I'm sure your weight will sort itself out. I've been enjoying being back to my slimming group in the last few weeks as I  missed a few weeks due to surgery. It must be a wonderful feeling knowing that you have no more treatments until February, you can just relax, chill out and enjoy Christmas with your family. Xxx 

Hi everyone, hope you all had a good weekend. How are you all doing at the moment? I'm starting my radiotherapy on Wednesday and will be so pleased to get it out of the way. My tummy wound is healing, albeit it slowly, hoping it will be healed by Christmas. Now all Christmas shopping is finished, thinking of starting the wrapping today. I usually have everyone to me at Christmas, but having a break this year and going to my daughter's. It will make a lovely change for me. What are you all doing over the festive period?

HI Pippin,

I am glad to hear that your wound is finally beginning to heal, albeit slowly. I had everyone to us for Christmas and New Year, but have now decided that it's time for the younger members of the family to pick up the cudgel. We are going to my son and his family, which we are looking forward to,

It'll be great to get to your radiotherapy, at long last and I hope that it all goes well.

Regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, good to hear that you will be getting looked after over Christmas this year. I normally have my mum and dad along with other members of the family. I thought it would be too much this year, especially as everyone stays over. Mum and dad are going yo my brother's instead this year, so they'll be well looked after. I feel a bit stressy this week. Keep thinking I can feel a lump under my arm, on the side of my surgery. Not sure who to mention this to, the breast team  or plastics team. I also start my radiotherapy tomorrow, so won't have an opportunity to go anywhere about it. I'm sure it's probably nothing and just the new tissue settling in. I hope moving forward I'm not going to be scared all the time about it coming back, I  really don't want to feel like that. I'm sure I'll feel better when my wound has healed and I can get back to my walking. It's so good for the mindset and I'm really missing that. Sorry for the rant, but it feels good to get my feelings out. Xx

Hi Pippin,

You're probably feeling stressy this week because of the unknowns in starting radiotherapy. Once you get the first session over, it'll be a walk in the park for you, in comparison to all that you've been through before. It's certainly worth having a word with your breast care nurse today about the lump. In most cases this is just scar tissue, but you're best to make sure.

I was really scared of recurrence for the first few years after surgery. I attended various course and we formed some self-help groups after these courses finished. I found these a great help and, although I still worry from time to time, it is no longer an overawing concern. I have also lost a few friends to freak accidents in that time and have now decided that life is too short to let this fear take it over. I'm sure that you're missing your walks and being able to commune with nature, but it shouldn't be much longer before you can get back outdoors again.

Did you manage to start wrapping your presents yesterday. I have bought mine, but still have to wrap and post a lot of them.

Having all the family over for Christmas would certainly be too much for you this year. I'm glad to hear that your children have stepped up to the plate and that you'll be able to relax for once.

I shall be thinking of you tomorrow and I hope that it all goes well.

Regards,

Jolamine xx

Thanks for your reply Jolamine, I'm really not sure why I'm feeling so stressed out. I haven't contacted breast care nurse yet as I can't get to them to check it out, due to being at radiotherapy every day from tomorrow. I'm hoping I might get a follow up with the plastic surgeon at some point, haven't seen him since my surgery. He might be able to give me a bit of reassurance. They took my whole breast and 20 lymph modes that showed no cancer, so I know I shouldn't be worried, I feel a bit silly really. I find it hard to get my head round the fact I went through all that treatment feeling really positive, but now that cancer is gone I'm feeling anxious. Maybe as you say, I'll feel more settled once radiotherapy has started. I did manage to get all the wrapping done, so at least that's out of the way. I'm sure everyone has worries after going through so much. Good to hear that the various courses were helpful to you. I think I'll get onto that in the new year. I think it would be helpful to sit and chat to others, who have been through the same thing and know how you feel. Xx