Hi BigJean,

A very warm welcome to our forum, although I'm sorry for the reason you've joined. I hope that your results on Tuesday can help to put your mind at rest. Even if the news is not so good, it helps to know what the next moves are and puts a more positive slant on things.

I suspect that the pain in your back is consequential to your diagnosis. We always seem to think the worst and develop all sorts of additional symptoms. In most cases this seems to be due to stress.

I have lost my mum to breast cancer and, have had 2 bouts myself within the past 9 years. Waiting for results is always one of the most stressful times of a cancer journey. Try to keep yourself distracted by other pursuits and do your best to stay away from Google. The fact that you are healthy and have never smoked, should stand you in good stead with any treatment needed.

Do please keep in touch and let us know how you get on on Tuesday. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine ,

thank you for your kind words . I’m so sorry you lost your mum and you going through it twice . I am not going to let it get me down just back from a big walk with my family and I feel great . That’s the weird thing I don’t feel sick at all . 

I’ll let you know how I get on on Tuesday but I am ready to fight 

talk soon xx

Hi Woolylamb,

I'm glad to hear that you are on your way at last. Here's hoping that your wound heals up soon.

I hope that all goes well with your chemo and that you don't have the same bother as BigJean had to start with. Be good to yourself and rest/sleep when you need to.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

hi WL 

good news you have started your chemo And good to hear your cancer is both treatable and curable.

hope your wound heals quickly and chemo doesn’t swipe you off your feet too much me lovely x

take it easy and take care of you x

Hi WL, 

great to hear you have started on your treatment. 

Thank you for your words of encouragement too that your oncologist said . 

I tool the plunge and got my hair shaved, I felt much more in control as it was very upsetting as it had started to come out quite a lot over the weekend. It feels a bit weird with the hair gone but hey it will grow back . 

Take as much anti sickness tablets as you need and get plenty of rest and drink lots of water. 

Take care of yourself. 

Xxxxxx

Hi big jean

i was thinking ahead about when my chemo journey starts if to shave and take control rather than wait and after reading your journey I think I will follow your choice. I hope you are ok and resting x

take care 

Hi Mejules , 

I’m so glad I did it . I thought I would have been upset but I wasn’t my Hairdresser did it for me , my husband was there with us we ended up having a good laugh ( he told me it took years off me !! ) . 

The tiredness has hit me big time but am feeling really good . 

Hope you are keeping well too and resting. 

Take care xxxx

Hi big jean

That sounds - not sure this is the right word -  lovely and I would likely my partner and kids there too. To be part of the journey. I am toying with the idea of going quite short now I’m readiness for the shave.

glad you are not feeling too bad albeit very tired x 

take care

Hi BigJean,

I'm glad to hear that you have done the deed and that you feel good about it. It's almost like taking ownership and control back over your own body, rather than leaving it to fall out as and when it likes.

I'm glad that your hubby went along to the hairdressers with you and that you had a good laugh about it all. Sorry to hear about the tiredness - that's one thing that I haven't found a cure for. Just give in to your body's needs and rest/sleep whenever you need to.

Thinking of you.

Jolamine xx

Hi Mejules , 

i still have a bit of “stubble “ , so not too drastic! 

It was good to have my husband there as support even though he did try to put me off doing it . 

Best of luck with yours and let me know how it goes  

j xx

Hi Jolamine, 

yes im v glad I did it now and your are right I feel much more in control. 

I can cope with the tiredness just about it’s hard to have to give in to my body’s telling me I need rest when I never sit still !! But it could be worse and I’m thankful I’m able to rest when I need to . 

Thank you as always for your lovely message. 

Hope all well with you 

j xxx

Hi

jolamine

just letting you know I had my drain out yesterday as it was leaking after bottle changed day before. Unbeknown to me I had pulled the tube out quite far and the drainage holes that should have been inside me were actually on the outside - hence the leakage- ouch! Back tomorrow to check for a setoma but tick against another step to starting treatment. 

Bit worried about results Wednesday particularly the lymph node results but have to remind myself it is what it is - nothing I can do to change it. 

Take care all x

Hi

jolamine

just letting you know I had my drain out yesterday as it was leaking after bottle changed day before. Unbeknown to me I had pulled the tube out quite far and the drainage holes that should have been inside me were actually on the outside - hence the leakage- ouch! Back tomorrow to check for a setoma but tick against another step to starting treatment. 

Bit worried about results Wednesday particularly the lymph node results but have to remind myself it is what it is - nothing I can do to change it. 

Take care all x

Hi Mejules,

Sorry to hear about the drain leak. I had one of these the second day after my surgery when I was taking a shower. Fortunately, I was still in hospital at the time and a very helpful nurse came and sorted me out. - It must have been more difficult for you to have to deal with this at home?

Still, I'm glad that this led to getting your drain out altogether. Here's hoping that there is no sign of a seroma tomorrow.

This is always a scary time, waiting for results, but no amount of worry will change anything. Still, you can hope for the best and, I sincerely hope that this turns out to be the case.

Roll on Wednesday!

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi jolamine/WL/bigjean

had results today from mastectomy. They got it all it was 6.5cm so bit smaller than originally thought and two out of twelve nodes were cancerous but all taken out. Do consultant said I am now cancer free!! Still got to have chemo and radiotherapy- appointment Monday with oncologist but for today I am taking this little bit of good news x

hope you Are all doing well x take care

hi all 

hope everybody is doing ok. You are all flying with chemo and making the hair loss sound manageable so it’s nice to read and not panic about what may lie ahead

Mejules great news about u being cancer free it is news not to take lightly and must b celebrated  if lucky to have oncologist appt soon too u will have your plan and c the way forward.   I’m in for third operation next Monday mastectomy on one side part of me thinking will it b only a matter of time before it all kicks off in other breast.  

How is your arm going mine stiff and tight 

can I ask you girls have u  kept this news quite outside immediate family and friends. I like having only a small circle knowing but I think as time goes on I have more trouble hiding the truth and beginning to care less I live in a small town  

regards for now

Swiperbaby

Hi swiperbaby

All the best with your masectomy x I get where you are coming from when you say you think it will be in your breast at some time. I spoke to the cancer nurse today about me not checking my other breast incase I find a lump she said that is normal reaction but encouraged me to do it once a month x 

my arm is still tight. Struggle to take my tops off without pain. It feels like my arm has bern shortened which I know it hasn’t. Again nurse said need to continue with exercises as when I have radiotherapy i need to be able to put my arm in a certain position.  Do you still do the exercises? 

I only told close family and a few friends at first but to be honest as time has gone on especially after the Masectomy and as I’m not wearing a softie I tend to tell those friends I see because I feel it’s more noticeable with only having one boob. I think it’s a personal choice hun to you to whom you tell x

hope you are keeping well or as well in the circumstances x

Hi Jules,

This is great news. It's not often that the lump is smaller than expected.

It's not so good to hear that 2 of your nodes were cancerous, but let's hope that chemo and radiotherapy will zap any nodes left.

I hope that your appointment with the oncologist goes well on Monday.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi jolamine

how are you? X met with oncologist yesterday and start my chemo week commencing 1 July. Four cycles every three weeks then change the chemo and two cycles every two weeks x twenty weeks in total so not too bad x I’m going to have some dental work done to try and stop the chance of infection before chemo starts and it means I can attend an important event for my son on 28 June and feel ok x 

hope you doing ok x speak soon 

[@Woollylamb]‍ [@BigJean]‍ hi both 

h‍ow are you both doing with your chemo? Been thinking of you and hope you are doing ok x  

 Hi Jules,

I'm glad to hear that the oncologist has laid out your chemo schedule. I'm glad that you are getting your dental work out of the way first and, that you can attend your son's event before it all starts.

I hope that it all goes well and that you ejoy the day with your son.

Kind regards,
Jolamine xx

hey mejules

I am doing ok thanks. Very few side effects , heartburn, mouth ulcers and a bit of tiredness.  Had a review today and all good to go with round 2 next Tuesday.  Got my head shaved  which I’m pleased I did and making sure I take time to moisturise my skin properly.  Not sure what to do about eyebrows.  Our hospital also does free holistic therapies so I had a reiki session today so I’m feeling very relaxed at the minute.

I’m pleased you have your plan now, at least you know what you are dealing with and when.  

Thanks for getting in touch, look after yourself and let me know how your first session goes.

WL

Hi Wollylamb,

I'm glad to hear that all is going well for you so far. I suppose that a few minor side-effects, such as uou mention are a small price to pay. I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that you can get your eyebrows tattooed on. Perhaps someone who has had this done, can tell you more about it?

Having holistic therapies available in your hospital is handy - just what you need when you're going through chemo.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx