Beating Breast Cancer | Symptoms And Breast Cancer Treatment

G - Northants Hi all, Reading these posts is so ...

2010-07-07T20:41:15.865Z

G - Northants
Hi all,
Reading these posts is so helpful as I was feeling very alone with symptoms of swollen feet and ankles, severe tiredness and bad concentration - I have had 6 herceptin treatments and starting to worry now about losing my eyelashes and brows again after them just coming back after chemo! - people ask how im feeling and I say fine when truth is I struggle to get out of bed and last through the day! - I wish everyone on this site well

When I had herceptin and Taxol for 11 week in 2009...

2010-06-23T17:16:40.139Z

When I had herceptin and Taxol for 11 week in 2009, it seemed toloerable to me. I only had neouraphy problem on my hands and was getting worst with A/C. Now I am only on Herceptin to complete one year unitl Sept. However, I started to experience joint pain on both hands and stiff shoulders and the tangling feeling is worst when I try to stretch my arm out. My feet hurt when I get down every morning and barely can walk. However, it is getting better during the day. My oncologist has no clue what is going on with me...

I work for Handful which is a multipurpose sports ...

2010-06-22T16:17:41.991Z

I work for Handful which is a multipurpose sports bra with sewn in pockets and inserts. It was designed with the intent to flatter- not flatten. We've had breast cancer survivors give us feedback that they have loved wearing the Handful with their prosthesis and they like that the bra is both comfortable and cute. It comes in 5 colors including PINK.

Check out the website and see what you think. Handfulinc.com

Any comments or suggestions are welcomed! streske@handfulinc.com

Thank you

Thanks for writing about these blogs. I've noticed...

2010-06-14T18:28:05.897Z

Thanks for writing about these blogs. I've noticed there seem to be a lot more lately than ever before. I think its great how people are now able to share their experience and find support world wide. I'd like to recommend a way to help improve the physical and emotional breast cancer care both for current and future survivors, check out http://www.breastcancerregistry.org and share your tips and advice. This only takes a few minutes but has the potential to improve the lives of millions to come. Thanks!

I had my mastectomy 3 weeks ago, just one side but...

2010-05-31T11:30:16.739Z

I had my mastectomy 3 weeks ago, just one side but I wish they had taken the other also. The scar is now my reality and the other one is the oddity. Interesting how nature works on our perceptions. I have had no discomfort to speak of with the scar itself (except for 2 folds under my arm) but the drain was terrible. It hurt all the time, the stitch holding it in place pulled and by the 10th day I demanded they see me to either remove it or do something about the pain. I was down to under 20cc per day and it was Friday, I could not go 2 more days until Monday with it. I am a strong woman, I have a high pain tolerance, and this was my 8th operation on one thing or another since I was 15. But getting the drain out was by far the worst experience I have ever gone through. I cried like a baby and hyperventilated. Which probably helped the nurse take it out between sobs. It was a good thing she said it was only in 2 or 3 inches and not the 8 or 9 it actually was (I looked in the trash after she left the room). If I ever have to have another one, just knock me out until it's gone.
I haven't yet been fitted for a prosthesis or a new bra. The drain scar and under my arm from the 6 biopsies are still tender.
I went to the store 2 days after the operation, I walked around with a friend and slept for 3 hours afterwards. It was an emotional boost to be among whole bodied people and none were the wiser. Now, I'm at a point that I wear my t-shirts and the 'puff' of fiberfill to fill that side of my post-mastectomy camisole. Hey, I am alive, losing a breast is not keeping me from anything in my life. I would be far more devastated if I lost a hand or foot. I am both-handed but not ambidexterious, and have always been extremely athletic. Every woman but one sister in my family has been touched by breast cancer, plus colon cancer in one sister. We have that in our history so it's not a suprise, it's another hurdle.
Oh and one more thing, I have Adenoid Cystic Carcenoma - it's very rare and not curable. It is however slow growing so I will be extra alert to new lumps and pains. This is the first time I have allowed myself to be pampered a little, take time to rest as much as I need to, and accept the good wishes of family and friends. My husband has been far more sympathetic and caring this time than for my other operations. I'm thankful for all of the above which I hope is making me into a nicer person little by little. I don't "sweat the small stuff" quite like I used to that's for sure.
Take care all of you and thank you for your blog all for your comments.

I have just found your site - gosh I wish I had fo...

2010-05-28T12:22:24.122Z

I have just found your site - gosh I wish I had found it before!

I was diagnosed in October last year and have also recorded my own experience. I am a Scottish woman living and working in Asia. Blogging has helped me keep in touch with family and friends across the miles as well as helping me enormously in dealing with the breast cancer experience.

Now to catch up with your story.

http://feistybluegeckofightsback.wordpress.com/

Hi this is the first time I have ever posted here,...

2010-05-27T16:16:04.542Z

Hi this is the first time I have ever posted here, but was so relieved to see that it is not just me that is having minor problems with Herceptin. I have been on it since July 2005 and remain to this day completely free of the disease (long may it last)

In no way is this an issue, as I just want to stay well, but my nails are an absolute mess, and I get terrible splitting of the skin by the nail, especially on my thumbs.
I have noticed some thinning of hair, and a constantly runny nose but not too bad and thankfully my eyelashes are still there. Only lost them during Taxotere.
Despite all that, I believe it is a fabulous drug that has truly saved my life.
Keep well ladies, and power to each one of you.

Lisa

Hi Marjory, i found your site tonight looking for ...

2010-05-13T21:05:18.823Z

Hi Marjory, i found your site tonight looking for the very answer that you have given, we found a lump tonight (very sore to touch)I was always told that breast cancer wasn't sore, but i have an appiontment on Tues with GP and will be asking him to check.

Hope you are doing well.
Helenxx

hello marjorie hope all is going well,i have just ...

2010-05-11T16:03:06.122Z

hello marjorie hope all is going well,i have just had my 63rd herceptin and on it until its not working,fingers crossed.I havent lost my eyebrows but they are thning the same as my hair,i am now always feeling drained and tired also have a itchy rash but im just glad im still here watching my boys grow up,wish u and everyone on this drug all the best,,i wouldnt be here with out it xx

Marjory - Thank-you for mentioning us on your blog...

2010-05-11T11:48:12.374Z

Marjory - Thank-you for mentioning us on your blog.

For 26 years we have been designing and selling Mastectomy bras and Mastectomy swimwear we are continually trying to improve our collection for our customers.

Our swimwear starts from £22.99 whilst our bras start from £17.99. Please note we always feature sale items on our website www.nicolajane.com and have offers throughout the year.

If you are looking for a really pretty mastectomy bra we have some beautiful new additions to our 2010 collection - http://www.nicolajane.com/product-Nicola-Jane-NEW--True-Romance-Bra-5731/ or http://www.nicolajane.com/product-Nicola-Jane-NEW!-Nicola-Jane-Pretty-and-Feminine-bra--2-Colours!-7008/

If you have any comments or suggestions good or bad we would love to hear from you. Please email us at info@nicolajane.com

Best Wishes,

Claire-Marie

I really need someones support right now. My mom h...

2010-05-06T19:00:19.033Z

I really need someones support right now. My mom had went to the hospital the other day because she noticed a large lump in her right breast. It came back positive for cancer. The lump is about the size of a golf ball. She is having it removed in 2 weeks. People can beat breast cancer sometimes, right? This is the scariest thing to me because I have never had anyone in my family with cancer!

However, it is possible to reduce the chances of d...

2010-05-04T09:58:19.920Z

However, it is possible to reduce the chances of developing breast cancer by knowing about what puts you at breast cancer risk. For this reason, it is important to know what factors can increase or decrease breast cancer risk and how much those factors change your risk.
genetic cancer testing

I was referred to Nordstrom for prostheses and mas...

2010-05-03T21:49:36.375Z

I was referred to Nordstrom for prostheses and mastectomy bras. They will pocket any bra for you and the woman who helped me was very, very good. I ended up with a very nice looking and feeling bra, had one side pocketed in December after my first mastectomy and I'm about to take the bras back to them to pocket the other side (just had surgery in April). If there is a Nordstrom in your area, I would recommend them. They will pocket any swim suit or bra for free that you purchase through them. My insurance covered alot of this and they took care of the paperwork! Nice service.

I am 42 years old and have just had a mammogram an...

2010-05-01T18:05:02.121Z

I am 42 years old and have just had a mammogram and ultrasound and been told that there is a good chance that the two large lumps which ahve been found are cancerous. I am sceduled for an MRI and biopsy next week. Is it possible to detect cancerous lumps from a mammogram and ultrasound alone?

I had a bilateral mastectomy on March 29, 2010 and...

2010-04-25T05:04:53.671Z

I had a bilateral mastectomy on March 29, 2010 and wore 4 drains for almost two weeks. They removed the drains and staples and I thought I was home free. NOT SO! Two days later I developed a staph infection in my left incision that literally exploded. The surgeon cleaned out about a quarter of a cup of infection and put me on strong antibiotics, Now I have a collection of fluid on the right side that looks like I'm growing another boob! I can see and feel it sloshing around under the skin. Do you think it needs to be drained. The surgeon did nor want to do it while I had the staph. Any ideas? Oh, how do they drain it?

I had a bilatteral mastectomy April 2nd, 2010. I h...

2010-04-21T00:49:14.620Z

I had a bilatteral mastectomy April 2nd, 2010. I had the drains for 14 days, was draining around 40 a day when removed. Now on day 19 they are talking putting the left drain back in due to swelling and soreness with fluid buildup!

Thanks Paula Love your site too - have added it to...

2010-04-04T11:43:09.649Z

Thanks Paula
Love your site too - have added it to our useful links box
Marjory

What a great site. I was diagnosed with BC last su...

2010-04-04T10:54:59.254Z

What a great site. I was diagnosed with BC last summer at the age of 41.

My trials and tribulations ... and celebrations ... can be found at http://redshoesgreenpeppers.blogspot.com/

Best wishes to all those who are going through similar.

P xox

Oops Sorry Ann - corrected it now :-)

2010-04-02T09:36:51.557Z

Oops

Sorry Ann - corrected it now :-)

Thank you for linking to me. But, my name is Silb...

2010-04-01T18:53:59.841Z

Thank you for linking to me. But, my name is Silberman and I live in Sacramento. I'll give you a link back in return. :)

Thanks - looks like a good site. Has anyone else ...

2010-03-22T13:57:15.943Z

Thanks - looks like a good site.

Has anyone else tried them out?

I read on Insurepink's Facebook page that Fiona Ma...

2010-03-22T10:28:11.877Z

I read on Insurepink's Facebook page that Fiona Macrae has left Insurepink and has set up another travel insurance product called Insurancewith, www.insurancewith.com. According to the Insurancewith web site they are covering all cancers not just breast cancer.

I had chemo followed by Herceptin which I complete...

2010-03-17T21:53:10.502Z

I had chemo followed by Herceptin which I completed in July 2009. I still feel tired and achy and get more migraines than I did before treatment. My memory problems are gradually improving. I had to stop the treatment after 16 doses as it was affecting my breathing even though nothing showed up in lungs or lung function tests.
March2010

We would love you to participate in our community ...

2010-03-12T20:10:28.308Z

We would love you to participate in our community discussion on the WebMD Breast Cancer Exchange. Our community and Experts from Duke Medicine are ready to share tips ,ask and answer questions. http://exchanges.webmd.com/breast-cancer-exchange

Another interesting point was highlighted: there w...

2010-02-24T12:25:52.219Z

Another interesting point was highlighted: there were these women, who breastfed their babies and had a lower risk of developing the disease despite a strong breast cancer history in the family. To be precise: the high risk women, who breastfed their babies were at a significant 59% lower risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer than those who had a baby but never breastfed.
jewish women breast cancer