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From someone who has come through mastectomy, chemo and reconstruction in the last 10 months, I'd just like to say thank you very much to all the women who took part in the Dip in the Nip last weekend. You've raised much needed funds and increased awareness of the services provided by Action Breast Cancer. If it happens again next year I might even be brave enough myself to bare all!

Don't know why I am posting this here and I will probably delete it before morning but I just need to verbalise it. I miss her so much. She died in February and not a day goes by when I dont think of her and regret not telling her how much she meant to me.Sometimes I think I will wake up and it will have been a bad dream.I suppose everyone that has lost someone feels that way. I see her family dealing with her death and wonder why I can't talk about her without being in tears. I am so sad tonight and wish so badly that she was here so I could give her a quick buzz or a text. Her childrens lives are changing again next month and that makes me sad for them.They should have their beautiful Mum with them.How do those children deal with the loneliness of not having her there when I find it hard? :cry: :cry: :cry: Love and Miss you D.xxx

Hi, My Dad ahs just been diagnosed with prostate Cancer and they say that it is moderate as they did not catch it early. He has been for an MRI (which he hates as he is very clostraphobic) and thus showed some "hotspots" on his liver -he then had a CT scan that showed lesions on his liver. My Dad is not talking about it and me and my sisters are worried about what this means? Does this mean that he also has cancer in his liver? Ciara

Hi guys! I was 26 when I was diagnosed with bc. Treatment including chemo and radiation followed. Managed fine, was very strong mentally through it. I was advised to get genetic testing done as we have a long familly history. Dianosed with brac1 and decided on bilateral mast with immidiate reconstruction(using lit dors musel). Unfor I'm not very happy with results as the scarring is awful front and back. Breasts look completely diff as the shape of scars dont match(behind cloths they look symetrical).Just got date for nipple reconstruction and I'm very nervous for some reason!! Anyone out there that has gone through this? Do the nippels make the breasts look better and more normal? Thanks greta

Hi everyone, I'm new to this. My Dad was diagnosed with lung cancer 2 weeks ago. Its a substancial tumour at 5cm we were told, but we got a phone call last week saying that they could operate on it. It was the best news we were hoping for. So now he's being admitted tomorrow and they will operate on Thurs. We haven't spoken to the surgeon yet so don't know exactly what it will entail. Have read up about it online here, but was wondering if anyone knew first hand how he will feel after, and what loosely lies ahead for him . He's a young man of 63years, has recently in the last couple of months given up smoking doesn't drink and would be an active man, walks every day and eats well so he is doing everything right. And also if anyone has any ideas of what I can do for him, we are extremly close so want do everything i possibly can. Be great to get some feed back and also hear from people who are going through or gone through it. Oh and keep smiling :)

I'm 36, with 3 young children, just wondering if there is anyone in my area who would like to meet up for herbal teas & chats. Lumpectomy was last week, I feel fine. We're getting results of sentinel node biop tomorrow..fingers crossed. Will be starting chemo in a few weeks time.

did anyone buy this calendar, a friend of mine bought it for me and i was just wondering if everyone had two months of march and no may in 2010. it is lovely with some lovely quotes but no May 2010. The on line shop here on this site is brilliant for gift bags and cards some lovely ones on it, if ye are buying christmas stuff have a look.

Hi there, i'm totally new here but had to sign up so get some advice. For the past week i've had a nagging type pain in the upper left side of my left breast. I went to my gp on fri and she diagnosed fibroadenomatous disease which she explained is "lumpy boobs" or cysts. She referred me to a breast specialist just to be sure and ive an appt for next monday. However, i cannot help thinking the worst and nearly have myself dead and burried. Am i being totally over the top?? I have two babies and every time i look at them i nearly burst out crying. I know she could have found something much more sinister and i should be glad and i kind of feel like a phoney typing this when there is such worse cases on here but i think i just need other people's opinions on how it all started for them. I hope you don't think im wasting time. X

Hi everyone. I have been reading this forum for a few months now, but didn't really have the courage to post. Its a pity there aren't more people here, as there must be so many of us out here with family going through this awful disease and it can be very hard to cope with. My dad has lung cancer. The treatment is really taking its toil on him. The family are devastated and trying to cope but its hard to know whats the right thing to say and do half the time. I wondered if there was anyone else out there going through the same. I feel upset alot, and very guilty. And helpless. It would be great to hear from anyone else who can understand. I don't want to go into anymore detail just yet. Thanks for reading.

Hi, Looking to see if anyone has advice from their own personal experiences. I have done all the online research so know what the surgery involves just interested to know about realistic recovery times after. I will need to plan to return to work as soon as realistically possible after. I have discussed some of these questions with my surgeon who is good but played down recovery and pain last time so need honest answers. She advised I would need 4 weeks off work but everything I read about LD flaps says 6-8 weeks. I will need to be able to stand on the luas holding onto a pulley or pole on the way to work when packed in mornings so need to be healed and pain controlled before starting work again. I had bilateral mastectomies and reconstruction with implants last year. Unfortunately radiotherapy has caused capsular contraction one side. My plastic surgeon has advised 2 options based on the fact I am very slim. I can try a replacement implant but moderate chance of contracture again or have LD flap but will still need small implant with flap which may also contract. My surgeon has suggested "new" implants made from polyurethane which have less risk of contracture but I have found research advising these were used until found to have slight risk of cancer due to the foam in them and were taken off the market previously. Has anyone heard of these types of implants rather than saline or silicone? What are peoples experience of recovery from LD flaps(using back muscle)? I am concerned if I go this route I will need to take a longer time off work again. If I go for the flap surgery it will be bilateral. How long did it take people to recover and get back to work? The implants have always felt very firm do LD flaps feel anything like normal breast tissue or still very firm? Have you had back pain or weakness following for lengthy period or indefinitely? I already have chronic back pain (bone scan was negative thankfully) so is just post mastectomy pain. How long did it take for the scars and skin colour to blend after flaps? Any info or advice would be very much appreciated. Many Thanks