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Don't know who is out there but hi anyway. Everyone seems to be able to remember specific dates but my brain is a blank. Let me think had my appendix out Octoberish and one week later found lump and of course it ended up being cancer. Invasive lobular. Had mastectomy 2 weeks ago survived the showering with a drain on.... had to tie an old piece of rope round the waist to hang it onto. Im now awaiting the final biopsy results on thursday. Cross fingers. This is all very inconvenient, not that cancer is ever convenient since my eldest daughter is getting married in South Africa on 28th December. Have spent most of the year trying to get my body in trim so I look like a sexy mother of the bride and now Im one boob down. Sigh.... Just praying and hoping results of nodes are good so I dont have to go for another op.

Hope I can get some advice here My dad just been given 4 weeks to live.. Was battling stage 4 rectum tumour the past 8 months. Took a turn for the worst about 6 weeks ago... After fighting well and having had some positive signs for results from chemo. We found out this morning that its spread regardless, and after thinking we had maybe 2 years or so, we were hit with bombshell that he had a month. I don't know how I am going to keep strong in the meantime. It's news we hoped we wouldn't see for a while. He was started on a new chemo, after having great results on original one, and the new one obviously did nothing. Now his time being cut too short. What do I do, how can I act, how can I try hold back te tears when around? I've never dealt with cancer before and every day I can see my daddy fade away before my eyes. He was once a handsome, happy man full of life. This time last year we hadn't a care in the world. I dunno how to cope with all this and be supportive at d same time

Hi girls, I had my double mastectomy last Thursday week and had all the nodes out under my left arm. I was just wondering because my surgeon had always said that he would use the scar on my breast to remove the nodes through, but in the end he went in under my arm so now I have three scars. Is this the norm or do some ppl get away with just the two breast scars? Any input appreciated. Ania

Hi girls, I'm another new member though have been reading this board for a few days - was delighted to come across it! I was diagnosed on Sept 28th with two different tumours in my right breast - invasive lobular and invasive ductal - and there was a third tumour on my first lymph node too. Had my mastectomy on Oct 24th & had my first chemo this Monday.....Feel okay so far ... am waiting for the side effects to kick in in earnest next week..... What I'm really scared about is losing my hair.....I'm going to get my wig fitted next Monday so will have my head shaved at the same time....I picked a wig that looks good - but still looks unnaturally shiny to me..... Anyway look forward to catching up & hearing your stories too L

Hi gang! Once again asking for experiences....I met the oncologist today. Shes very very nice and says it how it is - even if I didn't really like what I was hearing...... I have to have six rounds of a regime called TAC. Has anyone haf any experience of this and what am I in for..... I can't use the cold cap because of the A in the combo. Has anyone tried TAC with the cold cap with success?? Any good places I can get a wig that doesn't look like a wig?? I'm slowly beginning to accept this, but it's not easy.....

Hi Girls Due to go out tonight and am so looking forard to it its my only Christmas Night out and even bought a shocking pink wig for the craic! Think is I am sniffling and nose is blocked and eyes running a bit like the start of a common cold. Any of you caught a cold during chemo that went horribly wrong I know the answer I suppose myself - but should I not go? AAAAAQHHHHHHHHHHH

I never thought I'd get excited about a mere 20% but that much reduction in my chemo last time has meant that while I wasn't great on my black Sunday yesterday I was a million times better than the one before this and in the life of chemo land this means so much. I'm so hoping Janice will reduce my last one as well. Oh I'm so happy. I'm actually feeling good today. Life is good xxx

guess where i am skin infection...totally fed up now

Sadly a friend of mine is having serious dental problems post chemo so I thought I would let any of you having chemo at the moment know that the dental advice we get during chemo is for a very good reason. Apparently when the white blood cell count is low the body cannot react to some infections and we can be totally unaware that there is a problem. Here is what I was told. Please add more tips if you know more! - Brush after every meal with a soft toothbrush - Use gentle mouthwashes to avoid ulcers - Drink often to avoid a dry mouth (less saliva means less natural cleaning action) - Avoid chewing gum for extended periods of time as this encourages continued chewing action during the night which stresses the teeth - Avoid sugary drinks, crisps and any food that sticks to the teeth if you cannot brush your teeth right after a meal for some reason. Take care! Hugs Kathleen

Did anyone else hate their wig after it was fitted? I had my hair shaved off on Monday - laughed and cried through it all with my sisters. It was traumatic but I had prepared myself and got through that part with the help of Jim the hairdresser who couldn't have been nicer... Had the wig fitted and shaped and my only thought was -let me home and once I get working on it it will be fine..... but I've put it on each day and tried to 'play' with it but I just think I look awful with it. Colour is perfect - and it even looks quite real - but to me it screams 'WIG'...... I've got a few of those bandanas and turbans which I've been wearing and think at this stage that I'll be wearing one of those for Christmas - am I being paranoid???