Do you know someone affected by Breast Cancer?

[Slyjoe]

Ok, after my experience, and of course my wife, a very basic question.
To be honest this is more of a heads up for those that answer "No"
Tonight - go feel the wifes Norks or suggest that she does it.
Catch it quick and early you should be fine, ignore it, and think it may go away, you could be fked.
It will affect one in nine women and some blokes too.
Whilst your at it, have a quick feel of your knackers too.
If this post makes one more person think twice, its worth it.
Mods please leave in the P&P for maximum exposure.

Edited by Slyjoe on Monday 12th April 23:59

[drivin_me_nuts]

Yes. Someone close to me had BC nine years ago and had a mastectomy. Last year it returned and the other breast was removed.

She's doing fine now and she's still a beautiful feminine woman through and through and a truly sexy lass with it.

Edit. Two years ago I to went through this. Mamagram at the local BC clinic. A worrying three months indeed.

Edited by drivin_me_nuts on Monday 12th April 23:58

[glazbagun]

I did, but she didn't make it. Don't think I know anyone who's ever had testicular cancer, but from reading Lance Armstrongs book- doesn't it hurt like hell, thus removing the need for a handful?

[ShadownINja]

glazbagun said:

I did, but she didn't make it. Don't think I know anyone who's ever had testicular cancer, but from reading Lance Armstrongs book- doesn't it hurt like hell, thus removing the need for a handful?

Not sure what you mean but I started a thread on testicular cancer a month ago so you could ask one of those who participated.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[kiethton]

My mum was diagnosed with it approx 2 months ago.

Unfortunatly it is the inflamatory variety and has already spread, two tumors in the breast, one in the arm pit lymph node, one in a rogue lymph node between her heart and lungs and another possible one in her lung.

She started the chemotherapy a week after diagnosis, but for some reason felt a lump just before christmas but didn't get it looked at for a few months.

She has now had 3 courses of chemotherapy with approx 5 more light doses and one heavy week long type affair left. As a result of what she has had her hair has gone and it has made quite a differance to her but we are all doing our best to support her as best as we can.

To be honest it is the last thing i needed before my univerisity finals but i would rather it was sorted out now, rather than leaving it any later.

It just needs to be said to check your breasts (male or female) regularly and get them checked out asap if anything is found.

Its great to raise it on here though, in order to raise awareness myself my housemate and i are running the edinburgh marathon the day after my last exam in order to support breast cancer care.

• shameless plug....www.justgiving.com/kieranandsam....shameless plug*

[Mojooo]

males can get breast cancer? how do you tell?

[drivin_me_nuts]

Mojooo said:

males can get breast cancer? how do you tell?

When I went for my mammagram it was because of acute sensitivity and aching pain and change in my body shape

[ShadownINja]

drivin_me_nuts said:

Mojooo said:

males can get breast cancer? how do you tell?

When I went for my mammagram it was because of acute sensitivity and aching pain and change in my body shape

http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertypes/Breastmale/Breastcancerinmen.aspx

That mammogram must have been painful unless you have moobs! I understand flat-chested women have a problem getting decent mammograms.

[Davel]

My first wife, although we were divorced before she had it, died of it some years ago.

She left it far too late before seeking medical help.

If only she'd got help earlier, things would have been so very different.

[Broomsticklady]

Just 'celebrated' my first anniversary since diagnosis in March. Had tumour removed, and all lymph nodes from armpit area - 15 out of the 20 were already cancerous. Bear in mind I'd had a clear mammogram 13 months previously and you get some idea of how quickly this beastie develops and travels!!

Surgery is really the least of the trials - even for mastectomys - I was lucky that as the surgeon put it he had 'plenty of material to work with' so could do a lumpectomy for my 21mm tumour. The chemo is the killer, and the cold cap if you choose to use it as I did - my language has never been so foul as when that instrument of torture was strapped to my head tho I am so grateful I did presevere. I lost a lot of my hair, but now at least have a good inch all over rather than having to start from nothing which would have crucified me.

I think in some ways while the chemo in itself is no fun - or should I say the effects of chemo - I'd never known fatigue quite like it, crawling to the loo and then having to be lifted off gives you some idea, it's what it exposes you to which is the un-documented bit. I have really troublesome veins, and after 2 hours trying to get a cannula into me for cycle 2 it was decided a Hickman line would be easier all round. No problem thought I, Hickman it is. Cycle 3 was so much easier on the Wednesday, but by Friday I was aching badly and on Tuesday (should have been Sunday but I resisted) I was in hospital with septicemia, which you do not want - temp for 3 days 102+ and so much morphine I was seeing penguins coming out of the walls of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. This then triggered an abcess on my gall bladder unbeknown to anyone 'til it burst 3 weeks later and I was admitted screaming with pain for that to be removed 4 days later when they finally diagnosed what was wrong with me. Another 10 days in hospital with intravenous antibiotics only to be home again for 2 weeks before going down with "infections of unknown source" (but likely septicemia related) and more hospital time. Then daily radiotherapy for 24 days - skinned armpit anyone?! Delightful. Last year was not fun but hell, I'm still here.

Go for screening whenever you get the opportunity would be my advice to anyone. Without screening I'd probably not be here.

Edited by Broomsticklady on Tuesday 13th April 13:58

[drivin_me_nuts]

ShadownINja said:

drivin_me_nuts said:

Mojooo said:

males can get breast cancer? how do you tell?

When I went for my mammagram it was because of acute sensitivity and aching pain and change in my body shape

http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertypes/Breastmale/Breastcancerinmen.aspx

That mammogram must have been painful unless you have moobs! I understand flat-chested women have a problem getting decent mammograms.

It was painful, awkward and embarrasing actually. Not from a process point of view, but the staff, all women had no idea what to do with a man. This is a process that makes no allowance for men at all. The biopsy was more than a little painful to say the least.

[Daisy Duke]

kiethton said:

It just needs to be said to check your breasts (male or female) regularly and get them checked out asap if anything is found.

It would be helpful if some GPs didn't have the default attitude that young women are wasting their time though. I was rather taken aback by what my (now ex) doctor said to me. When I explained to my consultant why I was changing my GP he intimated that it was not an unusual occurrence.

ShadownINja said:

That mammogram must have been painful unless you have moobs! I understand flat-chested women have a problem getting decent mammograms.

Mammograms, particularly film ones, can be painful for those with dense breast tissue (this is one time when pert breasts are not an advantage) so women under thirty-five usually have an ultrasound.

[Slyjoe]

Daisy Duke said:

It would be helpful if some GPs didn't have the default attitude that young women are wasting their time though. I was rather taken aback by what my (now ex) doctor said to me. When I explained to my consultant why I was changing my GP he intimated that it was not an unusual occurrence.

My wife is 34, luckily we had a good GP and private healthcare, however the first stages were all NHS and very quick - maybe its area dependant.

[Daisy Duke]

Slyjoe said:

Daisy Duke said:

It would be helpful if some GPs didn't have the default attitude that young women are wasting their time though. I was rather taken aback by what my (now ex) doctor said to me. When I explained to my consultant why I was changing my GP he intimated that it was not an unusual occurrence.

My wife is 34, luckily we had a good GP and private healthcare, however the first stages were all NHS and very quick - maybe its area dependant.

That's good to hear and I hope she (as well as others affected on this thread) is doing well now. I initially put my experience down to being unlucky and getting a bit of an arse for a GP, but my consultant didn't seem to be at all surprised by what had been said to me, which I found rather concerning. I was grateful for the benefit of private healthcare too, but it did make me wonder how many slip through the net due to an unsympathetic GP. It seemed slightly ironic that the surgery had breast awareness campaign posters displayed at the time too.

[Penny-lope]

Step mother, her mum, her younger sister...and someone I went to school with

[pilchardthecat]

Lost my mother to it about 30 years ago, when i was a small boy. She went to the GP with a lump, he said it was a cyst and nothing to worry about, 18 months later she was dead.

Not a day has passed in 30 years when i haven't thought about it.

[Coco H]

my mum both grandmas and all my aunts