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Helpful & Interesting section: what is it for?
This section is for people affected by breast cancer to post links and resources that they think will be helpful or interesting to other people affected by breast cancer. So, if you’ve found an interesting website or blog, you've read an interesting article or useful book, or have experienced particularly good service from a lingerie shop (for example), please post it here for others to share.
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Please note that Breast Cancer Care does not endorse anything linked to from this forum, unless we explicitly say so. We will try to remove links that we consider to be seriously misleading, inaccurate or unhelpful. If you are concerned about a link on this site, please report the post in the usual way (click ‘report this comment’).
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I've found the following article very helpful (although it's from a secondary BC patient, some of the points apply to primaries, too):
http://www.breastfriends.com/great_ideas/tips_from_a_metastatic_breast_cancer_patient/
Especially like the expression in the beginning "I got whacked with the cancer stick."
I've sent the link to some of friends/family, and highlighted the paragraph in the middle "When you ask me how I am, please remember that I am much more than my disease...." Since then, they are a bit more respectful about when I want to tell them and how much I want to tell them.
m1yu Thats a very interesting read and it is soo true. Thanks Joyce. xx
Hi
I'm just about to start reading 'Your Brain After Chemo - A Practical Guide to Lifting the Fog and Getting Back Your Focus'by Silverman and Davidson.
The title says it all and I'll let you know what I think when I've read it. I've been researching this 'chemobrain' business and found that I fall into the largest category - able to carry on a 'normal (huh!) life, but foggy if I take too much on. This is frustrating, I then start feeling stressed about it and get confused - it's a horrible feeling. Apparently this is very common but should get better over time.
Scooterbabe x
Hi,
I was just wondering if anyone knows of any good shops in the Bristol or Taunton area that sell mastectomy bras. Would be grateful for any recomendations.
Esme
Hi there,
After MX,I went to a specialist bra shop that was recommended by my BCN,£40 was the cheapest I could get away with,I was asked to sign a VAT declaration at the till so I expected to get 17% back,not so.
My next bra was from Asda,£6,brilliant but dug in my sore ribs a bit and my good boob wasn`t a nice shape. However my best so far was from M & S,The lady spent AGES with me,back & forth getting different ones plus lots of advice. All this plus for £16 then the icing on the cake was that the VAT was returned to me!
It`s only the largest stores that do this,mine was city-centre Manchester. Happy shopping. love Mags x
Hi Mags,
Thank you for that. Went to M&S in Bristol this afternoon(Broadmead not Cribbs for anyone local. Although of course they may be good at Cribbs too) and you are absolutely right! What a fantastic service. I spent ages with a lovely Lady who was very experienced at bra fitting. She said they work closely with the BCN's at the BRI and it certainly shows. I didn't feel embarrased or awkward with her at all. She was determined to find me something that was pretty and feminine and was very empathetic. Anyway, have come away with two lovely bras which are not actually post op bras but fit so well that I don't think my prosthesis will go walk about as has been happening! She did say though, that for a charge of £8 M&S will send your bra away and have a pocket sewn in.
Thanks again Mags, feel more confident now!
Love Esme x
My mum recently went to the Broadmead branch of M&S and also had a lovely lady help her for a long time. She came away with 2 bras that look lovely and make her feel more feminine.
They're great aren't they! Think I might write and thank them. It's people like them who help you get a bit more confidence in yourself when you're having such a poopy time! And all you girls on here of course!
Esme x
My mum finds that her head is really hot especially when she is having the chemo. She wants a head covering that is the coolest possible. Does anyone have any suggestions of where I could get her a super cool scarf or hat?
thanks
susanbel
Hi Susanbel
I've started a new topic for "hats, scarves etc" as I expect that there are lots of people looking for tips in this area, and it'll be easier for other people to find if there's a separate topic for it.
You can find it here http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=166&t=25997 (I've used your question to start it off).
Best wishes
Leah
Posted for new user Sandra
Jo, Facilitator
I'd like to share my experiences with you all in a video I made recently. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 1999 and had a mastectomy in the following June and reconstruciton a few years later.
please log on to http://www.creativeartswales.com/18.html and click on the 5th tab on the left hand side to see my story.
Please do look around the rest of the site but be aware that whatever my small successess, they have all come post breast cancer. I think the most positive aspect that came out of it was that I became a more positive person with a 'can do' attitude - I relish life now and meet it head on instead of taking it for granted.
Is there anywhere in the High Wycombe are that sells mastectomy bras?
i have just written a post on my blog entitled Healthy Vagina.
I was talking to a friend with breast cancer and she was prepared to let the sexual aspect of her life go stale, until I enlightened her.
Vaginal health can be a taboo subject when going through breast cancer.
Anyway take a look it may be helpful
http://www.nostage5.blogspot.com