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Hi,
Yes, I have been and still am being as I am due to have a mx on my good side late Jan. This is through my own choice - longish story so I won't bore you with it. The surgeon I see at RLI is just lovely and the onc and rest of oncology dept have been fab. Couldn't have asked for better. I was diagnosed July 07 with primaries and bone secondaries at same time.
I am in Morecambe so if you want to meet up or have a chat, send me a private message and I'm happy to be in touch if it will help.
Liz
Hi Liz
Thanks for that, its good to know you have been happy with treatment there. I am in Blackpool and chose to go to Lancaster as I had a benign lump removed in 2007. I am due for lumpectomy and axillary clearence on the 19th Jan, I am a Grade 2 at the moment but wont know the staging till post op. It would be good to meet up and have a chat. I will send you my contact no privately. Many thanks again.
Mary
Anyone else???? Just bumping for peanut
I have had all my treatment via Lancaster Breast Unit, and they are superb. All the staff are so knowledgable, caring and respectful. I have always felt like 'part of the team' which is so important. The breast nurses are available by phone (useful for me as I live 45 miles away) and always call back to answer questions etc. I have had bilateral WLE followed by radio at Rosemere (Preston - also superb) but didn't need chemo. How good is that!! Just waiting now, 12 months after surgery, for corrective nip and tuck, but everything needs to settle down a bit more due to radio affecting skin/wound healing etc.
Every good wish for your treatment.
Peanut - hope you've had successful surgery by now and are on the road to recovery.
Grumpy - glad you found the experience at L'cr the same as me. Hope you don't have to wait too long for corrective surgery.
My mx has been delayed til mid-March at the mo as they found I had high blood pressure at a pre-op check so have to have surgery at Lancaster rather than Kendal in case of emergency!! Surgeon only does every other Thurs at L'cr, thus a delay. Frustrating to say the least but better to be safe etc.
Liz
Hi Liz
Thank you for your thoughts, sorry not been in touch but have been inundated with family since xmas as had a major wobble at that time but seeing things a lot clearer now. I had WLE and ANC on 19th Jan @ Kendal, kept in for 3 days as high drainage from wound but am ok and the staff on the ward were lovely, we were all well looked after.I have been very lucky, no seromas or arm restriction, doing my exercises regularly. I am very sore but I think thats to be expected. I should have had results from op last thurs but they rung to cancel as they werent back so going this thurs, was gutted. The BCN told me that it is likely I will need both chemo and radiotherapy which I am coming to terms with. The only thing that will set me back now is if the margins arent clear and I have to have further surgery!
So sorry to hear that your op has been delayed, hopefully your blood pressure will settle, not surprised its raised with all we have to go through!
Hi Grumpy
I also live a considerable distance from Lancaster and will be going to Preston for treatments, glad to hear you are doing well and that your experiences were also positive.Hope your nip and tuck goes well.
I will let you know how I get on on Thurs Liz
Best wishes
Mary x
Good to hear you are getting on as well as possible Mary. Congratulations on doing the exercises like a good girl! Good luck for results tomorrow - let us know how you get on. Even if you do need chemo and rads, it will be do-able and at least you will be throwing as much as possible at the little blighters!
I had a quick taster session at Nordic walking today and am going on a 2 hour class for it next week. Apparently you use loads of muscles (or fat that should be muscle!!), is great for bones and bone density and blood pressure/cardiac stuff. It was very enjoyable so I may have found my new activity for a vague attempt to get fit(ish). Weather was lovely with blue sky and views across the bay....
Liz
Hi Liz
Got my results today, good and not so good news. The tumour in my breast was relatively small 23 mms but had 14 nodes removed of which 3 had cancer cells in so chemo on the cards.The only thing is Lancaster have said because of funding I will have to go locallly for chemo!! I was not a happy bunny and refused to go. I had a long discussion with consultant and said I had chosen Lancaster and wanted to stay there but he suggested I meet with local oncologist and visit unit and if I am really not happy I could discuss with him again. I have only had to attend local hospital twice and both times was treated appallingly so am not happy at all. I know the oncology unit is seperate and may be better but what is the point of having patient choice if they are not going to let you choose!
Sorry about the rant!
Hope you are ok?
Maryx
Don't worry about the rant - I can entirely see what you mean about patient 'choice' !! I'm sorry you need chemo but if it's needed to kill the cancer or any potential stray cells left, then that's best isn't it? Perhaps go and have a look at the onc unit near you to see what it's like and then you can still say you want to go to Lancaster after that if you feel uneasy....The onc unit at L'cr always seems busy but the staff are fantastic.
I'm still frustrated with waiting for mx but I keep telling myself I must be patient - it's not working!!! All because of blood pressure...anyway GP has put me on lowest dose pills to sort that and it may only be til after the op.
Let me know how you get on.
Liz x
Hi Liz
Got my Oncologist appt at Blackpool for 6th March so hopefully will get moving on the chem front.I have spoken to a few other ladies that have been to the vic and the speak highly of the unit so thats good. I seem to have become calmer as time goes on!!
Hope your patience is still holding!!! and your blood pressure tabs are working so you can get on with mx.
Thinking of you
Mary xxxx
That's great news Mary and I'm sure things will be fine. It's so comforting to hear other people speaking highly of units.
My patience is just about holding - having blood test and blood pressure done at GP tomorrow as I've been on tablets for 2 weeks now . Assuming they can find a vein of course! Monday of last week, I had a call to go for mx last Thurs but then later in the day they rang back to cancel it til Thurs next week as an urgent case had cropped up. Grrrr!!! No wonder my blood pressure is high! Then they've had a norovirus outbreak at RLI but apparently the ward I'm due to go to is ok. Have to ring Weds to check they still have a bed for me. They better had!!! So hopefully by the time you're due to go for chemo I will have been back home for a couple of days at least and will be planning my social life and hols.
Hope all goes well for you. Thinking of you too.
Liz x
I want to let everyone know how wonderful I have found the breast clinic at Lancaster - as far as I am concerned the sainted sits at the right hand of god! The whole team are marvellous - I have felt treated with knowledge, skills, deep compassion, and utmost respect, throughout this experience, which we all know is totally mind boggling and thoroughly exhausting.
Yes I have had a few 'blips' altho I believe that has been due to me making assumptions that are not realistic, and the team have been keen to help me get round it all.
And now I am NED - no evidence of disease - so that's just great and I know I have been extremely fortunate.
I am now in a place where I can look forward to a healthy and productive life - not bad at 64!!!
good wishes to all.
grumpy (or not depending on the weather up here in the lake district)
Grumpy - he is god isn't he??!!! He has such a wonderful manner and his surgical skills are amazing - my scar (9 inches) has been much admired. That's to say by the medical people who have seen it rather than me flashing myself around!! One of my questions about having this 2nd mx was whether he would do it and he is so here's to Weds/Thurs for me. I know I'm in safe hands.
Great to hear you are NED by the way - may you continue to be so forever. See you posted on the anastrazole thread too!!
Liz
Hi Liz
Hope you are doing ok and that you have your op on thurs. I am on a day off today but had a grim weekend as think I have an infection in my boob, went to GP fri, on antibiotics seems a little better today, was very red and hot, redness still there but not as hot, funny how that should happen so long after surgery, suture line is fine.
I will be thinking of you thurs hoping allgoes well.
Mary xx
Aww, sorry to hear about your weekend being horrible Mary - hope it gets sorted and more comfortable asap.
All was going smoothly for my op this week until I had a phone call from waiting list office at lunchtime cancelling it. Apparently, the trust bigwigs have cancelled all routine ops for the next 2 weeks at least as the A&E dept is in complete shambles and is under threat of closure if not sorted pronto - it's been on the news so you may have seen it. I was fuming and rang breast unit to see what happens now/timescales/options etc. Nurse said they'd only been told late morning and the surgeon was very upset and angry about it as the op theatre will be lying there empty and he will be sat there with nothing to do. The whole breast clinic unit is furious. So provisionally, the next slot for L'cr surgery will be 15th March.....At least I'm top of the list!!
Keep me updated on how you are doing and hope all goes well on the 6th.
Liz x
Oh no Liz!! What a bummer. I had heard that there was some quality issues at LRI but mainly in the A/E dept. Its all to do with these staff shortages and this damned bill Cameron is trying to get through, its not fair on the breast unit when their care is always excellent.I would be very angry also. Heres hoping all goes well for the 15th!
I have to go for a consultation with Occupational Health Dept weds so they can put plan in at work for me, although i wont really know anything till the 6th.
Keep calm Liz you dont want your blood pressure back up again!!
Best wishes
Mary xx
Hello everyone
We know Lancaster and the other hospitals in the group are going thro all kinds of trauma and bad publicity at the moment. Let's all write to our local newspaper to pay tribute to the clinical staff we have encountered - we know they are superb, and me for one wants everybody out there to understand that.
And let's support the campaign for a radiotherapy unit at Kendal for all of us in the lake district: travelling every day for weeks to Preston is madness, never mind expensive.
The Man we aren't supposed to name is an amazing surgeon - when I showed my scars to a friend she said what scar it's just a crease in your skin!!!
Perhaps we could get together sometime for coffee/lunch as the Lancaster Ladies, and have a good giggle - I live in Ambleside but can drive anywhere to meet up.
Thought for the day: when people say I have been lucky, my response is No it's not lucky to get BC, but I am FORTUNATE to get the treatment and expertise to become well.
good wishes to all
grumpy (and the little dogs)
Hi Grumpy
I was showing one of my colleagues at work my scar and she couldnt believe how neat it is. When I went to clinic last time I saw the consultant briefly, he is lovely really gentle and kind.
I am up for meeting for coffee or lunch, we can meet half way, how about you Liz? Would you have time before your op or would you rather after?
I am back at work full time but got lots of leave to take before end of March so if we do meet up I can book time off.
I like the title Lancaster Ladies, Grumpy.
Best wishes to you both
Mary xx
Ladies - I am game for meeting up whenever and wherever suits you two. Especially as I have at least 2 weeks with not much arranged.... Lunch or coffee are fine by me. There may be another lady from this site who would be interested in meeting too (any excuse for lunch out!!) so I will mention it tomorrow when I see her. She's in Grange.
I'll pm you both my contact details in a mo.
Liz xx
Had a hissy fit yesterday afternoon when there was a story about RLI and staff worries on The Visitor front page. I sent an email to the newpaper, MP, trust HQ and copied in my onc (haven't an email for the bc unit or surgeon's secretary - has anyone else??) saying how wonderful the staff have been but that the whole cancellation, A&E etc scenario was a complete shambles. I also said the admin, management, paperwork side of things seem to have taken priority over patient care and that that was wrong. Reporter from paper has asked for my phone number as they want to run the story, as they say. They have mentioned a photo but I will try to bypass that one unless they'll do me a free makeover!!!!
Will mention the closure of A&E in Kendal and rads etc situation if I get the chance. Thought you would like to know.
Liz x
Hi Liz/Grumpy
I think it is good to keep all these issues in the public eye otherwise people forget. Its such a shame that these stories make everyone so uneasy as we know there are good staff there.
If you still fancy meeting up I am looking at next Fri 9th for a coffee as it is a quiet day at work and I may be able to book time off. Let me know if any good for you and you Grumpy if you can make it.
We can discuss where to meet once we decide on day if thats ok?
Maryxxx
Fri 9th would be fine with me x
Lancaster Ladies -
how are you both doing? did you manage to meet up last week?
Saw The Man and nurse re; nip and tuck, needs more time for things to settle cos of radio damaging skin....oh deary me! but there are new techniques coming on stream so I'm having a 'rest' from it all and will discuss things at next appt in June.
Treated myself to pretty lacey underwired bras last week so I feel so much better.
take care
grumpy
Hi,
No, we didn't meet last week. Partly it was due to the fact I had to rearrange treatment and other stuff as I went to a friend's funeral today (she was from the forums) and because I had to fit lots in as tomorrow at 4pm I am supposed to be going in to hospital for my long awaited op by our hero on Thurs. Am hoping to be upand about v quickly afterwards so we will plan something in. I know it will have been disappointing for you not being able to have the nip and tuck but hang in there and the result will be even better with The Man's skills and new technology!!
Take care and catch you after my op (fingers and everything crossed!!)
Liz x
Hi Liz
Hope all goes well for your op on Thurs. No date yet for my chemo, waiting game at the moment.
I will be thinking of you. When you are feeling up to it we can arrange to meet with Grumpy also but no rush, get yourself well first.
Shame about your nip and tuck Grumpy but I suppose its best to do it when skin ready. I see you mention about underwired bras, I am still wearing non wired ones, do you know how soon after surgery we can go back to wired ones??
Take care both of you
Best wishes
Mary xx
Bras - I've worn underwires for 'occasions' off and on since a few months after radio finished, and it's been fine. Now I wear them all the time, just wearing the A### sports bras for exertion i.e. gardening, big walks. They are very good cos the stretchy cups accomodate lopsided boobs, they have wide straps and they are nice and soft and CHEAP!!! My scars are at the top side of my boobs so there was nothing to get rubbed by a bra anyhow.
Liz - good luck with your op, it will be fine I'm sure, The Man is a wizard with the needle, my scars even as soon as a few months after surgery looked like creases in the skin. Perfectly fine for topless sunbathing, should the weather ever be good enough......
Good for you with the media, I've done a letter for the W Gazette about transport costs, and they want to do a story but I'm a bit exhausted at the moment. The Doggies rather like the idea of having their picture in the paper!
Mary - yes it looks like reduction surgery with a scalpel won't be a good idea, so hoping that a bit of lipo will do the trick later on. Frankly, with one thing and another, I could do with a bit of a rest from hospitals just now, you CAN have too much of a good thing...
Have you noticed that breast nurses seem to be cloned somewhere? 5ft 2in, size 10 and smiley? My support group of one Rita looks similar, so if she comes to appts with me I have to tell her how to dress, otherwise she looks like Staff.
Well Ladies onwards and upwards - fell asleep on the sofa, so have to take my anastrozole and go to bed now.
Grumpy
Back home late this afternoon with a drain in. District nurse should be coming tomorrow to check it and the dressing. Have no pain and feel fine. He who is the brilliant surgeon apologised profusely for the cancellation and said he had been furious about it. Saw me before the op, after it when I was just about with it back on the ward after a nap, sent his side-kick to see me this morning and then saw me again this afternoon and asked them why everything wasn't sorted for discharge for me and another lady - he wasn't too impressed again!! Have a long thin dressing on scar so reckon it's another masterpiece! Can't do any housework for 4-6 weeks and no driving for a month either but I'll see about that when I go back to see the master surgeon in 2 weeks.
Will catch up with you both at some point - have a free bus pass now (get me) and can get the train to Lancaster too.
Liz x
Hi Ladies,
I just wanted to drop you a line to say hi and hope all's well with your op Liz
I've been treated at RLI Lancaster since Nov 2011 by the talented and amazing surgeon you speak of! (I like my new boob lol!)They have all been the most amazing and supportive healthcare team I could have wished for and have made this ugly experience so much more bearable. It is such a shame when bad press outweighs the fantastic work that goes on every single day. (And largely un-noticed)
Sarah xx
Hi Sarah,
Glad you have experienced great care from RLI - like you say it is a shame that such fantastic work is getting overshadowed by all the rubbish that has been happening. I was so incensed I emailed the trust HQ and local paper about it!! Both contacted me and they were going to run my story until my date came up this week. To be fair the lady at the trust didn't try to fob me off either. And I did stress I have had the best possible care over the last 4.5 yrs. Do you reckon Mr P has magic powers to ensure all his patients think the world of him?????!!!!
If you would like to meet for a brew with any of us at all, that would be fine - just send your contact details. Hope you have successful outcomes with your treatment anyway.
Liz
Hi Liz
Just back from London and had to come on to check everyone ok. Delighted to hear you are sounding well and feisty!!
Not had start date for chemo yet!! On a positive note got appt for heart scan on Mon so things may be moving! I sound as if I am desperate for the chemo but I just want it over and done with.
Let me know when you ready to meet for a brew.
Mary xxx