by Liz Baker | 7 Mar, 2016 | If Only
I happened to visit my dentist shortly before starting chemotherapy, so I mentioned this fact to her. She gave me a lot of good advice re mouth care and some special toothpaste to use all the time I was on chemo. As a result I had no problems with my mouth, and I...
by Liz Baker | 7 Mar, 2016 | If Only
Many people lose some or all of their hair during chemotherapy treatment. Hats, scarves, turbans, wigs – there’s a lot of choice, both to keep warm and avoid being stared at. Living Tree members coped as follows: Scarves and turbans/soft hats I didn’t want a wig as I...
by Liz Baker | 7 Mar, 2016 | If Only
I had breast cancer 2 years ago. Six months later I had a new pain at the front… I was seen at the hospital by one of the breast team who recognised it straight away as Tietze’s syndrome – inflammation of the cartilage between the ribs and the sternum. Apparently it’s...
by Liz Baker | 7 Mar, 2016 | If Only
When I had my lumpectomy plus level 2 clearance of lymph nodes under one arm, I finished up with a very raggedy, tight feeling scar which I am now told may be contributing to my lymphoedema. None of the doctors ever said that it was very important to work on the scar...
by Liz Baker | 7 Mar, 2016 | If Only
The first few weeks of taking my daily dose of tamoxifen I felt sick most of the day. I asked the oncologist. He recommended taking half the dose in the morning and the other half at night. I did this and the nausea went away. After six weeks or so I went back to...
