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Good morning ladies. And thanks Roxann, Hugs and Flo for your encouraging replies. I have been very busy since, setting up a support system for myself, including being back on this site. Your letters really help. Roxann, I got the book The Secret and have been reading it and working really hard at being in the present and thinking positive all the time and visualising. I also went to ARC house on the S.C.Road and did the relaxation yesterday. And I'm going tomorrow as well for Mindfulness which is more intense I think. Eccles St is actually easier for me to get to so I may phone there this morning too. I'll be in the hospital on Friday to see the Radiotherapist and maybe someone from the psycho oncology team to assess me for counselling. And I found a talk on the net re letting go of fear - it was a buddist monk who told the story of Winnie the Pooh and his friend walking through a forest in a storm and the friend said, oh dear what is a tree falls and we are underneath it and Winnie said, what if a tree falls and we are not underneath it . . . It seems to me that the reality of everything has hit me at once - being bald and having only one boob! But I'm fighting here and thanks again for all your help. I hope you are all doing well. Stay positive. Loving thoughts to you all Elizabeth

Thanks RoxAnn and Hugs for your replies. and Hugs I hope you are feeling better now. What is next for you? And for you RoxAnn? I was at the hospital today to meet the Radiotherapist and he was a dote and made me feel better. He was so kind. I also spoke to the Social Worker so she could assess me re counselling and even talking to her made me feel better too. Today is a good day and I give thanks for it. Love to all Elizabeth

Hi, Would anyone know of a Surgeon that does an Endoscopic Latissimus Dorsi Flap operation in Dublin? Thanks Summer

Hi, A query. Has anyone had major problems whilst taking Femara. I have been on it for 6 months and don,t know how I am going to cope for another 4 years. Joint pain, palpitations, high cholesterol have all happened to me since starting the treatment. I have been told to come off it now for two weeks and it is like going on holiday for my body. Is there anyone else out there experiencing the same problems? I would love to know. Thank you. Pippa

Looking for some info from those of you who’ve had reconstruction with expanders/implant. I had a mastectomy (right) in Sep 08 with delayed reconstruction. I was in such shock to have been diagnosed with BC that I just wanted it out, do whatever post op treatment was necessary and then consider reconstruction. So in Mar09, I had the tissue expander inserted and exchanged in Sep 09. All of this was done in the US. But now I’m back in Ireland and have to get the rest of the reconstruction done here. I’ve had one appt with the surgeon already and he’s going to replace the implant. I have a round one (the norm in the US) whereas he will replace I with a tear drop shape one which is more anatomically similar. There are a couple of reasons for replacing, one being that there is some internal scar tissue causing a double bubble effect. Another appt tomorrow and surgery scheduled for Nov I’m not sure what to expect as I’ve never been in hospital here so would appreciate hearing from anyone who’s been through this. Also, did you go ahead and get the nipple and tattoo? Thanks in advance

Just wondering how many of you changed your diet after your diagnosis? I'm veering more and more towards the Raw Diet. The more I read about it, the more I wonder if our diet is playing a major role in developing breast cancer. I've began juicing a lot and am looking at getting cleaner water into my house aswell. Any input would be great. Thanks Summer

Hello ladies. Just a quick note to say i had my first counselling session yesterday and I'm a new woman. I would recommend it for any of us. The counsellor was a nurse who had worked in a breast clinic and then she left and trained as a psychotherapist so I really trusted her and found everything she said to be of great help. I will be going for one more session after my radiotherapy which should be starting in a week or two. All the best and blessings to everyone. Elizabeth

Hi I had a LC flap reconstruction done in April 2009 . I have had major problems since with the donor site with pain/ discomfort . Has anyone else had problems like this or is it just me ????? P

I am starting on a treatment of interferon next week. Has anyone been on this and can give me some advice. The surgeon was happy that he removed all the tumour from my neck and the interferon is more of a precaution although it is a year long course of daily injections.

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