Tit Bits

‘Bits of advice’ from fellow Breast Friends.

What are Tit Bits?
A diagnosis of breast cancer can take us into unknown territory and sometimes a  practical hint or tip from another woman who has experienced a similar journey can be very helpful.

A Tit Bit is a snippet of information, some acquired knowledge or wisdom about an aspect of the breast cancer journey, just a little something, that has proved helpful for one woman and may be useful for you too.

If you have a helpful hint to share, please email us your Tit Bits! We would love to hear from you. 

Breast Cancer Support gratefully acknowledges Mele Kaituu for her Tit Bits concept.

Disclaimer
The Tit Bits listed on this page come from women who have experienced breast cancer and are intended to serve only as helpful, personal tips and hints and do not represent the views of Breast Cancer Support.
Breast Cancer Support offers this page on its website as a Forum for this information and reserves the right to edit content and contributions as appropriate for this Forum. All Tit Bits are listed as anonymous. 
Breast Cancer Support recommends women always seek the advice of their medical teams on issues and decisions relating to their health, care and treatment plans for breast cancer.

Our Tit Bits appear under the following headings:
After diagnosis
Before surgery
After surgery
Before and during chemotherapy
Before and during radiotherapy
Post treatment, follow up visits and recovery
Moving ahead and ‘mining the diamonds’


After diagnosis
Go home and have a stiff drink (or whatever will calm your shredded nerves) then ring around your best friends and let them know. Your friends and family will be your greatest allies in the coming weeks and months. Don’t just go to bed and keep it to yourself.

If you’re angry, go outside and throw rocks and have a good shout. Make sure the dog and the kids are out of the way and the cat and your partner are in the house.

If you feel the need to talk to someone who will understand, ring Breast Cancer Support on 0800 273 222 (0800 BreaCanSupport) or the Cancer Society Information Line on 0800Cancer (0800 226 237). Talking your fears and concerns through with someone can really help.

It can be hard to sleep sometimes because you have so many things going round in your head. Perhaps you fall asleep OK but then wake up about 3am and cannot get back to sleep with all those worries that seem so much worse in the middle of the night. Rather than fight it, try getting up, having a cup of calming herbal tea and writing down all the worries on a piece of paper. Make a deal with yourself that you'll sort out all those things the next day.

Before surgery
Buy a large soft bodice-type bra which fastens up the front with no under wire, something you would be comfortable sleeping in as well. For a while, you will not be able to reach around to do up the hooks if they are at the back. A large soft bodice will hold dressings in place.

Contact suppliers of breast care products (for example, Anita BreastCare (0800 264 822) or NaturalWear (0800 612 612) supply nationwide and can put you in touch with a stockist in your area) to discuss products and garments they may have available to help during the post-surgery period. They can also discuss prosthesis options with you and explain the Government Subsidies available.

Buy a loose nightie which opens up at the front. You will not want to put your arms up over your head.

Ask if there are any special breast cushions available (check with Breast Cancer Support 0800 273 222). These are made of silky soft fabric with a very soft stuffing and are made by women’s voluntary organisations (such as Zonta) to help women with breast cancer. They are amazing for added support and comfort when lying in bed or travelling in a car. After an op, the slightest jiggle up and down can hurt.

Start a book. It can be your diary. Write down all your appointments in order and note what the doctor said and when to expect the next appointment. It may even help to write down how you are feeling as this helps to get your own thoughts in order at a time when you are feeling very confused and maybe angry. Keep a record of everything. You can edit it later on.

Make a list of all medications you are currently taking and the dosages. This can be important information for your medical team. It is also good to note down any other supplements you may be taking e.g. iron tablets, vitamins, homeopathic remedies or other alternative remedies/treatments. 

The Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC) offers a free help pack for women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. It is called Step by Step and is available through the BCAC website or from your Breast Nurse.

Some people take a small voice recorder with them to appointments with surgeons and other medical professionals. It is very easy to forget what you have just been told. The recording also makes it easier to follow up on something that you did not understand too well when first told.

Prepare a list of any worries you have or anything you don’t understand. The Breast Surgeon and Specialist Breast Care Nurse are happy to answer any questions or explain anything you don’t understand.

Be prepared to take on a proactive role in your own care from now on. Give some thought to what treatments you want/don’t want and don’t be afraid to let the surgeon/nurse know. Stop thinking like a patient and think of yourself in partnership with the medical professionals, dealing with you own health. Become informed.

If you want to be fully informed, you can ask for a printed copy of the results of any tests you have. They are yours and may help you to better understand what is happening and to manage your own treatment better. However, if you prefer not to know all the details, tell your medical team and say you trust them to decide what is best for you.

After surgery
Do the stretches that the physiotherapist will tell you about to regain shoulder movement. Operations can interfere with muscles and if we don’t work at regaining movement, we can end up with “frozen shoulder” and other problems.

Some say that “sunning” your operation scars make them more noticeable. But when they have healed enough, keep them well moisturised by massaging with a good natural cream.

If you would like a soft, free cushion to help protect and support the area of surgery while healing (for example, when in the car the cushion can help protect the area of surgery from the seat belt or if you're lying in bed, the cushion can give some support) contact Breast Cancer Support - they can source a cushion for you (Auckland area only).

Before and during chemotherapy
Chemotherapy can cause partial or full hair loss so ask your Breast Nurse or oncologist for information about the Wig Subsidy available from the Government.

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments can be very tiring so if you have been invited out but don't feel up to it on the day, just say you're too tired - people will understand! It's OK to say 'no thank you, not today'.

Friends and family will want to help but often don't know how. Help them out by telling them what you need - perhaps they can come by and hang out the washing, take the kids to the beach for an hour or two, do some shopping for you. They'll welcome suggestions and it'll make you feel better knowing they are doing something really helpful.

Sometimes preparing meals for the family can be difficult. When friends and neighbours offer help, ask them to assist with meal preparation or perhaps they can drop something off that can be heated up for the family.

Liquid supplements like Fortisip and Ensure can be excellent when you cannot take solid food. It is by prescription only. Your Cancer Society Liaison Nurse or GP can assist.

Eating an ice block can be soothing, pleasant to taste and thirst quenching. Try a fruit juice-based ice block.

The anti-emetic drugs (taken with chemotherapy to reduce nausea) can cause constipation. If this becomes a problem for you, try eating kiwifruit (or anything else which works well for you against constipation) a day or two before you go for chemotherapy. Sometimes the green kiwis can be quite acid but the gold are milder and may taste better.

Ginger is very soothing on the stomach. If you feel nauseous, try having something with ginger in it. Even sipping ginger ale helps.

As much as possible, try to just get up and get yourself going (if your head is not in a bucket). The longer you stay in bed the worse you may feel.

If both your finger and toe nails have lifted, turned a funny colour and become ridged from Taxotere, a Manuka honey hand and nail cream called Wild Ferns from Parrs will fix this problem. This cream is available from most tourist shops. Painting your finger and toe nails with nail polish may help too!

Fatigue can be one of the biggest side effects of treatments so getting good sleep is really important but not always easy with hot flushes, worries and feeling unwell. If you toss and turn and can't fall asleep within the first 20 minutes or so, try getting up and having some herbal tea or perhaps reading a book until you feel drowsy. Make sure your bedroom is comfortable, dark and you have good pillows and bedding. If you feel tired during the day, don't be too hard on yourself because your body is going through a difficult time and fatigue is a major side effect of treatment. Taking a nap is a great idea!

Before and during radiotherapy
Using aloe vera gel for the burn may be helpful. 'I put it on up to three times a day from the beginning and for a month afterwards and I lost very little skin. As I am quite fair I was very happy with this outcome.' 

Post treatment, follow up visits and recovery
Keep a record of your appointments and any results. Make a careful note of when your next follow-up should be (3 months? 6 months? 1 year?). Write that on your calendar somewhere and don’t be afraid to ring the hospital and ask what has happened to your follow-up appointment if a notice is not sent to you in that month. Things DO sometimes slip between the cracks and you don’t want to be forgotten.

Work at getting active and fit. You will recover much faster and be able to cope better with future treatments.

The Cancer Societies have a wealth of resources. Visit the location in your area and make sure you know what is there and what is available to help you. For example, their libraries have many books on cancer which you can borrow at no charge. Specialist counselling is also available free for anyone who needs extra support. Phone 0800 CANCER (0800 226 237) for the location of the branch nearest you.

Join groups which can help – here are some suggestions:
Pink Pilates is run by physiotherapists trained to help women with breast cancer. It is good for strengthening your “core” muscles.

YWCA Encore is a gentle swimming and exercise programme for women who have had breast cancer. Excellent for overall fitness and to reduce symptoms or risk of lymphoedema.

Nordic Walking is a pleasant way to enjoy the fresh air and the beaches and get upper-body exercise as well from your walking.

Club Physical gym has branches throughout Auckland and runs a free ten week programme for those recovering from cancer.

Dragon Boating is a fun way to regain fitness and meet other women who have experienced breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Support organises groups in all areas of Auckland (Central, North, South, East and West) are run by women who have had breast cancer like you. Meetings are usually once a month, offer friendship, camaraderie and helpful advice but they are not there to give you medical advice - always ask your medical team.

Moving ahead and ‘mining the diamonds’
Have an objective to aim for. It may be to keep working as long as possible or to keep as fit as you can. Why should we let this nasty situation spoil our lives?

You have been through (or are going through) a deep and difficult experience but sometimes new joys can come from that journey.

Women who have experienced breast cancer become 'instant friends' when they first meet. The bonds of friendship and fellowship are lasting and very strong.

When you've finished all your treatment for breast cancer, friends and family may think, 'That's it! You're OK now!' but there is still much recovering for you to do - physically, emotionally and spiritually. We're all different and you may need support for a while and that's OK.  Even if you're a year down the track, you might need someone to talk to so don't be afraid to contact a support service like Breast Cancer Support. They are there to help women from the time of diagnosis and beyond.

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