Blog

Meet Our Fitting Team

Nicola Jane — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Meet our fitting team. Our expert team have fitted 1000's of women following mastectomy, lumpectomy and reconstruction surgery.

Swimwear Style Solutions

Nicola Jane — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A few of our favourite Nicola Jane post-surgery swimwear styles as worn by 2024 Nicola Jane model - Kaz Foncette.

Everybody Tells a Story: Covid vs Cancer

Nicola Jane — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Read about Fiona's inspirational story of how she received her breast cancer diagnosis just days days ahead of 'lockdown'.

We Are Not Fast Fashion

Nicola Jane — Weds, 13 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

At Nicola Jane, we are not fast fashion, our styles are carefully crafted to suit your needs using responsibly sourced materials.

Q&A with Kaz Foncette

Nicola Jane — Thurs, 22 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

We catch up with Kaz Foncette as she takes part in our Q&A about her surgery and recovery following her breast cancer diagnosis.

Introducing Betty Beaded Breast Form

Nicola Jane — Thurs, 22 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

NEW for 2024! Introducing the Betty Beaded Breast Form, our new eco-friendly, every day breast form designed for comfort

Celebrating 40 Years

Nicola Jane — Tues, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

We are celebrating 40 Years of Nicola Jane! We have been supporting women with complex breast care needs for four decades. With our award winning customer service and expertly designed lingerie and swimwear we are helping women to live confidently post-breast surgery.

Confidence Boosting Styles

Nicola Jane — Thurs, 08 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Beautiful, confidence boosting lingerie styles and matching sets. Perfect for date night or as a self-care treat. Feel great in our post-surgery valentines picks!

Every Body Tells a Story Kaz Foncette

Nicola Jane — Tues, 30 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introducing breast cancer survivor Kaz Foncette...she is a fashion and lifestyle influencer, founder of UK charity Wigs for Heroes and Nicola Jane model for 2024.

Styles to Support Your Fitness Goals

Nicola Jane — Thurs, 18 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Are you setting yourself a new fitness challenge for 2024? We have put together some of our best styles to support you whilst you work on your goals.

Are you party ready?

Nicola Jane — Tues, 19 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

If you are in search of the perfect bra as the foundation to your partywear, look no further than Nicola Jane's collection.

2024 Swimwear Sneak Peak

Nicola Jane — Tues, 19 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

We are excited to offer our blog readers, exclusive VIP access to the Nicola Jane 2024 Swimwear collection.

My Cycling Challenge: Channel to the Med

Nicola Jane — Thurs, 30 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Inspired to fundraise for Breast Cancer Now, read all about Lynne's challenge to cycle 880 miles.

Recommended: Autumn Loungewear

Nicola Jane — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Cosy, comfortable lingerie styles, perfect for autumn

Trick or Treat with Witterings Fitness

Nicola Jane — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Witterings Fitness unveil the scary truths when it comes to choosing the right Halloween snacks!

Introducing Witterings Fitness

Nicola Jane — Sun, 22 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Learn from the experts at Witterings Fitness as they equip us with the knowledge, tools and support on fitness and nutrition.

Nicola Jane Impactful Donation

Annik — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

We have been donating range of bras and breast forms, monthly for over 10 years to our hospice partners - Hospices of Hope.

Living Confidently Breast Cancer Awareness

Nicola Jane — Thurs, 05 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

In honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we would like to share a topic we are passionate about - LIVING CONFIDENTLY!

Every Body Tells a Story - Laura Price

Nicola Jane — Thurs, 20 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introducing Laura Price - journalist, podcast host and author of the novel, Single Bald Female.

National Bikini Day 2023

Nicola Jane — Tues, 04 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

In honour of the invention of the iconic two-piece swimsuit we are celebrating National Bikini Day!

Introducing Helen

Nicola Jane — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

"Cancer takes a lot from you, but it also gives. Without it, I would never have had the opportunity to be a lingerie model."

About me…
My name is Helen, I am 55 years old, and I’ve lived in Walberton, West Sussex for the last 22 years. I co-own the pre-school in our village and have been working there for the last 20 years. It’s a very rewarding job and I like to think that it keeps me young spending so much time with 2, 3 and 4 year old children. I work with a fantastic group of ladies, they are the best!

I live with my husband, Keith and our two dogs, Paddy and Arthur, who are good old-fashioned mongrels! My two children, Izzy and Alex are grown up, have graduated from Uni and are living and working in London. We get to meet up regularly and had a great family holiday in Wales together last year. My parents also live locally, having moved from Staffordshire 12 years ago. This year, Mum was diagnosed with breast cancer so we have been through her journey together. We are both looking forward to Springtime when we are going to visit the Nicola Jane shop together to see my photos on the wall!

I enjoy…
I love to walk the dogs in the countryside or on the beach – annoyingly, they love going out in the rain, so there is no excuse to keep warm and dry for me! Keith and I have an allotment and we grow a lot of our own vegetables and some fruit and flowers for the house.

A group of friends got together to make up a book club a few years ago (our children were growing up and we missed catching up on the school run). We meet at each others‘ houses every month and we’re all ‘feeders’ so there is always a delicious spread put on, also lots of bubbles, gossip and yes, we do discuss the book too! These friends threw me the most amazing 50th Birthday Celebration right at the beginning of my treatment. It was an amazingly supportive thing to do for me.

I also love live music and try to get out to see as much as possible. The pubs in Arundel regularly have live bands and it’s also very easy to travel to Brighton or Portsmouth for a gig. Last summer, I went to WOMAD festival for the first time with friends (we have known each other for 30 years as our husbands all went to Uni together and coincidentally, we have all survived cancer).

I also do a weekly Pilates class, which has been fantastic to build my strength and confidence.

My diagnosis...
I have had a history of breast cysts over many years and been to the Breast Clinic at St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester many times. In 2017, I found a lump in my right breast while I was in the shower. I went to see my GP who referred me back to the Breast Clinic again. I had a mammogram and an ultrasound scan. The lump was a cyst but there was something that the Consultant could see “we might just take a little biopsy of that”. This was scary, I was expecting to have my cyst drained and be gone. My husband didn’t usually accompany me to the Breast Clinic appointments but this time he did - he was working very hard at his job and we were using it as an excuse to have a little bit of time off! I am glad that he was with me. He is a vet, and later told me that he could see a tumour on the mammogram picture. I had to return to the Breast Clinic for the results of the biopsy but had to have another one done to get more of a sample for diagnosis. So I returned again… this time my Consultant, Mr Odofin, asked me “have you any questions?” and I replied “do I have cancer?” and he said “Yes”. He was so kind and I thanked him later for being so honest with me.

My treatment plan was to have a mastectomy on my right breast. I, in fact had 2, stage 2 tumors in the middle of my breast and very close to my chest wall, so there was no possibility of saving my breast. A surgery date was set and I said “that’s the day before my birthday” and Mr Odofin said “well, we’re not doing that then” and it was put back for a week. I am so grateful for this kind act. I’ve found the anniversary of my surgery to be a very difficult day every year and I’m so glad that it isn’t my birthday. I had an appointment at the Department of Nuclear Medicine (who knew!!) to ascertain where my lymph glands that drain my breast were. This involves injecting a substance into the breast and tracing it to mark where the lymph glands are.

Letting the news sink in…
I walked back to the car repeating “I cannot have f***ing cancer”. I was very angry. There is no family history, I had lived a healthy life (ok, a little overweight…) I had breastfed both my children for a year. It was not fair. But cancer isn’t fair, is it? It’s such a difficult thing to tell your friends and family, The subject just doesn’t come up naturally in conversation, so it always has to come as a bombshell. My son was just about to start his A levels, so me, my husband and parents had to keep the news to ourselves until he was finished. We told both children together. My family and friends were brilliant. I would keep them updated (everyone got a text, whether they asked for one or not…) and just ask for a flower emoji as acknowledgement. It was lovely to open my phone to see a screen full of flowers.

The day before my surgery was emotional…
I wanted to look at my body to remember what I looked like with 2 breasts, but I also didn’t want to try to imagine what my body might look like with one. On the day of my surgery, I arrived early at the hospital. Keith and Izzy came with me. Alex didn’t want to and that was fine. I felt like Santa’s Little Helper because I was wearing green stockings and red disposable hospital slippers. The breast nurse came to visit me with a supermarket 'Bag for Life' containing lots of breast forms, which we found very funny.

I walked into the operating theatre, with Mr Odofin by my side. I was greeted by the team like it was a party they were hosting for me. The anesthetist asked me “what’s you’re tipple” and I replied “G&T” and she said “here comes a double” and that’s the last thing I remember. I woke up in Recovery and immediately checked whether I had any drains in - there wasn’t any. Mr Odofin had explained to me that if the cancer had spread to more lymph glands, I would have drains in so I was relieved not to find any.

I arrived home later that afternoon and sat in the sunshine in the garden. It was lovely to be home. The next few days and weeks were very hard. I had a lot of pain and swelling and had to have the operation site drained 3 times. My right arm was very painful and I was very diligent with the physio exercises so I could regain full movement. I have a weakness now because I also had some of my pectoral muscle removed. I was lucky to not need to have Chemo but I had a course of Radiotherapy at Portsmouth Hospital, which I found very hard. I was given 3 tattoo marks to match me up to the machines for the treatment, together with a leaflet explaining that tattoo removal is not available on the NHS. So I can say that my fist tattoos were done by the NHS.

I found the recovery from the surgery to be very painful, and this confirmed my wish not to have reconstruction surgery. To celebrate finishing Radiotherapy and getting the ‘all clear’ in January 2018, I had a Rose flower and a Spitfire tattooed on my forearm. The rose because it’s beautiful, and the Spitfire because it symbolizes my fight (while I was sitting in the garden recovering in the Summer the Spitfire from Goodwood Aerodrome flew over me many times. The sound of the Merlin engine always raised my spirits).

My mastectomy scar is smooth and as scars go, beautiful - but I didn’t want to keep seeing it. I wanted to cover it with a tattoo, but have a large one that could be seen. My family helped me to design what I wanted (Keith even bought us tickets to the Brighton Tattoo Convention for research). I wanted roses again, starting on my shoulder and coming down my chest over my scar and finishing on my tummy. Bill, my tattoo artist was wonderful, he carefully explained how he would tattoo the scar tissue differently from my healthy skin and I felt very confident. My tattoo took 4 hours and I had it done in one hit. I felt amazing afterwards. I felt like I’d taken control of my body again. And I still feel like that.

I have a fantastic breast form which makes me look completely natural and is a massive boost to my confidence. And I do really enjoy asking interested people “which one do you think is real?” – just to see the look on their faces.

I have changed since my diagnosis and treatment. I don’t put things off, when your tomorrows have been uncertain, you learn to live for today…
I have a different outlook on life. Genuinely, the only thing that really scares me is my cancer coming back, and that is empowering. I have had many cysts and I could easily have ignored this last one. Ladies, if you have a lump, go and bother your GP – it could save your life. Every day is a bonus for me that I could so easily not have had. Needless to say, I am massively grateful to Mr Odofin and the team at St Richards, to my family and my friends for accompanying me on my journey. And so grateful to the team of wonderful scientists and researchers whose work ensures that more of us survive this.

Fall In Love With Lingerie

Nicola Jane — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Perfect for Valentine's Day - styles that will make you fall in love with lingerie

The perfect foundation to any date night outfit
Add a touch of sexiness to a seamfree style in the Sasha (2039) by Nicola Jane. NEW for 2023, the Sasha is based on a customer favourite style but with a sexy, stylish twist with a front cross-strap design and luxe gold hardware. A great base for any outfit the seamfree slightly padded cups will help to provide a smooth, even silhouette – the perfect foundation piece to your date night outfit.

It's a match
If you are looking for an extra-special lingerie set for Valentine’s Day then look no further. Tallulah (2033) by Nicola Jane features a sultry black lace, designed to make you feel extra-special. The balconette style and separated cup design will give you great shape and support, without compromising on comfort. Worn with the matching briefs this is a style you will want to show off!

Feminine and flirty
A lilac lace style which will add a touch of luxury to your lingerie collection. Chloe (7057) by Nicola Jane is nothing but fun and flirty, its all in the detail with this matching set with the extra special strap detailing, eyelash lace on the underband and matching lace panneling on the briefs.

In love with lace
Designed specifically for a larger cup size, Paloma (3024) by Nicola Jane is NEW for 2023 and is a style that will have your heart. A luxurious lace overlay and lace eyelash detailing gives this style a stunning feminine touch. The built-in foam cradle combined with a slightly higher centrefront will give you just the right amount of support and coverage.

Confidence is key
We never compromise when it comes to stunning styles with a little extra coverage. If a camisole lace helps you to feel your most confident then the Orla Camisole (2041) by Nicola Jane in a dusky pink is the style for you. A floral lace overlay gently cascades down from the camisole and side of the cups to the underband to give this style its’s unrivalled ultra-feminine look. The seamless memory foam cup will have you wondering how you coped without this style!

Introducing the 2023 Nicola Jane Swimwear Collection

Nicola Jane — Mon, 09 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introducing the 2023 Swimwear Collection by Nicola Jane, our most versatile and sustainable collection yet. This year our range has been carefully designed to bring you a style to suit every occasion, from stylish performance swimsuits, to beach-ready bikinis the new collection is set to meet your needs like never before.

Sarah our expert designer at Nicola Jane, has over 18 years' experience designing post-surgery fashion. After many months of careful preparation, she is super excited for you to see the 2023 collection for yourselves. Below are a few of her favourite styles but be sure to check out the full collection here.

A swimsuit to kickstart your New Year Fitness Goals
Have you made a New Year’s resolution to be more active in 2023? The Shanghai Swimsuit by Nicola Jane perfectly combines sport, action and style. The contrasting white silhouette side panelling is designed to fit and flatter all figures whilst the high neckline and sports back provides a secure, supportive fit. With this go-to swimsuit in your sports bag, all your focus can be on achieving your fitness goals this year!

Styles that never go out of fashion
Classic solid block colours are a swimwear trend that never goes out of fashion and the Monte Carlo Ruched Swimsuit in a gorgeous royal blue takes this trend to another level with it’s exceptional fit. Featuring a sweetheart neckline to provide a little extra cover across the chest, the combination of a clever centre ruching panel and tummy control lining makes this swimsuit a real confidence-booster!

Wear it your way
A bikini shape that is a firm customer favourite and back for 2023 – introducing the Monte Carlo Bandeau Bikini.This multi-way bandeau allows you to change the straps from the standard fit, to crossover or they can be removed completely for a stunning strapless style. If a tankini is more your style, why not try the new Monte Carlo Tankini, with front ring detailing and multi-way strap fastening at the back for a more supportive fit. We all have different bodies and each style can suit us differently, so why wear your swimwear style the same way? Teamed with the midi-fit matching briefs these are styles you won’t want to miss out on.

Summer holiday dreaming
This new palm tree leaf print already has us dreaming of paradise! With a lighter base colour and perfectly placed statement print, this style is not only designed to be eye-catching but will help to discreetly disguise any slight difference in shape or size post-surgery.

Feel the good of tomorrow
Did you know the fabric of your swimwear has history? Each of our swimwear pieces from our 2023 collection is made from Repreve, a recycled performance fiber made from recycled bottles! We started our journey towards creating sustainable swimwear with a few styles in 2022, now with a full collection we are proud to give plastic bottles a second life - allowing you to live yours, knowing that together we are helping to future proof the planet.

Introducing Gill

Nicola Jane — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

"I am now enjoying life again, especially with my precious family and wonderful friends. I hope to continue to take on new challenges."

About me…
I live in Chilwell, a suburb of Nottingham with my husband of 42 years, Phil. I have three amazing children who are all married to wonderful partners and we have five gorgeous grandsons. My parents and sisters family also live locally and we all get together as often as we can.

I have a fabulous group of friends we cycle with and have taken part in the Ride the Night challenge supporting breast and ovarian cancer charities. In 2019 we completed a coast to coast cycle and in 2021 a Lake District tour.

I enjoy…
I also enjoy walking, talking and coffee. Phil and I love the sea and love our holiday home on the East Yorkshire coast where we sea swim. We’ve bought a kayak and taken to the waterways and also enjoy holidays, especially in France. Being with family and friends is my greatest pleasure, whether it’s taking part in an activity or chatting over a coffee, I love being with people.

For years I volunteered for several different organisations and a church outreach programme, supporting people suffering with addictions and other challenging life circumstances. During this time, I met a very special friend who was also going through the breast cancer journey. Together we set up a Vintage China hire business for ten years but have since retired following the pandemic.

In August 2006 I felt a lump in my right breast, it was during the night as I turned in bed...
A few days later I asked Phil if he could also feel it? Having confirmed there was something unusual I went to the GP and was referred to the Nottingham Breast Institute. Having no history of breast cancer in the family I was completely shocked to be told that I did have breast cancer.

I have a strong Christian faith, and this has been my strength and comfort along with immense support from family and friends. I soon entered the world of waking in the morning and thinking “this is not my life!” But of course, it was!

Following a total mastectomy, I hoped there was no further treatment, but they discovered several lymph nodes, so I had four cycles of chemotherapy followed by five weeks of radiotherapy. It was a hard road and there were times I felt overwhelmed and defeated, but with all the loving support I got through it. Three years of taking Tamoxifen followed, as the consultant said at the time “belt and braces”. It’s hard to explain the feeling of losing hope for a healthy future but for several years that was a strong underlying thought. As time has gone on, I put it all behind me and embraced life to the full.

In April 2020 the week before my 59th birthday, I noticed a lump on my mastectomy scar. I couldn’t believe it was serious as there’s no breast tissue there. However, after a phone call to the GP I was referred again to the Nottingham Breast Institute and following an ultrasound, a CT and MRI scan, it was diagnosed as a recurrence of the cancer. I received the diagnosis by telephone, in the car with Phil, and felt the bottom drop out of my world! I was totally shocked and traumatised.

Due to covid I had to attend all the appointments and surgeries alone which was a difficult experience and I know many more people have had to do the same. Thankfully, there was no further spread, but the lump was bigger than they thought and it took two surgeries to make sure the margins were clear. Three weeks of radiotherapy followed and I’m now on medication for five years.

Once again faith, family and friends have been my strength and support...
I'm so grateful for the professionalism and care I received from the NHS.I am now enjoying life again, especially with my precious family and wonderful friends. I hope to continue to take on new challenges, such as modelling for Nicola Jane!

I couldn't have got through all this without my positive attitude and lovely husband

Nicola Jane — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

I’m Jane and I’d love to tell my story…read more

I'm a widow and was married for 21 years to my childhood sweetheart. David, my husband, died when our daughter Zoe was five and half years old.
When I met Jeremy, Zoe was ten years old and we hit it off straight away. We were getting married in May 2016 when I found a lump. A breast scan that I’d had a year earlier had not picked anything up, due to me having very dense breast tissue. We cut our honeymoon short so I could have a mastectomy, followed then by chemo and radiotherapy. Chemo really took it out of me in hospital, as it was too strong, so they lowered the dose. I was happy to lose my boobs as I just wanted to live, so I had my other breast removed a year later.

In 2019, I found a strange lump in my sternum after moving a piano a couple of feet with my husband. I thought I had strained something. After a few months I realised it hadn’t gone away, so doctors sent me for a scan. Unfortunately, it showed I had a 4.2cm tumour in my sternum.

Abemaciclib (Verzenios) targeted therapy came to the UK in August 2019 luckily, so I was able to be put on this in September. I also started Xgeva bone drug and Fulvestrant hormone blocker injections each month. The tumour started shrinking straight away. The tumour ended up being about 2.2cm on top of my sternum, so in June 2020 I had it removed at London Bridge hospital. Andrea Bille was my thoracic surgeon. He removed all of the tumour and put in a new piece of sternum, which was quite major surgery. I was in hospital for a week.

I’m still on my treatment but I take a lower dose and I have scans every four months to check I'm ok. I joined Breast Friends and met two ladies from Nicola Jane, who showed us all the lovely underwear and prosthesis you provide.
I couldn't have got through all this without my positive attitude and lovely husband taking me to all my appointments, standing by me and helping me.

I believe I'm a better person for all I've gone through

Nicola Jane — Weds, 26 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

I'm Jo and I'm 40 years old and a mum to two boys.

In August 2020, I received the news that I had stage 2 breast cancer. Previously to this I had experienced three years of breast abscesses which I was told was a rare form of mastitis. I was terrified! I was booked in straight away for a single mastectomy. For me reconstruction wasn't an option at this point as it was during the pandemic and all unnecessary surgery was cancelled. To be honest I didn't really mind, as I just wanted the cancer gone. After my initial surgery, more cancer was found which elevated me to stage 3. It was also grade 3 aggressive. I had five and a half months of chemotherapy and I lost my hair, which actually devastated me more than having the mastectomy to be honest. After fifteen sessions of radiotherapy I was given Tamoxifen and sent on my way to carry on with life.

Call it a sixth sense but I didn't feel cancer free so I requested a scan. They don't generally like doing this after treatment but luckily they booked me in for another scan. Cancer was found in my spine which they then told me I was stage 4 incurable. Devastated didn't cut it. Gradually I have come to terms with my diagnosis and I'm doing well at present. They gave me the option for reconstruction, but I Iike how I look now, I think I look like a superhero! Besides that, I don't want to put my body through any further surgery. Life is good now. I appreciate that tomorrow isn't promised and I'm enjoying my time with friends and family. I want to show other women that you don't need to feel ashamed of your mastectomy. I feel proud of mine and the strength it represents. Strength of character is beautiful and I believe I'm a better person for all I've gone through.

A Very Pink Ladies Day Out

Nicola Jane — Weds, 26 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

On a gorgeous sunny summer day back in August, a colleague and I drove onto the IOW ferry to spend the day at a breast cancer support group in Newport.
The women in the group loved our bras, swimwear, and breast forms but we could only take a small amount with us and felt there was potential for them to see more and have proper bra fittings too.
So, we invited them over to our side of the pond to have a day in our Chichester Shop. On 18^th October a group of ladies arrived full of smiles and eagerness! We booked out our shop exclusively for the women to spend time browsing, relaxing, and trying on whatever they wanted. We gave each of them a bra fitting if they wanted one, as some of the woman hadn’t been properly fitted for years….and they were amazed that they’d been wearing the wrong size bra and breast form!
They were excited to try our products and enjoy the time devoted to them, whilst chatting and laughing and growing their relationships with their group. A very gorgeous lunch was delivered to the shop where we all sat and chatted about life in general, nothing about breast cancer or bras for at least 45 minutes!!
We each put donations in our ‘Wear it Pink’ money box in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month and the shop was decked out in lots of pink balloons, cakes, and drinks. Our head office also held ‘Wear it Pink’ day where all our lovely staff members wore pink too.

I'm happy, fit and healthy and work out 3 times a week!

Nicola Jane — Tues, 13 Sept 2022 00:00:00 GMT

My name is Helen Bradbury and I'm 50 years old. Here is my breast cancer journey...

I'm married to Nick and have a 16-year-old daughter and a 13-year stepson. In October 2013 I found a few little bumps in my breast, nothing particularly obvious but it just felt a little strange, having a history of breast cancer in the family, my mother passed away in 2009 of secondary breast cancer after being diagnosed 16 years earlier at the age of 46 where she herself had a mastectomy on her left breast. I decided to make an appointment with my GP and get it checked out. After a mammogram and ultrasound, it was decided that I would need a biopsy too. The results of this confirmed that I actually had DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In-situ) this is a very early-stage breast cancer that has not begun to spread so thankfully it had been caught early. The DCIS was all around my right breast which meant my treatment would be a mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. This all took place in January 2014. The breast was removed, and I had a shiny, new, pert reconstructed breast in its place. I didn’t need any further treatment other than mammograms for the next 5 years on my remaining left breast.

Fast forward to October 2020… my final mammogram. I had a call back to say they needed to check me again as they think they may have seen something on my mammogram. So here we go again, ultrasound and a more detailed biopsy. Once again I was told they thought this was a DCIS and I would need to have my breast removed, but once again it could be reconstructed, so this operation went ahead. A few weeks after the operation they had the results back from the surgery and it was confirmed that I had a low grade 2 oestrogen positive breast cancer and that my treatment was to take the hormone therapy drug Tamoxifen, and just for good measure because of where it was, I would need to have radiotherapy. The problem with this though, was I had just had a newly reconstructed breast, so having radiotherapy meant that this could potentially damage the new implant. About 6 weeks after my surgery, I had a follow up with my consultant and he was a little concerned at how the scar tissue was healing. As I was due to have radiotherapy in February, he decided to perform an emergency surgery that evening. Bit of a shock to the system, but I suppose at least I didn't have time to worry about it. It was at this point I said to him before the surgery that if there were any issues when he opened me back up, please don't replace the implant, just leave it out completely as there was already a risk that the radiotherapy, I was due to have could damage the implant. When I came round in recovery I looked down at my bandaged chest and realised he'd removed it. I didn't feel sad, more relieved to be honest. This also now meant that the radiotherapy could be delivered in a higher dose in just a week as opposed to a lower dose over several weeks.

After my surgery and radiotherapy, I was quite happy with my almost flattish chest, it just meant now I was odd again. I was given a breast form and I went in search of mastectomy bras as this was something I hadn't had to do before. The only problem was I'd been having a few issues over the past few years with my original reconstructed breast, it had capsular contracted, which means my body thought the implant was a foreign object and formed a scar tissue around it which made the implant hard. As the implant was under my chest muscle this started to cause me a lot of discomfort. So, at my final check up with my surgeon I asked if he could perform one last operation and remove my original implant I had back in 2014. I had to wait around 6 months for this surgery as we were right in the middle of covid, but at the beginning of this year... well February, I finally got the call that I could have it removed. I couldn't wait as I was turning 50 in the summer, and we had two very special holidays booked.

I'm happy with the way I look, and I now have two breast forms, so if I decide to wear something that requires a little more oomph up front, then I can pop them in my mastectomy bra and away I go. I am also equally happy to not wear them. I'm happy, fit and healthy. I work out 3 times a week and have the most amazing family around me.

I would love to model for Nicola Jane, as I feel a confident, 50 year old woman and I embrace my body with confidence. It would mean a great deal to me if my journey and story could be of some support and inspiration for any ladies going through what I have but is struggling to feel confident with their body. My diagnosis and treatment haven't stopped me feeling like a "sexy wife" in the words of my lovely supportive husband.

Reconstruction Forum

Nicola Jane — Tues, 06 Sept 2022 00:00:00 GMT

On a lovely summers day in August, a few of us from Nicola Jane HQ headed to the sandy beach at Bracklesham Bay where we held our annual Reconstruction Forum.

On a lovely summers day in August, a few of us from Nicola Jane HQ headed to the sandy beach at Bracklesham Bay where we held our annual Reconstruction Forum. A gorgeous beach front house was the location of choice where 6 ladies joined us for the day, as well as our make up artist and photographer!
All the ladies that were invited to our forum have experienced breast cancer and were there to help us. We wanted to find out more about their choices in bras, where they shopped and why, what they looked for in a good bra, as well as cost and different brands that they particularly liked.
This information would help us formulate our plans going forward and give our design team some new ideas with regards to styling, new materials and different colours. The day shed a lot of light on new concepts and boy did we learn great things from these women! As well as knowing what was important to them when choosing bras we also found out how inspiring, positive and energetic these wonderful women are, what a fabulous group!
The forum discussion lasted about 2 and a half hours and then continued with the ladies lunching in the dining area, chatting and getting to know everyone, overlooking a wonderful manicured lawn which fell endlessly away onto a beach and into deep blue seas with crashing waves…what a stunning way to enjoy lunch!

After lots of gratifying and satisfying approval sounds from lunch, the ladies then descended on our lovely make up artist, enjoying being pampered with a quick hair spruce as well. One by one they modelled our bras and our photographer came to life, taking amazing shots of natural, beautiful women in different poses. They also modelled our swimwear collection and enjoyed some fun shoots together in the garden and down on the beach…….some even ending up in the sea!
What a wonderful day for all of us! We met gorgeous ladies and heard about their different experiences and how their lives impact other people and every day life, not just theirs, but people around them. For us that’s very precious and it’s information that’s not shared freely, which we’re truly grateful for.
The ladies had a wonderful time, giving their opinions on our lingerie collections and also making new contacts and friends, growing relationships and enjoying a truly glamorous day in a stunning location!
Thanks ladies, until next time! x

Thanks to Trinny, I discovered my lumpRead Sarah's Story

Guest Blogger — Tues, 09 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Sarah is 50 years old and follows Trinny, who she regards as an inspiration to her.

My mum was diagnosed with breast cancer 10 years ago, so I’ve always been vigilant about checking myself, but maybe not quite enough…

In October 2021, I watched a video online with Trinny. I’ve been a follower of hers for a couple of years. She inspires women regarding body image, fashion and make-up and supports the Breast Cancer Now charity.

This particular video was of Trinny and a nurse from the charity showing us how to examine ourselves, and I thought I’d have a go. As the video went on, I felt a lump that I had not felt before. I casually spoke to my husband, and we were both quite blasé about it. I made an appointment for the next day with my GP thinking it was probably just a cyst.

The nurse explained they couldn’t confirm whether the lump was cancer. They examine you and refer you to a hospital for further tests. Obviously, this was a very stressful time as the appointment with oncology could take two weeks.  My husband dropped me off on the day of my appointment, and I had to wait outside due to Covid restrictions. I was passed from one nurse to X-ray, mammogram, and biopsy. At this point, I thought, ‘there is something wrong. Although nobody said the words, I think I knew deep down. Finally, after the longest week of my life waiting for my results, it was confirmed.

We were devastated. My husband took it very badly, thinking the worst. I tried to be as positive as I could, almost trying to make it easier for everyone close to me. It was just the way I wanted to deal with it.

Telling my mum was heartbreaking, almost reliving her breast cancer and now having to go through it with me. However, she has been a massive support to me throughout my journey.

My nurse assured me it was “just a bump in the road”, which I repeated in my head every day. However, the bump in the road turned out to be a massive pothole!
I had a lumpectomy on the 10th of December, the day before my 50th birthday. Unfortunately, the cancer was bigger than they thought, so a 2nd lumpectomy followed on the 21st of January, hoping and praying this would be the end of the nightmare, but unfortunately, it wasn’t. My consultant called to say. Unfortunately, the margins were unclear, so my only option was a mastectomy. This was booked for the 4th of March.

I had numerous appointments at the hospital to discuss reconstruction, but there were just too many complications involved, so I opted not to.

I am now out the other side, unfortunately dealing with the symptoms of menopause due to the drugs I have to take for the next ten years. However, every day I feel I’m getting my life back slowly.

Nicola Jane was a godsend after my numerous operations. I purchased the post-surgery bras, which I have literally lived in. They have since been passed to a dear friend going through her journey.  I’ve been fitted with a prosthesis which fits beautifully in my ‘Lottie’ bras from Nicola Jane.

So many people to thank through my breast cancer journey, you know who you are….

I met one of the ladies only last week. Trinny was visiting Bicester Village, and I just had to meet her, and she remembered my message, telling her about finding my lump after watching her video. It was very emotional.

Please, ladies, be aware of your bodies. Any changes, no matter how small, get them checked and don’t ignore anything.

Sending lots of love to all those ladies who have been on this very emotional journey!

How to Care

Nicola Jane — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Helpful hints and tips on how to care for your Nicola Jane bras, swimwear and breast forms

Proper care of your Nicola Jane products will ensure longer wear and support. Our handy guidelines will give you an understanding of how to look after your products to ensure they last as long as possible.

How to Care For Your Bra

Washing By Hand

Although it is a little more time consuming, we recommend hand washing your bras where possible to increase the length of time your bra will last before it starts to lose its shape and support.

Use a delicate hand washing detergent and warm water
Soak for a few minutes then gently work the soap suds into the fabric
Rinse thoroughly
Pat with a towel to remove excess water and leave to dry flat. Ensure that any moulded bras are reshaped. Never wring-dry bras.

Machine Washing

If you do run out of time and need to wash in the washing machine, follow the care instructions below:

Always follow the care label on the bra
Use a lingerie wash bag when washing underwear in a machine. This stops the bras getting tangled with other items of clothes
Select a cold wash and use a delicate washing detergent. Avoid fabric conditioners, they can cause the fabric start to perish prematurely
Fasten the hook and eyes to stop them getting caught on anything
Pat with a towel to remove excess water and leave to dry flat. Ensure that any moulded bras are reshaped.
Never wring-dry or twist the bra to remove water
Never put your bra in the dryer – the heat causes the elastic to breakdown prematurely

Storing your bras carefully will also increase the wear of the bra.

Line your bras up in the drawer as you would find them in a shop.
Do not fold padded bra cups into each other as this will cause them to lose their shape.
Make sure you store your prosthesis in the box that it came in, don’t keep it in the bra pocket when you are not wearing it.

Quick Dos&Don’ts

Hand wash where possible
Use a cold wash setting in the washing machine
Use a lingerie bag when using the washing machine
Fasten the hook and eyes
Pat dry only
Store your bras with care

DON’T

Wring dry
Put in the dryer
Over wash
Use fabric conditioner
Fold padded bra cups into each other
Keep your prosthesis in the bra when not wearing

How to Care For Your Swimwear

Swimwear that has a material mix containing polyamide or elastane have less resilience to the damaging effects of chlorinated and salt water, sunlight, perspiration and even sun creams and oils than styles made from a polyester material. With this in mind it is worth spending a bit more time caring for your swimwear to get the longest wear possible.

Are you a regular swimmer? If so we recommend our Chlorine Resistant collection. These swimsuits are made from our long-lasting fabric that is designed to withstand the damaging effects of chlorine and salt water. They will give you a lot more wear that a elastane based style.

General Tips

Each time you use your swimwear garment make sure you rinse it as soon as possible after use
Wash and dry your bikini and tankini top and bottoms together to ensure equal wear and fade
Hot tubs, Jacuzzis and thalassotherapy pools will reduce the length of time you can wear your swimwear due to the hotter temperatures and chemicals in the water

Washing By Hand

Always rinse by hand and if possible use a mild soap and tap water
Remove all jewellery before hand washing to avoid snagging
Leave to soak for up to an hour
Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water to remove any soap or other residue
Dry out of direct sunlight and ensure it is completely dry before storing

In the Washing Machine

Only wash in a washing machine every 3-4 washes
Place your swimwear garment into a wash bag
Select a cool wash and use mild detergent for delicates or swimwear, ensuring it doesn’t include any bleach
Do not wash with other items
Dry out of direct sunlight and ensure it is completely dry before storing

Quick Dos&Don’ts

Hand wash where possible
Use a cold wash setting in the washing machine
Use a wash bag when using the washing machine
Pat dry only

DON’T

Wring dry
Put in the dryer
Over wash – only use a washing machine every 3-4 washes
Use fabric conditioner
Dry directly in the sun

Enjoy yourself as you don't know what's around the corner'read Amanda's story

Guest Blogger — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Amanda is 54, married to her soulmate, lives in Leicester and loves gardening, reading and walking around the countryside.

Hi I’m Amanda, I’m 54 years old, l live in Leicester and I’m happily married to my soulmate Wayne who I met when I was 17. I work at a printing company, on the shop floor happily making units to go in shop windows. I come from a family of 10 children, 7 girls and 3 boys, and I’m the eighth, so one of the babies. My hobbies are gardening, reading and walking around the countryside.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer on the 22nd November 2019 at the age of 52, it was just a routine mammogram. When I got the letter to go back, I really thought I’d got a cyst, or I was going through the menopause. I thought it was something related to that, so they told me there and then that they suspected it was cancer. They did the biopsy which confirmed it. I was totally shocked and in disbelief. My husband was with me and he took it worse than me and telling my sisters was awful. We are all so close, but as always they were very supportive.
I had a lumpectomy on the 19th December 2019 at Glenfield Hospital. My operation went well and I was home the same day.
I had an appointment on the 24th January 2020 for a check up. They told me the cancer was bigger than they thought. They had taken a lymph node out that was infected which meant I would have to have chemotherapy. I was absolutely devastated, I think I took that worse than being diagnosed. The consultant mentioned they were doing a trial to help women which was called the Posnoc Trial. This means you don’t have to have the rest of your lymph nodes removed. When you have radiotherapy they don’t treat you under the arm. If all lymph nodes are removed, this can cause lymphoedema in so many women. They explained it was risky, but I decided to go ahead and do the trial to help women in the future. I check my breasts, collar bone and neck weekly checking for lumps.
I started chemo on the 5th March 2020 and did the cold cap, as one thing I loved was my bright red hair. Sixteen days later my head felt like it was on fire and sadly all my hair fell out… I never did shave my head.
Chemotherapy is awful and I had a lot of side effects… blood clots in my arm and neck, so had to have injections in my tummy for 6 months. Palmar plantar where my hands and feet blistered, thrush, ulcers in the mouth, dry mouth, body aches and then my finger nails and toe nails dropped off. Infections that left me in hospital meaning my next chemo would be delayed. No one prepared you for all of that. The side effects were never ending.
I finished chemo on the 16th July 2020, they let my husband come in to video me ringing the bell. I rang it so loud and long… the relief of it all! It was also the first time I got to wear my wig.
To have cancer during the Pandemic was horrendous. I had to go to appointments alone, chemo alone, and wear a mask. So, when I was in the chemo suite I couldn’t really talk to anyone.
Then I had my 15 sessions of radiotherapy, and then medication. They tried me on Anastrozole and Letizole but they really made me ache. So now I’m on Tamoxifen, because I’d had blood clots. Tamoxifen is known for that, so still today I have to take blood thinners. My hair started to grow back… first grey, then brown and then came the curls. After a year I dyed it red to make me feel like my old self again.
I made a friend. Her name is Angela and I met her through breast cancer and she had gone through it. She was always there at the end of a phone and always helped me. She introduced me to Sue Young Cancer Support where they have a programme called ‘In The Pink’, run by Michelle Scott Worthington. This is where I met other women who had been through the same experiences. It was an 8 week course where you do something different every week from Pilates, drums, belly dancing, Nordic walking. It was amazing and it helped with getting the movement back in my arms and shoulders. The main thing was it gave me back my confidence. Before the cancer I was outgoing and bubbly, but that changed. I’m not back to how I was but I’m getting there. I’ve also learned about secondary cancer which I always worried about. One lady from the group got secondary cancer and sadly passed away at the New Year, it was just so sad.
So, in August we are doing a charity walk around the Isle of Wight for breast cancer. It’s over 70 miles in 5 days. The walk is with the girls from In The Pink and it’s a challenge, but I’m looking forward to doing it.
My husband is my rock. We have no children so we lived in a little bubble. He is still not over it now. During my treatment he took 7 months off work as he was worried he would catch COVID19 and pass it to me. He took me to hospital but couldn’t come in. He waited in the car park, sometimes up to 5-6 hours. I can never thank him enough.
My future is looking forward to life. Enjoy yourself as you don’t know what’s around the corner. Always be kind as you don’t know what people are going through xx

How the Charity 'The Human Milk Foundation' Kept me Positive by Jane Holgate

Guest Blogger — Weds, 25 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Jane is a mum to two teenage children and found her strength through continued human spirit!

My life was just beginning…
My journey began in March 2020, I had just left a depressing marriage with my teenage children, and was feeling wonderful, as it had taken me a lot of time and effort to plan my exodus. I had a wonderful break away to Bruges the Christmas prior and life was looking very good.

How I was diagnosed
I had started a new job in September 2019 and that year I was called for a mammogram, but did not go as it would have entailed asking my new employer for time off work, so I cancelled it! In the January I started getting shooting pains in my right breast, but did not think much of it, however, the universe kept sending me massive signs! Every time I logged onto Facebook, opened a magazine, turned on the news, there was always something about Breast Cancer. So eventually, I did seek medical advice, and even though we had just gone into lockdown, my doctor saw me straight away and I was soon diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and lymph node cancer in April 2020.

Realisation and acceptance
Well, what an absolute shock this was! I felt that I was being punished in some way for having the audacity to put myself first for once… leaving an unhappy relationship, having stayed to bring up the kids etc. I felt that the whole situation was completely overwhelming. However, once I had got over the first hurdle of the operation, I received through my letterbox a local magazine and an article about the mayors charity, The Human Milk Foundation, which caught my eye. It spoke about how human milk could save premature babies lives and also about young mothers who had been diagnosed with breast cancer and could not naturally feed their babies. Well, I felt bad enough thinking about my life span being shortened with grown up children, how on earth must these young mothers feel! They were asking for help from the community, so I did not hesitate in picking up the phone.

Human spirit
From then on in, the lovely ladies at the charity included me within their small team and their continued positive attitudes to life rubbed off on me! As well as learning about all the amazing work that they do, I also learned that some mothers who had lost their babies, donated their milk to help other babies thrive. The human spirit is an absolutely amazing thing, and focusing my efforts on helping in some small way, I know this kept my spirits high. I found the strength to get through all my chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment, and I continue to help today.

Feeling thankful
I am now two years down the line. Unfortunately, I had to have a second mastectomy as a precaution. Due to an infection following a reconstruction, I have made the decision to go without any further operations, as one needs to focus on life's blessings! I have two great children, good friends, a roof over my head, a life full of opportunities, and oh yes, one more thing… the universe has my back!

"By luck I found Nicola Jane on the internet".. read more of Fiona's story:

Guest Blogger — Tues, 17 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Fiona is a 54 year old Mum of two son's. She loves making her home sparkle, loves her designer outfits and her chihuahua Rosie!
My name is Fiona Larking a 54 year old lady from Kent. I have two sons, Tom 29 and Matt 27 and live with my partner Monte. I work in a GP practice as a receptionist /administrator.
I have always looked after myself and like to appear well dressed and fashionable, so found it difficult to accept I had cancer, especially as it doesn’t run in the family. I have spent all my time devoted to my boys who are my biggest achievement in life… my family are my everything! I love well-made designer bags, shoes, clothes and love Chanel skincare and make up. Love sparkles in my home! I am caring in nature, will always help anyone where I can and love to shop and help plan an outfit. That’s me summed up!

I also try to do my bit to raise some money for Breast Cancer Now charity, as this really helped me to understand breast cancer and to move forward. I have arranged several tea and cake afternoons and Wear it Pink Days.

Things got hard when I parted from my husband who’d been my best friend since I was 15. My youngest son was 5 with type one diabetes and my eldest was 8. We worked together for a few years until he re -married and things then changed. I was on my own! My first experience of cancer (cervical) came at a terrible time. Tom my eldest son was trying to get into a school of his choice. My now closest friend, and then headteacher of his primary school, had to attend an appeal to plead our case, as I was in hospital having my procedure. I think because of the cancer they let him in.

Several years passed until 2018 when abnormal cells were found again. As I was only young at the time of the first diagnosis, they didn’t do the radical hysterectomy that was initially planned but, did warn me this may be the case in the future. That day had come! It was all scheduled.
October is Breast cancer awareness month with all the pink stories and self-check adverts. I have to be honest I didn’t ever check! I’d decided it wouldn’t get me as I’d had my bad luck. How wrong could I be?!

By this time, I was working full time for an energy company and organised my leave at work for surgery. Whilst watching Loose Women on the morning of my last day at work, when we were all going out for a meal, I thought I’d just have a look and noticed the nipple on my left breast looked a little flat to one side. I thought old age again as I’m now 51, but the advice on tv did say nipple changes, so that made me think. I had cellulite looking skin under both breasts, but both my sister and mum told me ‘oh that’s what happens when you grow older!’ That same evening, I called my local GP and the receptionist who I’ve known for years told me to come in immediately, but I turned her down as I was on the way to a meal but said I would get it checked another time. During the meal I mentioned it to my friend and she said, ‘it’s probably nothing but please check it out’.
I planned to do this the next week, when I didn’t have a lot on. But the next morning the receptionist at my doctors called me again and the nurse said she would have a quick look. So I rang work and said I’d be late.

From this day my life would never be the same again! The doctor took one look and told me he would be making an immediate referral. ‘But I’m having a hysterectomy on Friday!’ I exclaimed. He said this may be more important. I called my sister who told me we needed to phone KIMS, our nearest private hospital in Maidstone. They gave me an appointment the next day.

The consultant I saw looked at me and said ‘you did the absolute right thing by coming here today, this looks highly suspicious I’m afraid’ and sent me off for a scan, mammogram, biopsy, etc. It was lobular breast cancer, which I later learned cannot be detected as there is no lump and is not always detectable on a mammogram, as I’d had the year before which showed nothing.
I was in shock and I think I said, ‘but I have a hysterectomy booked for Friday and a holiday to Greece scheduled after’. She politely said, ‘I’m sorry but I don’t think either will be happening,‘ and set up a meeting with my gyne consultant who called me the next day.

This consultant told me the hysterectomy would need to be put on hold, the breast cancer had to take precedence, as this was far worse than abnormal cells. This really worried me! What if it had spread? Would I have to have chemo? I didn’t want chemo as although my hair is short and fine, it was MINE!
I did say, ‘can’t you just cut this out and then reconstruct me?’ I’d researched it, but she looked at me and said, ‘no we try to avoid that as we try to shrink tumours first before any major operations.’ Ok, well that’s that then. As the price of the consultations were £2k I had to move to NHS. My lovely breast cancer nurse said I will keep in touch, but you will be given a new one. The treatment was completely different!!

I went along to every appointment supported by my family. I cannot tell you how many scans and needles, too many to remember. But I had real hair wigs made by my lovely hairdresser friend and my head was in a good place to deal with the next bit.
My next appointment was to get my chemo plan. It was a 9am appointment, my consultant rocked up at 10 am or so, so I’d been agonising already for an hour. She then said, ‘So I have all the results, it’s too big for chemo so I will write to you with a date for a mastectomy and although it’s not showing in your lymph nodes, we will take a biopsy to be sure, ok?’ Er no actually, I looked at my sister and partner who were crying, ‘So I’m losing my whole breast?’ She then ushered me into the room next door where I met my new nurse. My first words to her were spoken in anger. I said I didn’t want to lose my hair, but I’d got my head round that eventuality and now I’ll lose something that won’t grow back. She replied, ‘I think you are being very unfair.’ I’ll never forget this. I’d not cried until this point.

After a few more appointments I asked about reconstruction and was given a few options, but not straight after the operation as it was likely I’d need radiotherapy, but was shown what a scar may look like (mine did not!) and a softie! My heart literally sank! The biopsy revealed I had HER2 - E+ and was stage 3. So, the operation was scheduled on the 6th December 2018 when a full left breast mastectomy took place. Sore, but I was alive and thought I was on the mend. On Christmas Eve of 2018, I was asked to come in again as the mastectomy had revealed the tumour was much bigger than the scans had shown and it had in fact gone into 5 lymph nodes.
Another operation planned in January 2019. This journey wasn’t finishing anytime soon.

On the morning of the scheduled operation, I got a call to say due to unforeseen circumstances it had been cancelled! Another type of emotion to deal with!
I waited and waited but no re-scheduled appointment was offered. I was told initially it needed be within a certain time scale as nodes can spread, so I rang the medical secretary to find my consultant had gone on holiday and the secretary had left. I then called PALS, what do I do? I eventually got a phone call from my consultant who told me she’d be back next week and I wasn’t to worry! Really?! I did get an appointment for 14th February, which resulted in full clearance of my lymph nodes. My follow up showed it had affected 9 nodes and some micro cells. I felt concerned about the delay but was reassured this wouldn’t cause a problem. I lost confidence after this, but again grateful the cancer had gone. The consultant then went on to say I’d need chemo or radiotherapy and adjuvant treatment. I thought well, is this nightmare ever going to end as I’m now losing my hair and breast!

I then saw a lovely oncologist who said as I’m HER2 - ER+. I would benefit from intense radiotherapy for 3-4 weeks followed by adjuvant treatment of Femara Letraxole with Chemo being an option. This was followed by a stream of statistics! All I remember is thinking, I’m not giving up my hair for a 2% chance of killing a stray cell, so I declined the chemo. My sister and partner agreed that what I’d get out if it didn’t outweigh the side effects.
The only problem now was due to the clearance, which caused cording, I could not move my arm enough to get in the radiotherapy machine! A lovely physiotherapist worked on me every day for a week! It gave me just enough movement to raise my arm.

A month later I rang the bell. I had counselling which I really benefitted from. I had been asked several times during my journey if I needed to work. I had NO financial help apart from £200 from MacMillan, so my partner generously cashed in a pension to help me. I did realise from the counselling that stress has a big part to play when you are unwell, especially with something like cancer and my job was very stressful and tiring.
So, I sat down with my son’s girlfriend and said the one job that I’d really like to do would be something within the NHS where I could help someone else and be that smile you receive when you get to reception (which I didn’t always get on my journey). I was so lucky to get a job within a local doctors practice with part time hours and an amazing team of people to work with, and my Rosie chihuahua who keeps me sane every day! I had continuing physio for over a year to help get my movement back, but am now left with a sewn together patch of bulkiness, when a tight, badly fitting bra can cause numb fingers and an achy arm…would you believe!
I am lucky to now belong to a lovely spa hotel and try to swim and also a little gym work to help.

I am now in my third year, but during the three years clear I have had lung pneumonia due to covid. I passed out and hit my face on the pavement, cracked my cheek bone and had a bruised face for weeks and as I’m writing this blog, I now have cellulitis to my face! A day in hospital and was told as I’m high risk secondary (which I’d already been told by my consultant) and a brain scan will always need to be done to check with any pain going forwards. As I’ve had terrible headaches and flu like symptoms, this is now a trauma point that cancer could return to. As I’ve said previously, I can hide my scars but not my face, so have struggled a bit but I’m still smiling as I do every day and trying to be ME…the now new me! I still haven’t had the hysterectomy, but have said I’ll follow up all my appointments, but just no more operations if it’s still at bay. I want to enjoy my job and my life for as long as I have it.

The reason I wrote to Nicola Jane is not only do we all have a story to tell of our journeys but we are women, who need to feel good about ourselves and for good mental health. I’ve struggled up until now to find MATCHING sets that are pretty. I’ve always been embarrassed of my ugly nonmatching post-surgery underwear up until now. At M&S the choice of mastectomy underwear is now even more limited, with no matching items. My favourite stores, such as Ted Baker don’t even cater for post-surgery underwear and yet the number of breast cancer patients increases each year. So, a massive thank you, finally a place to go for all my lingerie! I love the T-shirt bras and the floral Liberty I was sent from Nicola Jane is beautiful. I now need a good fitting prothesis so that will be my next mission.

It’s nice to see photos of ladies modelling the bras, as it’s quite disheartening to see a lovely lady with both breasts, as I would not look the same. I was advised not to have reconstruction as I have a dip in my chest, and it would be too invasive as I’d need a few operations to re-build a C/D cup breast. So, I’m trying to make the most of what I have! By luck I found Nicola Jane on the internet. I will most certainly promote this in any way I can. I’m so very grateful to be able to share my story (having read those of some of the amazing ladies you’ve featured). I’d like to also add that although my journey was very up and down, I have since been treated with much kindness by our lovely but very stretched NHS and will always be grateful.

Good health and luck to you all x
Fiona Larking

Meet Jennifer

Guest Blogger — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Meet Jen - she is 39 year old mum-of-two, living in Leicestershire. She was diagnosed just a few weeks before the pandemic hit and the lockdown started. Read more about Jen's inspirational journey to recovery:

Tell us a little bit about yourself:

I am from Hexham in Northumberland but live in Markfield in Leicestershire after moving to Leicester for university 20 years ago. I am 39 years old and live with my husband Lee and 2 sons; Odin, 8 and Callen 4. I am a Qualified Teacher of the Deaf, which is a job I love. In my spare time I enjoy sewing, crochet, running, Pilates and day trips with my family.

Your Diagnosis:

I first saw my GP, straight after discovering a lump, in July 2019 when I was 37. I was told it was nothing to worry about and to ‘get to know my body’. I took the doctor’s word for this, but still wasn’t comfortable with the lump.

I eventually went back to the GP in January 2020 and was referred for investigation, for reassurance. Two weeks later, on 10^th February 2020 I went to the breast care centre, where again I was told my lump felt like nothing of concern, but they would do an ultrasound just to be sure.

The radiographer then very quickly said she would need to send me for a mammogram. I had been so assured there was nothing to worry about that I said, ‘why, can you not see what you are looking for?’ - she very bluntly replied that she could see what she was looking for and it she didn’t like what she could see. I had gone to the hospital by myself (before you had to go by yourself) and had fully intended to go straight to work afterwards. Instead, I was sent for a mammogram, then went back to the first radiographer for a biopsy, she showed me my mammogram and said “if that was me, I’d want a mastectomy”.

A complete shock, when 30 minutes earlier I had been told it felt like a cyst and it would all be ok... My lymph nodes were also swollen on the ultrasound. I will always wonder, but will never know, if the GP had referred me when I first went, would it have not spread to my lymph nodes. It was such an unbelievable shock, all I could think about was my boys, then 3 and 7, and how they were too young to lose their mummy.

The time after your diagnosis and getting used to a new routine:

I live 200 miles from my parents so had to tell them over Facetime, which was awful but not as hard as telling my children. I waited until I had the results of the body scan and biopsy so we knew exactly what we were dealing with before telling them.

The book, ‘Mummy’s Lump’ which was given to me by my breast care nurse, but is from Breast Cancer Now, really helped with explaining everything to them.

My work were great, and my team leader always made it clear that I was more important than work. I was told straight away that I couldn’t work through chemo as I work with children, so we decided we would get through by making the most of my time off (my husband is a stay-at-home dad during the week), going out for lunch, I would be able to do the school run, just little things that would make it all more bearable.

The treatment and surgery:

My dad brought my mum down to stay, and help out with the children, on March 15^th, intending to come back and see me the following weekend – (I didn’t see him again until November when I saw him for 2 hours in a park and my mum ended up locked down with us for 3 months).

I had a single mastectomy on March 17^th 2020. Being in hospital on the brink of the first lockdown was weird – the nurses were all obsessively taking their own temperatures and talking in hushed tones about the students being fast tracked onto the Covid wards.

My planned recovery of lunches out and day trips were replaced by my children being at home 24/7 and there being nowhere to go! But also with the looming panic of knowing I needed chemotherapy and would then be made vulnerable to Covid-19, all while feeling really well! I think having the children at home really helped to get me through as there wasn’t time to dwell on things but I also think it stopped me from processing what I was going through. My husband works at Asda at weekends and they were brilliant, giving him time off while I had to shield, and meant he was able to make me breakfast in bed everyday!

I met a lady called Janette while I had my surgery and we supported each other throughout the rest of our treatment.

I started 6 sessions of chemotherapy in May, which was horrible but probably not as bad as I had envisaged it being, despite being hospitalised twice with neutropenic sepsis – plus it got me out of the house, and gave me someone outside of my four walls to talk to – who would have ever thought chemo would become me time? I finished chemo in September and then had 15 rounds of radiotherapy in October – I wore a different pair of high heels for every session! Treating myself to a new pair for the last day, when I rang the bell, and also a new pair that never went anywhere near the hospital!

Was there a charity that supported you?

The Osborne Trust were amazing – they are a charity that support children who have a parent with cancer – in normal times they provide days out for the children, usually with a family friend or relative from outside of the home to give all adults in the household a break. During lockdown, Emma quickly evolved her support, and sent out toys, colouring books and special Ozzy Elephants for my boys. (They also have a fabulous book called ‘Mummy’s got a poorly’ which helps explain cancer to small children, which the MacMillan Centre gave me). I didn’t expect anything more from them, but as things started to open up Emma got back in touch and arranged a day out at a local farm for my husband and children.

I have also received counselling from a local charity – Sue Young Cancer Support. And I have been incredibly lucky to get a place on an amazing Pilates programme ran by Michelle Scott-Worthington, called In The Pink. It is especially for anyone who has had breast cancer surgery and has really helped get the full range of movement back in my shoulder.

Covid-19 and going through cancer treatment…

Going through cancer during Covid was incredibly lonely – support groups, make up lessons and wig fittings were not on, you couldn’t go near people to have proper conversations and everyone was wearing masks which just make chatting so much harder, so not only could you not see your friends and family but you couldn’t really make new friends either. In The Pink has given me the opportunity to meet a brilliant group of ladies, and Janette came with me too.

I finished my treatment on October 30^th and at the time spent a lot of time worrying about a recurrence or a secondary cancer developing – counselling helped with this, but so did going back to work in January. It gave me something else to think about and reminded me of the capable person I was before cancer. I marked a year since chemo started with a tattoo. The fairy dust is Morse code for f*%$ cancer. I also wear Alive by Hugo Boss everyday now.

Any tips for other women going through this diagnosis?

I would really recommend that anyone going through treatment reads ‘why I wore lipstick to my mastectomy’ by Geralyn Lucas, which broke me and built me back up again, and the recently released book, ‘The Cancer Ladies’ Running Club’ by Josie Lloyd. They both really helped to validate the feelings I was having and made me laugh and cry!

Do you have any exciting plans for the next few months?

I really wanted to go on an amazing, life affirming holiday when I completed my treatment. Instead, I celebrated getting my second Covid jab with a trip to M&S food. Percy Pigs will do for now but I am really hoping to go whale watching somewhere (anywhere!!) next year.

I am also planning a mastectomy tattoo for my 40^th birthday next year as I am 95% sure I don’t want reconstructive surgery – I just want to get on with my life, not spend it recovering from surgery I don’t need to have but I know everyone feels differently about this and completely understand people who do want the surgery – it would be lovely to look at dresses and not have to think, ‘oh, I can’t wear that neckline...’.

That is one of the reasons I love Nicola Jane – I don’t have to look and think ‘that’s nice but I could never wear it’, as I can wear anything they sell. I love my Active Flow sports prosthesis, but my favourite product is the Cami Lace Tie-In so I can still wear some lower cut clothes!

Why did you decide to share your story?

I wanted to share my story because I was so scared when I got diagnosed, and genuinely thought I would never feel properly happy ever again. I want people to know that there is life after cancer, and it doesn’t always occupy your every waking thought.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I just want to say a big thank you to the breast care nurses at Glenfield Hospital for giving me the Nicola Jane catalogue!

'The Cancer Ladies' Running Club' by Josie Lloyd

Guest Blogger — Mon, 10 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introducing Josie Lloyd - she is a best-selling author, based in Brighton. She has just released her newest book 'The Cancer Ladies' Running Club', inspired by her own Breast Cancer diagnosis in 2017.

Getting to know you:

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Josie Lloyd and I’m an author based in Brighton. I’m 51 and a mum to three girls, aged 20, 17 and 14 and happily married to Emlyn Rees, who I met when we wrote a novel together back in 1999 called Come Together. We’ve since written 6 more novels together and lots of parodies of our favourite children’s books, including We’re Going On A Bar Hunt, The Very Hungover Caterpillar and The Teenager Who Came to Tea. I’m a full-time author, writing as Joanna Rees and Josie Lloyd and I like running and swimming in the sea.

What is a normal day for you?

I wake early and quite often I get up and write my 1000 words in my dressing gown before I’ve done anything else. Whatever happens, I always do a qi gong practise for 15 minutes outside my study door – also in my dressing gown (the kids think I’m really eccentric!). I got into qi gong, which is like Chinese yoga after going through breast cancer treatment. One of the things that shocked me most is that I’d got cancer on my watch. I realised that I wasn’t really in the habit of checking in with myself, so now I do a daily routine which is very meditative and mindful. It’s about marrying the breath, the mind and the movement and checking in and setting a positive intention for the day. At about half eight, Emlyn and I walk the dog along the seafront, or go for a run in the downs and then I sit down and write. Emlyn and I have been working at home together for over 20 years, so lockdown was just normal for us! We work in separate studies but meet for cups of tea and a natter during the day. I often go with a gang of women to swim in the sea at lunchtime, which I love. We swim all year round. Even in the snow. When the kids come back from school, I hang out with them for a bit and walk the dog again. We’re always talking about what we’re planning to eat for supper. Emlyn and I love cooking, so our family meal in the evening is always a highlight of the day.

What do you do for fun?

I love cooking and entertaining friends, as well as going to restaurants. We’re really lucky where we live as Brighton has amazing places to eat. I love films and binge-watching shows and reading, of course. I always have at least three books on the go. I also love singing and playing the piano. I play duets with my friend and I’m always the first to kick off the kitchen disco. My sea swimming is a big thing for me.

What have you got planned in the next year?

There’s always a massive to-do list, mainly involving getting around to sorting out various bits of the house – the promised loft clear-out and decorating the bathroom. I have missed travelling and in particular going to our house in Mallorca. We usually decamp there for the summer, but it hasn’t been possible in lock down. I’m finishing my next book about sea swimming which will be out next year and I’m hoping to write another book with Emlyn, so it’s busy on the work front. I’m never one for planning too far in advance. Every time I’ve booked a big holiday in the last five years, it’s had to be cancelled for one reason or another, so I don’t tend to plan ahead, but enjoy the day to day.

Unusual/fun fact about yourself?

I do a qi gong routine every morning without fail. Also, I can play any tune on the recorder (after a glass of wine or two!)

Biggest achievement in life to date?

That’s a hard one. I have written lots of books, but I’d say my relationship with Emlyn and all we’ve achieved together is the thing that means the most.

How would you describe yourself in three words?

Funny, kind, energetic.

How have you kept yourself busy during the lockdown?

The same as normal – writing books. It’s been slightly harder without being able go out to the pub when we get ‘cabin fever’. I’ve also done all the clichés like making sourdough bread, growing tomatoes and learning Spanish on Duolingo. Our eldest daughter was home from Uni, so actually, for me as a Mum, having all my girls around was a bit of a blessing. I know lockdown was really hard for a lot of people, but we were lucky enough to all stay well and we had a lovely time together.

You are about to launch your newest book ‘The Cancer Ladies’ Running Club’ – tell us a bit more about this.

This book came about because in 2017 I was diagnosed with breast cancer after a routine scan and it came as a terrible shock. I hated feeling labelled as a cancer victim, as if everything that defined me had been swept away in a heartbeat. Help came in the form of a running club, when Ros, a mum at the school gates and a fitness instructor suggested that I join her group of women who were all going through cancer treatment. As soon as I met them, I knew I’d found my tribe.

After the whole thing was over and I was restored back to health, I really wanted to write a book – a novel – about what it feels like to be diagnosed with breast cancer and how a diagnosis can affect a person and that’s when Keira’s story and The Cancer Ladies’ Running Club was born.

It’s a positive and uplifting tale featuring women, who, like me are not just surviving cancer, but positively thriving on the other side. It’s a novel that tells the truth, but also hopefully does some debunking about this subject that affects us all. Most of all though, it’s a novel about the power of friendship.

Your diagnosis and surgery:

When were you diagnosed with breast cancer?

I was so incredibly lucky to be called up for a voluntary mammogram as part of a pilot programme to test women under 50 in December 2016. I was diagnosed formally after my second scan in January 2017

How old were you?

I was 47

What type of surgery did you have?

A full mastectomy on the left side followed by 6 rounds of chemo and a month of radiotherapy.

Can you tell us a bit about how you felt when you first found out? - What was your first thought/worry?

I had begged the radiologist to tell me what she could see when she was scanning me for the biopsy. She told me that she couldn’t tell me until the tests came back, but I said I’d rather know - and she told me she thought it was cancer. I’d asked for it, of course, but leaving a writer with an over-active imagination with the word ‘cancer’ wasn’t great. For a whole week, I could hardly sleep and had convinced myself I was going to die, so by the time the actual diagnosis of grade 2 lobular breast cancer came at my next appointment, I was actually relieved. My biggest fear was not being around to see my kids growing up, but I quickly realised that my breast cancer diagnosis was not the worst thing that could happen to me. It hadn’t happened when I was trying to breast feed my babies and it hadn’t happened to one of my kids. I knew it was going to be tough, but that I would get through it.

Who did you turn to when you first found out and who helped you the most throughout?

My husband, Emlyn was the first person I called and he had my back throughout. He was my total rock. My sister, Catherine was also amazing.

Was there anything/anyone that helped you through your treatment?

Yes, my friends – my old friends, who were there for me and treated me as me, but also my new running friends. I felt they really understood what I was going through and how I felt. One of the things I found was that people expected me to be really serious, but my instinct was to laugh about it. I liked the gallows humour I shared with the running girls. They didn’t take it too seriously and made me feel normal.

Having been through your journey if your present self could give your past self, advice on something you will experience during the time from diagnosis until now what would it be?

That you will get better and that you will feel fantastic on the other side and to keep hopeful. There’s so much fear around cancer and the idea that it might come back, but it’s important, once you’ve been given the all-clear, to choose to be well and to not let the spectre of cancer rule your life. To be very honest, I actually don’t think a mid-life shake up was a bad thing for me. I am living my life in a much more mindful and happy way now.

Do you have an inspirational story to share with other ladies?

Yes, it’s the story that inspired my novel and is so close to my heart.

When I joined the running group, I went down one week and there was a reporter there from the local paper. ‘It’s so good you’re doing the Brighton marathon 10K,’ he said. ‘The what?’ I asked Ros, the leader, stunned. ‘Oh, didn’t I tell you, this is the training group?’ she said cheekily.

I didn’t think I could do it, but on a clear April day, I decided to give it a whirl and to run the race with my gang. It was just before my 3rd chemo and all my hair had fallen out. I was soon very hot and breathless and slowing down, but then all these runners kept running past me. ‘Keep going,’ one shouted. ‘I’m clear five years.’ Then a woman in a Cancer Research vest, called, ‘I’m clear three years! Keep going.’

On and on the messages came, spurring me on and I felt so inspired and supported. And then this one runner ran beside me. She was the picture of health and told me that she’d run all through her treatment and to keep going.

To my surprise, she’d waited for me on the last turn of the race. She told me to stop and said she wanted to tell me something. We walked together for a bit and she said that when she’d been going through her treatment and had been at her lowest ebb, she’d been in the hospital café and a woman had come over to her and said she knew exactly how she felt. This woman had said not to give up hope that her life would be better than ever the other side of cancer. She’d then taken off the pretty little butterfly pendant necklace she’d been wearing and given it to the runner telling her it was a ‘little butterfly of hope’.

The runner told me that she’d been wearing the necklace for three years and it was now time to pass it on. She it off and put it around my neck and told me it was now my little ‘butterfly of hope’ and not to give up. We had a hug and a few tears and then she was off. I didn’t ever find out her name.

I’ve worn my little butterfly necklace every day since – a little talisman to remind me of that extraordinary life-affirming moment. And one day soon, I hope to pass it on too. In the meantime, I’m delighted that my friend Alice, who runs the jeweller Posh Totty Designs has made a little ‘butterfly of hope’ necklace inspired by my story and necklace and they’re now available for people to buy, with the proceeds going to charity.

Do you have any post-surgery styling tips?

Always wear clothes that make you feel good. Buy dresses and tops that flatter your shape and throw out everything that reminds you of going through cancer treatment, especially all your old underwear. Embrace the new you.

Any advice for other ladies who have or had breast cancer?

Be kind to yourself and love the skin you’re in. Be proud of your battle scars and celebrate what an amazing thing your body is, with its astonishing capacity for healing.

You and Nicola Jane:

How Has Wearing Nicola Jane Lingerie Made You Feel/ What Do You Like About Nicola Jane?

The most depressing thing about getting breast cancer was feeling that I could never wear pretty underwear again. The first time I went into town to try and find a post-mastectomy bra, I came back crying. I didn’t want to wear a flesh-coloured monstrosity. I rang up Nicola Jane and the lady on the phone was so kind and so understanding and when the order came through, I was amazed by how pretty it was and well designed. I couldn’t tell it was any different to ‘normal’ underwear. I like the fact that the models in the catalogue are real people and the products are true to size and so well made. They last brilliantly.

Do you have a favourite Nicola Jane product?

The swimwear is amazing. Since I swim in the sea year-round and I’m always to be found rocking a Nicola Jane one piece! The fit is fantastic.

I love to hear from readers and can be found on Instagram @josielloydwriter and on twitter @josielloydbooks and I have an @JosieLloydWriter Facebook page

Support for the Financial Effects of Cancer

Guest Blogger — Weds, 24 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Macmillan Welfare Rights Service at Citizens Advice in West Sussex (North, South and East) have put together a list of financial advice and support options that are available for people struggling due to cancer.

When you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with cancer, money might not be one of the first things you think about. However if you’re not able to work, this can affect your income and lead to stress and worry. You may also have unexpected costs, like travel costs to hospital, or extra childcare.

Help is available if you’re worried about how your finances may be affected, or you’re struggling to cope financially.

The Macmillan Welfare Rights Service at Citizens Advice in West Sussex (North, South, East) offers free, confidential benefits advice to people living in West Sussex who are affected by cancer, and their families and carers. The team can help ease financial worries and make a huge difference to your mental wellbeing. They can also help you with some practical issues including applying for a Blue Badge.

All advice is free, confidential, independent and impartial.

If you’d like to speak with an adviser, you can ask your hospital to refer you. You can also contact the team directly:

Call 01903 532234
Email macmillanbenefits@westsussexcab.org.uk

If you would like a video appointment with one of our advisers, please let us know and we can arrange this.

Is there any help for me and my family if I can’t work after breast cancer treatment?

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

This is paid by your employer. It is not means-tested and many employees are entitled to it – you can receive this for up to 28 weeks. At the time of writing, it is worth just under £96 per week when you are signed off sick. You must follow your employer’s sickness absence reporting procedures, so check your contract.

Read more about SSP at the Citizens Advice website: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/rights-at-work/sick-pay/check-if-youre-entitled-to-sick-pay/

Claiming benefits

Navigating the benefits system can be confusing especially if you are claiming benefits for the first time. Citizens Advice’s Macmillan Welfare Rights team can help you to understand what you may be eligible for, and support you with your application.

You can also use an online benefit calculator: Citizens Advice has one here.

Are all benefits means-tested?

No. Also, owning your own home doesn’t mean you’re not eligible.

Benefits that aren’t means-tested include New-Style Employment Support Allowance. You may be eligible if you’ve paid enough National Insurance Contributions in the last 2-3 years.

If you’re finding it hard to look after yourself, you may also be eligible for a disability benefit such as Personal Independence Payment or Attendance Allowance. You do not need to have a carer to be eligible; please contact the Macmillan Welfare Rights team to find out more.

Means-tested benefits

Some benefits are means-tested, and this means that your eligibility will depend on your income and savings. These may be instead of, or in addition to, the benefits we have mentioned above.

Universal Credit is means-tested. It is a newer benefit which combines most working-age means-tested benefits into one monthly benefit.

Please get advice before claiming Universal Credit.

If you are already receiving (or you’ve recently been receiving) an ‘old system’ benefit* such as Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), please get advice before you claim Universal Credit. It might not be the right benefit for you and it may mean your income goes down. Once you have claimed Universal Credit, it can be very difficult (if not impossible) to get back onto old-system benefits.*

*Old-system benefits - such as income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit or Tax Credits.

Other support

Some means-tested benefits give you access to other kinds of help including:

the cost of prescriptions
travel expenses for NHS treatment
dental costs
wigs

NHS Low Income Scheme

If you don’t qualify for a means-tested benefit you may still qualify for help through the NHS Low Income Scheme. You can find more information here:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/nhs-low-income-scheme-lis/

Support for paying your Council Tax

There is discretionary support from your Local Authority to help you pay your Council Tax, if you are eligible.

If you are receiving a means-tested benefit like Housing Benefit, the housing element of Universal Credit and/or Council Tax Reduction and you are struggling to pay your rent or Council Tax, you can ask your local authority for extra financial help by applying for Discretionary Housing and Council Tax Payments.

You should be able to find an application form on your Local Authority website, or just ring them up and ask for an application form.

How quickly can I get help?

Some benefits can take a number of weeks or even months to be paid. If you are worried about your immediate finances please contact the Macmillan Welfare Rights team at Citizens Advice for support.

Statutory Sick Pay is paid by your employer at the same time as you would normally get your salary, so there is unlikely to be any disruption as long as you follow the correct procedures.

For help with budgeting, there is an online budget calculator at the Citizens Advice website: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/budgeting/budgeting/work-out-your-budget/

Can I get help with food or paying for fuel costs in my home?

Please contact Citizens Advice if you need help with emergency food or fuel:

Phone Adviceline: 0808 278 7969 (free)

Email or web chat: www.advicewestsussex.org.uk/contact-us/

If you live in the Arun and Chichester area, please visit https://www.arunchichestercab.org.uk/

During the pandemic, you may be able to get support with food and medicine from the West Sussex County Council Community Coronavirus Hub.

Charitable Grants

Some charities, like Macmillan Cancer Support, have grant schemes for extra expenses caused by cancer. Each charity has its own eligibility criteria and any payments are made at the discretion of the particular charity.

Talk to the Macmillan Welfare Rights team and find out what you may be eligible for.

If you have a mortgage

Please contact the Macmillan Welfare Benefits team at Citizens Advice to chat about your options.

If you are struggling to pay your mortgage, check whether you took out insurance cover, like Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance, to help make the monthly payments if you need to take time off work. Speak to your mortgage company, to see if they can give you a temporary payment break. There is more information on the Citizens Advice website: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/mortgage-problems/how-to-sort-out-your-mortgage-problems/how-to-deal-with-mortgage-debts/.

State help with mortgage interest costs – called “Support for Mortgage Interest” - is very limited –and there is usually a 9-month waiting period.

Please note that help is given in the form of a loan secured against your property, and this must be repaid with interest, when the house is sold – so it may not be your best option.

What do I do if I get into debt?

Get advice from a non-profit charity that is authorised and regulated by the FCA, e.g. Citizens Advice, StepChange, National Debtline, Christians Against Poverty, or PayPlan (a private company, but their advice is free). For the self-employed there is also Business Debtline.

Contact the Macmillan Welfare Rights team at Citizens Advice in West Sussex (North, South, East):

Ask your hospital to refer you, or get in touch with the team directly:

Call 01903 532234
Email macmillanbenefits@westsussexcab.org.uk

(Please note: all information is correct at the time of writing (December 2020), but may become out of date. This includes any financial amounts referred to below. Please contact Citizens Advice in West Sussex (North, South, East)’s Macmillan Welfare Rights team directly if you need support.)

Meet Kathleen

Guest Blogger — Thurs, 18 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introducing Kathleen - she is a 74-year old retired senior nurse manager and loves to go for an early morning swim. First diagnosed in 1993, and wants to give other ladies the motivation to 'keep battling'!

Getting to know you:

Tell us a bit about yourself

I am a 74-year-old retired senior nurse manager and have been happily married to my husband, Hans, for 52 years now. We also have a son who is married with two teenage children, living in New Zealand.

What is a normal day for you?

A normal day for me begins with a shower followed by a visit to my local swimming pool where I meet up with other swimmers for the ‘Early Bird’ 6.45am pool session and I swim 80 lengths of the pool five mornings a week. Back home I tidy the house and prepare our evening dinner. I do chores every day and as I am retired sometimes meet friends for coffee or lunch. I often walk the mile into town to do small errands or visit the library.

What do you do for fun? Any interests or hobbies?

My interests and hobbies include reading, gardening and different active activities such as walking, swimming and tandem caravanning. I also love to travel the world!

How have you kept yourself busy during the lockdown?

I have kept myself busy during lockdown by maintaining close and regular contact with my son, David, his wife, Debbie and my grandchildren Emily and Matthew in New Zealand via face time, letters, e-mails and telephone conversations along with other family members and friends both here in Britain and abroad. Sadly the International Mini Meeting due to be held in Germany in May was cancelled as well as other travel plans including the Vietnam and Cambodia cruise which was to culminate in a visit to NZ to see our beloved family and friends there. However, my husband and I made the most of the lockdown period by painting the garden gates, workshop, children’s tree house, summer house and Samuel the tortoises’ travelling pen for when he next accompanies us on our caravan trips. The usual gardening, home maintenance, reading and crossword puzzles has also kept me occupied and I have been able to keep up my connections with, and support of the Brooke Animal Hospital, the local Hospice and Cancer Research organisations.

Have you got any exciting plans for 2021? (obviously hoping that the current Covid-19 situation will improve)

My plans – Covid-19 permitting - is to continue to take breaks away in our touring caravan which restarted on 4 July 2020 when the sites reopened for business and we are currently considering travels to foreign regions when allowed. What I am truly looking forward to is undergoing a total hip replacement before the end of the year. Unfortunately, this procedure has been cancelled twice due to the pandemic so, along with thousands of other people in similar circumstances, I am in the ‘what cannot be cured, must be endured’ brigade! But Hey, Ho, onward and upward! I am looking forward to preparing the garden for the start of spring.

Unusual/fun fact about yourself?

A fun fact about myself is that I enjoy entertaining friends to a home cooked lunch or dinner with wine and I love a good conversation.

Biggest achievement in life to date?

My biggest achievement in life to date is that I have created, with my husband, a safe, secure and happy home environment in which to raise our son, David. I think this has resulted in him continuing this ethos within his own family life. I also consider it an achievement to have had a successful 47-year career working in the National Health Service.

How would you describe yourself in three words?

In three words I would describe myself as conscientious, reliable and (according to my husband) loving.

Your diagnosis and surgery:

When were you diagnosed with breast cancer?

I was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993.

How old were you?

I was 46 years old when I was diagnosed.

What type of surgery did you have?

Initially, I had a right sided radical mastectomy and axillary clearance later followed by a left sided lumpectomy and removal of my ovaries having been diagnosed with BRCA 1 and 2 genes.

Can you tell us a bit about how you felt when you first found out? - What was your first thought/worry?

When I first found out I had breast cancer my first thought was that of relief as I had initially been wrongly diagnosed and my case had not been followed up. I knew instinctively that I needed further investigation and once the diagnosis had been confirmed I felt confident that I would be treated appropriately and hoped for a good outcome.

Who did you turn to when you first found out and who helped you the most throughout?

When it was confirmed that I had breast cancer I told no-one apart from my husband as we had planned an immanent special wedding anniversary celebration and I didn’t want family and friends concerning themselves with my health rather than enjoying the party as nothing could be done about the situation at that moment in time.

Was there anything/anyone that helped you through your treatment?

What helped me through my chemotherapy treatment was keeping busy with everyday activities and appreciating the unfailing support of my husband, family, work colleagues and friends.

Having been through your journey if your present self could give your past self, advice on something you will experience during the time from diagnosis until now what would it be?

If my present-self could give my past-self advice on something I would experience during the time from diagnosis until now, it would be ‘Keep Battling’!!!

Do you have an inspirational story to share with other ladies?

An inspirational story to share with other ladies would be to have faith in yourself and especially the medical teams involved in your treatment, care and recovery. They know what they are doing!

Do you have any post-surgery styling tips?

My post-surgery styling tips would be to live your normal life as far as possible. Have a shower/bath every morning, dress nicely and if you have lost your hair due to chemotherapy put your wig on, even in the house, and wear your lipstick. After all that, look in the mirror and give yourself a big smile!

Any advice for other ladies who have or had breast cancer?

My advice to other ladies who have or had breast cancer is to ‘Bite the Bullet and Keep Battling’!!

You and Nicola Jane:

How has wearing Nicola Jane lingerie made you feel?

Wearing Nicola Jane lingerie has made me feel confident as the design and structure of the garments is wonderful and I feel feminine as the lingerie is so pretty and looks good under different types of clothing fabrics.

Do you have a favourite Nicola Jane product?

My favourite Nicola Jane product is the chlorine resistant swimwear for its beautiful design and durability essential for regular, long distance swimming. My favourite non-resistant style is the Mauritius V-Neck Swimsuit – I love how flattering the neckline is!

Why did you decide to become a Nicola Jane Inspirational Woman?

I decided to apply to become a Nicola Jane Inspirational Woman because I enjoyed meeting Vicky and Carol in the 2020 Catalogue. I just thought ‘Go for it’!

Why do you shop with Nicola Jane?

I shop with Nicola Jane because of the ease in which orders can be placed for products and the efficiency in rapid delivery. It is also great to have the option of returning goods which may in some way be proved unsuitable – although I have never had to return any purchase.

What do you think are the most important aspects of a mastectomy bra/what do you look for when purchasing a new mastectomy bra?

The most important aspects of a mastectomy bra for me are the support, the comfort and of course the fit. I look for a bra which is pretty, and which suits the purpose for which I have bought it.

What type of swimsuit do you find works best with your type of surgery?

The type of swimsuit which works best for my type of surgery is the chlorine resistant, high neckline swimsuit. I tend to go for the chlorine resistant styles as I swim very regularly.

5 quick-fire questions:

Cats or Dogs? Dogs
Coffee or Tea? Coffee
Books or Movies? Books
Fried or Scrambled eggs? Scrambled
Autumn or Spring? Spring

Mental Health and Breast Cancer - Advice & Guidance

Guest Blogger — Thurs, 11 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

We have recently talked to the team at 'Talking Change' about mental health struggles related to a cancer diagnosis. Find useful tips, advice and guidance on mental health difficulties:

A bit about ‘Talking Change’:

Talking Change is a mental health service in Portsmouth. We are a team of therapists and researchers that specialise in the treatment and understanding of common mental health difficulties, providing free and confidential support.

Talking Change is part of the NHS service: Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT).

Find us online:

Website: https://www.talkingchange.nhs.uk/

Youtube: Here

Why is mental health important?

According to the latest research*:

Worldwide, 1 in 4 people will struggle with their mental health at some point in their lives
About 450 million people are currently struggling and mental health is one of the major threats to our wellbeing worldwide
Over the past week in England, 1 in 6 people had a mental health problem
Across the UK, 2 out of 3 people who suffer from a long-term physical health condition struggle with their mental health

*Reports published by the World Health Organisation, the British Mental Health Foundation and the British Department of Health and Social Care

What mental health concerns can come up after a cancer diagnosis:

Following a cancer diagnosis, it is normal to experience common mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. Causes of common mental health problems can include: difficult or stressful life events, difficult family dynamics, changes to our physical health, and changes in hormones. All of these are things we may be experiencing after a cancer diagnosis.

Depression is a prolonged sense of sadness and low mood and its symptoms include feeling hopeless, low self-esteem, irritability, tearfulness, and lack of motivation or interest in things. When facing a cancer diagnosis, we may experience a change in role and lifestyle, and a sense of loss, which may contribute towards feeling low. To read more about Depression please see the NHS link below:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/clinical-depression/

We all may feel anxious at some point in our lives, especially when facing a cancer diagnosis. We may be left feeling uncertain about the future, whilst juggling changes in ourselves both physically and in our day to day lives. It is when this feeling of anxiety becomes constant and starts to take over our daily lives however, that it might indicate an anxiety disorder. To read more on Generalised Anxiety Disorder, please see the NHS link below:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/generalised-anxiety-disorder/

How can someone living with breast cancer help themselves if they are struggling?

Here are some tips for looking after your mental health if you are struggling:

Make some time for yourself to do something you enjoy. Scheduling even a small amount of time to do something we enjoy, whether that is a relaxing bath, painting, watching our favourite TV show, or whatever it may be, can have a positive impact on our mood.
Gentle exercise. Evidence shows that exercise can have huge benefits for our mental health, reducing our stress and increasing our mood. Even a short walk or gentle yoga session can have a positive impact to how we are feeling.
Breathing exercises. Slow, rhythmic, breathes can help us to feel calm and reduce our anxiety. There are lots of mediation apps, or breathing videos on YouTube, to help guide you with this. We recommend searching for ‘square breathing’.
Talk to someone. Sometimes it can really help to talk. If you have someone in your life that you feel is a good listener, being a family member, a friend, or even a colleague, sharing how you are feeling can help you with coping.
Seeking support. It is okay to ask for help. Whether it is support with your mental health, or more practical support, there are services out there to help you. It might be worth having a conversation with people involved in your medical care as they may be able to signpost you to local services.
Reduce social media use. Social media can be a great way of keeping in contact with people, but it can have its downsides. It can be very easy to compare ourselves and our lives with others which may have a negative impact on our mood. Reducing the time we spend on social media can help to limit this.
Be kind to yourself. You are going through something extremely difficult and you may be feeling a whole range of different emotions. It’s understandable if you are finding things hard.
Get writing. Writing down how you feel, can be a great way of processing how you are feeling and getting your thoughts out of your head and on to paper. Once you have done this, you may want to show it to someone to help express how you feel, you might want to keep it private, or you might even want to just destroy it which can be just as beneficial.

What signs should I look out for that someone isn’t coping well and might need help?

It can sometimes be hard to tell if someone isn’t coping well but some things to look out for are:

Starting to withdraw or spending more time on their own
Finding less pleasure in activities they previously enjoyed, often resulting in avoiding these activities altogether
They may be more restless and fidgety than usual, or they may have lower energy and find it hard to do day to day tasks.
Changes in mood, for example being more irritable than usual or crying more
Changes in sleep pattern, either sleeping more than before or finding sleep difficult

These are just some general indicators, but if you suspect that someone is struggling then the best thing to do is just ask them how they feel and allow them space to talk. Let them know you are there for them.

How can I help a friend or a member of family who is struggling?

If you identify that someone is struggling, then there are a few things that you can do:

Listen. Providing them the space to be heard without judgement can make a difference and help them to realise that their feelings are valid and that there is someone there for them.
Ask. Ask how you can help and what they need from you to feel supported
Signpost. There are plenty of services available that may be able to provide support, whether that is therapeutic, practical, financial etc. If you struggle to find services yourself, then don’t be afraid to ask someone involved in your care as they may be able to direct you to someone that can.

What sort of services are available if I feel like I am not coping?

If you feel like you are not coping, then it is okay to ask for help. Sometimes it can be easier to talk to someone separate to the situation that can offer you support and a non-judgemental space to talk. The following services may be able to provide support:

Macmillan

The Macmillan Support Line is open 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm and you can call them on 0808 808 00 00
They have an online chat function also open 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm which can be accessed from their website https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/get-help/emotional-help/chat-online
You can email Macmillan from a form on their website https://www.macmillan.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/ask-macmillan-form.html

IAPT

NHS IAPT services offer treatments such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Counselling for individuals with common mental health problems such as anxiety or depression. More information and guidance on finding your local service can be found on their website: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-psychological-therapies-service/

At the moment, IAPT is only available in England. The following services are available for other parts of the United Kingdom:

Scotland - Visit https://www.nhs24.scot/our-services/ to see the services provided and how to access them.

Wales – You will need to contact your GP for a referral to NHS counselling services.

Northern Ireland - Through calling Lifeline on 0808 808 8000 you can talk to a trained counsellor who will help you to identify the support you need. Visit lifelinehelpline.info for more information

I am worried about how my family will cope with my diagnosis:

It is completely normal for your friends or family to face a wide range of emotions in relation to your diagnosis. It is a tough situation for everyone involved. They may feel shock, fear, anxiety, anger, loss, sadness, exhaustion, to name a few. Talking about both how you feel, but also how they feel can help you all to understand how it is affecting you.

The same services available to people with a cancer diagnosis, also tend to provide support for family members and carers. Encouraging them to seek support can help them to have their own space to process how they are coping with your diagnosis.

I am a bit overwhelmed with all the information I have been given:

Whilst being given a lot of information can be helpful, sometimes it can feel like too much and it is hard to know where to start. Some useful ways of dealing with this are:

Prioritise what you need to know first. You aren’t expected to know everything all at once. It may be that some things might not be relevant right now and could be read further down the line. Try to seek out what you need to know, first of all, and work through it gradually.
Break it down in to manageable pieces. Breaking things down in to smaller chunks can make things seem less daunting. Maybe limit yourself to one or two leaflets/sites/pages of a book a day and let yourself process that information before moving on to the next thing.
Share the load. Ask someone you trust to go through the information with you. This also may help loved ones to feel more involved and support you better.
Speak to your GP or a specialist. Ask them if they can help to break things down for you.

I feel angry that I was diagnosed – WHY ME? Are there any tips or tricks that can help me cope better with this?

Anger is a completely normal emotion when facing a cancer diagnosis. For example may be angry at what it means to your life and the changes you may have to make, the reactions of others, or the symptoms you experience. Anger is not shameful and there are healthy ways to cope with it. Some tips for this include:

Stop. Step back. Observe. Take a moment to pause and notice what is happening. What are your thoughts, your physical sensations, emotions and images? Notice how you’re interpreting these and what that means. Notice the unhelpful thoughts and what you are reacting to in that situation. Is there anyway you can look at this differently?
Practice Mindfulness. Mindfulness can be a useful way of helping us to focus on the present moment and calming our reactions. There are several apps available for this such as Headspace or Calm. There are also lots of videos available on YouTube.
Breathing exercises. As with mindfulness, our breathing can have a powerful impact on our mood and reduce our feeling of anger.
Physical exercise. Whether it is a gentle walk, or something more vigorous, exercise can help reduce expel and reduce our anger
Changing “why” into “how”. Sometimes we can get stuck in moments of rumination, thinking over and over about negative situations, thoughts, or feelings. We might be stuck in a loop of asking “why?”. To help us catch these patterns it can be useful to ask ourselves the following questions:

Have I made any progress towards solving a problem?
Do I understand something about a problem (or my feelings about it) that I haven’t understood before?
Do I feel less self-critical or less depressed than before I started thinking about this?

If the answer to all three of these is NO, then the chances are you are ruminating. If this is the case then it can be helpful to reflect on how you can turn that “why” into a “how can I do something about this?” Is there something you can do differently that might help your mood? Is there a problem that is bothering you that could have a solution?

Problem solving. Applying a structure to solving problems can help make it more manageable. Start by defining what specifically the problem is. Once you have done this then you should try to think of ALL the possible solutions, feasible or not, don’t discount anything. Then you can move on to choosing the two most likely solutions and assess the pros and cons of both. Once you have chosen your solution you can plan it and put it in to action. Afterwards it can be useful to review it, is there anything I could have done differently?

Breast Cancer and Pregnant - Debbie's Story

Nicola Jane — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

In late 2013, Debbie was 7 months pregnant with her second child when she felt a lump in her breast. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2014 and had to have her baby 2 weeks early to start her treatment.

A bit about Debbie:

My name is Debbie. I'm 39, and I live in the New Forest with my husband, two children and our French bulldogs. As a family, we love walking and being outside and exploring the New Forest and the beautiful beaches on the South Coast.

The Diagnosis …

In December 2013, I was seven months pregnant with my second child. Tired, I went to bed early, and as I tried to get comfy with my big baby bump, I rested my hand under my breast, that is when I felt a lump. I was sure it was just a blocked milk duct as I had only just stopped breastfeeding my daughter.

My husband encouraged me to book a doctor’s appointment, so the next day I made the appointment. I went to the GP who had a look and checked the lump and then she referred me to the hospital for a biopsy on New Year's Eve.

In the middle of January 2014, we went to the Southampton hospital to get my results, and I was diagnosed with breast cancer and would need a lumpectomy. I was eight months pregnant, and before any treatment could begin I needed to give birth, so after a scan to check the baby was ok I was booked in 2 weeks before the due date to give birth.

Letting it sink in

My husband and I drove home in a state of shock. The first thing I did when we got back home was to give my 2-year-old daughter a big hug. I was only 32, and no one we knew had been through breast cancer, and breast cancer did not run in my family. We first told my parents, my brother, our close friends as well as friends I see weekly. The friends I see weekly I remember sending them a message saying please do not treat me any different I am the same person as day before. However, some friends found it hard and did not know what to say to me. The week before I gave birth to my son, I lost my voice through shock.

Preparing for the Op

Once I had given birth to my son at the end of January, I was given a week before my lumpectomy operation. During that week of waiting, I had so much anxiety I lost my appetite.

I went in for the lumpectomy at the same time they removed some lymph nodes. The following day after the operation, I learnt that there were no cancerous cells, and it had not spread, which was a relief.

Chemotherapy

My chemotherapy started in March 2014. I was not worried about the treatment I was more concerned about losing my hair, I, however, opted for the cold cap.

The cold cap was uncomfortable, but it worked for me, and I only suffered a small amount of hair thinning on the top of my head. My husband sat with me every chemo session to keep me company.

My parents helped with childcare and looked after us, and we stayed with them at the weekend so they could do the night feeds with my baby whilst I rested. The radiotherapy treatment was quick; nevertheless, I felt this took the most out of me as it was every day for two weeks. After radiotherapy, I had to have injections every three weeks, but thankfully the nurse would come to my house.

The future

I still go to the hospital every year for a mammogram and take pills every day.

My daughter is now eight while my son is now 6. My daughter knows I went to the hospital quite a bit when she was little; however, she does not know why.

One day when the time is right, and I feel ready, I will explain it all to my children. In the meantime, I am grateful to my parents and friends, for all the support they have shown us.

Support Groups and Charities

MacMillan Cancer Trust

My husband was overwhelmed with my diagnosis. To help, he spent time with the MacMillan Cancer Trust, at Southampton Hospital. He said that they were extremely supportive and helped him to put his mind at ease.

Look Good Feel Better

I attended a 'Look Good Feel Better' course at Southampton hospital. It was so nice meeting other people who were at all different stages of cancer and learning how to apply make-up.

Wessex Cancer Trust

We also made use of the Wessex Cancer Trust who own a caravan at Weymouth holiday park. This holiday is a lovely idea to give families a break following a cancer diagnosis.

Our Designer's Top 3 Product Picks for Debbie:

The Delilah Bralette by AnaOno - This is a super-soft bralette, made from a modabl fabric that is extremely soft against the skin, ideal for women that recently had a surgery or radiotherapy.
The Silicone Bust Shapers - These are an ideal and affordable solution for women that have had a lumpectomy and would like to even out their bust shape.
The Tokyo Ultimate High Neck Bikini - We think Debbie would look gorgeous in our vibrant Tokyo bikini featuring a high mesh neckline, hiding any scars or indentations, and pockets to hold the bust shapers if needed.

Meet Michelle M.

Guest Blogger — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Michelle from Kent was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer in 2019. She has shared her journey and all the fantastic charities that have supported her from the beginning.

Tell us a bit about yourself:

Hi, my name is Michelle and I am 44 years young and live in Ramsgate, Kent with my husband and our 2 rescue cats, Starla & Selene (I know, pretentious names for cats, blame my husband haha!) We have lived along the Kent coast for 19 years after moving from South Africa and thoroughly enjoy it here. In my spare time I love to bake or venture out with my camera and explore!

Your diagnosis:

I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer on 13^th Aug 2019 at the age of 42. I had initially found a lump in the shower and thought it was due to my cycle. The lump grew quite quickly and became more of a mass. I saw the doctor within a few weeks of finding the lump and was diagnosed within 2 weeks. I was very numb after being told; it didn’t sink in for a while. After walking out of the hospital with a folder full of brochures and leaflets I felt like I had just come out of a travel agent!

What treatment(s) did you go through?

I had a few lumps in the end with the largest of 53mm and lymph node involvement. Due to the cancer being grade 3 and fast growing my oncologist wanted me to start the chemo as soon as possible. After all my MRI and CT scans, I started the treatment 5 weeks later. Chemo was from the 17^th September 2019 to 6^th March 2020 with 3 different drugs (EC, carboplatin and paclitaxel).
I had a left mastectomy and axillary node clearance on the 1^st April (April fools haha!). I had 27 lymph nodes removed and all were cancer free, so the chemo did its job! I had quite a bit of time to recover before I started Radiotherapy in June. I had 15 sessions to my chest wall and supraclavicular lymph nodes.

Do you have any tips for ladies that are about to go through the same?

Take it one day at a time. In the beginning I was very numb and then I read all the info I was given and I had information overload and started to panic and feel overwhelmed. I then decided to focus on my treatment one day at a time and not to look into any info on my operation or radiotherapy for instance, until I was due to start treatment. It helped me be more focused and helped me to be kinder to myself and realise it was ok to have bad days and not beat yourself up about it.
During chemo, I did get out walking on my good days and this did help me loads. It made me feel I had accomplished something that week even if it was a slow walk around the block.
I started a diary to log all my treatments and appointments and I wrote down every week what was happening and how I felt. This helped me feel more grounded especially writing down my feelings which I don’t usually do. I kept this going after my active treatment ended as I was still dealing with fatigue and the usual aches and pains.

Was there a charity or any other support group that has helped you?

Breast Cancer Now were great. I used the “Someone like me” programme a couple of times and I downloaded their app BECCA to help with symptoms.
I joined a blog on Cancer Research UK. I made quite a few friends and we kept in touch throughout our treatment especially as we were all ‘Triple negative’ we could relate to each other with regards to our worries, concerns, side effects etc without worrying our loved ones too much.
I would also recommend the OWise app. I found this later in my treatment whilst having radiotherapy. This app is very informative with all details of cancer treatment and advice. You can also log all your appointments and create a virtual diary, so it’s great to record all details in one place.
Look Good Feel Better workshop. I was very chuffed to get a place in the workshop whilst undergoing chemo as I was truly lacking eyelashes and eyebrows. The workshop was very informative and lovely to meet other ladies going through treatment. I also received a great bag full of excellent products.
The Lewis Foundation. They found me on Instagram and sent me a pamper pack which was perfect timing for me starting radiotherapy. They are a husband-and-wife team that visit patients in hospital undergoing treatment. I was so chuffed to receive this pack as I am based in Kent and not local to them.

Are there any products you recommend for ladies that are about to have chemo or a surgery?

During chemo it helped taking Laxido and Senokot as I really struggled with constipation even though I ate healthy and drank loads of water. My skin was quite dry so I would recommend Aveeno moisturiser.
With my mastectomy it really helped having a heart shaped pillow. I was lucky enough to have one given to me from my local hospital. It really helped when sitting and sleeping. I went home with a drain for 7 days and used a tote bag to carry my drain bag in. So it would be useful if you can have a drain bag made or like me use a tote bag.

Is there anything you wish you had known before your diagnosis?

The aches and pains I would have after chemo that would last for months after. Every ache and pain would make me worry but knowing what to expect would have helped.

Do you have a favourite Nicola Jane product?

I love my Tokyo Ultimate High Neck Bikini (S205) & Mauritius 2 Piece Tankini (S202). They are both so comfortable to wear, who would have thought after a mastectomy I swim now more than ever before!

The reason you have decided to share your story with other ladies?

I have decided to share my story as whilst going through treatment It helped me reading other ladies inspirational stories and connecting with fellow cancer warriors. Before my cancer diagnosis I would never have the confidence to model a costume. However now after going through cancer treatment I have more confidence and not afraid to embrace my ‘new normal’!

Meet Tara

Guest Blogger — Weds, 03 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Diagnosed in September 2019, Tara is now sharing her story to raise awareness that young women can also get breast cancer. Read her inspirational story here:

Tell us a bit about yourself:

I’m Tara, I live in Shropshire with my husband Dave and our cute little dog, a GSP called Mya who we rescued from Hungary. I work in Marketing for Fanatical, a digital entertainment retailer, looking after affiliate and influencer partnerships. I’m 36 now, but had just turned 35 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2019 (on my gorgeous little nephew’s birthday).

I love spending time outdoors walking, hiking, mountain biking, or just sitting in the garden with a gin! I’m a bit of a coffee snob at heart (no instant coffee for me, thanks!) and I love good food and wine - going out for dinner or entertaining at home is my absolute fave. I’m a big music fan and enjoy going out to watch live music whenever I can (I’ve really missed it during the pandemic), but I’m equally happy to be snuggled up at home watching Netflix.

Tell us about your diagnosis:

One evening I felt a throbbing pain in my right breast, when I touched the area to investigate it, it felt quite hot and hard to the touch. I was convinced it wouldn’t be anything serious, as I’d never heard of pain being associated with breast cancer?! I kept an eye on it for a few days and even though the initial intense, throbbing pain had eased, I could still feel the hardened area, so I booked in with my GP to get it checked out. The doctor wasn’t that worried, but referred me to the breast clinic at the hospital just to be on the safe side anyway and also because there is a history of breast cancer in my family.

My appointment came through quickly and I was seen within a couple of weeks. On the day of the tests at the breast clinic, I had an initial ultrasound and was advised that it did look a bit worrying and further tests would be needed whilst I was there (a mammogram followed by biopsies). I had attended my appointment alone and had driven myself to the hospital that day. I remember asking whether I would be okay to drive home after the biopsies. I was fine to drive, but it was very sore and really hurt to move my right arm driving home following a biopsy in the armpit to check my lymph nodes - ouch! It is all a bit of a blur, but I remember this sinking feeling that afternoon that it was going to end up being cancer. I think I was just on auto-pilot when I was in the breast clinic, trying to hold it all together and get through it, but I was a mess when I got back to my car. Everything that had happened in the last couple of hours just hit me all at once and I was hysterical. I called Dave sobbing, then ugly cried down the phone the whole way home.

A couple of weeks later I was back in the clinic, with Dave by my side, to receive my results. I think I had already mentally prepared myself to receive the worst news. We squeezed each other’s hand so tight as the consultant said, “it is cancer” and we both sat there a bit stunned and wide-eyed. Numb is the best way I can describe it. Perhaps I was in shock? It was almost like the news was so overwhelming that my brain didn’t know what to do with the information, so it did nothing and I was just sat there, blank and expressionless. Totally void of any emotion.

From the hospital, we went straight to visit my parents to let them know what was happening. I hadn’t even mentioned about finding the lump or my GP referral because I didn’t want to cause any unnecessary worry, given the family history. I was dreading telling my family and upsetting them so much. Over the next couple of days, I called my closest friends and told them too – explaining everything to people was horrendous, probably because it started to make it all seem so much more real. If I could have got away without mentioning it to anyone, I would have! That was how I felt back then, although I do feel much more open about it now that I’ve had time to get my head around it all and I really hope sharing my story might help someone else going through the same.

The time after the diagnosis, letting the news sink in and the treatment:

Dave and I agreed we wanted to go through IVF fertility preservation, which was offered to us due to my age and because we haven’t started a family yet. It was like a fast-track process and all completed within a few weeks before I started chemotherapy. We weren’t ready to have children, but hadn’t ruled it out completely either, so it was strange to have the decision whether to have kids or not suddenly forced upon you and under these strained circumstances. Although going through the fertility preservation definitely did provide some comfort and reassurance for our future, should we ever decide we do want to start a family. There are still so many unknowns, we don’t know whether my fertility has even been impacted, or if we go down the IVF route whether it will actually be successful, but at least it is a possibility for us to explore later down the line.
My cancer was classed as triple positive and had spread to the lymph nodes, I was diagnosed as Stage T3 N1. Stage T3 means the tumour was bigger than 5cm and N1 indicates cancer cells had spread to the nodes. I had chemotherapy and targeted therapy first to try and shrink the tumour and prevent any further spread, followed by surgery (a single mastectomy and axillary node clearance), followed by radiotherapy. I’ll also be on hormone suppression medication for five years now too, to help prevent any recurrence.

I finished chemo just as we went into the first lockdown back in March 2020. There was a short delay as the hospital’s figured out how to treat patients safely during the pandemic, but I was soon booked in for my operation. It ended up taking place at a private hospital and of course, I had to take a Covid test before I was admitted. I am so grateful and feel very fortunate that my treatment continued as planned throughout the pandemic.
In my initial surgery consultation, we had discussed a breast-conserving surgery called a therapeutic mammoplasty, but as I had responded so well to chemo the cancer cells were very difficult to detect, so a mastectomy was the safest option. This would ensure all evidence of cancer was removed, preventing the need for any further surgery if there was any residual disease left. As it turned out, all cosmetic/plastics procedures ended up being paused due to the pandemic, so I wouldn’t have been able to have the mammoplasty anyway.

I think the best advice I have regarding surgery is to make sure you have front-fastening pyjamas, in addition to front-fastening tops. I’d treated myself to some lovely button up pyjamas, but I had to leave the hospital in my pyjama top as I didn’t have a normal top – what an oversight! Luckily, I hadn’t actually worn it, as I was in my hospital gown the whole time during my overnight stay. My other tip would be to confront your post-surgery body straight away. As soon as I came round from the anaesthetic, I pulled my gown forward and looked down. I didn’t burst into tears like I thought I would. I felt relieved the cancer was gone, proud my body had endured the surgery and grateful to have woken up again. I think practising this gratitude for your body, for just keeping going and carrying you through this, is so important.

This is also a good time to be extra kind to yourself, allow yourself plenty of time to rest and heal, ramp up your self-care and don’t be afraid to ask for help, or whatever you need to help you need to get through it. I lived a very fast-paced life, also rushing around and trying to spin too many plates before my diagnosis and it really forced me to slow down and admit I should prioritise rest and relaxation more.

Use your support network and be specific with how people can help, to take the pressure off yourself. When attending appointments, take a notebook and go prepared with your questions. I found the appointments extremely intense and overwhelming, there is such a lot of information to absorb and I always felt so drained afterwards. I quickly learnt to keep something in my bag to give me a little boost when I came out, like a flask of coffee or a chocolate bar. That’s my pro-tip, carry snacks!

I also think it helped me to accept what was happening - focusing on what I could control, rather than what I couldn’t, felt like a good coping strategy for me. I couldn’t change what was happening to me, but I could change how I responded to it. Knowing what works for you personally makes a huge difference though, there’s no one size fits all when you’re navigating this and there is no right or wrong. All feelings are valid and I think it’s really healthy to embrace all emotions and to fully accept you’re going to have some bad days, you’re only human!

The future

Shortly after my diagnosis, Dave and I decided to get married as soon as we could. We had a very small, intimate ceremony two weeks after my first round of chemo in December 2019, I still had all my own hair at that point, which I was so pleased about. Our plan was to hold a big wedding reception the following year, but Covid-19 had other plans! So next on our to do list is a little getaway (as soon as is safely possible) to celebrate the end of my active treatment and then hopefully we can start to organise our wedding party.

Is there anything you wish you had known before your diagnosis?

Before my diagnosis, I wish I had known about Coppafeel and had been more breast aware, they have some amazing guides on how to check your breasts and the signs and symptoms to keep a look out for. I really should have been more vigilant with knowing my normal and checking myself regularly, especially given my family history. I am so happy that my body gave me a sign when it did (thanks bod)!

I also never imagined I would meet so many other amazing women in the same position as me, younger women battling breast cancer, undergoing fertility preservation, chemo, mastectomies and other surgeries, medical menopause. I’ve made some incredible friends through Instagram, I started an online journal there, which has been a cathartic process anyway, but connecting with other young women who have also undergone treatment for breast cancer and sharing our experiences has made a huge difference to me personally. I’ve felt so supported by other women who can really relate to what I’m going through and I feel like I’ve made some great friends for life – which is one of the more positive sides of this and there definitely are some positives from it too.

My perspective has changed completely, I feel so much more grateful and appreciative of the smallest, trivial things now, things I definitely took for granted before such as being able to exercise, walk my dog, have the energy to stand for more than half an hour to cook a meal – the list goes on!

I attended an event with Breast Cancer Now back in February 2019 too, which was an amazing experience and I met so many other women who inspired me so much that day. The charity does so much within the breast cancer community and dedicate funds towards all-important research too.

Do you have a favourite Nicola Jane product?

I was really pleased to find an affordable swim/waterproof prosthesis from Nicola Jane (Featherweight - Foam Swim Breast Form), perfect for jumping in the hot tub on a weekend getaway! I also really like the vest top with built in bra and prosthesis pocket (Poppy 95% Cotton Fitted Strappy Top). I didn’t think I would feel comfortable wearing strappy vest tops anymore, so this was a great find. It has got a nice high neckline, so I feel super comfortable and confident that my prosthesis is secure, plus the design makes it look a bit more interesting than a plain black vest top.

The reason you have decided to share your story:

I hope that by sharing my story, any other younger ladies who are diagnosed with breast cancer will feel less isolated and alone. I know at the beginning of my diagnosis, I felt that women my age were massively underrepresented in all of the hospital leaflets and brochures you receive and being the only young person at the chemo unit only emphasised that feeling for me too. So I’m also really happy Nicola Jane are allowing me to be a part of this to help change that in future for other women in my position as well.

Please feel free to get in touch if you would like to chat about any of my experience or you’re going through the same and need a friend @nottodaycancernottoday on Instagram.

Make sure you look in the mirror, take a deep breath and tell yourself how amazing you are!

Meet Emma

Guest Blogger — Tues, 02 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Meet Emma - a young mother that has been diagnosed with breast cancer in late 2019 when she felt a lump while taking a shower. Read her inspirational story here

Tell us a bit about yourself:

Hi, I’m Emma and I’m 28 from the West Midlands. I am a mum to a 2-year-old beauty Arlo and a wife- to-be to my fiancé, Tyler. I work full time as a Sales Administrator in the Motor Trade as well as running my own charity, offering free care packages to cancer patients that are having chemotherapy. I also have my own small business selling Crystals and Jewellery Mooski Moon, which I started just this year.

Your diagnosis:

I found my breast lump in the shower around Christmas 2019 I knew something wasn’t right straight away and the area felt rather tender (potentially from all my prodding) I couldn’t actually get in to see my GP for about a week as I kept missing the available appointments however I begged and pleaded with the receptionist who got me in that day, I then got fast tracked to a breast clinic for scans and biopsies as on scans there was a couple more I couldn’t feel.

How did you feel when you were told?

Initially I was devastated, I was with my mom and dad at the time they came for moral support, I guess we all thought at 28 it was borderline impossible, so it was definitely a shock. I was diagnosed triple negative breast cancer grade 3 stage 1 -2 (grade 3 being aggressive) so the only thing on my mind was would I see my baby grow up?

The treatment

I had 16 rounds of chemotherapy, surgery and 9 rounds of radiotherapy, I started in Late February 2020 and completed just before Christmas 2020.

What type of surgery did you have?

I had a lumpectomy as I was told if I had a mastectomy it would make near no difference whether it could come back so I thought I would keep it simple and I also had an uplift on both sides.

Do you have any tips for ladies that are about to start their treatment?

Seek advise from professionals - your breast care nurse will be your new best friend and nothing is a silly question! Don’t get too hung up on google or other people’s experiences, try to remain as positive as possible, as hard as that can be and allow yourself time to grieve your diagnosis. You are entitled to cry and shout about it as much as you want to, to make you feel better.

Was there a charity that has supported you?

I have received help from Macmillan as I was eligible for their grant and I have spoken to them via their online chat for a rant on more than one occasion – they are fantastic!

Are there any products you recommend for ladies that are about to have a surgery or start chemotherapy?

A drain dolly may help if you have surgery and I can really recommend getting Nicola Jane bras! I opted for a front-fastening style, as this is the easiest after surgery and I still wear mine now. It’s the best thing ever! I would also advice to bring baggy pjs and zip up tops, as you will find it difficult to put anything on over your head, so it’s easier to have tops you can close at the front.

For the chemo sessions, I would recommend wearing comfy clothes as it can be quite a long day. I also found GinGins Sweets a saviour to help with nausea I experienced after the chemo days. I also swear by Plantur caffeine shampoo – this has really helped my hair to grow and feel healthy again.

The future

Do you have any exciting plans for the upcoming year? (of course hoping that the current covid-19 restriction will be eased and the overall situation will improve)

I am due to get married in June 2021 so that’s super exciting (Covid dependant) and just looking forward to getting my life back to as relatively normal as possible.

Is there anything you wish you had known before your diagnosis?

Honestly, that it is not all doom and gloom! I have met some amazing friends on my journey and I have a new “breastie”, Louise who I met through chemo and we talk every day now - I love her! There is always a positive in a negative experience, if you look hard enough.
We are all inspirational women, and we all deserve to be recognised for shining through tough times.

Any other useful tips you would like to share?

Don’t push yourself too hard, if you feel you need to rest make sure you do, and a pamper never hurt anyone!

Do you have a favourite Nicola Jane product?

The Lynn Zip Front Fastening Bra! It is hands down the best bra I have ever worn, even before my diagnosis - it’s so comfy!

How has Nicola Jane lingerie made you feel?

Nicola Jane lingerie has helped me feel like a woman again. This is so important after any surgery, as it can be so deflating, so it is super important to feel like you look good but feel good too.

The reason you have decided to share your story with other ladies ?

I didn’t know girls my age could get breast cancer and I think that the younger generation are quite ignored in stats etc. When in reality it is way, way, way more common, than I could have imagined, which is really frightening. I only ever checked myself, as my amazing nan suffered with breast cancer twice (and came out fighting both times – wonder woman!). If she had not have had cancer, I would never have checked and my story could have been so very different. My aim is to get more young ladies checking and not feeling embarrassed to tell someone. I was the shyest person ever about anyone seeing me, even after having my baby as my boobs weren’t where I wanted them to be anymore, but everyone is so kind and respectful. If I can do it you can and it may just save your life!

Meet Selin

Guest Blogger — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Read Selin's story: She is a powerful and ambitious 24 year old from London. Diagnosed in July 2020, she is currently in the process of finishing her active treatment.

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name’s Selin, I’m 24 and from London. I’m a script editor specialising in eLearning, interactive media and marketing training, which I absolutely love. In my spare time, I enjoy doing some (very amateur) painting, practising my yoga, reading new books…and I’m also a bit of a video game junkie!

Your diagnosis

I was 23 when I found my lump, and it was a complete accident. I wasn’t someone who ever checked themselves, so the fact I caught it early was incredibly lucky. It was very early in the morning on a Saturday, about 4am. I had an itch on my breast, and when I went to scratch it, I felt a small but very obvious lump. As someone with health anxiety, I was never the type to sit and see if something goes away, so I got onto the phone and made an appointment with a clinic to have it checked.

The doctor who checked me said it just felt like a fibroadenoma and was nothing to worry about, but suggested I have an ultrasound just to be safe. The radiologist who checked me said she wanted to take a biopsy, and I was shocked. I said, “but he told me it wasn’t cancer”, and all she could tell me was, “yes well, it’s best we go ahead and check anyway”. I realise now that the radiologist already knew, and that the biopsy was a formality more than anything else.
When the doctor came back to tell me the results I completely broke down. I didn’t know or understand much about breast cancer back then, so I assumed the absolute worst.

The time after the diagnosis and letting the news sink in

Strangely, in the days that followed, I felt numb to it all. I’d received a good prognosis and was mostly focused on getting started with treatment. Once that feeling of proactiveness wore off, and it turned into a lot of waiting around, the anxiety started to creep in a bit more. Post-scan anxiety was definitely the worst part of treatment preparations, but I also became very paranoid about the cancer spreading, or my treatments not working. Every slightly swollen lymph node scared me, and every twinge was concerning. It was definitely something I had to learn to manage and navigate so that it didn’t completely consume me.

The treatment

I was supposed to have 12 weeks of Paclitaxel, but after a bad reaction to the first dose my oncologist switched me to Abraxane, which took a much harsher toll on my body. I was exhausted, lost most of my hair despite using the cold cap, and completely lost my sense of taste. I also received Zoladex injections to shut off my ovaries during chemotherapy which threw me into medical menopause, so I was also battling hot flushes, muscle and joint pain, irritability and nausea. Alongside this I was told I also needed a combination Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab infusions for 18 months, both as a treatment and to help prevent reoccurrence in the future.

When I was trying to decide what type of surgery I wanted, I went back and forth on the idea of a double mastectomy with reconstruction. My gene test had come back negative, and my doctor didn’t feel that I would gain any additional benefit from having a mastectomy vs a lumpectomy. When my anxiety was particularly bad after diagnosis, I was convinced this is what I needed, and that I wouldn’t be able to relax without it. But, as time went on, and I understood my own situation in better detail and found out I’d had a complete pathological response, I felt comfortable with the decision to opt for a lumpectomy and try to get back to normality as quickly as possible.

For anyone who is about to embark on this journey, please know that there is a whole community of amazing ladies out there waiting to support you and help you along. Instagram became my safe space and made it easy to connect with people my own age, and others who were going through similar treatments. If you’re a younger breast cancer patient like me, Rethink Breast Cancer provides a platform for young ladies going through the same thing. I also want to stress that you should make use of your support nurse. Mine was absolutely amazing and held my hand through the entire experience. They’re there specifically to help you navigate this journey, so don’t feel bad about leaning on them when you need to.

I used a cold cap to try and save my hair but didn’t realise this process also works on other parts of the body. Unfortunately, I didn’t know this before I started so I can’t comment on its effectiveness, but I know many women who sucked on ice and kept their hands and feet in ice packs during their infusions, who managed to save their nails and avoid ulcers. There’s also research that suggests keeping your nails out of sunlight might help, so painting them black is a good idea.

If you’re anxious about the thought of losing your hair, buy yourself at least one piece of headwear that you love, and have it on hand. Even if you use the cold cap, you are likely to lose some hair, and this will feel less daunting if you know you have a pretty accessory to reach for when you need it. If you buy any wigs and have trouble with the hairline, or don’t wait to pay a fortune for high end options, wearing a hat instantly makes any wig look more natural and realistic!
For your surgery, take clothes that button up so that you don’t have to lift your arms to get dressed, and invest in a good quality surgery bra that fastens at the front to make life easier.

The future

Here in London, we’re still in lockdown because of COVID, which has prevented me from being able to really get back out there and rebuild aspects of my pre-cancer life, but I’m planning on moving in with my partner soon which is exciting and is definitely something I’m looking forward to. With the distribution of vaccines, I’m hoping that by summer it will be safe to plan some trips and hotel getaways, even if we have to stay in England. I’d also love to have some downtime at a retreat and get back to trying new classes and activities!

If there’s one thing I wish I had known before my diagnosis, it’s how resilient we are as human beings - much more than we give ourselves credit for. As a hypochondriac, this was something I’d feared for most of my life, and I just assumed that if it ever happened, the world would stop turning. It might feel like that at first, but I promise that navigating the process becomes easier and more manageable with each step you take. I think immersing yourself in a community of inspirational women, whether it be online or in person, also makes the whole journey much less daunting to face. However alone you might feel, I promise you are not.

Your favourite Nicola Jane product

My favourite Nicola Jane product has to be the Lynn bra. It’s so comfortable and I pretty much lived in it for days following my surgery. The zip at the front makes getting dressed much easier when you can’t really lift your arms! Now that I’ve healed, I still wear it as a workout top because it’s so comfy and stylish. It was nice finding a product that I enjoyed wearing, and that had thought put into its shape and appearance. Sometimes “medical products” don’t make you feel very sexy or confident, especially when they’re produced with a “one size fits all” approach. It was great to find a company that kept women in mind when creating a diverse range of mastectomy and lumpectomy friendly clothing!

The reason you have decided to share your story with other ladies

I hope that by sharing my story, it will encourage young people to check themselves regularly, because catching breast cancer early makes all the difference, and I don’t think that young people realise that the risk exists for them too, even if it doesn’t run in the family and you’re not a gene carrier.

Meet Adriana

Guest Blogger — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Meet Adriana - a 38 year old woman from Zacatecas in Mexico. She has shared her breast cancer story with us to show other women that women are strong and life can be beautiful!

Getting to know you:
Tell us a bit about yourself:
I’m Adriana and I’m 38 years old. I’m from Zacatecas in Mexico and I’ve been married for 15 years now and have 3 girls, aged 9, 11 and 14. I work at a middle school as an administrative accountant.

What is a normal day for you?

During the week (when we are not in the middle of a pandemic) I usually get up early, take a bath, prepare the lunches for my kids, and then get them ready for school. I work from 7.30.am to 2.40pm, then get back home and prepare dinner for the family. I then sometimes manage to go to the gym and spend some time on the stair climber. Since I had my surgery, I cannot do any other type of exercise, other than cardio. In the evening I also help my daughters with their homework and then we watch some TV before it is time to go to bed.

What do you do in your spare time?
I really like to meet up with friends; we chat, go for a walk, go for dinner or meet up at someone’s house. I also enjoy embroidery and look after my plants – I have a collection of cacti I have grown myself.

What have you got planned in the next year?
Unfortunately, I just had to restart chemotherapy in October 2020, so first of all I want to fight and make it through this third cycle of chemotherapy. After that I would love to go to the United States to visit my sister. She lives in Dallas and I haven’t seen her in 16 years. I am really excited to meet all my nephews and nieces for the firs time. I have lots of other plans too, but first I need to finish the chemotherapy.

Biggest achievement in life to date?
I would say my biggest achievement is, being alive 8 years after I was diagnosed.

How would you describe yourself in three words?
Blessed, grateful and persevering. My family also added that I am very honest.

Your diagnosis and surgery:
When were you diagnosed with breast cancer?
I was diagnosed on first November 2012, when I was 30 years old.

What type of surgery did you have?
I had a radical mastectomy on both sides.

Can you tell us a bit about how you felt when you first found out? - What was your first thought/worry?
The day I knew the first thing I thought about, was that I might not survive this. I cried because, my daughters were so young and I was afraid of leaving them unprotected and without a mother.

Who did you turn to when you first found out and who helped you the most throughout?
My husband has always been there for me. We then told my mother, who told the whole family and they have all been very supportive.

Was there anything/anyone that helped you through your treatment?
I have always received a lot of support from my family and friends in every way - prayers, visits and even financial help. The one who always accompanies me to all my appointments, surgeries, chemotherapies, studies, etc., is my husband.

Is there anything you wish you had known before?
That life is beautiful and despite medical diagnoses, we can live fully, there is so much life after cancer.

Do you have an inspirational story to share with other ladies?
I think we all have a tendency to ‘live for others’ and not focus enough on ourselves. I have now learned to love myself and put myself first. This has really helped me to find my inner happiness and enjoy life to the fullest. I also made a lot of new friends during my treatment, all ladies that have also been diagnosed with breast cancer, we all inspire each other and learn together how to live with this diagnosis.

Do you have any post-surgery styling tips?

Whether you have got one, two or no breasts, it does not make you any less of a woman, so just embrace your new self. I would recommend using a prosthesis as you really can’t notice and you will look just as beautiful as ever. Another thing that I have learned is that having breasts or not, does not limit the way you can dress!

Any advice for other ladies who have or had breast cancer?
Enjoy every day, every coffee, every sunrise, the rain, the beautiful landscapes, every moment with your family and the flavours of food, because life is full of moments and each one of them is special and unique!

Anything else you would like to share?
I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to share my experience and my story with other women. I hope that my stroy shows that despite all life throws at you, it maks us stronger. Life can be beautiful and we should enjoy every second of it.

Meet Patricia

Guest Blogger — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Find out more about Patricia - diagnosed in 2010, she is now trying to live life to the fullest and is currently learning for her exam on 'Emotional and spiritual accompaniment for patients and their relatives with cancer’.

Tell us a little about yourself:
I like to admire a sunrise or a sunset, see the sea and enjoy a glass of red wine and a good talk. I am persevering and a perfectionist. I also like to help people, and I love to learn new skills. I have been studying for the a certification in ‘Emotional and spiritual accompaniment for patients and their relatives with cancer’, so I am hoping to take the exam for this soon.

What do you like to do to have fun?
I love to play board games, like Scrabo, Jenga, Uno or watch funny and romantic movies. I also like to paint, although I do it very rarely.

What is your greatest achievement in life to date?
To be able to support my family whenever they have needed me. In my work, and volunteering I am committed to help as many people as I can and try to make a difference everyday.

How do you describe yourself in three words?
Tenacious, Courageous and Effortless.

Your diagnosis and surgery:
When were you diagnosed with breast cancer?
I was diagnosed in May 21, 2010 when I was 41 years old.

What type of surgery did you have?
I had a single, radical mastectomy.

Can you tell us a little about how you felt when you learned the diagnosis?
I immediately worried about my daughters. At the time, the oldest was already married, but was going through a very high-risk pregnancy and had already lost her first baby. I didn’t want to give her the news that her mother had been diagnosed with cancer, because already dealing with so much. So we tried to hide my diagnosis and the treatments I was having, from her as much as possible. My youngest daughter was in her last year of high school and still living with me. I am very grateful to all my friends and family who have supported me during this time.

Do you have any post-surgery styling tips that you can give to other women?
Even if you don’t always feel like it, try to get up, take a nice shower and get yourself ready – it will make you feel better! At the beginning of my hair loss, I was wearing wigs, but I found them very hot. I switched to using Pashminas and Turbans that matches my outfits, I found them much cooler and very comfortable.

Any advice for women who have or had breast cancer?
Each woman is different, and our body is too. There are different types of breast cancer stages or stages. The treatment for each woman is customized by the Doctor Oncologist for each woman and also for the man with Breast Cancer.

Meet Marlen

Guest Blogger — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Meet Marlen - living in Mexico City, she has decided to share her story to motivate other ladies to keep going and never give up!

Getting to know you:
Tell us a bit about yourself:
My name is Marlen Magali Medina and I live in Mexico City, Mexico and I am 36 years old. I have always considered myself to be adventurous soul, and I am always ready for the next adventure. I am the youngest of 3 siblings, but we are a relatively small family. I would describe myself as a happy person, an animal lover and I enjoy life to the fullest. I work as an elementary physical education teacher.

What is a normal day for you?
A normal day for me must include lots of good humor, music, smiles and I enjoy learning something new each day.

What do you do for fun? Any interests or hobbies?
I love spending time with my friends, travel, dancing, watch movies and board games. I also love drawing and painting. I am currently a volunteer for ACUARELAS CON CAUSA A.C., a magical project where you paint and then donate your work to the foundation “Ayudame a sonreir ante el cancer A.C” (Translated: Help me smile against cancer).

What have you got planned in the next year?
Before I was diagnosed, one of my goals was to study abroad. I hope I can do this sometime in the future.

Unusual/fun fact about yourself?
I remember asking my doctor to postpone my first chemo by 1 week because I didn’t want to be bold to go to my sister’s wedding. I laugh about that so much now because we could have saved money on the hair stylist ??. I have now realised that my hair does not define me and it would not have mattered. We give importance to things that don’t matter and we don’t realise it until we go through this. It is much more important to be alive and be able to share moments with the people we love, enjoy life and all the wonders of being alive.

Biggest achievement in life to date?
To finish my degree. Since I was a pupil in primary school, I wanted to be a physical education teacher and I did it. Another big achievement was to be able to be abroad by myself. It was a big challenge for me and made me appreciate my family and my friends even more.

How would you describe yourself in three words?
Friendly, happy and a fighter.

Your diagnosis and surgery:
When were you diagnosed with breast cancer?
I was diagnosed in October 2017 and I was 33 years old.

What type of surgery did you have?
I had a left mastectomy.

Can you tell us a bit about how you felt when you first found out? - What was your first thought/worry?
It was definitely one of the hardest news I have ever received. It’s something you are not able to process easily. Even before the doctor told me he was worried about that “ball” in my breast, I refused to believe that it could be cancer. After having all the medical appointment and the biopsy, I still refused to even consider the possibility of having cancer. I just did not want to think about it.

My main fear was that I didn’t know what was going to happen, how fast cancer was growing and what the treatment was like. At the same time, I was sad to have my family see me go through all of this and having to see me suffer.

I don’t remember ever thinking about dying, it never really crossed my mind. I only remember thinking that this was not going to be an easy journey but that I can and have to do it.

Was there anything/anyone that helped you through your treatment?
Many people helped and motivated me during my treatment. My family (including my cousins, my aunts and uncles), my friend Karla. I received many calls and visits from my friends. This illness is not only physical it’s also very mental and emotional.

Something that hurt me was to lose my breast and also my hair. I had very long hair and when it started falling out (2 weeks after my first chemo), we ran to a beauty salon to have it shaved and I donated it to a charity that makes wigs with them. I cried so much that day, but to my surprise, that evening my mom came home with her hair shaved off too. There are really no words to describe all the support and unconditional love she has shown me.

It now seems ironic and perhaps even funny to think that I was worrying so much about my hairloss, when in fact it’s not the hair or the breast, it is really the fact of knowing that your body is not okay which was actually worrying me.

It took me time to understand all of it and see the bright side and that my body was healing and that everything that was happening was for the good.

Having been through your journey if your present self could give your past self, advice on something you will experience during the time from diagnosis until now what would it be?
Listen to your body, your body is wise and knows how to express. Listen to your inner concern and don’t be afraid because everything is going to be ok.

Do you have an inspirational story to share with other ladies?
My mom is my biggest inspiration. She had suffered from reumatoide artrtitis for 45 years. She had been through lots of pain, surgeries, medication and different treatments for more than half of her life and I have never met such a brave and strong woman to face a disease. She is by far the person that has inspired me the most and motivated me not to give up.

Do you have any post-surgery styling tips?
Your self-confidence! After my surgery I was told I was not going to be able to dress certain ways, of course now I know that’s not true and I wear what I like. Wearing a swimsuit was something that really stressed me but it’s so wonderful to use one with internal pockets to hold the prosthesis. It is so comfortable to wear and you feel confident. Now I have learned thanks to Biofemme (Nicola Jane’s trade customer in Mexico), that there’s clothes, bras, pjs and everything for wearing after a mastectomy which is great.

Any advice for other ladies who have or had breast cancer?
Have the strength to tell your stories. It’s truly a relief for your soul. Love and hug yourselves, let people that love you, help you and never ever give up. Life is too wonderful to give up.
You can learn from the smallest things! I hope that sharing my story will help at least one woman to be more conscious of her health and starts to check herself regularly – it is so important and can save lives!

Meet Guillermina

Guest Blogger — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Guillermina, from Mexico, felt a lump in her breast, but it took nearly 2 years to be diagnosed with breast cancer. Read her full story here:

Getting to know you:

Tell us a bit about yourself:
Hi, I’m Guillermina Herrera and I live in Octolan, Mexico. I’m 40 years old, married for 22 years and have 3 children. I’m the 5^th of 6 siblings (1 brother and 5 sisters). My children are 20, 17 and 15 years old, all 3 of them are boys.

What is a normal day for you?
From Monday to Friday I’m a housewife. I like to stay home and do whatever is needed. Around 3 pm I get ready for work that is from 4 to 8. I run a small beauty salon. When I come home, we have dinner together and on Saturdays I work from 10 am until 8 pm. On Sundays, are for family time, I enjoy going out with my family or stay home and watch movies or play games.

What do you do for fun? Any interests or hobbies?
I like going to the park and watch my kids play basketball. I enjoy skating and also love reading.

What have you got planned in the next year?
I would like to start exercising again, even though I have tried, I still don’t feel strong enough. I would also like to learn to play an instrument. I like the piano and the violin.
Biggest achievement in life to date?
On the personal/family side, to be able to have a stable and lasting marriage, and a united family. On my fight against cancer, to stand still even when I was suffering on my interior.

How would you describe yourself in three words?
Sentimental, proactive and intelligent.

Your diagnosis and surgery:
When were you diagnosed with breast cancer?
I was diagnosed in February 2019, when I was 38 years old.

What type of surgery did you have?
I had a right mastectomy.

Can you tell us a bit about how you felt when you first found out?
Honestly it was something I was expecting. I had felt a lump in my breast for about 2 years, but every time I went to see the doctor, they would tell me it was non-cancerous. I just felt that it was not okay and kept pushing to be seen again. When they finally confirmed that it was cancer, the first thing I thought was that my life was going to change forever and I was worried about the pain it would cause my family. I knew it was something shocking and it wouldn’t be easy for them. I was diagnosed at a stage of my life when I was feeling happy, I had a successful career, many customers, a stable income. I was also very active and ran marathons regularly. I was actually training to run my first marathon in Mexico City. Before that I had ran 5 half marathons and I was ready for the next step but the cancer put a halt to this.

I felt scared about not being able to beat breast cancer, but at the same time I felt life had prepared me for that battle. I had a difficult childhood without my parents, so it was not the time to give up and I decided to give the best to fight the cancer. I told cancer, ‘you are not going to beat me’ and it didn’t!

Who did you turn to when you first found out and who helped you the most throughout?
Two of my sisters came to the doctor’s appointments with me and my husband was the person that helped me the most and 2 really close friends of mine were also always there for me.
There’s also a girl from Queretaro named Reyna that inspired me a lot. I have never met her in person, but I hope I can meet her some day and be able to hug her and thank her for the motivation she gave me even when she didn’t know it.

Is there any advice you would give your past-self now that you have been through it?
That my strength is bigger than anything and not to ever give up.

Any advice for other ladies who have or had breast cancer?
Never let bad days turn you down, always keep a smile on your face. It’s okay to cry but don’t let tears change your smile. And fight with your heart!

Anything else you would like to share?
From the first day I decided to accept my diagnosis, I have never questioned why me and I knew this could not be it. I can say that cancer has been the worse that has happened to me, but also the best because it came to show me how much positivity I can give to others, which I didn’t realise before and everyone around me showed me so much love. It was a year and a half of lots of suffering but now I am able to appreciate everything around me even more. I was always a woman of faith but now I have more strength than ever.

Janice - Lingerie Shop Owner and NJ Model

Guest Blogger — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Meet Janice - diagnosed at just 19 years old, 38 years later she is now the proud owner of a lingerie boutique to offer a personalised fitting service.

A bit about myself…

My name is Janice Holmes. I live in Balderton, a village just outside Newark-on -Trent, Nottinghamshire. I am 57 years old this April. After working for a major retailer for almost 35yrs, I was made redundant in April 2019 when I started my own business, Janice Rose Lingerie. I enjoy life and love spending time with my partner, family, friends and my miniature schnauzer dog ‘Archie’.

How did you find?

I was just 19 years old when I had to attend a medical for a job that I had applied for, this was when I had to say that I had felt a lump in my left breast. I was terrified, because I knew I had it for some time and was worried to say anything. Within a couple of weeks, I had seen a breast consultant and was given a date for a lumpectomy. I remember the morning of the operation feeling so scared and wishing that I had said something much earlier to my mother, but personal issues were not discussed within my family at that time.

What treatment(s) did you go through?

The consultant decided to cut all around my left nipple to remove the lump that was the size of a ping pong ball, so my scar is probably about 5” in length. The weeks after my operation I realised how lucky I had been, to have had a wonderful consultant who explained my procedure and what he actually did. I have also had mammograms every 2 years from the age of 20. My left breast is around a cup smaller than my right. It is noticeable in some style bras. Having breast surgery at 19 years of age, made me look for comfortable bras and styles that didn’t have seams across the nipple, because they irritated my nipple.

What is your favourite Nicola Jane bra?

My everyday bra I wear is the amazing Nicola Jane Carrie bra (8001). This bra gives a natural rounded shape, but he huge benefit of this shape is that if you have different shape/sizes of breasts, you cannot tell. It really smoothens and evens your shape.

Tell us about ‘Janice Rose Lingerie’:

Bra styles have improved so much over the last few years and because underwear had always been important to me, I trained as a bra fitter and found that with my experience of having breast surgery has helped me suggest bra shapes for ladies who have had surgery like myself.

I was made redundant from my employer in April 2019 and decided to set up my own lingerie business, Janice Rose Lingerie. All my styles have been handpicked by myself.

During my years of being a bra fitter and the fact that 8 out of 10 ladies wear the wrong size bra, made me recognise that many younger ladies are having breast surgery for either medical or cosmetic reasons, so being able to access the correct bra fitting advice is very important. This is why I decided to follow my dream of owning my own lingerie store. I now stock a selection of different brands, including Nicola Jane.

Do you have any advice or tips you would like to share?

I realise that being able to help and give advice on bra shapes and styles is one of the most important things after having any breast surgery. I would urge all parents to talk more openly with their daughters about the importance of breast development, care and self-examination.

My aim is to make having a bra fit is as normal as going to the dentist!

Lottie's story

Guest Blogger — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Meet Lottie – a true inspirational power woman! She is a full-time artist, enjoys baking and loves going for a cold water swim.

Tell us a bit about yourself:

I am Charlotte Rennie aka Lottie aka Pomegranate Peaches. I am married to my husband Tim for 16 years now and I am a full time Watercolour Artist. I am also a part-time Bespoke Wedding Florist & Photographer. My favourite hobby is to cold water/wild swim. I have cold water or wild swam around 12 times so far this year, from Orkney to Yorkshire to Cornwall to the River Trent. I am also a gym goer and I love to bake. I love the forest, lakes & mountains.

Describe yourself in 3 words:

I asked Tim: Creative, zealous & comedic.

A fun fact about yourself:

My breasts weighed 1.5 stone, honestly!!! I weighed myself the day of my BMX & then again 2 days later. An awkward but true fun fact. Laugh rather than cry ;-) Also I swam just off the Island of Shapinsay (Orkney) mid-winter when the water temperature was 5 degrees Celsius. I absolutely loved every minute of it.

When were you diagnosed with breast cancer?

On 13^th October 2017 at the age of 33 years old.

How did you feel when you first found out?

I felt like I had been given a death sentence. I truly thought I would die & wouldn’t make it to the summer of 2018. I was shocked. Angry. Upset. I became very insular.

What type of treatment/surgery did you have?

6 months of chemotherapy into a Port / a Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy (no reconstruction) / 3 weeks of radiotherapy / Zoladex Injections for 6+ months / Tamoxifen for 12 months / a Full Radical Hysterectomy / After Hysterectomy, swapped Tamoxifen to Anastrazole / Bisphosphonates. I also found out that I carry the BRCA2 Gene.

Was there anyone or anything that helped you get through it all?

My Faith. My husband Tim. My closest friends, a cliché comment, but they know who they are. Some family too. Plus, my medical team, they are all awesome, loyal & patient. Also, Suits!!! The TV series got me through the endless Chemo, I think I watched 6 seasons during chemo. Lastly, my fish & my kittens. The day I went for my first lot of tests (pre-diagnosis) I sat & watched my fish in the pond outside for 7 hours straight. Not talking to anyone. Just watching them weave through the plants & water. And my kittens, 2 boys. They are always by my side and make me smile. But most of all, my husband Tim. He is my rock, my strength, the one who brings me back down to earth, the one who persistently reminds me that they got all the cancer & other aspects of my positive results, the one who’s seen it all, the one who keeps my head above water, the one who looks at me just the same despite my visible & invisible battle wounds. He’s my number one man.

What are you looking forward to?

I am looking forward to getting reconstruction at some point in the future.

Do you have any advice or tips you would like to share with other ladies?

Ask questions and lots of them. Don’t be afraid to call the shots on some of your timings and treatments, but always remember that they are the experts, but you do have the right to have a say in your timings and treatment, nonetheless. For those that have had chemo, shave your hair off one last time, one month after chemotherapy has finished. This gets rid of the fine growth & encourages new, thicker hair. For those whose hair grew back curly too like mine, research the Curly Girl Method. This will help you to properly look after your new delicate curls. Lastly, do everything your Consultant and Oncologist asks you to, from walking daily to eating well during chemo. Whatever they ask you to do, do it! There is always a reason why they are asking you to do such things. It’s for your benefit!

What is your favourite Nicola Jane Bra?

Easily the Valerie Bra in Mink! A dear friend purchased this one from Nicola Jane as a gift for me.

What is your favourite Nicola Jane Swimsuit?

The Tokyo Swimsuit (S206). So comfy and flattering.

5 quick-fire questions:

Cats or dogs? Dogs (don’t tell my cats that)
Coffee or tea? Tea (don’t tell Coffee)
Books or movies? Both
Scrambled or fried? Neither (gags)
Spring or Autumn? Spring

Blog

Meet Our Fitting Team

Swimwear Style Solutions

Everybody Tells a Story: Covid vs Cancer

We Are Not Fast Fashion

Q&A with Kaz Foncette

Introducing Betty Beaded Breast Form

Celebrating 40 Years

Confidence Boosting Styles

Every Body Tells a Story Kaz Foncette

Styles to Support Your Fitness Goals

Are you party ready?

2024 Swimwear Sneak Peak

My Cycling Challenge: Channel to the Med

Recommended: Autumn Loungewear

Trick or Treat with Witterings Fitness

Introducing Witterings Fitness

Nicola Jane Impactful Donation

Living Confidently Breast Cancer Awareness

Every Body Tells a Story - Laura Price

National Bikini Day 2023

Introducing Helen

Fall In Love With Lingerie

Introducing the 2023 Nicola Jane Swimwear Collection

Introducing Gill

I couldn't have got through all this without my positive attitude and lovely husband

I believe I'm a better person for all I've gone through

A Very Pink Ladies Day Out

I'm happy, fit and healthy and work out 3 times a week!

Reconstruction Forum

Thanks to Trinny, I discovered my lumpRead Sarah's Story

How to Care

How to Care For Your Bra

Washing By Hand

Machine Washing

Quick Dos&Don’ts

How to Care For Your Swimwear

General Tips

Washing By Hand

In the Washing Machine

Quick Dos&Don’ts

How to Care For Your Breast Form

Silicone Breast Forms

Foam and Bead Breast Forms

Quick Dos&Don’ts

Enjoy yourself as you don't know what's around the corner'read Amanda's story

How the Charity 'The Human Milk Foundation' Kept me Positive by Jane Holgate

"By luck I found Nicola Jane on the internet".. read more of Fiona's story:

Meet Jennifer

Tell us a little bit about yourself:

Your Diagnosis:

The time after your diagnosis and getting used to a new routine:

The treatment and surgery:

Was there a charity that supported you?

Covid-19 and going through cancer treatment…

Any tips for other women going through this diagnosis?

Do you have any exciting plans for the next few months?

Why did you decide to share your story?

Is there anything else you would like to share?

'The Cancer Ladies' Running Club' by Josie Lloyd

Getting to know you:

You are about to launch your newest book ‘The Cancer Ladies’ Running Club’ – tell us a bit more about this.

Your diagnosis and surgery:

You and Nicola Jane:

Support for the Financial Effects of Cancer

Is there any help for me and my family if I can’t work after breast cancer treatment?

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

Claiming benefits

Means-tested benefits

Other support

NHS Low Income Scheme

Support for paying your Council Tax

How quickly can I get help?

Can I get help with food or paying for fuel costs in my home?

Charitable Grants

If you have a mortgage

What do I do if I get into debt?

Meet Kathleen

Getting to know you:

Your diagnosis and surgery: