Hi Ragtop

Sorry that you find yourself here. It must be such an awful feeling being poorly and being away from home. 

I am originally from the North West (Manchester area) and my friend volunteers for Maggie’s in Manchester. Please see here www.maggiescentres.org/.../

They’re a fabulous place....like a sanctuary. Lots of ladies who are on the same journey as you are there....and they find time for a lot of fun activities xx Just freely drop in and they are ready to welcome you with open arms. 

Also you might want to give Macmillan a call. Macmillan are a national cancer charity in the UK. Like CRUK (who host this lovely forum). Another friend works on the advice line at Macmillan....if you give them a call I am sure they’ll be able to direct you to some support groups near you. Here is the link to their contact details: 

www.macmillan.org.uk/.../talking-to-us

They open at 8AM tomorrow. 

It goes without saying that you are welcome here on this forum anytime - sadly there are other ladies with your diagnosis......strength in numbers xx 

Also found this:

Rochdale Breast Cancer Support Group (Rochdale)
Activity: Offers support in a friendly atmosphere with opportunities to socialise and join in arranged outings. Interesting speakers most months.
Contact: Margaret Hammond 01706 868 094
Meet at: Thrum Hall Lane, Thrum Hall Methodist Church, Thrum Hall Lane, OL12 6DE
Date / time: Meets 1-4pm on the last Wednesday of every month
Who for: Open to all with breast cancer.

Salford Breast Cancer Group (Salford)
Activity: This group is currently under development.
Contact: Janet or Joanne on 0161 206 1455
Email: janet.atherton@srft.nhs.uk or joanne.shaw@srft.nhs.uk
Date / time: To be confirmed
Meet at: Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Stott Lane Salford M6 8HD
Who for: For those with a breast cancer diagnosis in the Salford area.
Cancer support groups in the City of Manchester & surrounding areas, SUMMER 17 3

South Manchester Breast Support Group (South Manchester)
Activity: A chance to meet other patients on an informal basis.
Contact: 0161 291 3113 Julia Linihan or the Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Service, Wythenshawe Hospital, 0161 291 4876 / 4875
Email: julia.linihan@uhsm.nhs.uk
Meet at: Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Service, Wythenshawe Hospital, Southmoor Rd, M23 9LT Date / time: Monthly meetings.
Who for: For UHSM patients only at the present time

Hello ragtopchristy and welcome to the forum.  So sorry you have been having a rough time.  Have you come across the MacMillan Cancer Support UK website; it has lots of information and provides information about support groups.  When you first log into the website there is a list of headings across the top of the screen including one called "In Your Area".  You will easily find what is available in the Manchester area.  I hope you find this useful but do come back if you have any problems.  Regarding changing the hospital where you are treated I have never had to do this but I see you have talkedto the doctor who referred you and asked for an alternative venue.  What was the outcome of this?

There are quite a few ladies here who have experience of breast cancer and who will be happy to talk to you about their experiences.  I realise you want to be able to get together with people rather than just having online conversations but this forum is handy just to let off steam occasionally and share your worries.  Best wishes.  Annie

Hi ragtop,

I have had contact with Maggie’s at the Christy Manchester regarding my husband and they were wonderful

Just wanted to say  I don’t know where about in the Manchester area that you live but if you line in North Manchester there is a Maggie’s within the Royal Oldham Hospital

I hope this post is of some help

Thinking of you x

Hi 

Must be very difficult being in a foreign country with health needs. In the main our NHS is great but like you I have been less than impressed with my care.

I see someone has posted some great information on ‘maggies’ I’ve heard great things about this org but have not personally used them.

with regards to the biopsy, I would agree with your doctor, research shows that biopsies don’t accelerate spread/growth esp. in 9 days.

you can ask for another team and don’t see why they wouldn’t refer you other than capacity in the other teams but remember each time you ask for a transfer the longer it will take for your treatment to start.

hope you get everything sorted out soon. X

Hi RagtopChristy,

So sorry you are facing this very much on your own, it must be so tough being in a foreign country while going through this.  I can understand a bit as my family are all in Scotland and I'm in Jersey (the original one, not the new one, I have learned it's always best to clarify that :D ).  I do have great friends and in-laws here now thankfully but had I been diagnosed much sooner, rather than at stage 3C, I'd have been in your shoes.

Jersey is different to the UK but I see that people have been able to let you know of many possible charities whose services you could use.  I use some of the ones here and even despite having friends and family here I have found it invaluable to have time with people in a similar boat to me.  I really hope you find somewhere that you feel comfortable, but we are always here, and online is better than nothing.

I do agree with another poster that it is incredibly unlikely the biopsy has spread your cancer.  It's possible your body has reacted in some other way to having a needle stuck in it.  I did have quite a bit of inflammation after all my biopsies.  It's a shame the biopsy danger myth persists as there were only ever a handful of cases where there was even a suggestion that it might have been a possibility, none of them were every proven though.  Meanwhile biopsies have been proven time and time again to improve survival rates.  As a scientist, given what biopsies involve, I struggle to see how they would spread cancer, and when pitted against how beneficial they are.  I'm not sure what doctors are like in the USA, but I don't know that many in the UK will be used to having people querying about a biopsy having spread their cancer so their reaction may have been partially down to utter confusion!  Definitely not an excuse for any rudeness to you of course, but they are only human, we can all be thrown by something someone says.

I have spent a bit of time in America and have some American friends and in-laws so I realise you will likely experience some cultural differences in your interactions with your doctors compared to those you might have had in the USA.  Sorry there's no easy way around that but feel free to use us as a sounding board if you're not quite sure about your doctor's reactions.  You are at higher risk than most of us of having some miscommunication with your doctor I imagine, just with being from a different culture.

Sadly care does appear to be going downhill a little in England since Westminster set about trying to quietly privatise it behind everyone's backs.  That said the majority of services are still very well run, although will understandably possibly have longer waiting lists etc. than you were used to with a private system.  Our doctors are generally incredibly well trained too, but with that obviously sometimes comes the arrogance!

I hope we can be of some help and support to you, but truly hope you can also have the equivalent of us in physical form where you are.

Best wishes,

LJx

Hi,

Welcome to the forum.

I am so sorry to hear of your poor treatment. I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer in the past 9 years and am due to have surgery on a melanoma on my face on Monday 4th March. Like you, I was not at all happy with my initial treatment and I did eventually change doctors. This has meant an additional hour each way on to my hospital visits, but it has been so worthwhile.

I now have a care team that I can fully trust and, what a difference that makes. I am in a similar position to you with regard to family and found Maggie's to be a tremendous support. They offer various holistic  therapies, counselling, walks and other social events.

There are  number of different organisations around the country and it is well worth enquiring at your local hospital.

I do hope that you find one near you that can help you through this nightmare. Starcatone has given you a number of places to contact and I do hope that you find these helpful.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx