Ps RaeB I was on the receiving end of a similar diagnosis to you in June, but 20mm. You must be having Herceptin too?
Bibi, painful nails lasted 3 or 4 days and it only happened after the first cycle, not the second. My third cycle is tomorrow. While no pain now, a few of those damaged nails are lifting from the nailbed and it looks like i may lose a few. Yesterday’s appointments went really well. Latest MRI scan shows chemo shrinking tumour down even further and they also now can’t detect any affected lymph nodes. Mastectomy and lymph node clearance still needed cos of size and aggressive nature of tumour at time of diagnosis but this is great news as it means the chemo will also be working on any stray cells that have broken away but can’t be detected… which is what the chemo is for in the first place. Tumour has shrunk away from nipple so much they may be able to keep the nipple and sew it on to the reconstructed boob! Meeting plastic surgeon this morning.Love to all.xxxxxxx
Brave that’s great news regarding the mri. My situation seems very similar to yours. I’m with my oncologist today and need to ask for checks to start herceptine and also need an mri to monitor shrinkage. I can hardly feel lump now so that’s good. I have my first T tomorrow. I know a lot worry about this one but personally I’m happy to not have the dreaded sickness xxx
Thanks for the info Brave Brilliant news about further shrinkage & potentially keeping the nipple so you have a matching pair. Sorry to hear you might be losing some nails though. Good luck for your Tax LisaJ xx
Hi all, I saw my onco yesterday and they have reduced the dose of T by 20%. As I had a really bad first cycle of T. I’m due to have it tomorrow after the port appt. fingers crossed!
Can i ask if anyone else has their’s reduced? I was a bit worried and asked if it will be less affective after reducing it by 20% and was told that it’s fine as it’s not a lot and it won’t be less effective.
Tania, i forgot to say i’m having my paclitaxel reduced by 25% for tomorrow’s session because i’ve developed peripheral neuropathy in my right foot. If it gets worse they might not do the last session at all. The onc clearly wants to see the whole thing through as the chemo is having such an effect, but not at the expense of long-term nerve damage. Oh, the joys.
Hello ladies , I’ve just been for my bloods doing ready for my 5th cycle of TAC , I’ve also had my chemo reduced by 20% , my onc says it still has benefit upto 50% reduction , and they only do it as a guide on height and weight as they don’t know how toxic it’s going to be to us , but yes you do worry it’s not going to work , but it does depend on how severe the side effects are and they don’t want to get to the point where they can’t give us any chemo at all , that’s what I was told when I was apprehensive , I’m not looking forward to no 5 , and the date , this fri 13 th !!! Also my 5 yr old is being very clingy and emotional , I’ll be so glad when the chemo over and we can move back home and get some normality back , he may settle more then .
I’m also struggling with my wig , had it on about 4 times , it’s so warm , so I’m still hat wearing , but not now phew it’s so warm today , brave where can I access your blog , I’d love to read it , Lv to everyone xxxxx
It’s at iamtheoneineight.wordpress.com.
Thanks Bravescholar and Lisalouw. I had all the se with this drug and also my thumb and first two fingers were very painful/numb. That’s why they are reducing it. Hope i get less se after tomorrow’s cycle.
Also just went to see people for the port abd the lady suggested Hickman line as I only got two more chemos left. Feeling a bit nervous about getting it done as i was mentally prepared to get port put in. Has anyone had hickman line put in?
Lisalouw - You will be fine for Friday and hope all goes well with you.
Hi all, day 11 after T, at present in hospital since Saturday, picked up infection. Just be glad when this is over had enough now. Fed up of wearing my wig, don’t wear anything when at home. Lovely to hear how you are all doing, love Shelly xx
Shelly sorry to hear you are in hospital & hope you feel better soon. Good luck to all having chemo later this week. xx
Thanks Bibi, home now, feeling much better. All the best everyone xx
Hi ladies , I have my chemo tom , 5th TAC , it’s been reduced past twice to 80% , I’m having abit of a panic at the moment , why I do this to myself I do not know grrr , I saw a different consultant yesterday , my usual one is on holiday , I told her my neuropathy in hands and feet had got better , and now today it’s only come back , how that’s happened i do not know , I’m wondering if anxiety has anything to do with it , so I’ll have to mention it to my chemo nurse tom , I think the steroids are making me jittery and mind go on overdrive .
Hi Tania , I have a Hickman line fitted , they do numb you with local to put it in and there is a lot of tugging and pulling and it is quite sore after , I personally don’t like mine ,as it’s a reminder all the time of the chemo , but needs must and it does make it easy for chemo and bloods and such , no needles , no soreness or painful veins and if you only got 2 more to go it won’t be in for too long anyway , love to everyone xxxx
Good luck tomorrow, Lisa. I had my 2nd last session yesterday. Sat on sofa for most of day then forced myself to go out and do the shopping. Glad I did. xx
Hi all,
Spent the morning at the hospital today seeing two oncologists one for a review of my chemo and one to set up my radiotherapy which is due to start week beginning 16th Dec - 20 sessions with time off on the BHs for good behaviour.
Just have to have another appt to CT scan my chest so they hit the right areas, get my tattoos then good to go starting four weeks after my last chemo.
Also do not have to see my oncologist again now until February so thought long and hard about asking the dreaded question about how likely it is not to return! Taking into account my age 43, the fact that it was stage three, triple negative and a tumour type normally found in the lung he has said I have greater than a 50% chance of it not returning BUT this goes up hugely after the three year point. They are also going to do some genetic testing in Feb to check if I carry the BRCA gene. Not really what I wanted to hear but then perhaps I shouldn’t have asked the question in the first place and they do say damn lies and statistics. Also on a positive note last chemo on Monday yeah!
Shelly sorry to hear you have been in hospital hope your feeling better soon, brave hope the shopping didn’t bank too much and ladies hope the reduced dose is a kinder for you, take care and keep plodding onwards xxxxx
Congrats Richelle & Brave, must be amazing to just have one more left . . I’m green with envy. Lisa hope it goes well tomorrow xx
Yes, nice to be getting to the end of the first leg of the “journey”. Meeting breast surgeon later today to talk through op. Think date is 19 Dec, with a view to getting me home if all goes well on Xmas Eve…
That’s a bit close for comfort. You don’t want to be stuck there on Christmas day. Mind u will be nice to be all finished by Dec 31st & start 2016 with fresh slate. Do you need rads too? xx
Makes sense Brave. Does anyone have any tips for getting crusty bits off your eyelids (yes lovely 
in the morning now our eyelashes are beginning to go. I am using cotton wool with hot water, but I can’t get the more stubborn ones off without accidentally removing the eyelash it’s stuck to too, which I obviousy makes the whole sitution worse. Thanks xx
Hi ladies I’m glad you asked about eyelashes. I woke up this morning with very sticky eyes and underneath my eyes are red. I will have to buy some cotton wool. Xxxx