Hi @cazgib10 , just catching up and see you are really going through the mill worrying about your 13 year-old. I remember 25 years ago when I got it the first time my kids were four and six and I was absolutely obsessed that my older son, who is dyslexic, would never learn to read. In fact, he went on to get a degree in philosophy and now works in advertising. I think it’s a time in your life when actually you need to think about yourself and not feel guilty about looking after number one.. And you’re not doing your teenage son any favours because he’s old enough to realise that you’re worrying about him and that might even add to the stress. Right now you’ve just got to focus on getting through the treatment and be kind to yourself.
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@tesso its no worries thankyou for messaging
@jane2026 thankyou for ur kind words and its reassuring to know that u have been cancer free dor 25 yrs i think i am more concerned about not managing all my treatment due to the side effects and where it will leave me if i dont , i really dont want to let myself or my family down if this gets to hard for me ,
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Hello lovely people. Hope you are all doing OK.
I saw my breast surgeon on Friday. Did an ultrasound and my tumour has reduced from 25mm x 19mm to 15mm x 11mm after 2 chemo sessions (TCHP.) He’s not exactly forthcoming with info but when I asked him if that is a good response. He said yes but didn’t seem overly positive and mentioned something about highly sensitive oestrogen/progesterone tumours like mine may not show such a big reduction after chemo 4. (I’m HER2 positive too). I came away feeling relieved by the reduction but now bit concerned that might be as good as it gets before surgery for me. Perhaps I should think more positively. I didn’t have any node involvement on original ultrasound/contrast mammogram and haven’t on this scan either. Have any of you had a scan after your second round? If so, I hope you’ve had a good result.
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Had Ecx3 , then docatexel x3 last year .i was fine days 1-2 after treatment . Then absolutely floored days 3 to 8 . And sorry to say this but it gets worse , sort of build up in your body . I had x2 sessions where gap was extended as white blood count low . Finished in late October.. then had one week of radiotherapy in November . By Feb / March I was feeling much better .. but at 68 who knows if some of the lethargy is just old age . Glad to put last year behind me & first mammogram all clear . Hair regrew from December .. first haircut today as it’s weirdly curly . My eyebrows & eye lashes are just about coming back to full thickness .
I hope you all get your hair back. Weirdly it helps me feel back to normal & on the road to recovery .
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Hello @alpacagirl ! I’m diagnosed with Lobular BC but it’s Er+ and Her2 positive too. I had an ultrasound after I think 3 X EC (just before EC round 4 and before starting on Docetaxel and Phesgo). My oncologist said there was a reduction in size, that was good progress and particularly good because we hadn’t even moved onto the more “potent” phase of treatment yet. He said that the Phesgo treatment, being targeted to Her2 positive cancers, is expected to have an even greater affect. Assuming you’ll have that treatment too? If so, I hope my oncologist’s positive framing helps you as it really helped me feel like things were moving in the right direction.
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Hello @felineoptimist Love your username! Are you a cat person? Yes I’m having 6 sessions of Docetaxel, Carboplatin and Phesgo before surgery. Number 3 coming up on Monday as long as bloods are OK 
(I had a delay after chemo 1 as got febrile neutropenia and ended up in hospital for 3 days) I guess my regime is the ‘potent’ phase your oncologist referred to. Its great you have had a reduction in size after EC. Certainly bodes well 
Wishing all you the best for ongoing treatment.
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Helloo - hope people are doing ok? I’ve been a bit quiet as my mental health has taken an enormous dip after my second EC. I’ve been one of the unlucky ones and had issues with my picc line, to the point where it was taken out after my second chemo. They tried a reinsertion today but it didn’t work (after an hour of trying 
) so next EC has to be via cannula. Does anyone have any positive stories of using a cannula, all I’ve seen are negative ones and I’m desperately trying to balance it out. I’m considering giving up on a picc line as it seems I have a large nerve bundle by the vein they want to use. I have two ECs left then 4 paclitaxel. Anyone got any positive cannula stories please? 
I have had x2 EC now with a cannula and had no issues at all and I am hoping that my veins will hold out for x4 more chemo sessions.
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@nat_26 hello! So far I’ve had four x EC and two x Docetaxel via cannula and haven’t had any problems at all. I was also recently in hospital for over a week with a cannula inserted the whole time for antibiotic IV and, again, no problem. The only slight issues I’ve had is when they take my bloods before chemo but they can usually find somewhere. I have two more rounds of chemo to go and I don’t foresee any issues with them.
I really didn’t want a PICC - don’t know why but I just didn’t like the idea of it. They were a little concerned to begin with because I can only use one arm due to lymph node removal, but I can honestly say I haven’t had any problems.
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@nat_26 i finished 12 weeks of paclitaxel a fortnight ago and had them all through a cannula with no issues. Like @debs5 i also only had one hand available due to mastectomy on the other side, plus didn’t fancy a foreign body in my body as it were. They just used a different bit of my hand or wrist each week and I was fine, had minimal bruising. Given that mine was weekly and so I had little time to recover it was pretty successful I’d say. I’m notoriously bad for getting blood out of a vein in my arm for blood tests but the hand seemed fine. I think you’ll be ok 
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@sam1204 @debs5 @sel9301 thank you soo much for your responses, I’m so pleased you’ve had good experiences and this has given me some much needed hope 
I too have only the one arm that can be used but feeling much more hopeful about the whole thing now knowing it can be done
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Hi everyone, really struggling with my scalp at the moment. I braved the shave and took it down to the lowest with a guard on so shorter than a number one because my hair was falling out so badly. But now the bit I have left is shedding again and so itchy. Do you think it’s ok to wet shave the rest off?
Also been really struggling with my mental health recently. I know I have a scan coming up after cycle 3 to check that everything is shrinking. Because I am stage 4 I am terrified if it’s not working then they will stop it. Ironic really because I hate the treatment as well. I just want the f***** cut out but they can’t do that either 
.
I’m sorry for pained post. I contacted my GP who has upped my antidepressant (still a low dose) who has recommended counselling so I will look into that. I think it’s the fatigue and taste issues that are getting to me the most.
On the up side weather is looking good and I am planning on sitting in the garden under my umbrella getting some vitamin D 
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@nat_26 sorry to hear about picc line issues but sounds like it will be ok through the cannula. Great to have others experiences help us along xx
I cant offer advise re shaving but can say chemo definitely is hard on mental health. I too am looking forward to the good weather. Big hugs xx
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No experience of either a picc line or a cannula however I have a portacath which has been fine so far if that’s an option? I’m on round 3 of 4 ec today.
Hello nat26, I was supposed to have a picc line however from BC before have a portacath, You go into theatre local ansethetic, mine is a little deeper cause of breast tissue, cancer is on the other breast. Im not going to lye have had anixiety making sure they can access. I trust the nurses 100% can you ask for a portacath . Big hugs xxx
Hello puglover56, Im having 12 weeks once a week, I had my 4th yesterday. I need to kick my arse to do some excercise even abit of dancing in the living room. I dont have family parents passed away, divorced had to move out of the area so havent made any new friends yet, me bust work , I have two wonderful young adults (in 20’s) who have been so helpful and supportive, I need to stay in contact with work collegaues as they have said give us a ring if you need to talk. as the mo im in a low, Im going to start to write down why im feeling like this. I have a assistance support from work i have not contacted yet, but i will. I just had to take one day at a time. I have side effects change, tastebuds oh as long as i can have dark choc i dont care , last week i had the sore mouth first time so had a large bow of frozen berries (did thaw out abit) with yoghurt. I can eat and drink but can not be hot must be luke warm, We are all going through a horrible journey , a jourey that will show our strength, determination, even getting up having a shower , combing your hair. we are warriors we can do this. I watched Kylie last night she had breast cancer again but didnt tell anyone she just wanted to get on with that. When I first had primary in 2019 I put on facebook to tell everyone to check, I havent done it this time, My friends at work know but not facebook. Please take care big big hugs xxxx
I have just read this from canceruk re excercise. xxxhttps://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/coping/physically/exercise-guidelines
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Gutted Just had a phone call from oncology CNS to advise my neutrophils are too low for me to go ahead with chemo 3 on Monday. So that’s at least a week’s delay (for the second time) - ended up in hospital for 3 days after chemo 1) They also need to reduce my chemo dose (not sure if its the Docetaxel or Carboplatin or both) I’m really worried about that. After two sessions my tumour reduced from 25mm to 15mm. I’m concerned the reduction will slow or even stop. The CNS said this is very common and it happens more than 50% of the time. I find that hard to believe. Anyone else been in this position?
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@alpacagirl I was delayed once with low neutrophils. Have a read of the Cancer made me eat thread. I never missed another one as I adopted a 100% cocoa daily, high protein and the right kind of fruit diet along with moderate exercise. Lots about it on that thread but if you want more info just ask. There are others in the February and March threads who adopted same approach and got their neutrophils back up. I’m convinced it works. Good luck!
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