Hello ladies. So not the best news from my surgeon today. I had a good response to chemo but not a complete response. She successfully removed my lump but there was pre invasive cells in the margins including what she called a satellite site. The lump was measured as 4 cm due to this site and 8 mm of cancer remained. She got clear margins all around except for around this satellite site. So she wants to go back in next week and shave some more off on that side. I’m disappointed that I have to have another operation and that my radiotherapy will be delayed. I’m also worried that if the chemo didn’t kill all the cells in the lump did it get all those that could have been floating round my body. My surgeon did say that all the cancer was out so I guess I should focus on that. I’m doing day 1 of a 2 day Mcmillon moving forward course tomorrow so maybe that will help me to sort through these feelings. Love to you all xx
Hi August Ladies
I’m now a couple of weeks after finishing Chemo - such a great feeling now it’s over, but last week was pretty horrendous with the worst bout of side effects I’ve had so far. But this week I’ve bounced back, got a bit of energy back and I’m back to work which is good to have a bit of normality and see people again, even though it’s quite stressful being back into a hectic work environment.
Had my Radiotherapy assessment last week and now have three dots tattooed, all ready to start on Monday! Bit surprised it’s so quick, but sooner started, sooner finished… Just hope I’ve recovered enough from Chemo to cope with it. Is anyone who’s having Rads trying to work through it as I’m hoping to but want to be realistic as well - I know it can make you so tired once you’re into the treatment.
So glad to have got through Chemo after The Churchill in Oxford where I’m at, has had such negative press this week in the news saying their Chemo treatment is ‘unsustainable’ - talking of delaying treatment and reducing the number of cycles for patients, so glad it hasn’t affected my treatment but really feel for people who will be undergoing treatment in the future, if what they say is true… Can’t fault the treatment I’ve had, the lovely nurses and the NHS in general - all been so supportive and caring throughout my Chemo, I’m so grateful to them all.
Butterfly, so pleased you’ve finished now as well, hope the side effects are bearable for you. Great that you’re finishing Rads on Tuesday, Mishy18 - it’s been a long journey for you.
Jo, best of luck for your Op tomorrow, hope it all goes well and you recover soon. And Fairy how are you doing after your surgery, hope you’re recovering well?
Sib, hope you’re doing OK, it must be your last Chemo next week - you’ve had such a tough time through it all, you’ll be so pleased to get to the end… Hope your nails start to grow back soon, it sounds horrible for you. I’m starting tamoxifen too soon and I’m a bit worried about the potential side effects…
CK - I agree with you about going through this treatment changing your perspective on things, people and life in general, hope it makes you stronger and able to cope with things life might throw at you - although I’ve only been able to think like that on the good days, just hoping they’ll be more frequent going forward! 2018 hopefully be a better and healthier year for us all…
Ali, sorry to hear you didn’t get clear margins and need to have another Op, I can relate to that as I had that several times before Chemo - really hoping they get it all next time, at least you won’t have too long to wait. Hope doing the moving forward course helps you - the course does sound good, think I might look into it too.
Hope everyone else is doing as well as expected. Thanks for all your support on this forum, it’s helped me get through this so much… xxx
Hi ladies
Ali, I’m sorry you have to have another op but hope the moving on course has helped you in some way. Good luck for next week.
Mary-Kate these side effects are just so awful. I too haven’t had a good week but have woken feeling a bit brighter, just hoping the rest of me follows! Have had days when I’ve hardly been able to put one foot in front of the other. And am so fed up that my taste has gone again - no pleasure in eating. Really hoping that is the D and nothing to do with the HP as I’m continuing with them for 9 months.
Hope everyone else is doing ok, recovering from surgery and radiotherapy. I’m sure we’ll cross each other on other threads. What a brilliant find this forum was and continues to be. Hugs to all. Xx
Hey lovelies
Can you believe how far we’ve all come since chemo started in August?
Had surgery yesterday, lymph nodes were clear and the surgeon feels confident he got clear margins but we won’t know for a couple of weeks.
Mary Kate - hope the radio goes well! I’m sure you’ll nail it.
When’s your next surgery Ali?
Hope you are all recovering and resting.
Lots of love
Jo xx
Hi ladies,
Glad your surgery went well, jo.
Ali- sorry you have to have a second op. It should be easier and smaller than the first op so fingers crossed for you.
Sib- hope you are doing ok. Thinking of you and hoping your fingers are less sore too.
Mishy - wow, last radio tomorrow. How were the side effects? Do you feel very tired/achey?
Mary kate - I can’t believe you are working already! Good luck with the rads and don’t forget to rest if you need it.
Butterfly - I had herceptin on its own 12 days ago and it did make my mouth a bit dry for a couple of days but nothing like the horrors of docetaxel taste buds. Mild aches In Legs too but again, compared to chemo, totally manageable!
I’ve got my op on Wednesday this week - WLE and LN clearance. Not prepared at all!
Ck - good luck with your op, too. Glad you are still enjoying the therapies. Are you prepared for your op?
Love to you all
Cx
Hi August ladies!
Am nearly at the finish line, two more radiotherapy sessions and I’m done on Thursday. I’m Triple Negative so no more drugs or treatments which scares me a lot! Feel quite helpless, so much so that I burst into tears in the radiotherapy waiting room yesterday, mortified! The regular contact with practitioners over the last few months has been like a crutch, it makes you feel that your burden is being shared, which is so comforting. Just yearly mammograms from now on…scary.
Radiotherapy has been so much easier than I expected. The fatigue never hit me really and at my review appt yesterday at session 17 the radiographer said it may be because I’ve experienced chemo and that I’ve become accustomed to being generally tired, this is a good thing as I expected to be wiped out but I haven’t been at all. Physically, I’m experiencing what I’d say is a moderate case of prickly heat just below my neck on my right side and under my bra line and the rest of my boob feels like it has heat like sunburn. I’ve been recommended to take anti-histamines to help with the incessant itching the rash is giving me and it’s worse at night but really isn’t half as bad as I’d expected. I asked how long it will take for this to settle after I finish on Thurs and they said it may get worse for a couple of weeks then slowly improve. Hope I’ll be ok for a little escape to Iceland (the country!!) in a couple of weeks, I want to try out the hot springs!
Am pleased that my hair is clearly growing back, when I feel my head now I feel hair rather than skin!!! Am truly fed up of the wig and headscarf thing now but will be sticking it out til Easter I think, I’m not brave enough.
I have a question…who was reading a book on diet for breast cancer a couple of months ago?? I made a mental note to read it once I’d finished treatment and now can’t find the post. Need the title of the book please in anyone remembers it.
Keep going ladies, one day at a time x
Hi Ladies
Thank you for your experience of radiotherapy Helen, some definite positives in there. 2 more and you’re done - well done for reaching the finishing line ? I hope you manage to have your break in Iceland, sounds a perfect way to celebrate.
Cathy thank you for the reassurance about Herceptin, that is such good news! Good luck with your op tomorrow. And Jo hope you are recovering well from yours.
Hugs to all the August ladies, hope you are all doing ok. Xx
Hi ladies
Sib, good luck for your last chemo tomorrow. It’s been a long road to the end for you but you’ve finally got there.
Mary-kate, I hope your radiotherapy is going well. I’ll be interested to hear how you get on with working as I’m planning on going back to work before mine start.
Cathysid, good luck for your op tomorrow.
Jo, I hope you are recovering well and fingers crossed your surgeon got clear margins.
Helen, thanks for the info on how you’ve coped with radiotherapy. It’s good to hear that you haven’t been hit with the fatigue. Everyone keeps telling me how bad it is. I don’t remember who was reading about diet but I’m reading Foods to fight cancer which is really good.
I have my operation to clear the margins on Friday. I’m last on the list so it will be a very long day of hanging about waiting xx
Thanks Ali, that’s the book I was looking for x
Ali, lots of books with that title on Amazon, who’s the author??
Helen, mine is by Prof Richard beliveau and Dr Denis Gingras xx
Thanks Ali and Jencat xx
Hi Ladies, last chemo done??, long day at hospital, very very busy and had my chemo, bone strengthening plus Herceptin. At hospital from 10.30àm till 4.30pm so exhausted when I got home, had anti sickness and bed.
Hope we are all doing well.
Marykate cant believe your back at work, i really worry about returning to work, i commute car, walk, train and further walk, all virtually impossible at moment plus full time stressful,time critcal job with the usual office sniping and politics, which at the moment I could not cope with
Cathy hope your op went ok and you recover well just take it easy and do your excercises.
Alis sorry you have to have another op, but they are best to get everything removed to give you best chance. I need a full mastectomy to get clear margins and dont regret it, the cancer needed to go. Keep your pecker up, any set back is disappointing and we are all fragile at moment.
Got heartscan tommorow (actually today!) and to start tamoxifen mid feb, moving forward course end of feb and plastic surgery and onc appointments March.
Then booked a 2 week holiday to Cyprus in April for some much needed rest and relaxation . Just need to sort travel insurance now!
Sending hugs to you all. This site is brilliant for calming fear and getting tips. I
Shirley. Xx
Great to hear you had last one Sib, hoping everyone is doing ok, i finished rads last week feeling really tired atm coped well with rads but feeling the awful fatigue that some talk about, had bloods incase there is some anemic symptoms
Have signed up for the where now course at Maggies its for 7 weeks hopefully should help as i feel a little… well where now!!!
Hi ladies
I spent 9 and a half hours at the hospital yesterday for my op which took an hour! The first op on the list overran by nearly 2 hours! Had to listen to a girl on the day ward having a complete meltdown and shouting at her mum and crying for over an hour. It didn’t help with the nerves and the endless waiting. She was probably in pain (she was an orthopedic case) and frightened but she was behaving like a brat. Anyway, my op went well and my surgeon removed all the tissue she wanted to but it’s a nervous 3 week wait for the results now.
Sib, glad your final chemo is over. I hope you are feeling ok. I worry about going back to work too. I work full time and my job is very mentally demanding. Although I am having a phased return I worry that I won’t be able to do the job any more.
Butterfly, how is the eye? I hope it has settled down. My toenails used to hurt but so far they are still hanging in there 2 months later.
Mishy, glad your rads have finished. I’m not looking forward to the fatigue although I also just want them over with.
How are all you other August ladies doing? xx
Hi ladies, our treatments are moving on with a few ups ans downs but we we get there, us warriors!
After a tiring last Doxetaxol and and bad cold I’m now ready for my op to clear nodes and clear margins this Monday. Ive been told its a day case?? Ive been trying to cram lots in between resting as will be out of action for a while. Thank goodness dor TV and laptop and phones!!!
Had another Psychic night on Weds and raised some more funds for my local cancer care centre and now organising events for Chinese New Year of the Dog which carrys on for 15 days and Valentines Day.
Had a catch up with a couple of ladies for New Year and enjoyed a few drinks after not wanting any throughout chemo. Sambucca and lemonade is my new drink. Similar to Pernod but Sambucca is cool?
Ali S
Glad op went well although long and having to listen to rhe spoult brat but it may of past the time for you:) ?for your results!
Mishy Well done for final rads!!! Ive still got op and then rads. A while to go. Try to rest up as Ive heard it does tire you out. What next, go and enjoy yourself and put you first now. Holidays, afternoon tea, exercise class, join some groups and the class will help you. All the vest.xx
Sib
Well done for last chemo too. The first Gerceptin was my longest, had to stay at hospital for 6 hours and then chemo the day after and the getting there and back and not sleeping well b4. I was exhausted that week but all needed and well. Lucky you Cyprus, its lovely there but we went in Summwr one year and too hot so April is a good time. Im sure you will fet back into work after a while but take it easy. Colleagues wi understsnd and support you.x
Butterfly
Each day will get better. As for the swollen eye I had 2 swollen eyes with burns and burns on both cheeks but all cleared up after a week of anti biotics and Cetraben cream from the GP. Very scary though as worried will scar but all cleared up. Just like sunburn and very hot. My eyes do get itchy a lot and I rmthink its because no eyelashes to protect dust etc going in. We take our eyelashes for granted. Hope those SE go soon. The last Doxe took me a month to feel normal and taste buds back.xx
Helen
Thanks for the advice on Rads. I will have rhem after recovered from surgery. Lady bowler has also given me some tips. Goood to hear not too fatigued as maybe used to it after chemo. Hope tbis is my case but if I am, I will rest and sleep?
Enjoy your holiday, you deserve it.xx
Cathysid
Hope you are recovering well after op. My turn on Monday. Plenty rest.xx
Jencat
How are you. Nearly there too. We have been on this journey together and our cats and daughters.xx
Mary kate
2018 is deffo going to be better for all of us! We need to put 2017 away and concentrate on ourselves now! Hope the rads are going well for you and glad you’ve had good treatment despite the reputation. It must be the minority. I cant fault rhe NHS although I have private medical I chose to stick with them as I felt confortable and knew some ladies from my charity fundraising. Im sure all hospitals want to do the best for all patients but unfortunately it may not seem like it for some and also costs may get in the way of some. Its so sad some may not feel this but we just need to rhink about ourslves as altbough it sounds selfish everyone is different and respond differently or expect different things too. Xx
So my op is on Monday so now Im just going to work until op as I will be out of action for a while. Need to stock up my freezer again.
Right, nap now b4 work later???
Good luck for today CK x
Thank you ladies!! Surgery seemed successful after a traumatic morning! I didn’t get home until 8pm last night shattered. My op was delayed due to having a CT scan as something or nothing showed up on my Echio last Weds. The CT was scheduled for 8.45am so by 9.30 I asked and the nurse said it was 15.45pm so I kicked ass and say no way thats right as my surgeon finishes by then! He then went to check and 1345 was the extention number for scans! Duh!!! Could’ve done without that!
Then they looked at my veins which are rubbish after chemo for a cannula and said they were waiting for someone to come up which never happened so I was eventually asked down but didnt even need a cannula after all that!! CT showed nothing! Phew!!!Arghhh! Could’ve done without that too!
Anyway, main thing is I was ready for surgery at 4pm and all went smooth! Went to sleep at 10pm after some sweet potato soup and toast and woke up at 10am. Had lunch cooked by my cuz and now resting, watching cheesy TV and waiting for district nurse coming to change the drain??
Butterfly
Hope you get good results today. ???
That’s great news Butterfly I’m really pleased for you. Good luck with your surgery whatever you decide.
CK, glad your surgery went well after all the stress. I hope you are recovering well.
I hope all other August ladies are doing well xx
That’s great Butterfly, bet you’re chuffed about that…
CK hope you’re recovering well and watching some good tv? Sounds like it was a traumatic day for you!!
I get my results from surgery on Tuesday - eek!!!
Sending lots of love to the August girls!! Can’t believe it’s been 6 months since I started treatment.
Xxx