Hi all, oh gosh what a journey this is… 5 days after 3rd EC constant dizzyness weakness and nausea. I do flag sometimes. But at least I had 4 weeks to recover after 2nd one and had some good days to weed and plant my garden. 1.9 cm tumour has reduced by 4 mms so that’s something positive. Yes the port picc line thing does ache a bit but I try to ignore.
Bald head gets quite sweaty with hot flushes. Real urge to run away from all this and frolic free in the hills but I’ll be good and stay. Lots of love to all and thank you for your stories.
Hi everyone. I have only just found this thread!! My name is annemarie (annie) dx on 7th feb with inflammatory breast cancer with lymph node involvement. At the age of 33. I am a registered nurse and have two young kids who are 11 and 10. I started chemo pretty much straight away on the 16th feb. Ive now finished the fec part of the treatment and will start the t part and herceptin this thursday and Friday. Feel like im on the home straight now. Had the typical hair loss and incrrased fatigie but other than that i have been well. Ill have a single masectomy june/july time then radio therapy after that. Then hormone treatment and herceptin to continue ?.its been a lot to deal with and im scared of how ill cope with the next lot of chemo
Hi Annie welcome to the thread and guess what I’m a nurse and there are quite a few other nurses on here too . That is a concern is it a NHS Thing LOL !
Glad to here you not been too bad I too am due to start T soon but have been really ill with FEC . I have a 12 and 16 yr old so GCSEs this year .
Let’s hope if you’ve not been too bad you’ll manage with the T part . Good luck .
There’s quite a few of you due to have mastectomy well I had mine first probably in hindsight I should have done chemo first as I’m triple negative with node involvement . So anyone who wants to know about surgery feel free to ask me .
I’ve had right mastectomy and reconstruction and sentinel node biopsy but unfortunately have node involvement so now need radio. So after my radio I may have more surgery to remove other nodes. I’m also having repeat bone scan end May as lumbar changes seen . So I’m keeping my fingers crossed and it’s a shame I had reconstruction as the radio may cause capsular contraction .
Anyway I wanted to say I was advised to buy front opening bras they were brilliant and comfortable and when I’m better I can use them again for exercise (which I feel is in my dreams at the mo !)
I ordered them off eBay and Amazon . They had removable pads in them and if wanted could put a softie in it. I’m now 4 months post surgery and back in normal bras but no underwire. George is very good and much cheaper for bras to .
Anyway good luck can’t believe how much Tumor has shrunk cuddles that’s fantastic news.
Weeburd I found movicol great for constipation and works quickly.
I rang back cancer support again and have got date in June for reiki so looking forward to that and on waiting list for counselling .
Good luck everyone I’m on my last week of feeling normal then back to it again x
Welcome to this fabulous thread Annie.
I had my mastectomy and immediate tram flap reconstruction back in 2003 when I too was 33 but I had it before chemo. Afterwards I found wearing sports bra helped, I don’t have a sporty bone in my body lol, but as the months passed I slowly moved to normal underwear bras. I am sure you will find what’s best for you.
T
xx
Hi everyone
Sorry have been very quiet on here for past 4 weeks been really struggling with side effects and feeling really down. It’s nice to know I m not alone and am sorry everyone seems to be struggling a bit.
I’m now due my 4th TC on Weds and have only really felt well since weekend. Although have terrible swollen legs and fluid retention am really breathless and feel 99 yrs old as I reach top of stairs!!
Easter holidays were tricky with my children think they are over mummy being unwell! It’ goes on for so long doesn’t it? Was diagnosed in Dec and I think they want things back to normal as do I!
Welcome Annie I too am a nurse and have 3 children 13,11 and 7.
Cuddles great news about tumour reduction. Great to know chemo is working. I too would love to run away to the hills.
Weeburd aveeno cream is fab isn’t it. Constipation is just the worse. I used senna this cycle which helped a lot. Think it’s the ondansetron which is so constipating not forgetting the rest of poison they are giving us!
Chrissy glad to hear your on the list for counselling and reiki sounds lovely. Did you get that through your BCN?
Macneech and Bibi I too will join your drippy gang drippy eyes drippy nose and sometimes a drippy bladder another gorgeous side effect!
Good luck Bibi with your counselling hope you find it helpful.
Miss Green hope your arm is feeling better now. So unfair to have more injections on top of everything else.
Take care everyone let’s hope the sun helps lift everyone’s mood…
Thank you for your lovely comments!! Glad to see theres a few nurses in here, i Have struggled to seperate the nurse from the patient lol. But im getting better. I havnt even started looking at masectomy bras? ?.
Macneech that is great news about the shrinkage of your tumour ???
Welcome Annie - hope you find the thread useful for support - I have .
I feel for all you ladies coping with all this and also having your young children to look after - tough times but sure you are getting lots of love from them to help you cope.
My baby ( she’s 26 lol) has been home for a couple of days and that has certainly helped to lift my spirits.
Heart scan this week for me to check effects of chemo on it ?it won’t be too much.
Have a good week everyone xxx
Oh macneech you have made me laugh so much with the Dennis healey eyebrows and hair ! Great comments!
i was brave yesterday had to go into work for another sick review they do them every 4 to 6 weeks (do others have this harassment?) and when I saw the girls I work (ed) with I showed my head !
The look good course is fab . I also attended the breast care workshop in Solihull west mids that was good too but a shame so far away as too far to remain in contact with people who attended.
Good luck to everyone I too got oncol appointment Friday to discuss the T part of chemo on Tuesday will be interesting macneech if I have Gcfs as they are not too keen here have had 3 doses for last 2 cycles but only because I asked as was neutropenic and chemo was delayed.
kitty75 the reiki is at a local cancer support group I don’t hear from the bcn at our hospital think they are really busy.
hugs to all xxxx
Hi Ladies and welcome Annie
Like Miss Green, I’ve been a bit quiet of late, but more because I feel mostly fine apart from 4-5 days of bone aches after each chemo (which is the T many of you are now moving on to).
I’ve just had my final treatment, as I only needed 4 of them, as the main aim was to get me onto the herceptin. My first cancer was aged 36 (I’m now 45, and this is a new primary, not a recurrence), but no children. I was trying to get pregnant when I found the lump, but bthe first round of chemo put paid to that, and an urgent, single round of IVF to freeze an egg didn’t work.
At today’s treatment, they did the herceptin first, and after that as they were putting the cannula in (2 attempts needed), I had a low blood pressure crash. I went woozy, distant, hot and my BP dropped to 97/54. I guess that’s what it feels like to faint, although I didn’t black out. I came back OK, obs for an hour, drink more water, then they gave me the abraxane (which is taxotere/docetaxel in a fancy format) when my BP came up to 105/67. It was either an allergic reaction to the herceptin (but this was my 4th, so unlikely), or I was dehydrated. So, the lesson is, make sure you drink plenty the day before and the day of treatment! I think I had forgotton that yesterday.
M&S is the easiest source for mastectomy bras. They have quite a range, and they are reasonably priced. You can claim the VAT back on mastectomy bras too, as they are medical aids. You’ll probably get given a ‘softie’ insert initially (like a little pillow!), but I found it rode up as you moved about. The proper sillicone prosthetic is heavier and sits more nicely, but I found that I needed higher tops as you’re missing cleavage and the gap feels obvious, especially when you lean forward. The mastectomy bras also tend to be fuller than other bras. I had reconstruction (back flap) 3 years after my initial mastectomy and am really pleased with it. I didn’t bother with creating a new ‘nipple’. Ain’t no-one but my husband gonna see it! M&S also do some slip on bra vest/crop top type things, which I used after my WLE this time around to give gentle support. I’ll probably revert to these again during radiotherapy if I get sore. marksandspencer.com/2-pack-non-wired-crop-bras/p/p20138158?image=SD_02_T33_7001A_YZ_X_EC_90&color=BlackandWhite&prevPage=plp
I’ll be back to work in 2 weeks, but will do a kind of phased return - basically, I’ll be sensible and do what I can, and my boss trusts me to do the right thing. I’ll do short days during radiotherapy, which starts on 10th May.
Best wishes to everyone, especially those moving on to the next stage. xxxx
Morning everyone - doesn’t the sun lift your mood ? ???
Macneech hope you continue to feel well - I had 2 great days after T and then hit a bad low when steroid high had gone - so take care of yourself xxx
Flora thanks for the reminder about hydration - it really does help .
Interested to know if you were able to get the soft crop bras on easily after mastectomy- could you lift your arm easily to manoeuvre? Heard it’s quite hard to lift arm high so looking at getting bras easy to get on and off and shirts to wear. I will be having a mastectomy in a couple of months - don’t know what they offer at the hospital I’m under so interested to hear about people’s experiences.
Hope your return to work goes smoothly xx
Have a great weekend everyone - I’m off to a college reunion to see my friends from 40 years ago! Should be fun .
Stay well x
Hi Bobo
Good point re:crop tops and mastectomy. You’re right, movement is tricky immediately after that, especially if lymph nodes taken, so front opening clothes and bras are best in those early days. I used the crop tops for my lumpectomy and sentinel node removal, which wasn’t so invasive, and because my surgeon wanted me to wear a bra night and day for 3 weeks to support the surgical layering he’d done. As a result, I have no dent at all! Arm exercises after mastectomy are vital, and really worth it. I used to flex while watching telly. 
Macneech, this is one place I can share this stuff and know there will be people who understand. In real life, some just don’t know how to react! I’m philosophical about things. What is meant to be, will be. I’m just inordinately grateful I’m getting so much amazing treatment, for free, to keep me alive. My gran died of this, in the 1960’s, at my age. I’d be dead too, if treatments hadn’t advanced so much. We’ve a lot to be thankful for.
Predictive text changed Bibi to Bobo! Oops!! ?
What a difference a few days can make! Now at day 10 of my 3rd cycle of FEC. Plunged down into the abyss on Monday - felt so drained and low that I barely moved all day. Was only marginally better on Tuesday but thankfully since Wednesday have been rapidly improving and feeling pretty good today. Sadly I have been plagued with thrush - the downstairs kind as the local pharmacist put it! Even after the medication it has been so itchy that I found myself at 5.30 this morning applying yoghurt to my nether regions just to get some relief!! Why couldn’t I just have had the mouth ulcers again - the mouthwash is so much easier to manage!
Still have hair but now also have a random mostly bald patch on one side. Took ages to realise that it’s the side I mostly sleep on and the hair is just rubbing off. Still not that comfortable with the wig so have started wearing a scarf to cover it. However I am going out for lunch with the girls tomorrow and may just give the wig a proper outing.
I am heading to the office today for a wee catch up and lunch which should be fun and might bring back some feeling of normality. It’ll probably also make me feel quite glad to be off as they’re preparing to move out to different premises and are frantically busy. One of my jobs today is to pack up my desk. Hope I don’t find anything nasty!
Thanks all for letting me offload. It’s good to know that I’m not alone xx
Enjoy your weekend and hope everyone gets a bit of sunshine xx
Hi miss green lovely pic was that alcohol is so have one for me next time as with my reflux I don’t want to risk have only managed tea recently. I too Feel ‘normalish’’ at the mo but tomorrow start cycle 4 new chemo for me docetaxel . Had all my steroids today bloods done hope they ok and stitches out of Hickman so will have bath in preparation for tomorrow.
Have been told got GCFS INJ for 8 days so hope that’s ok too.
withregards to bras Go for zipped front opening if mastectomy you will not be able move arm well for quite a few weeks .This is what I bought off AMAzon and were brilliant left no marks unlike a more expensive one can’t remember if took a while to come so order early unlike as I didn’t have a clue about anything until after op .
Sorry can someone tell me how you put a pic on here.
just wanted to say to everyone we need to have a moan on here it’s important so don’t feel bad moaning . We all can totally empathise as we’ve physically been through it as some people just don’t get it and when they see you on a good day they think that everything is fine . So don’t feel quilty for moaning . My bloody brother has only rang me once in feb and I had the op on 21st dec and I’ve not heard from him since . I won’t say how I feel about it but thankfully I’ve got some fabulous friends .
good luck everyone for any treatment you are having xxx
Hi chrissy68
Yes that was alcohol and it tasted bloody lovely lol. I try to do something nice when I start feeling normal after my 2 weeks of chemo stops. The last two times alcohol has been involved - whoops lol ?. I added the photo by switching from the mobile version to the full site version of the website. Hope that helps?
I too suffer from reflux, mine is extrem and I constantly regurgitate my food/liquid. It’s not caused by the chemo, has been an issue for a couple of years, but sorting it out has taken a back seat to the cancer.
I also understand your pain and frustration with your brother as I have a similar issue with my father. You can’t choose your blood family but you can choose your non blood family ie. Your friends.
Good luck with starting Docetaxel. That’s one of the chemo drugs I am on.
T
xx
Cool hat Miss Green - I bought a big floppy one from Sainsbury’s - reminds me of my youth in the 70’s
have you tried something like lanszaperole or omeprazole for the reflux? Works for me.
Hope you are feeling better Wee Burd and sorted out the thrush issue
Thanks for the bra info Chrissy will definitely have a look at them.
I had a great weekend catching up with old friends and feel ready to tackle the next round of Docetaxol on Thursday - how quickly it comes around - but this will be 5 of 6 which means in 23 days I will be having my last chemo ?
Have a good week everyone xxx
Morning everyone - 5 down only 1 more left ?
such a long day 10-5.30 so felt tired as I don’t sleep well the night before chemo - good sleep and feel fine today. If it follows last time I will fell well for 2days and then not so good ( Pertuzumab, Trastuzumab and Docetaxol) - typically weather was lovely yesterday whilst we were in unit and is horrible today - not so good for gardening project 
So will make the most of it doing a few crafting things and catching up with friends.
Trying to manage my weight but it keeps increasing- steroids don’t help, not as much exercise as usual but trying to walk and do yoga when I can. People tell me not to worry it’s not the most important thing at the moment but it is depressing - doesn’t help to feeling good - but will keep trying.
Hope evryone is managing their treatment well, have a good weekend ? x
Macneech - no line - just takes ages as they do a flush between each one and then I use the cold cap on the Docetaxol so that adds about an hour and half - but they look after you well don’t they ?constant cups of tea / toast/ sandwiches/ biscuits/ yogurts if you want them.
Ive had very itchy skin the last few weeks - especially on my torso - a friend recommended Aveeno cream last week, got some and it is great - stopped the itching really quickly - can recommend for anyone else with itching.