Hi Moijan and Chrissy
My finger nails are very sore indeed. Toe nails are a little sore but nothing like my fingers. Just hope I am not going to lose any as that freaks me out.
Xx
Just to prove that I don’t just come on here to moan all the time yesterday I had a really lovely day. Along with 4 friends I walked a 5k Race for Life at Stirling university. We remembered our dear friend who died last November. We had glorious sunshine and scenery and afterwards everyone came back to the house for a barbecue and yummy prosecco. What a great day. And I felt just about normal. What a difference good weather and good friends can make 
Hope everyone is coping and feeling strong. Good luck to everyone having treatment this week.
Thats sounds lovely Wee Burd. Glad you have some nice “You Time” x
Great to hear you had a good weekend Wee Burd and well done for doing the walk.
ive been lucky with my nails and they are still OK and not sore on the Docetaxol- hate the black nail varnish though - don’t know how people can be bothered with nail varnish - does my head in having to maintain it. Using some nice cuticle and nail cream to give them a boost.
Welcome to the group Daisy - isn’t it weird how we all react differently to the same drugs? I have found the T cycle doesn’t affect me as much as the FEC did.Hope you have picked up after last cycle now.
I have had oncologist appointment this morning , was supposed to have last chemo this Thursday but he is so pleased with the way tumour has responded to the 2 cycles of T + herceptin he has decided an extra round would be the best way forward to give me the best chance of making sure the little bugger is dealt with forever. So feeling a bit weird as was expecting this week to be last and was making plans for a holiday before surgery- so they are on hold again - but am ok with the extra chemo if it gives me a better fighting chance. I I’ll just have to enjoy my garden instead- and wedding dress shopping to look forward to with my daughter.
Have a good week everyone - stay well x
Hi Woodie67 sounds like you’re at the same stage as I am. I’ve not been having chest problems as such but I notice that I get breathless more easily when walking briskly or uphill. I have been putting that down to the fact that I’m much less fit than before starting chemo as I have so many days now when I am really inactive. Probably good to let your chemo team know how you’re progressing so that they can spot any changes.
Hi woodie67
I to am TNBC I’ve had right Mast and sentinel node biopsy and implant and then they discovered it had spread to my lymph nodes so I’ve had FEC Now on 2nd T yesterday was there 6 hrs am very tired I too get breathless it’s a side effect of T sadly but I would ring triage to get it checked out . Have you had surgery ? Hope your 2nd T is a bit better I also have sore nail beds that are lifting . But fatigue is a he worse thing .
Hi Mojan you asked if my fingers are sore they are not it’s just my nails hope yours are better xx
Thanks for the replies made me feel better - it is when I’m walking upstairs & any hills that I really notice it - will mention again to my Onc next Tuesday before next dose but did last time & she just dismissed it really. Yes had my surgery on 1st Feb - mastectomy & axillary clearance - will do 3 weeks of rads in July to armpit, clavicle, chest wall & mammary node area then pray for the best and back to work at some point!
Hi woodie
Well perhaps if they not concerned that’s a good sign but it is a worry for you.
You sound very similar to me did you have reconstruction? I wished I hadn’t as I too have to have radio but haven’t a clue how much yet and whether I’ll have axilla clearance but obviously I now run the risk of capsular contraction. It’s nice to hear you had op first as I’ve read a lot that TNBC ladies tend to have chemo first you are the first I know to have surgery first so it’s nice to hear.
Hope you get on ok next week . I’m really tired today been sleep for 3 hrs today . As they say listen to your body good luck next week x have you been off work long ? I’ve gern off since 5th Dec they said it would probably be a year . I hit half pay next month ? and not able to get any financial support x
My surgeon offered me surgery first as my Breast tumour was so small (turned out to be just 7 mm and neither she or I could feel it) but shot straight to my armpit nodes which was the lump I felt - she was planning chemo first but when node biopsy came back positive said research showed no difference in outcome - felt good to me to “chop it out” - had surgery on 1st Feb & started chemo on 21st Feb. Been off work since my diagnosis - I work at the hospital, know the surgeon and she said my job was too stressful to works and she wanted me as stress free and healthy as possible to go the the treatment. Go to half pay in July and know my boss is desperate to get me back to work - thinking or taking leave in October and phased return in November. Having said that after doing unhealthy late night Dr Googling scaring myself about my prognosis I told him today I need to consider all my options!
Sorry no reconstruction- was told that would have to be delayed due to needing radiotherapy. I go for genetic counselling on Monday in Manchester - one of my questions will be do I need the left breast removing? I don’t trust mammograms - had a clear one in september 2017 & by end of December 2017 has invasive tumour which had spread to lymph nodes…
Hi woodie
I had brca testing came back neg which I’m pleased as have 2 young girls 12 and 16 but they said when they 30 to get referred anyway let’s hope by then they can do more for triple neg patients as it’s pants isn’t it and such a worry . The problem with TN is it’s fast growing so perhaps you’re earlier scan it hadn’t developed. I was called early at 47 (they are thinking of bringing the age forward for mammograms) and so shouldn’t be having mine til Dec this year which would have be a disaster and I believe it would have spread else where . I found it by chance lying in bed so was really lucky .
The brca results take about 6 weeks hope it goes ok have you got kids? Let me know how u get on x
Ps I’m glad for you that you didn’t have implant my surgeon was convinced it hadn’t spread and so put implant in but after radio may need removing and it was the most painful thing I’d gone through so not looking forward to it x
Hi all
Side effects definitely get worse the further along you go don’t they? Sorry to hear people are suffering with sore nails and breathlessness. I have been a bit quiet as have really struggled with SE s this cycle. I am so pleased to say that I have finished chemo and hope I never have to do that again!! Had 4cycles of TC and the fourth T completely wiped me out…
I too have been breathless on movement, sometimes just whilst sitting so bad last week was referred into hospital with a suspected PE. Thankfully scans were clear and they have just said it takes time for chemo effects to wear off. I have such terrible fluid retention in ankles legs and arms weirdly!! Anyone else suffer with that? Anyone got any miracle cures?
Have been getting gel nails done fortnightly to protect nails but sadly mine have mostly gone black and have dark ridges in some.
Must focus on the positive though and I still have some hair at front and sides. Nails are still attached and I am upright and head is off pillow! Am hoping radiotherapy is kinder to me !
Thinking of you all hope everyone has a Good week and all side effects ease up. It is such a challenging time but we are doing so well.
Take care
2 girls aged 23 & 26… My Mum had ovarian Ca at age of 49 so I had prophylactic hysterectomy & ovaries out at 43 - she was subsequently tested for BRCA and found negative and a letter from 2006 said “this is reassuring for your daughter “ so I didn’t bother with the breasts other than mammos yearly - oh how I regret that now! My surgeon said I need the counselling & things have moved on since then in terms of predicting likelihood so hoping it will help inform my decision re other breast and also for my girls in the future.
Back to T side effects - any advice for constant belching/wind?! Can’t seem to shake that off either?
Well I would definitely make sure your girls get sorted too x hope it all goes well for you x
Re wind and belching it will pass I had it before . I find I lose one thing then another thing starts unfortunately. I’m getting ready for bed now as so tired but good luck with everything and hope you get some questions answered xx
Hi jencat
There is a lot of positive info on reputable web sites such as cancer research so don’t be afraid to read around the subject as I think you’ll learn it’s not all doom and gloom . There is a lot more going on in America too and positive things . Alot of research is going into TN .
Don’t be afraid to ring the consultant about your results . I did this after 6 weeks had to wait another 2 weeks to be seen but then at least you’ll know they are back .
Like your friend said eat healthy which I did before and I was extremely fit before ( not now since treatments) and live your life and enjoy things. It is scarey knowing there is no other treatment available but you must try to focus on life otherwise it will get the better of you. As you mentioned there are many TN survivors out there . I found someone like me in breast cancer support was useful and I communicate monthly with another TN survivor it helps that she had the same diagnosis as me and gives me hope x
Hi Camilla9 - re the axillary clearance - my biggest piece of advice would be to do your exercises religiously post-op and keep up with the stretches after even if you don’t feel like it or it’s uncomfortable. I can still feel my muscles and tissue tightening up now if I miss for a few days through sheer laziness. I still have
numbness and strange itching although it is numb, as if the nerves are doing their best to recover.
I would say it has got a lot easier over the last 4-6 weeks. I won’t lie, think the axillary clearance was tougher than the mastectomy bit of my surgery in terms of recovery but I needed it and worth it to get rid of those pesky nodes! You’ll be fine I’m sure.
I was in & out as a Day case - no overnight stay at all! Right total mastectomy & full node clearance - was good to get in own bed that night and was given a number to ring if worried. The drains were very manageable & were both out in 5 days - the District Nurses visited daily from the day after to sort me out until they were ready to come out. Had a seroma which needed draining twice but again don’t worry that was painless. Pain relief was really good while on the ward and sent home with strong painkillers - important to keep up with them - better to prevent the pain than try & stop it once it starts. You’ll boss it don’t worry x
Hi Bibi
When I had my mast reconstruction and snb I was due to stay 1 day but had a lot of pain and stayed 2 nights but like you said it’s nice to get home . I got home really late on 23rd Dec and was so glad as due to Xmas there was no staff . My drain was in for 7 days . Didn’t have any district nurses .
Sounds like you’re having problems like I did with my arm and I ended up with a Hickman line which I’m so glad I did . Massage and stretching the arm helps but make sure you got no phlebitis otherwise you’ll need antibiotics perhaps give the unit a ring. Have you got one more chemo to go?
Hello everyone
Camilla if you scroll back quite a few pages there is a web site I put on from amazon for bras . I found these really good and when I am feeling normal again (i hope that will be after radio) I will use for the gym so at least not wasting money . I would recommend anything Front fasting as you will not have range of movement so that’s bras pjs and tops it will make life easier for dressing and carrying drains . As Jude said make sure u ready to be discharged home I had lot of pain and they wanted me home but refused (think it was as it was Xmas time and no staff ) . Drain bag was provided by breast care nurses who will visit after and physio . As said before make sure you do exercises religiously especially if you having radio at later date to . Good luck ?