Hi everyone - I’ve been lucky with nails , just one or two splitting at the ends - I’ve been wearing dark nail varnish which I hate so don’t know whether that helped - have taken it off now as I am nearly 4 weeks post chemo now and hoping any effects from light have passed.
Hope your op goes well Macneech and you make a good recovery.
My op is July 19th so hoping we will get a little break away next week for a few days after hubby has finished a work contract and in between heart scan and pre-op. I’m fancying a walk on the beach to lift my spirits and steady the nerves.
I am starting to feel my energy levels return and have been trying some exercise, done a couple of swims and did yoga in the garden last night with my yoga teacher - first time since Jan - really enjoyed the stretch. Trying to build myself up before op, am eating much better and ?am slowly starting to lose a bit of the chemo weight gain. Hope you all continue to recover well and good luck with whatever is next for you xx
Good news the lung tumour has gone, chest lymphnode is so small they’re not concerned. May need an MRI re boob tumours, not showing on CT as so small, but this is now going to be discussed in light of good news. Being put on tablets to block my oestrogen so the cancer isn’t being fed. Basically I am back in remission so NO more chemo. Still in a state of shock with the good news
Hope everything improves for you Macneech and no need for interventions. Sounds like a lot to cope with after the chemo. I’ve now had 10 of my 19 radiotherapy zappings. Compared to chemo it’s a scoosh so far although a friend who went through it last year has warned me that the worst of the effects are about 2 weeks after the treatment. But I think for anyone who’s been through chemotherapy there’s nothing to worry about in coping with the radiotherapy.
I am getting some more hair on my head and arms now but still no eyebrows! I’ve taken off the nail polish now as my nails were flaking so much. Not looking good, trying to keep them in as good condition as I can manage.
Energy levels still fluctuating - a combination of the early starts, travel to Glasgow every day and the hot weather as well as the radiotherapy.
I’ve started on tamoxifen now - has anyone else been put on it and are you having any side effects?
Morning everyone - glad to hear your good news Miss Green - must be such a relief for you.
How are you coping with the radiotherapy WeeBurd? At least the hot weather has gone now but the daily trek must be wearing - not looking forward to that.
Macneech hope you are continuing to recover and initial problems after op are easing. Have you had results and dates for radiotherapy yet?
After always being told I would be having a mastectomy - when the chemo finished and I saw surgeon again it was a different (one due to illness of previous one) after much discussion of chemo results ( very good response) and initial diagnosis and much soul searching I was advised I could have a WLE instead . Date for op was delayed a week so went off to the Welsh Coast to enjoy the beautiful weather, but I had it last Thursday- 26th so am just recovering. Drain a bit uncomfortable but ?out today when I visit hospital for check up, feeling bruised but much better than I thought I would. Next big step is getting results and hearing the words ‘ clear margins’ so just distracting myself from that- got a family wedding next weekend and looking forward to catching up with everyone plus hoping can get my outfit on! Doing the arm exercises but some a bit painful atm . Take care everyone and continue to enjoy life. xxx
That’s great news you could have a WLE rather than a mastectomy. Fingers crossed they got a good clearance.
I am afraid my Oncololgist was premature in saying I am in remission. He referred me back to the Breast team as he was satisfied with my chest and lung but an ultra sound shows one of my tumours had stubbornly remained in the boob. On Friday I will find out what the plan next. Hoping they can do another WLE on my mastectomy.
Hello everyone lovely to hear from you . You sound like you are all going through it but miss green I feel for you and hope things get sorted for you . Do you take someone with you for support. Sending you a big hug ?
I too have applied for a moving forward course but certainly don’t feel right to go back to work . I have 2 more radio sessions . They aren’t doing a axilla clearance now just the radio and then it will done for me as I’m triple neg I can’t have anything else . But I’m still suffering from chemo sideeffects . Peripheral neuropathy hands and feet . Nails so painful big toe nail fell off other day and the worse thing is reflux . Gp has put me on new tab esomperazole 40 mg twice day but it’s not made a difference . It’s getting me down . My memory is terrible too x from the radio side of things my throat is like razor blades and psin in chest side. I too weeburd have heard it peaks a few weeks after finishing and can last up to 6 weeks .i hope you all are ok . Keep doing the atm exercises they are so important especially if you need radio x fingers crossed for everyone ?
Happy birthday Bibi and fantastic news.
Good luck with radio compared to horrible chemo you’ll find it so much easier . I finished mine last week no other treatment available for me now as I’m triple negative so just the road to recovery . Still got the most aweful reflux though medication doesn’t seem to be working so back to Gp Monday . Still got peripheral neuropathy in hands and feet and nail pain and dreaded flushed and sweats . Have others still got issues ? Hope everyone is ok xxx
The nails I have left still look funny but have stopped hurting. I keep cutting them as short as I can. Since stopping chemo and starting letrozole my flushes got worse. Especially during the heatwave we had !
Hi Chrissy,
I don’t have pain in my nails but they are quite discoloured and the thumbnails look as if they might break off so I’m trying to keep them moisturised and avoiding catching on anything. They also feel really weird if I try to do anything that I need to use them for - like opening a ring pull can or trying to undo a knot! I’m on tamoxifen now and getting some flushing but it’s manageable so far.
Last week I started on the Breast Cancer Care Moving Forward Course. It runs over 4 weeks. I found the first session really helpful and am looking forward to the next one on Thursday. If you can go on one of these courses I would highly recommend it. It was good to meet and talk to other women going through the same experiences in the same way that it’s been great to have you the support on the forum.
I had reflux before my diagnosis and take Omeprozol for it but it doesn’t really work. The chemo did make worse. Like WeeBurd I have struggled with opening cans, undoing laces and even getting dressed. Originally thought it was just because of dodgy nails but now think it might ne Neuropathy ( think I have that right ie. Loss of proper sensation in finger tips) . It’s not constant though so that’s weird x
Morning everyone thanks for your posts spoke to gp yesterday advised to stop esomperazole and he is referring me for a scope ( another thing) !
Macneech - I rang radio unit re radio to neck area and was told it wouldn’t cause the problem that I have but you do get a very sore throat so get dispersible paracetamol or ask and they will sort for you. I hope you get started soon . I didn’t find it as bad as chemo but I am tired and extremely sore on the side of chest and can’t lie that side . Just take it easy as your body has already been through a lot .
glad you got away and well done for being wig less ! I haven’t worn mine in ages too warm I just wear a straw hat or Baker boy cap. Mine has started growing and it’s scarey how quick .
i agree with you flushes are a pain and interrupt sleep I’m taking sage leaf but told can take a while to work (if they do) !!
you are brave going back to work before radio hope it goes ok . I’m still off sick hit no pay December so hope to go back in new year .
Got another sick review Thursday they insist every 6 weeks although this one has been 8 I don’t find them helpful but stressful got the union rep with me this time. I have to use all my annual leave for phased return even if it’s a half day . I’m not impressed with the lack of support from the trust and I’m still waiting for counselling .
Hope you will be ok with work macneech remember if you are tired you are entitled to tiredness breaks under the discrimination and equality act . Macmillan do a good booklet called your rights at work worth looking at . I can’t remember what you do again but I work for NHS and they certainly haven’t been very caring sadly . ( not the staff I work with they have been fantastic ).
Also acupuncture may help peripheral neuropathy as I accessed this but only had a few sessions as wasn’t allowed any more. Good luck with the dissertation I admire you.
bibi- hope you are getting on ok post op.
Weeburd- how did you find the course ?
miss green- have you applied for Pip if you’ve problems with dressing you might be entitled to it .
All the best to everyone one look after yourself xx
Hi Bibi
You sound like you are doing really well and I agree this thread has been really supportive. I did join the radio one but returned to this as felt we have all been through this journey together and understand each other . I’m sure the low mood days may be because of what we have been through it’s normal and good to let it out . I’m starting counselling soon . Since I’ve been off it’s allowed me to think and reflect on lots of things even my childhood and it’s amazing how we sweep things away . So girl you cry when you want to we have been through so much . A friend texted me yesterday and said great you’ve finished treatment and feel normal again . Well I don’t feel normal I feel that I never asked for this to happen and now realise it will be a long process .
I’m not sure Bibi if this treatment has put you through the menopause or you already are but that can also cause mood swings x
Keep doing your arm exercises you will get there soon hope your onc appointment went well x
Glad to hear you’re back to work albeit on a phased return. I am lucky that my boss bypassed HR with my phased return and I cld work what I wanted. I have been working full time for the past few weeks but having a short lunch which means I can get a later train into work. I have used annual leave to cover quite a few hospital appointments as my company’s policy is if you need more than 2 hrs away you need to take it as sick and I only have 3 days left of full sick pay hence using annual leave.
My BC / Onc team haven’t mentioned anything about courses to help me. Maybe it’s because I have not finished being poked and prodded yet.