This is my first ever post here. I was diagnosed with stage 2 BC approx 6 weeks ago; since then I’ve had a lumpectomy and will start chemo on Fri 1 Oct., then will embark on a course of radio therapy.
What I would like is to be able to do is talk with other ladies who have gone through this and can advise me as to side effects, how to alleviate them, etc. so are there any BC groups in my area (Chelmsford, Essex?
I know about the Helen Rollason centre but have missed the meeting for this month - I feel I need info now, and so don’t really want to wait another 3 weeks to meet up if there are other groups in my locality that I could join in with. Thanks!
Hi Beenie,
another Chelmsford buddy here How are you doing? Sounds like you have a similar dx to a lot of us in the group although we are a little further on. We welcome anyone who wants to joi us. Mainly we meet in restaurants. Please fell free to send me a private message os ask away on here. I had a lumpectomy, 28 weeks chemo and 15 rads, now on tablets for 5 years. I know it seems so much to do and makes you feel so anxious but mostly you are better when you get started. I imagined it would be far worse than it all was. I took 10 months off work and didn’t go back until a month after rads as advised but we are all different. I could not work as a tecaher and too many bugs.
Take care and big hugs for getting started on the next stage. Which chemo are you having?
Lily x x
Thank you for the fast replies! I would love to meet up for lunch/coffee or whatever activities the group has. I will PM you with my contact details.
My ‘regime’ is TAC; it starts on 1 Oct and goes on for 6 sessions every 3 weeks. I’ve had a cancer before (non-Hodgkins Lymphoma) so know what to expect with the cannula, hair loss, nausea etc. What I am stuck with is the breast-care after the lumpectomy (types of bras;lotions and/or creams/oils to use; pain in armpit with cording, etc.)
Hi,
some of the ladies who meet up had TAC, you have to paint your nails really dark to protect you nail beds or your nails can peel off sometimes on that one.Black nail varnish is best I think. Really sorry that it is not your first wrestle with C. some of the others are in the same position too. In fact there is usually someone with similar experiences and everyone is really kind, jolly and helpful. I only used vitamin E cream on my WLE and sentinel node scars and they healed fast and really well one I had rubbed the glue off. I think it keeps the wound wider. I bought really cheap value soft cotton no wire bras from Asda, about 3 for £3 or similar after the op until it felt better. I think you need to mention cording to the BCn but I believe the exercise is to gently stretch out your arm until it releases. i didn’t have it so not much help there either!
We are having a pink fundraiser on 16 Oct at Writtle so most of our meets are about that at present but will let you know when. You are of course welcome to come along if you are up to it as we are selling tickets.
If you post on Essex girls (treatment for BC section)you will probably hear from someone else too.
Will let you know the next meet, it will be evening though as too many people are back at work for days except school hols. We often share lifts if you need one.
I had 28 weeks chemo, 15 rads and now on tablets for 5 years.
Take care and good luck
Hugs
Lily x x
Hello, I also live in Chelmsford and would love to meet up if you still do. Am having to make a decision about whether to have chemo. Have had a lumpectomy and no sign of it in nodes. Really need advice from those who have been through it. Thanks Jacqui
Hi,
I am really sorry I didnt see your first post and didn’t help you with your decision. Well I am pro chemo so I would have been leaning the same way as your decision. You only stand at the primary dx once so in my opinion best to really go for it and have no regrets. What chemo are you having? I was and still am treated at broomfield but just on tablets now. We have quite a good size group that meet up occasionally, usually meeting at the fox and raven or miller and carter at chelmer village. Not sure when we will meet up next but I will try to post beforehand if you would like to meet us. It is a nice easy going friendly group of all ages and different dx. Sometimes just 4 meet but other times 10. Broomfield has a very high survival rate and is a centre of excellence so you are in good hands. I had 12 doses of chemo. I think the first is scary for everyone as you don’t really know enough and how you will react. Personally I was never sick and didn’t get one mouth ulcer, which is what I thought would happen. I had chemo on a tuesday and would leave absolutely fine and my side effects started on the friday when i woke up. One type I had I would have a foggy weekend when i felt like I was in a bubble adn fragile until I woke on monday with it gone. Another I had was really mild, no bad days but niggly sensitive tummy for longer and a sore dry mouth. I would look up people on the same chemo as you for the best advice. Anyway so sorry again let me know more details or any questions you may have. In scary moments remember as soon as it goes in you have something racing round every cell kicking the wotsit out of any stray c cells that might be lurking. That helped me to feel more calm.
hugs
Lily x
Thanks Lily, please don’t apologise for not seeing my post earlier. I am just glad you have seen it cos I think it will help me to meet up, thank you. I will be on 6xFEC then rads and tamoxifen. I have found everyone at Broomfield very helpful. Did you go to the Helen Rollason Centre?
Hi,
most of our group had 6 FEC but I didn’t because I was on a research trial and a computer picked my treatment, which was e/cmf.The FEC are the same drugs as I had. Make sure you drink a lot on the day as your wee will instantly go pink/red and you can tell when it has gone through your system as it can irritate the bladder with some people. I used to get my pink out by the end of the first evening with an early appointment. My husband and I used to go in the hospital canteen and have giant cooked breakfast each time beforehand. This had 2 benefits, firstly I was thinking about eating so didn’t get anxious as soon as I saw the broomfield town sign. Secondly it lined my stomach to protect the lining. I was never sick but my friend who had chemo with me thought I was crazy eating and was very sick each time. She came round to my way of thinking eventually. I stopped living by the clock and just slept when I felt like it and got up when I wanted. The first chemo I slept non stop but after that the steroids gave me insomnia and I couldn’t sleep at all for those days. Your mind is probably conjuring up far worse things than will happen so try not to get too anxious. Drinking and keeping your arm really warm will keep your veins cooperative on the day. The first one you will have to see how it affects you and when the effects strat and go, hopefully speedy. Keep a diary of this and you will gain much better control on the next 5 and be able to plan lots of nice things inbetween. In particular the E gives the worst constipation ever (seriously like quick setting cement and you can run into trouble if you ignore it) so I had to eat a huge amount of fibre and things that make you go on the right days.Very hard to turn around if ignored!! Anyway too much chatter here. We would love to see you and will try to work it around days when your immune system is not low. I went to a few support meetings at HR but for me,having friends going through the same thing and going to restaurants worked better. A lot of the others still go for reflexology, etc. You do whatever helps you get through this obstacle race
Lily x
Thanks for all that advice Lily, I have been told that dates help with constpation so have stocked up. Would love to meet up, my first treatment is on 9th Jan 2.15 so have the whole morning to get worked up lol but will try and keep busy to keep my mind occupied. Thanks and Happy New Year!
Hi,
well I would buy a whole orchard of date trees then ha ha!!!You know if I were you, I would be doing a lot of really nice things in the days running up to it. If anyone says shall we go out say yes because the good days and memories see you through to keep going back. I think the hardest part is possibly knowing you have to keep repeating the same thing. Don’t waste these lovely good days, go have some fun
Lily x
I’m a local Essex girl - just diagnosed on 20th and having a lumpectomy on Friday. Any meetings coming up locally would be most welcome. Hope to hear from you soon,
Hi S,
will keep you posted regarding our next meet but if you are both on active treatment at the same time, I know you would be great support for each other. A lot of us are a bit further on and so now do not meet quite so often as work and family commitments are back full time again. Sending you both my very best wishes and big cyber hugs for the next things you both have to do. I used to think of each one as another biggy ticked off my invisible list, getting closer to the end every time
Lily x
How are you doing? Sounds like you have a similar dx to a lot of us in the group although we are a little further on. We welcome anyone who wants to joi us. Mainly we meet in restaurants. Please fell free to send me a private message os ask away on here. I had a lumpectomy, 28 weeks chemo and 15 rads, now on tablets for 5 years. I know it seems so much to do and makes you feel so anxious but mostly you are better when you get started. I imagined it would be far worse than it all was. I took 10 months off work and didn’t go back until a month after rads as advised but we are all different. I could not work as a tecaher and too many bugs.