Hi Girls,
You are so lucky Ann to have pretty coloured bruises, mine just go to a yellowy green and mouldy looking. Still sporting mine, can’t believe it will have been 3 weeks tomorrow since my op.
Saw the Oncologist today, in fact I saw 2 as they both came in to talk to me, it is now def that I will have chemo due to the amount of cells they found. It looks like I will start next week - Help!!! I am more tearful about losing my hair than my breast - is that normal?? I am off to look at wigs this week as I cannot go bald or out in scarves, just not me. Have to have 6 sessions of chemo which will take me into the new year followed by rads and hormone therapy. They are waiting to find out if the lobular cells are also ER+ PR+ because apparently they aren’t always the same, also whether they are HER- like my ductal. Still, I have finally moved on to the next stage even though it wasn’t the one I wanted!! I know we are guided by the experts and I’m sure the next few months will be worth it in the end. Wish I could go to sleep and wake up when it is all over. Enough feeling sorry for myself, I am going to fly through this.
Had a very tiring but good day yesterday, met 2 lovely ladies who are 7 and 5 years past what we are dealing with at the moment. They are doing well and it was nice to see there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Take care, love to you all,
Jane
Jane
I am so sorry this is not going the way you would have hoped. Still, as you say, each step is a step closer to the desired result.
I didn’t think to ask if both my types were hormone receptive. They told me it was, but didn’t specify. I’ll ask when I go back for my results.
Does anyone know when you are supposed to take off the steri-strips? The registrar told me to take the dressings off after 5 days and so I took the lot off today - but I have read other advice saying they should be kept on for up to two weeks. I don’t think I misunderstood him - or did I?
I wouldn’t call the bruises pretty - more like gruesome!
Take care, all. Love Ann xx
Hello Ann,
When I had my ops on a Tuesday, I saw the consultant the following Thursday and had dressings removed then. They used to take the whole lot off, I don’t think the steri strips would come apart from the dressing. If in doubt maybe cover the ares with a clean dressing but if it has healed nicely then just be careful with anything rubbing it. Were your stitches dissolvable? Are you due back for results this week because they can take a look at your wound then? If in doubt call your BCN she will advise you.
Take care, love to you all,
Jane
Jane
It seems to be healing ok but it’s early days. I am not due back until Thursday of next week. I shall keep an eye on it. Yes, my stitches are dissolvable. I have a bra with no seams and it isn’t getting rubbed, so will probably be ok. Thank you.
Hope you are ok. Ann x
Hi girls,
I am off to start chemo next Tuesday, very scarey. I have been reading all the info already posted. This forum is wonderful, I’m sure whatever you look up, someone will have written something about it. There is so much info on here.
Had my Mirena coil out today thank goodness. Didn’t even feel it. It seems a lot of girls have been having theirs out before chemo starts. Another tick to the list of things to do.
Also went and chose a wig. That was interesting, there was so many to choose from and all colours. Didn’t have a pink one. I had pink streaks in my hair in the summer. I think I shall cut my hair or use OH hair clippers over the weekend and start wearing my wig, don’t want to wait until I find hair on my pillow. Quite looking forward to not having to shave armpits, legs etc. Knowing my luck it will fall out of my scalp and grow twice as thick under my nose or on my chin!!
How are you doing Ann hope the wound is healing nicely, I like to put lavender oil on to help with the healing. Havn’t put it on my mx scar yet as its still a bit pink and scabby. Sounds lovely, I’ve never had such thick scabs but there’s only one left now. My arm is moving better now and I can raise my arm without the cording hurting so much. Think I am getting there!!
Take care, love to you all,
Jane
Good luck for Tuesday, Jane. It must be very scary, but I am sure you will cope just fine. As with all of this, it’s a case of having to, isn’t it? What colour/style wig did you choose? The good thing is we are coming up to winter, so you won’t be as hot as if it were summer.
The scar is healing but the bruises seem just as bad. I have been taking Arnica and rubbing the cream on them but they are still as vivid.
I am not sure what cording is. I can get my arm up straight if I do it reeeaaallly slowly. It looks as if I am doing Tai Chi. It does feel as if it is pulling along the underside. Is that cording?
Take care. Ann xx
Hi Ann,
I have gone for a dark blonde highlighted bob. It is similar to my hair at the moment which is half brunette and half blonde!! I do play about with my hair as underneath all the colour it is totally white. I started going grey at 18 and was totally white by 35. Must have had a hard life!! Still am for that matter. The wig is actually very comfortable to wear and they will style it to your requirements if necessary. I will get a prescription from the hospital when I start chemo so I shall get a second one.
The cording in my arm starts in my armpit and pulls really tightly so that now 3 weeks after the op I still cannot raise my arm properly. I can feel hard cord type ‘things’ pulling in my armpit when I feel there and it pulls all the way down to my elbow on the inner area of my arm. When i straighten my arm it feels like something is ripping and is quite sore. If I massage the area it eases along my arm and a little in my armpit. I think it something to do with the removal of nodes and fluid. I didn’t have it the first time at all only when I had the mx and 9 nodes removed. If it doesn’t clear on its own I think you can have physio but mine is getting better and it is my arm I use most so I just keep doing a little more every day.
Take care, love to you all,
Jane
Jane
I think that must be what I have but so far it is only in the armpit and about 6 inches down the arm - hope it doesn’t progress further.
Your wig sounds great. I assume you paid for the first one. Did you see the other thread about the wig cutting service (my new hair-specialist wig cutting service)? As I said, I saw Trevor demonstrating on TV and it looked fantastic. I would definitely give it a go if I needed a wig.
Hope you are feeling ok today. Take care.
Ann x
Hi girls,
Yes Ann, I did know about Trevor Sorbie, my BCN gave me a leaflet about it but luckily the shop where my wig came from cuts them if necessary anyway. It was recommended to me by a friend who I had no idea wore wigs!! I couldn’t believe they were so good. It really helped me to know where I could go and be sorted out as losing my hair is quite traumatic for me. The next problem I have is to find a non underwired bra for a G cup and a 34/36. Not an easy task. I found one in a shop the other day but it was hideous. If the average British cup size is now DD why don’t they cater for us larger breasted ladies!!
Well, that is something to get my teeth into while I am going through chemo, I am getting a little nervous about that, Tuesday is not far away.
How are you feeling about Thursday? You seem to have had a long wait for your results.
Take care, love to you all,
Jane
Jane
I am extremely nervous about my results on Thursday. The thing that is worrying me most is whether there is lympho-vascular invasion, because of my Mum’s experience, where it had already spread to her bones when she was diagnosed. That is why I was so relieved when they said the sentinel node was clear - well, the bit they tested during surgery, anyway. It will have been two weeks and a day since my op when I get the results. It seems so much longer than that already.
I know what you mean about your hair. It would be traumatic for me too, and like you , I don’t think I could go bare-headed. Did you consider the cold cap?
Would you have more luck with a bra on the internet? I know you need to try it on, but you may have more choice and you could always send it back.
I shall be thinking of you on Tuesday. Let us know how it goes.
Love to all. Ann x
After ringing her this morning to find the results weren’t back, the BCN rang me this afternoon with most of my results - clinic tomorrow. Thankfully, there is no lympho-vascular invasion, which I was really worried about, and the other bit of the sentinel node they tested in the lab is also clear. She doesn’t know about margins, but I will see the surgeon tomorrow. I really hope I don’t have to go back again, but I am so happy that, as far as they can tell, it doesn’t seem to have spread. Find out about next step tomorrow. Presumably, rads and anti-hormone therapy. Due to being post-menopausal, I am guessing it will be Arimidex.
Jane - How is the chemo going? I’ve been thinking of you.
Also, how is the cording? Mine is still hurting down to the elbow, but apart from that, I can move my arm quite well now.
Anna - How are you today? Hope the rads aren’t getting you down.
Love Ann x
Hi Ann
just a quick message !
So pleased for you re: the LVI and the node !
Great news ! Bet you’re on a cloud now!!
Anna x
Hi Ladies,
Wow Ann, bet you are pleased, wonderful news, my BCN also gives me my results early when she can. Sounds like you could me moving on to the next stage.
I had my first chemo yesterday as you know, it went well, was very positive about it which I do think helps. Couldn’t believe how many syringes they brought out in my goody bag but it only took around an hour to go in and I came home with a huge bag of tablets. So far, so good, feel a little nauseated but it is well under control and a bit fuzzy headed. I am waiting for the rest to hit me but we just take a day at a time. We’ve said that before haven’t we?
Well good luck tomorrow Ann.
Bye the way my profile picture is not me after chemo or me in my new wig, actually we should have put it on the puppy to model…second thoughts she would have eaten it!!!
Take care, love to you all,
Jane
Thanks for the good wishes.
Yes, Anna - on a cloud. Hope you are ok.
Jane - Glad the chemo wasn’t too bad today. I imagine the first time is the scariest. As you say, one day at a time. You can do this. Love the puppy!
Take care, everyone. Ann xxx
Hi
Got the rest of my results at the clinic today - clear margins! Yay! I am so relieved. Next step is appointment an with the oncologist to discuss rads and hormone treatment. The surgeon thought I would be given letrozole but I shall have to wait and see.
I would be feeling even happier if I didn’t have this dreadful cystitis. I really need to see a doctor tomorrow. It’s getting worse. Sitting in the hospital waiting room for two hours didn’t help, either!
Jane and Anna - hope your treatments are going ok and you are not feeling too down.
Love to all. Ann xxx
Hi Ann.
So pleased to hear you had good results, you must be so pleased, and relieved.
You must get some medication for your cystitis, if left untreated it can make you feel really low, that’s the last thing you want to happen at this time.
Hope they start the treatment soon.
Barbara
Thanks, Barbara - I will try and see the doctor tomorrow if it’s no better. I’m not sure what brought it on. I haven’t had it for years but I think that HRT has a protective influence. Now I have stopped, I hope I won’t keep getting it.
I do hope you are ok. Ann x
Jane - How’s the chemo going? Let us know when you feel up to it.
I seem to have flushed the cystitis through, without the need for anti-biotics. Thank goodness it’s gone. I could well have done without that.
Hope everyone else is ok.
Love to all. Ann x
Hi Ladies,
Sorry I havn’t posted here for a while, I have been flitting around the various posts and I think every problem must be covered here somewhere.
Anyway, chemo has been kind to me so far, I am a week on from the first cocktail. Had mild nausea for about 4 days, tablets and wrist bands kept it well in check. Had a fuzzy cotton wool type head until today, that was slightly unpleasant at times. Bit of a sandpaper mouth and have now come out in spots. Very attractive. Slight indigestion/heartburn today but apart from that nothing else. I think I may have been lucky, perhaps my bad start with all the surgeries has ended up with someone smiling on me now. I just hope the next two of FEC are as easy. Of course I may be in for a shock yet but I hope not. My hair is all limp and greasy and def changed in texture so I think the scissors may be lurking on the horizon. Even managed a few hours out in my studio in the garden today crafting, its my sanctuary and I love being out there. A friend and I run a craft club on Fridays for about 20 ladies and I need to prepare for this weeks. I think I am also supposed to be teaching 2 classes Sunday but as I am still saying very strange things at times, I’m not quite sure about that yet!!!
Tomorrow I am back to hosp for a blood test and then a muga scan for my heart. Dye is put in a vein and then does weird and wonderful things. I think they are just checking I am alive!!!
Ann, you must be moving on to rads soon, do you know yet?
Still haven’t had the details on my Lobular cancer as to whether it was the same receptors etc as the Ductal. My mx was 5 weeks ago today, can’t believe it. Still can’t lift my arm straight above my head without some pain and still have some bruising and swelling but it really has gone so quickly. Hope the chemo does the same.
Take care, love to you all,
Jane
Jane - Good to hear from you. I am glad you are finding the chemo is not as bad as you thought up to now. Never heard of a muga scan. Why did they not do it before you started?
You made me laugh about teaching your craft classes. I can imagine you coming out with all sorts of things and not realising! My typing is like that now. I have to really concentrate and read it through when I have finished. You can’t really do that with speech, can you?
My op was 3 weeks ago tomorrow and I still have some bruising and swelling, but otherwise it is ok. The pain I get when lifting my arm is from the cording, down to my elbow. Have you had that at all?
Still, haven’t received my oncologist’s appointment, so don’t yet know when rads will be.
Hope things keep going ok for you. Keep us posted.
Ann x