Seen consultant oncologist today to discuss Radiotherapy ( not my oncologist I see on the Wednesday’s prior to chemo - she is lovely. Was ok, perhaps rather matter of fact - difficult to explain really. Asked how I’d managed with chemo , husband said about frequent in patient stays - just said ’ discuss that with Dr … Tomorrow. Said I was little worried about heart/ lungs damage - said ’ I was coming to that next ’ ! Wouldn’t say he was rude/abrupt , but wouldn’t rush to see him again. Should start rads on Monday 30th May, ( as per guidelines of within 31days of last chemo) but being a bank holiday , I start on Wednesday 1st June , My last treatment being 21st June ( my birthday and would have been abroad) . Planning appt for ? 23/5/ . When does everyone else start rads - ? You same day Claire. Don’t know if just because of today’s ’ dismissive ’ attitude, Fri looming when feeling ok but won’t after Fri or what, just want to cry - fed up, p***** off, hate how I look, fed up of feeling ill, tired bla bla , what the future holds, if much at all , just don’t know anything anymore.
Oh Mechele, there’s nothing worse than being brushed off - it is so important that we’re listened too. How would he feel if it were him, or a relative of his! The other oncologist I see is like that, seen him twice and the second time I didn’t bother asking anything. The main oncologist I see is lovely. I’d hoped to see her on Thursday but she’s on call, so I guess it will be him again! I should find out which hormone treatment I’ll be on for the next 10 years, and when I start it.
Then Friday is my radiotherapy CT scan and I’m assuming they’ll tattoo me at the same time?
Hope you feel better tomorrow Mechele after you’ve seen your other oncologist
Xxx
Morning all, am awake quite early for me, after effects of the steroids, though glad to say they’re all done now.
Mechelle, sorry to hear of your rubbish experience with the unsympathetic oncologist, you have to wonder why some people go into the jobs they do if they aren’t naturally empathic. Hopefully your normal oncologist will reassure you when you see them.
Claire, glad you enjoyed your course, I’ve been sticking to my daily cleansing and toning rituals using the lovely goodies they gave me. I think I may stick with the products as well when they run out as I quite like them.
Ellie, glad the picc removal went well. I feel a bit odd without mine now, was able to have a nice bath yesterday with both arms in water. Where are you having rads? I’m at K&C, rads planning on 06/05 and first one on 23/05.
Ali, good luck with today’s chemo.
I’m still feeling okay, I imagine the SEs will hit tonight as is tradition. Am a bit fed up at home as during the early chemo treatments to distract myself I decided to order a new kitchen. It’s meant to be fitted next Tuesday and was meant to be being delivered yesterday along with new flooring, however it didn’t turn up. The old kitchen has been ripped out apart from the sink and cooker, prob not the best idea for chemo week. I blame it on my fuzzled chemo brain! Xx
Hi all,
I’ve been quite quiet this week, trying to rest as much as possible, I’m just praying I will be ok for my night away on Saturday. My SE haven’t been much different from other tax cycles, thankfully I’ve got my last injection tomorrow (they give me the worst se’s I think), my mouth feels awful, I have a bit of heartburn and I generally feel like I am recovering from a bad dose of flu. I am looking forward to taking some vits and minerals to boost me up!!!
I had a busy day today, had a bad nights sleep last night with aches and pains, then had MRI first thing a one hospital then had to go to my oncology day unit at a different hospital for my herceptin injection, I then came home and slept!! My BCN left me a voicemail to say they had my MRI results and chemo has been responsive so good news, I meet with my surgeon next Thursday to discuss surgery.
How is everyone getting on?
Sissy, how are you doing? You are very brave taking on a new kitchen, nothing like a distraction!!!
Fiona, sorry to hear you had a night in hospital, hope you are feeling better. I read you have met with your surgeon and decided on lumpectomy, do you have a date for surgery yet? I’ve still to talk things through, what size was your lump before chemo? Mine was nearly 7cm on MRI, I’ll find out my MRI results next week as to what size it is now.
Mechele, good luck for tomorrow, is that your last one?
Kim, Claire and Ellie, do you have your last ones next week?
Sorry if I’ve missed anyone out, thinking of everyone.
Debbie x?
Hi Mechele, i went abroad 2 weeks after my rads finished and smothered my radiated skin in 50 factor and didnt have any problems at all, it was just the tonic we needed!! Weve been a couple times since and just use my normal 30 factor now , go for it i say! 
?
Morning ladies. Just popping in from the February thread hoping for some advice.
I completed 5 of 6 EC this week. My chemo has been and continues to be nurse led. I saw my consultant on Tuesday prior to my chemo session. He started to discuss radiotherapy and all the possible SEs then went on to hormone therapy. Lot more discussion especially about bone issues, a particular worry for me. He told me I would have a bone scan some months after I started the tablets. I asked for one before to help me make a decision. He said he will write to GP to request it. Anyway in all this radiotherapy was not mentioned again other than I need to sign consent forms, which I wasn’t offered. I left the appointment vey confused. What happens next will I get a letter about radiotherapy starting? Do you think I need to phone and ask? I am very keen to get started as soon as possible after chemo 6, Dr said 3-4 weeks, as grandchild due early July and would love to have finish before then. I want to be as proactive as I can to avoid any delays.
I know different areas of the country have different systems but any advice or experiences would really help. Thanks
Jan
Morning all, SEs kicked in yesterday from my final T, feel worse today so think I will be spending most of my time in bed. Ends of fingers tingling as are my feet, also the heavy leg/flu like pain and joint aches. A couple more days of this and I should be through the worst of it. It’s my husbands birthday Sunday, so I’m hoping I’ll be well enough to at least cook him a nice breakfast.
Ellie, my appointments are all around 3pm I think, regarding consent forms I can’t remember signing anything, though maybe I did during one of my chemo brain moments!
I think it’s a great idea to book holidays for once this is all done, it’s well deserved after what we’ve been through. My sister and I have just booked an overnight spa stay for around 10 days after rads ends, I can’t wait.
My rads finish 13th June and I’m going to ask about delaying my tamoxifen tablets until after my holiday at the end of July, not sure what onc will think. Though I have my second mx planned for August and I think I read somewhere that you have to stop tamoxifen for operations.
I’m now regretting booking the kitchen to be fitted so close after my last chemo. After the drama of the kitchen not being delivered on Tuesday, the flooring arrived and is being fitted today. James was up until 2am finishing off the painting in readiness. The kitchen will apparently be delivered tomorrow and then fitting will start on Tuesday. I’m hoping that it’ll be worth it once it’s done!
Good luck to all having bloods done, fingers crossed they’ll be good! Xx
Hi! Well I’ve had a busy couple of days appointment wise! Yesterday I had an appointment with the oncologist. I actually had hospital transport for this appointment as there was noone else to take me and I"m not safe enough to drive right now! The oncologistg was the bloke, so man of few words who likes to go through things in his order, not mine. The purpose of this was to talk about which hormone treatment they wanted me on following my blood test to see if I had gone through the menopause. From what I gather I have, or am! So choices for me are: Anastrozole (their preferred choice) or Tamoxifen. I’ve mentioned before that about 18 mths ago I was diagnosed as having hyperparathyroidism and they removed my parathyroid (never knew I had any, but we have 4 behind our thyroids) because I had a non-cncerous growth which meant that the calcium in my bones was being dumped in my blood. Consequently I have thinning of my bones in my upper leg and lower back which was shown up in a DEXA (?) bone scan which I had repeated in November. So, the oncologist is writing to the bone consultant to ask if he thinks it’s OK for me to have Anastrozole. NOw you would have thought as all of this is in my notes, that they would have already contacted him - but no. So I have another appointment in 4 weeks to find out which of the 2 I’m having.
Today’s appointment was radiotherapy planning, scan and tattoos! So I lay on the machine, arms above my head holding on to whatever I was asked to hold on to. Was fine, pretty sure I’ll be able to hold onto that position each day for long enough, and wasn’t particularly uncomfortable. The only tattoo I felt was the one between my boobs, like a sharp scratch. The other 2. one on the outside of my natural boob and the other on the outside of my reconstructed boob, were fine - didn’t feel them. I havent looked to see what they look like - too cold to undress again!! So I’m ready to go! First one (assuming last chemo on Tuesday isn’t delayed) is 25 May and last 15 June. Was given the impression that I’d be starting my hormone treatment the same time as radiotherapy (well that’s if they’ve decided which one to give me!)
Not having my pre-chemo blood test until the day of chemo because they said that there was too long a gap between Friday and Tuesday, so I’ll have a nervous wait at the unit waiting to hear that I’m good to go!!
Hope that those of you suffering side effects at the moment manage to have a good Bank Holiday weekend, although these holiday weekends all all merging into one aren’t they while we’re all off work!
Oooh! Just peeled off the plaster on my tattoo between my boobs - it looks like a tiny black freckle, noone would ever notice (not that it would be on show anyway!)
Hope everyone else is staying well - nearly there! xxx
Jan, as you might have read in my last rambling post (!) I have issues with my bones and had a bone scan in November which was requested for an unrelated issue. My oncologist has said that if the bone consultant (He probably has a different title!) agrees to me having Anastrozole (I have gone through, or am going through the menopause) then I will be prescribed other medication to help protect my bones (bisphosphonates) as well as calcium and VitD supplements. I’m hoping this will be what I’m put on, purely because he referred to it as their ‘preferred choice’!! If not I’ll be on Tamoxifen. He printed off information on both from the Macmillan Cancer Support website.
The unit I go to for chemotherapy is the same as the one for radiotherapy and also where I go for oncologist appointments, and they all seem to link very closely together, so it’s a smooth process. I’m based at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in Shropshire and they’ve been great. I think if I had any concerns like you do about bone scans etc, then I’d ring them to see what they think.
Hope everything gets sorted soon. xxx
Hi everyone
Just to share BCC’s patient information on Anastrozole and Tamoxifen as well as the information pages onour Website: Anaztrozole information page; Tamoxifen information page.
There are many users on this forum who have taken these treatments, if you use the search box in the top right hand corner you should be able to find many different conversations sharing various personal experiences.
Best wishes
Anna
Digital Community Officer
Thank you Anna! Xx
Hi all
Thanks for your help. I received radiotherapy appointments in the post this afternoon! I think my consultant listens but does not communicate well. He seems to go through his agenda and does not easily return to items he feels he has covered. I will wait to see if bone scan stuff comes through. Then will make a decision about hormone therapy. My prescription is for anastrozole but was told I could try something different if the SEs were too much. Will do more research.
Thanks again for all the support.
Jan
So excited to feel a lot better this morning, which means I’m off to Manchester for the night to see the Dixie Chicks!! There is light at the end of the tunnel!!!
Hope everyone is doing ok and enjoying the weekend as much as possible, pleased it’s a little warmer.
Sending big hugs.
Debbie X
Mechele, my radiotheraphy planning appointment took less than an hour. First had a chat to go through what was involved and then I was given my dates, and signed a few more forms. Then I was taken to the room where they positioned me, marked me up and then I was scanned. Seemed to go really quickly. You should definately find radiotherapy way easier than chemotherapy after all you’ve had to go through!! Fingers crossed you stay hospital free this time!!
Fiona and Debbie, it must be great knowing you’ve finally come through the side effects knowing you don’t have to go through it again in a few weeks!!
How were the Dixie Chicks Debbie? It’s so good that you were well enough to go 
My daughter is running the Bristol 10K on 15 May to raise money for Breast Cancer Haven, and I’ve booked a hotel and planning to go down by train on my own to support her. It will be day13 of last T, so I should be fine but there’s always the worry isn’t there.
So Claire, we will be on the steroids in the morning and drinking masses of water ready for the final dose on Tuesday - bloods permitting!! Not looking forward to the aches and pains as I’m aching at the moment anyway, but it will be so good not to have to do it again in a few weeks!! Looking forward to getting and feeling fit again!
Loads of love to everyone xxx
Morning girls it’s Sue from Feb forum, can’t you ladies please tell me what side effects you have or having with T! I am a lot worse on this one then FEC.
Glad to read that some of you brave girls are nearly off this stinking chemo.
I have 2 more .
Have a good day.
sue X X X X
Hi Sue, I agree with Ali - my aches and pains are definitely worse once I start in the injections and improve when they finish. Although I prefer T to FEC, I don’t recover from the side effects as quickly and I’m still achey and tired and it’s the day before my last dose of chemo! My oncologist did say that it’s to be expected with the buildup of chemo after each cycle. Although I’ve been out and about - weekends away, meals out etc, I also fall asleep most afternoons. Can’t actually remember what it is to feel ache free and energetic!! But I know I will, so I’m holding on to that!!
Xxx
Morning all, good luck Kim and Claire, tomorrow it’ll all be done!
Ellie, are you talking about the ad aspirin trial? I’ve signed up for that too. I haven’t asked the oncologist for any real statistics, I’m trying to look at it that we’re all different, also apparently a lot of the data in use is nearly 10 yrs old now and at times out of date. The one thing they did say was if there’s going to be recurrence then the first 2 years is when you’re more at risk. All we can do is keep doing what we’re doing and hope for the best.
I’ve had some rib pain under my mx area and my mx area has also felt sore during the T part of the chemo, more so if I’ve slept too long on that side at night. Automatically you think bad things, however the rational part of my brain is telling me that it will be down to my body still recovering and healing from the operation and the SEs of T.
Sue, the aches and pains of T are horrible, the gcsf injections don’t help with the pain either. I have a big problem with heavy feeling legs and the shooting pains in them. Also, the soles of my feet tingling. I have lots of hot baths and use heat bags. Also, I’m lucky to have a hot tub in my garden so I sit out there when it’s not too cold out. Xx
Finally fell asleep at 5:15 after getting up for hot chocolate and biscuits! Was imagining every ache and pain and convincing myself that I was going to wake up this morning with a raging temperature so chemo would go ahead!! I won’t be able to relax until I know my bloods are fine and the chemicals are going into my drip!! This is the first time I haven’t slept despite the steroids!
Good luck Claire!!
Xxx
I’m in at 11:30, but will have to wait an hour while they test my bloods - at least it’s from the canular this time, so give my other vein a rest until my 7 day blood test!
We’re hopefully getting that chemical down the drip at the same time!!
I have everything crossed for you too! Xxx
Good luck for today Kim and Claire!
Ali, I think I hate T more than FEC. Last injection yesterday, sharps box sealed up. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll be feeling less achy! Xx