Well done ladies, another week ticked off and you are all dealing with hair issues really well… be strong!
Sunnydaze - I think you asked about periods. I was 47 when I started my chemo (almost 48) and was still having regularly periods, I had one during my first cycle of chemo (FEC) and then I have had no more since, I think a couple of other ladies on my thread were the same. I am now on Tamoxifen and I think no more periods for me… some bonus to this whole procedure. I haven’t been advised to have injections either but I know some do… not sure of the whys and wherefores, perhaps age?
Hi Kip,
Thank you for your reply, ?it’s really good to know how you and other ladies have got on regarding periods. I will keep my fingers crossed that chemo and tamoxifen will stop my periods. This way, I will feel better knowing that the oestrogen flying around my body will have its wings clipped !!! I will discuss with my Onc next time I see her, which will be after my third FEC so I should have some idea what is going on with my menstrual cycle.
Sunnydaze xxx
Hi Bluetit, welcome!
Same treatment as me although I am not having the ovarian suppression (not been mentioned to me), I am now 43 and will go on to tamoxifen for 10years. Welcome to the group and please try and make the most of the next few weeks so u can mentally go with however your body and mind need to after your first session. I seemed to go through a nesting phase the week before like I did before having my children! think mentally I needed a straight house etc to regroup in afterwards!
xx
Hi
I think the ovarian suppression might be to do with how strongly your tumour is er+ mine was 8. I think that is the highest marker.
Hi Bluetit ? and yes, I also went through a nesting phase pre chemo. Good luck.
Sunnydaze - when I got a period during chemo I was a bit panicked but the chemo line said it was normal to have one or two. Some people get them return after chemo finishes, but so far I haven’t. I think i was 8/8 ER+ but not been mentioned about ovary suppressants. It will be interesting to know what the guidelines are for it.
Hi Ladies, at this rate I’ll be on the February thread can’t stand the waiting, the stress levels are up and down, I’ve been trying to keep busy. I’ve been reading the threads since fist diagnosed in Oct , keep looking at the Predict and the Nottingham prognostic score, God knows if I’ve actually unstood it , think my chance of reacurrance is moderate so hopefully I’ll be fine to hang on in there a bit longer, heart scan is Wednesday. I think it’s the waiting that is hard but also had tears with getting used to my temporary reconstruction this week as its starting to increase in size. BIG HUGS to each and everyone of you, so sad but so brave & beautiful xx
I have been following the thread all month and I have picked up lots of tips and advice - thank you!
So far I have had a lumpectomy with two sentinel lymph nodes removed, one of which contained cancer. I then had an axillary lymph node clearance. My tumour was Her 2 positive and ER positive so I will be treated with Herceptin alongside chemotherapy and then radiotherapy to finish.
I haven’t started chemo yet but I am meeting with the onologist tomorrow to find out what’s in store for me.
Feeling nervous.
Good luck to everyone undergoing chemo at the moment.
Welcome Seaside Sar?
Good luck with your Onc visit and chemo .
Just a quick note to say I follow this American dietician nutritionist on facebook, or email if you’re not on fb. I think she gives great qualified free advise, both sensible and practical. She is a qualified dietician. . For example myth busting around cancer nutrition, whether we can eat things like soy or flax seed, does sugar feed cancer? what about an alkaline diet? What should we have on our plates to help protect us against cancer? I have listened to some of her “webinars “ too and in my opinion I just find them practical and realistic. Here is the link if you think you might be interested in her professional free knowledge re; nutrition and cancer. It’s definitely worth registering and looking and listening to her back cataloghttps://www.cancerdietitian.com/2017/10/eat-protector-foods-plus-recipe.html?utm_sq=fxxm4q5wqp&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Cancer+Dietitian+(Cancer+Services)&utm_content=Own+Blog+Postsue
Hi Seaside sar, hope your appointment goes well tomorrow. Like yourself I haven’t started chemo yet, need my heart scan on Wednesday first. This is a lovely friendly thread and very informative. If only it wasn’t happening to us. Xx
Hi ladies & welcome to the newcomers to our January party!
On the topic of ovarian suppression - I actually asked my onc at the first appointment about getting my ovaries removed - my sister died last year of ovarian cancer (yes it’s been a really awful year) so it’s something I was already worried about - even without the effect of oestrogen on my ER+ cancer. (Although all the doctors keep telling me her cancer was unlikely to be genetic - even with my BC diagnosis - because she had a very rare type & we have no other family history etc etc).
The onc said we’d discuss again after chemo, but they would give me injections to suppress ovarian function for a while to see how I felt, before making the decision to have irreversible surgery. He said normally they just give tamoxifen to block oestrogen from the cancer cells, while still allowing oestrogen to be produced and do all its normal female things in your body.
The only person I know who’s had ovarian suppression DURING chemo had it to try & preserve her fertility (I think by temporarily shutting down the ovaries to stop them being damaged). Not a concern for me as I’m done having kids!
Sending love B74.
I’m also done with having kids, it was trying to stabilise my nocturnal seizures during/after chemo that was the decision maker in my situation x
Hi G, i’m not far behind you, second EC will be next Tuesday 29th. Also have hormonally responsive cancer (PR8 and ER8) not discussed my hormone treatment yet, I am assuming it will be tamoxifen. I hope it goes ok for you this Friday with number 2. I cold capped too and using vitamin d oil at night on my scalp, I’m guessing from what others have written that this week might be the week it sheds some! Good luck to everyone having their second session soon. xx
Wanted to introduce myself and ask if I could join in. Just found this thread. I live in South Yorkshire and was diagnosed with breast cancer in September. Stage 2 grade 2, 2.8cm. Had lumpectomy then mastectomy nodes are clear and no vascular invasion. I am not going yo gave radiotherapy but decided for chemo ECx6. My cancer strongly ER+ so will be on Tamoxifen after chemo. I had my first chemo on 28december and was due to second one on the 18th but had to have antibiotics due to tooth infection. So having my second round 25 Jan. Iam 44 married and have daughter of 5 years old.
Would be great to have company of all of you lovely women during this dreading chemo. X
MaMaJuJu - yes I’m getting #2 on Friday as well (assuming my WBCs are back up), G is too I think. I’m dreading it after horrendous #1, but in a strange way I kind of want it done too, because then I’ll be one closer to the end. I complained to my onc about the severe nausea especially in the first 24 hours and so he’s adding Ativan/Lorazepam (which I find odd because I thought it was for anxiety/sleeplessness rather than nausea?), here’s hoping it helps. Maxolon/metoclopramide did nothing for me. I’m also going to be getting filigrastim shots (for the WBCs) & taking Clarantyne, so lots of extra drugs for my poor body to cope with!!! Eeek.
Wantolive - welcome and very sorry you have to be here. I’m 44 too (with 3 kids) and it all sucks SO much, but at least here we are all going through something similar so understand in a way that’s hard to if you haven’t experienced it. Let us know how you get on with everything.