July 2024 chemo starters

I do wonder why some have radio before cape and why I am after? Have a planning scan on 26th Aug what does that involve? Hope Cape treating you well.

Xx

Hi @caz1970
My tumour was in my upper inner quadrant and i had no response to chem in the three affected lymph nodes. When i saw the radiologist, he steengthened my fear of recurrence b telling me that cells would have travelled to my mammary glands and i aas high risk of recurrence without radiotherapy. So I think my area of recurrence concern is more local and maybe thats why i had radiotherapy first? I did mention the conversation to my oncologist and she was surprised he was so forthright with me but although i was very troubled at the time, I’m glad he spelt it out for me.
I have felt at times that the surgeon and oncologist do not want to discuss what might happen in the future and their only focus on the current treatment. I wonder if this is the experience of others too? I suppose it might change once I’m not on cape and not having trouble with my implant!!
I didnt mind radiotherapy- they were very matter of fact and cheerful at my hospital. I hope your radiographers are the same and it’s an ok experience for you! Xx

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To my fellow July starters- I haven’t written much recently but reading your messages. Which gives me comfort that I’m not alone in this journey. As we are in July 2025, we are all having our one year anniversary’s of starting chemo. What a year it has been, not one I want to repeat or dwell on. I was reading some of the early messages… how far we have come.

To my fellow TN ladies, I am still on cape, I will be until October. I had 15 sessions of radio after surgery, my boob tumour responded well to chemo and then surgery but it was still in 4 lymph nodes, I had full clearance levels 1&2.

Cape is ok - I’m on 5th cycle. My energy levels are meh but I’m ok. I’m on holiday with my family in Greece. I’m rocking a crazy curly mullet :rofl: which I hate, because it’s not me in the mirror- everyone says embrace it- they have no f’ing idea but I don’t know what else that they can say to be fair. So I just smile and suck it up.

Keep it up - enjoy the summer, this will be over soon enough. Xxx

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Hey. Everyone

I went on the ABCD retreat at the weekend and it was amazing. Met a bunch of lovely ladies and we did Nordic walking, yoga, head massage and more walking . Treated like princesses all weekend. Fully recommend

I have my appointment. To discuss having my 45 year old ovaries out! Xx

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Hi @bex1 I’m on cycle 5 of cape too. Are you hoping to get to 8? I’ve been reduced to 60% of my full dose because of hand foot syndrome but no other side effects at the moment besides the tiredness. I think about bed from 6pm onwards.
I hope the holiday is fun. I haven’t ventured further than an hour from my hospital…that’s my next challenge! Xx

Ohhh can you tell me me how the appt goes ?

I’m contemplating is as the injections are see for at least 4 yrs!
I was 49 when all this started and I was told 4 yrs of injections then to come off them and ā€œseeā€ if my ovaries have retired

Feels like a slog ! Xx

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Will do xx

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Hi all, I wanted some advice please.
I had a right mastectomy and a year on all of a sudden I’ve stared to get a sudden pain in it that absolutely floors me for a couple of minutes each time. I get it a couple times a day but it’s worried me slightly ….

Any advice or anyone has the same?

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Flag it with the breast care team @louc, that doesn’t sound right.

I had the same surgery and I genuinely haven’t had a problem, no twinges at all, in fact I’m still quite numb. Have you had your annual/1 year review yet? I had mine last week and was physically examined. I mentioned the numbness and was told that was to be expected.

Seriously, get it checked, ring them tomorrow. It may be normal and have an easy explanation, but don’t wait for it to go in case something is catching on scar tissue or something and causes a bigger drama xx

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Thankyou I’ll get in touch with them x

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Hope its okay sweetie, my money is on scar tissue having ā€˜a moment’, but you’ll need peace of mind x

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Let us know how you get on.

I sometimes get a tingle pain where the sentinel nodes were taken but did have it reviewed.

Hope you see /spk to your BCN soon x

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Hi hope everyone is doing ok??

So finished Cape mid July so having a bit of a break thank goodness :grin: but will soon pick up again with onco appoint on 21st Aug, radio planning scan on 26th Aug and next zoledrolic acid IV on 16th Sept, still not sure when my 5 days of radio will be but just want this over with now :unamused: I finished IV chemo in Nov 24 so can’t really believe I am still waiting for radiotherapy!!

What a long journey, but hope you are all coping ok with any ongoing treatment :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

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Morning
Sorry to hear you’re still waiting for radio.

I completed mine mid Nov (!).

After 3 weeks off being btw Jobs & a cheeky trip to Portugal I’m back to work in a new place.

It’s been very busy and an information overload but gosh it’s done me a world of good. I forced myself to do a bit of shopping and really pleased I am ā€œscrubbingā€ up well. I think I was becoming complacent in life esp after my diagnosis.

I’m unsure how I feel about my new boss - someone described him as Marmite. And I love marmite so let’s see :joy:

Ref treatment im meant to be offered Ribociclib now it’s been NICE approved but not sure when that approval kicks in. My year is up mid Nov in order to take it.

I just want as much armoury as possible against a distance reoccurrence.

I’m still having my monthly ovary suppression and will plead to move to a 3 monthly to sync with my next Zometa infusion in Nov.

The trips to the chemo unit are exhausting and much trickier with a new job.

Think someone here is chatting ref ovaries out … I would love to know more.

I also get reconstruction for my lumpectomy and more details to follow in Oct.

Think I mentioned the new surgeon I saw was surprised I had it- cancer was 3.2cm and DCIS 3.3cm! No one told me this and I do feel slightly annoyed as I may have pushed for a SMX.

Anyways we are where we are.

Anyone holidaying??

My daughter gets her a levels today !!!
Next week is my sons GCSEs

:partying_face:

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Love your post about scrubbing up :smiling_face_with_three_hearts: taking stock of making the best of our current versions. Can I put in a request for some eyebrows? Might improve my look :grin::grin: they come and go so often!

Don’t be too disappointed if the Zoladex stays monthly, I’d pleaded to make the monthly harpoon quarterly, but the pharmaceutical company does not recommend it 3 monthly for breast cancer. Prostate cancer patients can but not breast cancer is what my nurse showed me on screen. I don’t know why but there must be a reason.

Hope your daughter is happy with her results :blush: x

I thought it was just me re the brows! I’ve had to restart growth serums (castor oil)

Ahh re the 3 m shot. Now I know why my onco wasn’t too keen. I was umming about ovary removal but keep having panics the meno symptoms will be worse & no going back.

Daughter is v pleased. She got into the Uni of Birmingham. And it’s only 2 hrs from us. So a win! :partying_face:

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That’s great news about your daughter :grinning: :partying_face: dead chuffed for you xx

I’ve only about 15 months of the Zoladex to go, but I’m waiting on gynaecologist meeting this week on ovarian cysts I’ve had half a lifetime to see if we’re going hysterectomy or not. Honestly I hope not, if it ain’t broke and all that… 15 months takes me to 56 and onco happy I’d have naturally menopaused by then. This month is just 1 year since my last period during chemo, so I’m not looking for an ovary removal unless its to reduce cancer spread risk.

The hair situation, actually on whole of body, is on a chemo style cycle - hair on head growing great, but rest is a bit Taxol on and off. Don’t misunderstand me, I’m happy with the body hair situ, not looking for armpit hair to be rampaging down my sides anytime, my legs are a bit sparse too but the eyebrows and eyelashes make for an irregular make up appearance :laughing::laughing:

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I just noticed tiny hairs on my big toes !

Argh

Hope you don’t need more surgery

The only one I want is to make my boobs nicer looking

The lumpectomy / radio has deformed my breast and I feel so self conscious you can tell it’s tiny compared to my left.
I will find out more in Oct
X

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Those pesky toes hairs! :laughing::laughing:

Hopefully they will give you symmetry with surgery, feeling right is half the battle to moving on.

In light of your scrubbing up well post, I’m reviewing my cosmetics situation. I’ve gone from blonde hair to a dark dirty rat colouring and my old make up colours don’t look so good, so having a play with ones I wouldn’t have considered before. Hair currently standing up like a bog brush, so I need as much help as I can get. :clown_face:

Saw Gyno yesterday who wants to proceed with hysterectomy, nothing urgent, but he feels it will be good for prevention. He’ll see me again in new year and we’ll take it from there.

I’m seeing breast surgeon week after next for second mastectomy discussion and that’s my priority surgery to move on. My hand altered, fits like a glove, half underwired 38gg/ half flat bras are on their last legs, so a time frame on the surgery would be useful :grin:

Can’t quite believe how fast this year is going, nearly September :flushed: :tired_face: xx

I can’t believe we are nearing Sep too!

How did that happen?

As for your cosmetic revamp I would defo hit a dep store for a free makeover!

I went to Selfridges (I had a voucher - I’m more of a John Lewis/ M&S lady :joy:) and spent silly money via the voucher on a Victoria Beckham eyeliner

It’s lush!

Re post cancer news, I’ve just been consented for RIBOCICLIB

Total last min call from my onco with my running to clinic for an adhoc appt

I start after my holiday and seems there is a lot of ECG’s & blood work at the beginning

Wasn’t prepared for that!
But I keep thinking how lucky I am to still qualify and had my diagnosis been a year later this would have always been part of the plan (or if I had had private last year, it was prescribed from Nov)

Anyways if I don’t get on with it, I will ask for a doce drop

Will cross that bridge if it comes

Re 2nd mastectomy - is this preventive ? It’s v common in the USA where I’m originally from but no so much here

Anyways off to collect GCSE’s soon

Really need this holiday ! Xx