Cdc hope the conference goes well make sure your voice is heard for all of us ??kip told you rads was ok darling ??glad you are doing well in the ??lounge. Just pace yourselves and rest when your body tells you to rest, keep the fluids going too even after finishing rads and cream, cream, cream for about a month after too ???get your meet up planned, you all deverve a special treat ??? bit of Whitney Houston’s one moment in time on the jukebox for you lovely ladies 
???
Shi xx
Thanks Shi… still no dancing in the rads lounge but I think I am about 20 years younger than everyone else there… bit weird really. I got to know all about the man next to me’s bowel cancer… never thought I’d be doing that this time last year!
CDC - You just popped up on my Facebook page… . I joined the facebook page for Breast Density Matters yesterday… how did it go! You look great by the way!
Rads No 5 today, all going well, no problems so far. Aches and pains still with me but I think they are improving slowly… either that or I am getting used to them. Either way I’m feeling ok at the moment. Unfortunately my OH has a colleague whose wife is starting chemo today for breast cancer… she is so scared but not happy to talk to anyone about it at the moment…I’ve been sending him tips and this site too and he’s reading up for her. Poor lady is in denial about the hair loss and the hospital have advised her to cut her hair short asap before it starts going. Sadly her 2nd FEC will take place on Christmas Eve… how unfair… It brought it all flooding back to me… that first trip to chemo…she’s having FEC-T x 6 and is HER+ too. So thinking of her today and re-living the chemo…:smileyfrustrated:
KTK - just wondered how you are feeling post radio?
Kip
xx
Just had a prosthesis fitting at the hospital. They have nothing in stock suitable for me despite ordering a special one which doesn’t fit. They are going to order some more and I’ll have to go back again to try them. BCN is also going to chase up my next mammogram because I should be on annual now for the remaining boob. I had the last one in October 2017 so that’s overdue.
Hi Kip, my boob is very itchy. The tiny blisters have dried up. I’ve taken Piriton and used antihistamine cream to relieve the itch. All looks very dry this morning. Also I have found that I have had to up the stretching exercises again on both sides. I have had the occasional shooting pain in my bad boob. Other than that I didn’t get the expected tiredness at all. How are you doing? Kx
Hi KTK, so far so good with me, only had 6 so far though. No soreness or itching but my arm on that side is very stiff and gets quite tight, so interesting you say you’ve had to up the stretching too. Sometimes I get tightness right down to my wrist on that side and have to really stretch it out… I think I am going to pop into the Breast Clinic in Monday after Rads to see if someone can check it out for me, the seroma seems a bit larger too and that was really disappearing before rads started. Otherwise its ok, bit tiresome and I hate being back in the hospital amongst all the signs for cancer etc… just want to be out in the real world and trying to forget (wishful thinking). I’ll check I have some piriton ready in case I need it then.
SallyG - what a disappointment with the prosthesis. I’m going to attempt to get one after xmas when Rads are complete, although I am quite comfy with the Knitted Knockers but would like to see what a proper one looks/feels like. Frustrating for you to be over looked for the mammogram too, bloody nightmare, just what you don’t want.
Kip
xx
Hello Clare, glad to hear you are moving forward in terms of next steps. Intersting that you had a blood test to ascertain your menopause status… I never had anything! I know how you feel about taking the tamoxifen. I stared at the box and read the leaflets over a d over before committing. I take mine at about 9pm as i tthought if any major side effects i may sleep through them. So far i am gettjng the odd hot flush, probably no more than i was during chemo, odd one during the night but not extreme. I also have the aches and pains which can be attributed to chemo SEs but also menopause and tamoxifen. Ive read lots of threads on here where women are having the aching since being on tamoxifen so its hhard to work out what is causing it. I am taking magnesium and zinc supplements as advised by my Onc nurse and the aches are definitely improved. Apart from that no other problems so far. I have read that some people find different brands effect them differently so its a bit of a wait n see i think. Enjoy your nights out before you start then uou can enjoy them without worrying.
Kip
Great news Reddj, ill have everything crossed for good results all round so you get to keep the nipp!e!!! Youve made me intrigued… Whats the no present plam? No presents for anyone orminimal or what?? Sohnds interesting… Ive not finished my shoppjng as yet so some might not grt one anyany!!! A few years back my SIL and brother and myself and OH all decied to only spend £5 on eaxh orher,… Its actually good fun seeing what you can get!
Sending festive wishes to you too
Kip
Xx
@cdc I don’t have any more chemo – just HER2 antibody injections – so (more) self-care is probably what the doctors will order for my feet. I have to be at the chemo day unit for my injection tomorrow, however, so I’ll have a little chat about it.
Also need to chase up something regarding my pre-surgery assessment: Before my sentinel lymph node biopsies in June, I was given an ECG, but not this time. I wonder if this was an oversight – as Mx is a major surgery. Plus, my last MUGA heart scan was 25 Sep, so I have had 3 doses (soon 4) of Herceptin since then, and Herceptin can affect the heart. I’m probably overthinking it, but I think I need to call my new BCN in the morning to sort it out. Did any of you have an ECG before surgery?
On timing: because I haven’t had any surgery to my breast just yet, my new surgeon wanted me to get in theatre within 6 weeks of my last chemo dose, particularly as the left IDC lesion has only just held steady this whole time, so getting it out, as well as the right DCIS, is a priority. She’s on annual leave from 17 Dec til 8 Jan – so 13 Dec for me 'tis.
HI Reddi,
I had an ECG as part of the pre surgery assessment both this year and when I had cancer previously in 2006. I thought it was standard before a general anaesthetic. I only had it before the 1st surgery though this year, not the 2nd but they were only 5 weeks apart.
Thanks, @SallyG63! Just spoke to my nurse and she is going to check on it.
@RedRose I’ve been thinking of you. Hope your wedding planning has been fun and smooth –
Hi all! I am about six weeks post chemo and my nails are not looking so good. Although they are in tact the unconnected bit at the top is creeping lower. I have just had them painted bright red which I hope will see me through to Christmas! Better news on the hair front. I now have a good covering of fluffy hair, about a cm all over. Unfortunately it is grey!!! It probably was before but I dyed it!!! I would like to put a bright temporary dye on for Christmas but everything I have read says wait six months. Anyone else colouring their hair yet? Love to all xxx
Hi Ktk I put hair chalks on my hair, just wet hair and rubbed in didn’t seal with straighteners as hair wasn’t long enough, got mine off Amazon ??Shi xx
@Shi Fab idea. I have bizarro greyness – front right and crown, with rest dark. I think it is my natural, pre-chemo pattern, but like @ktk I have been dying for a long time… In my case, something like two decades? So this is my first introduction to it. Ah, vanity. Chalk would provide a fun change for the holidays – probably NYE for me, as it sounds like I’ll still have drains on Christmas and Boxing Day. Festive! And hard to accessorize. Maybe a green gift bow?
Just had my first Herceptin by injection – 13 to go! (Finishing 12 Sep.) It was so easy after the past 5 months: a quick 5 minutes into the thigh, then an hour’s observation. Not chemo, but given in the chemo day unit (and the targeted therapies forums don’t seem to be organized in the same way).
Wow hair chalks hadnt thought about that… im As white as Philip Schofield!! mynails are still in tact bbut the end white bit got progressivly lower but thet dont hurt, imI just cuttjng them very short and hopjing to grow out the ridges and nastiness. Heres an update in the hair…
Your hair looks good as it is Kip. It suits you.
How long after chemo did the growing start? I’m over 6 weeks out and so far, nothing. Lost more and none of what I lost has come back. I’ve had no regrowth at all.
Hi Sally, mine started to grow when I was having the 2nd lot of Docetaxol, which was about August time. Since finishing chemo it has just grown quite quickly. I have been using the Lush “new” soap bar which Shi recommended and was even using it on my bald head! Not sure if thats helped or not. I did have very thick hair before all this and it grew quickly so perhaps thats why. I think from research everybody’s grows differently and at different times. Did you have FEC-T? Sorry can’t remember?
I lost the tip of a nail today, just the horrible white bit, so hoping the rest will just grow out now. Must try to paint then tho as they look like a mouse has gnawed at them.
Kip
xx
Hi Kip. Your hair looks great. Mine isn’t as long as yours so still needs covering if I go out. The hair chalks sound just what I need Shi. Thank you!! Love your tree too Kip. I did mine on Sunday. Made me feel very Christmassy !! X
Looking great Kip! I think it suits you. Is it very different to before chemo. Sally sorry to hear the hair you Lost isn’t growing back yet. Mine looks odd as it’s very short but what I have is sticking up all over the place!
Morning ladies. I’ve been rather quiet lately - the travel RT is pooping me out and I’ve just not had the energy. Day 13/20 today so the end is somewhere in sight! How is everyone else doing on RT?
My hairdresser put a wash in, wash out colour on my hair five weeks after my last chemo. We went for that as it was gentle with no ammonia or peroxide. All has been good with no adverse effects. Regrowth is good - the parts which really thinned on the top of my head are much thicker and my scalp is no longer visible! But my hair was really before and grows like weeds. Another fan of the Lush shampoo bar too.
On the nail front, mine are holding on, albeit not without problems. From the tip to about halfway down they are yellowy which I presume is the result of FEC, then after that I’ve got three ridges which is the result of T. Three nails are showing signs of detachment at the tip, but not all the way across. I’ve clipped them very short so there’s practically no free edge and am keeping them painted with colours that don’t allow me to see through so I’m not tempted to fiddle! I’m also using latex gloves whenever I’m doing anything houseworky or food related to limit the amount of times I get my hands wet. Am also rubbing Lush’s Lemony Flutter cuticle butter in at bedtime.
LJ