Hi there
I had a phone call today to book my tests - so that was impressive! I couldn’t make the first date they gave me, so it is going to be literally on the 2 week date mark. So 9.50am on Thurs 29th March it is!
I asked for literature, like you mentioned Mazzalou, so they are sending me some info with appointment.
How are you both doing?
Best wishes
Happy reading when it arrives!
I have just marked my 1 year since finding my lump and had my 8th herceptin today followed by my 4th Muga scan. Got home to find an appointment for my 1st follow-up mammogram after my mx with reconstruction in 3 weeks time - same day as herceptin number 9 so very convenient - 2 appointments for the price of 1. Mind you, dare I say it, but having my 1st mammogram after my dx on my ‘good’ boob is making me as apprehensive as you waiting for your referral appointment!
Hi Squibbitus
Glad you got your appointment through try to keep busy whilst waiting … Had my Muga scan today they couldnt find a good vein for radium injection took them nearly 30 mins I look like a pin cushion, luckily im not scared of jabs, but hubby looked decididly green lol… dosent bode well for chemo so going to ask for a port to be fitted for that so I dont have problems each time I go.
Just Ct scan monday, Onc on tuesday and then hopefully we can get the chemo show on the road.
How are you feeling, I hope your not stressing too much 
big ask I no …
Enjoy the weekend & mummys day
Hugs Janice x
Hello Mazzalou and Janice
Thanks again for your replies, nice to know you are out there and giving some of your time to “little old me” 
Mazz (hope you don’t mind me shortening it) I have heard of Herceptin and seen it on the news - do you have to have it intravenously? I must be getting it muddled up - I have heard of tablets you take for life? Am I correct…you don’t really know all this until it affects you or someone close huh?!
Yes, very worrying about your “safe boob” x-ray - I am imagining it must be very scary for you, as you know what both sides of the outcome could be - crossed fingers and hugs to you {{hug}}
Janice, Oh wow, I thought you meant just an ultrasound of the heart - that Muga is much more weighty!! Yes, a port sounds like the right decision 
Wow, so busy with appointments…they were discussing hospital parking charges on the radio yesterday which was interesting. Saying Surrey has the highest parking charges. (where we live) I have managed to get an appointment at my local hospital which has streets to park in and you could even walk a short distance to access, but our “main” hospital is in the middle of nowhere and you are kind of stuck with having to use their car park - it used to be a set £2 or £3 fee and it has a golf-club attached so they cottoned on to this and you could pay £3 to park all day there - which is what we do. But they have now put it up to £4, I think it is, and the main hospital car park goes up hour by hour!! Me and my hubby had to take my littlest daughter to A&E which is only at this “main” hospital and it cost us jointly £6. I don’t mind paying, but if I have to start having regular treatment like you ladies, I think it will bankcrupt me lol!!!
I am feeling OK about the wait, and I have resigned myself to the fact that I will not really know anything until approx 1 months time (2wks to tests and 2wks for results) So I am almost going to try and forget it for 1 month. I have plenty of other things to think about LOL - my main one being a University place interview next Thurs - really want this particular place
Working tomorrow - but expecting breakfast in bed (with hubby’s help)…watch this space LOL - my 8 year old is getting good at making coffee, so should be lucky
Best wishes and enjoy your weekends and Mummy’s days too
Thanks for the hugs Squibbitus.
Herceptin is given intraveneously to all us HER2+ ladies and it is usually given for a year ie 18 doses spread over a year at 3 weekly intervals. Mine goes in via my portacath as chemo has made my veins collapse so if you do have to have chemo I would advise having some kind of port as it makes life so much easier and does save your veins. Something to discuss at a later stage if you need to have chemo - let’s hope that you don’t though.
Mind you, just like Janice I had a muga scan yesterday and also look like a pin cushion coming home with 3 dressings on my arm. Unfortunately, they can not use a portacath for a muga scan, or for CT scans or MRI scans either - please bear this in mind Janice! You need to discuss this with your oncologist, but the port is still worth it for your chemo and herceptin treatments. Good luck with ‘hunt the vein’ again for your CT scan on Monday
Enjoy breakfast in bed tomorrow, Suibbitus, and hope that the coffee stays in the cup and not all over the bed!!!
Hi Mazzalou
Yes I was advised that a port would be for chemo only - if I can have one that is… so hopefully only 1 more hunt the vein session for my ct on monday !!, Im only hopeing they will let me have one fitted as my veins have always been preety rubbish and im dreading the palava every chemo session if they dont, my arms look dreadful today he had to go via hand yesterday so running out of options
Its sooo strange to be counting the days down to chemo !! I so just want to get it started so I can start counting them down too, weird, hope your well as can be enjoy your weekend
Hugs
Janice x
Oh My! I have just had a quick look up about Herceptin - scary stuff - all those side effects - I am guessing the good it does must out weigh the negative - but wow - powerful stuff!! Very good luck with your Herceptin treatment Mazzalou!!
@Janice AKA pin cushion (only teasing). I think I understand you wanting chemo to start as I am guessing it is the start of your cure and moving on in your life?
I don’t know if it is mind over matter, but since going to the Dr’s I am getting ache’s in my left boob - probably all in my head lol.
Am finding it hard to get down to my studies - any excuse - Even Housework - and that is saying something LOL.
Best wishes girls
Herceptin is not only powerful stuff, but very expensive too! i have been told that my herceptin treatment costs in the region of £30K alone!!! It is also known as the wonder drug, and yes the benefits far outweigh the risks, and the heart does recover should the herceptin cause any short-term damage.
Anyway, Squibbitus, it’s about time that you logged off of this forum and get down to some serious studying, my girl otherwise you will end up in detention!!!
Hi Squibbitus
Well Ive had all my scans now last one today, tomorrow its results with onc and treatment plan etc, Im glad they are all done but now scared of the results, fingers, toes and everything possible crossed they come back clear, How are you doing ?, I hope youve taken note of Mazzalou and been swatting for those exams !!
Oh and look even more like a pin cushion now… Took 40 mins to find vein today !!!
Take care
Hugs Janice x
Hi lottie63,
Ive got everything crossed for you too x
Oh gosh, 40 mins to find a vein-thats a very long time when someone is poking at you.
All the best x
Hi Faye100
Thank you for your good wishes, yes not good sitting there for 40 mins being pin pricked, at the Marsden they have a 2 try rule for each member of staff if they dont get the vein in 2 trys its on to someone else, on friday for muga scan I saw 3 people !! most embarrassing, My veins are shocking and ive not even started chemo yet, dosent bode well can onky get better pleeeease, on the good side think it was the last of the jabs til chemo see omc tomorrow so going to ask for a port to be fitted.
Luckily im not scared of needles lol
Hugs & good wishes to all
Janice x
Hi ladies
Got results from onc and ct clear phew !! start chemo 27th next tuesday, soooo nervous, not of the treatment of the blooming side effects !! I c ould be reeeeally lucky and not suffer too much like some of the poor ladies on here fingers x, so now I feel a bit lighter on the shoulders dept, got treatment plan for next 18 weeks, im on FEC-T 6 sessions 1 every 3 weeks, not sounding too promising i will keep my hair even with cold cap but im going to try it anyway, if i dont i will always be wondering hat if…
Oh and had bloods taken, so not end of jabs but she got vein 1st time no port fitted unless probs in chemo strabnge how others who failed were men everyone of them… Girls rule !!!
Keep posting, let me know how your doing
Hugs Janice x
All the best to you Janice, lots of BIG HUGS xx
I have my first app on tuesday at the BCC-so nervous:-(
Take care and be strong x
Hi Janice
Yes, I am doing well, how is my favourite little pin cushion doing Poor you - yes, always ask for a girl!!
When you say everything is all clear - does that mean it is confined to your breast?
Good luck with the chemo - like you say - side effects I hope you are a lucky one, who doesn’t get many. You start that on my hubby’s birthday - my clinic appt on 29th. Do you have to travel far for your chemo? I do not know the first thing about chemo - can you move around, can you do things while it is being given to you? Are you on your own, or with other ladies?
I had a friend that mentioned that cold-cap thing - sounded unpleasant in itself - icy cold on your head… She got a fantatic wig of rainbow colours which suited her really well Her hair has since grown back and she likes to dye it a purpley colour LOL.
Lots of body parts crossed for you,
Best wishes x
Hi Squibittus
Hoe are you ?
Ct scan showed no sign of spread but they did say if any tiny micro cells of cancer have escaped thats what the chemo is for it zaps them :), as for the chemo itself only know what ive been told, first dosage FEC is 3 types of drug introveniously given and takes about an hour then the T is a single drug takes about 30/45 mins,I think you can move about to go to loo etc but thats about it and the ward I go to at the marsden is a day ward with other Ladies having their treatment at the same time which is nice bit of commaradary … the cold cap puts time on the treatment as you have to have it on prior during and after and its meant to be FREEZING !! but gonna give it a go anyway …
Im going for a wig fitting tomorrow as want to have one ready just incase but dont think im as brave as your friend and will only have one colour , well im 49 so probably best eh lol
I will message you after the chemo when im up to it and let you know how I get on, Take care hope to chat soon
Love Janice xx
Hi Janice
Thanks for explaining that. I am glad you are with a group of ladies - hopefully you can have a good chat together
I hope the “freezing” cap works for you
My friend had other regular coloured wigs, but I think the rainbow one suited her the best - the others looked more obvious - strange though that might sound! The receptionist at the hotel we have just been staying at - I noticed she did not have any eyelashes and that she was wearing a wig, not that it was obvious, but because I have cancer on my mind- it made me think - I hope she is on her road to recovery - or maybe she has allopecia (sp?) I don’t know, finding a lump makes you think allsorts of things…
You are only 6 years older than me - that is nothing - but yes - if “rainbow” is not your colour - brown/blonde/red it is then The radio station I listen to - a lady donated her hair for wigs for people going through chemotherapy and used the money to buy her children toys for christmas because money was tight for her. She chose a company with ethics - she could have got a lot more for it using an unethical company - that is something special to do huh?
Best wishes for Tuesday
x
Hi Janice, Mazzalou and all
Saw Dr Ball today and he examined me and said it doesn’t think it is anything to worry about - I have lumpy breasts - he did a quick ultrasound scan there and then in the room and sent me off for a mammogram. We have a new digital mammogram machine, which I was pleased about after reading about them - it is more accurate for dense breasts. Not sure if mine are dense, but they are lumpy.
Got to go back next Weds for another ultrasound by a radiographer/sonographer? and the results of mammo will be back by then too (hopefully)
The Dr said he won’t see me again (I am discharged) unless something shows up on mammo he wasn’t expecting.
So I have the all clear - but still a chance something might show up.
Hubby pointed out I should have asked why this lump has appeared then? And I need to ask, if I have naturally lumpy breasts, how do I check for lumps?
I do what they say -cheking my breasts regularly - I know how mine feel and this lump felt new. So how am I not going to give them the runaround checking lumps that might crop up???
The Mammogram lady was lovely - explained it would be uncomfortable which I expected, but not horrendous or anything. Interesting job, being so close to patients and having to manipulate their bodies into a certain positions - meant to ask her how she got into the job.
Thanks for reading
Best wishes
Hi Squib,
Well that all sounds preety confident to me hun, I was preety much told there and then they thought mine was BC so im really pleased your getting good vibes from your Dr & team, Once you get the official results through im sure you will be fine, Im like you dense breasts and very hard to examine but you do seem to know what should and shouldnt be there, womens intuition !!
Good luck hun sounds good news, keep us in formed
Love Janice x
Hi Janice, Faye, Mazzalou, et al…
I had my ultrasound and saw my mammogram pix. The sonographer/radiogrpher did put my mind at rest. He kept going over and over the same spot and nothing unusual showed up on the screen. He reckons it is fatty tissue or glandular tissue. I asked why now and he said as we get older these lumps and bumps appear. And to go back if I find anymore. I asked what a cancerous lump would feel like and he could not answer - he said they feel different to different people - a bit like describing a theif - we all see it differently. I guess I know what he means.
The mammo pix were all normal - so everything OK.
Thank you ladies for all your support it really is very much appreciated.
How are you all getting on?
Best wishes
Glad to hear that you have been given the all-clear, but at least you have highlighted to anybody else wondering what a breast cancer lump feels like - it’s different things to different people so if you find one get it checked out ASAP!