I think I’d talk to oncology too. Last thing you need is an infection which could cause more delays. They should be able to work together to minimise any disruption to your treatment
Last chemo tomorrow - what a milestone to reach ![]()
Woo hoo for last chemo tomorrow!!! Xxx
I had dreadful hot flushes during treatment but they have calmed down now. I found deep breathing as soon as I could feel it building really helped. My BCNurse sent me some exercises.
Congratulations! Hope it goes as quickly and easily as possible and you can get back to normal asap x
@buggeringon your last chemo tomorrow - what a milestone to reach ![]()
Thanks and congratulations on getting to the end of chemo! Can I ask how long ago you had that root canal and in what way the filling failed? I was ready and attended to have this wisdom tooth removed but the surgeon was worried that the roots are very close to a nerve, I wasn’t bothered about ending up with a numb chin or whatever but he really wasn’t keen to continue and said it would be better to just remove the overlying skin flap (it was partially impacted) so I had that maybe 18 months ago. Would much prefer to have a root canal vs extraction that would leave a wound and apparently it’s possible to have a root canal on a wisdom tooth but really don’t want to have to deal with it right now! I have 3rd EC on Friday and last chemo should be 3 weeks after so I’m hoping I can wait. The pain isn’t terrible and it’s not all the time plus I’m prescribed tramadol for my back which I only use extremely rarely so I have a reasonable amount saved up. I was thinking of mentioning it at the final infusion and asking how long I should wait before I see the dentist - that way my chemo can’t get delayed or skipped. I’m already having a dose reduction and was told today that I’m not getting any more imaging as the scan in November showed I was responding. I was told at the start I’d have scans every two cycles throughout but apparently they’ve changed the guidelines recently to do one before and one during and that’s it unless the surgeon needs extra.
Hope your final treatment goes smoothly and wishing you the best for your recovery xx
The root canal was probably 20 years ago. It had a crown that dropped about 18 months ago and because I was in the middle of house moving etc. I didn’t get it dealt with . Then no nhs dentist available where I moved to. Got an access appointment for pre chemo and they put a temporary filling around the remaining tooth, but it broke and dropped out twice.
I don’t know what is happening next for you after chemo, but be aware that root canal treatment takes multiple visits (although techniques might have changed that since I last had one done). That might be a factor if on to radiotherapy next for example.
Hope you are able to navigate this without any pauses or problems xx
Thank you all for your congratulations on last chemo (today
).
I’m super excited, even though I know next phases of treatment may knock me about, I have a month free of anything new treatment wise. I plan to make the most of it!
Thanks for explaining, I asked about a root canal when I had the filling, I’m tempted to contact the dentist to ask if they can review my notes etc to see if it would be possible. I’m in Cornwall so I can’t get NHS and even the private ones are so full I’ve been going to one in Devon that’s an hour away. Next thing for me will be surgery then radiation after that, I’m on blood thinners too after the recent DVT which might be another reason to try to treat the tooth conservatively.
Enjoy your month off from treatment!
Dammit my chemo has been postponed due to my cold developing into a chesty cough. Sitting trying to get through to GP to get antibiotics, as instructed by on ology team, but feel like I’ll be waiting forever, maybe should just go into A and E but but wasn’t told to and don’t want to. So worried about delays, I’m already 5 days late to a 3 weekly infusion due to Xmas
I’m sorry you’re in this position, I hate it when they tell me to get something from the GP as it’s really not designed to be an emergency service. Sorry about the delays too, they’re really scary.
For anyone who already had surgery - how disabling is it in terms of arm movements and lifting? Were you able to manage laundry, cooking etc? I’m only having the one side but full lymph node clearance as well as mastectomy probably with an implant reconstruction. How quickly could you drive short distances and carry groceries?
I had single side mastectomy but no lymph node clearance and no reconstruction. They will give you exercises to do the day after surgery. I couldn’t carry laundry downstairs and wasn’t able to lift anything heavier than a kettle for a number of weeks. I drove a short distance after 2 weeks because I had no other way of getting the children to school but this wasfrowned upon by the Breast Nurses because it was too soon. I saw a physio before my surgery who went through all the do’s and don’ts. Everyone recovers differently but it’s really important you do everything you’re told to get the best movement back x
Hi @zebramoon jumping in from dec thread I had single mastectomy and full node clearance with implant reconstruction, I would say for the first week your very limited with movement on surgery side but by week two I could do most house hold tasks just gently and slowly, I could drive after about two weeks but it wasn’t comfortable until about 3/4weeks post op, the key is do the exercises that stretch ligaments etc every day and you’ll be amazed how suddenly one day you can lift both arms up again,
Pain was ok I topped up every day for the first week with paracetamol but nothing after about day 7/8 I slept propped up on a v shaped pillow and had drains for first 5 days they are just annoying to carry around but not painful
All in all not near as bad as I thought it would be xx
I’ve had 2 EC cycles so far and since the first one I’ve had a constant runny nose and cough. I had a cold before my second cycle and felt rubbish but now I still have a cough and runny nose but feel absolutely fine and have no temperature. Has anyone else had this as a side effect?
I am due my third EC on Monday 5th Dec. I have had a cough and runny nose since just before my second dose of EC and felt fine with no fever etc. I did call the helpline last Friday as I was concerned with the protracted nature of the symptoms and was producing a lot of greenish mucous but they were happy for me to continue managing conservatively at home at that point. I had my pre-chemo call with my Cons on Monday and he felt a course of Augmentin antibiotics was needed. He agreed my cough is likely from post-nasal drip from rhinosinusitis rather than from a chest infection.
Yes! I had the bloody blocked up nose someone else mentioned during the T cycles but since switching to EC my nose is just runny. I think it’s common to have runny nose / congestion as the nose hairs fall out quite early on. I have had a cough on and off, it gets better when I have the steroids with the treatment then comes back when the steroids wear off - I have cough variant asthma so I think mine is that (hasn’t been so bad this cycle). Like you no fever so I haven’t mentioned it / have played it down as I don’t think it’s an illness.
@cornwall1234 and @emilyxxx thanks so much for sharing your experiences of surgery, my auntie has very kindly offered to stay nearby and help around the house for the first two weeks - I don’t like to trouble her but think I might need some help. I really hate being unable to manage! I’m very grateful to have the support but it feels like such a liberty to ask her to come all the way over here when she doesn’t like driving and she’s 75 with osteoporosis.
Interesting the different advice given. I’ve got a cold, slight chesty cough, no temperature but green mucus and my treatment has been postponed as they assume it’s a chest infection. Mind you, I feel grotty, so prob just as well I have the antibiotics now. Unlike @zebramoon and @cornwall1234 mine is not chemo related I don’t think, just a cold/ chesty infection