Hi everyone.
I had WLE on 17th Nov and diagnosed with grade 2 non invasive ER pos no lymph nodes involved.
I start chemo on 9th Jan. 6x FEC at 3 weekly intervals. then rads and tamoxifen.
Bit apprehensive and mostly concerned about how I can limit the chance of the cancer coming back as don’t want to go through all this or worse again.
Here’s to all of us on the Jan thread, thanks for starting it. Happy Christmas everyone. At least we can all enjoy Christmas with our loved ones without feeling ill.
just jumping in to say good luck for jan. You will all get through it. I had 4xFec, 4 tax and finished in oct. This was folowed by 15 rads. i like you thought I would not get through and I did. Still got a way to go but there is light at the end of the tunnel. look after yourselves and try to be positive. make sure you stay on here as there are amazing ladies with fantastic support and advice.
Hi again everyone
Anne - good luck with your ONC appontment today.
Thejourney - it is good that you live near to the hospital if you are having 8 chemo sessions. Are these sessions still 3 weeks apart?
Julianna - I know exactly what you mean when you say ‘head firmly in the sand’ that describes how I am at the moement.
Jacqui - welcome to the thread, you are having the same treatment plan as me, lets hope we all have small se’s.
Thanks Collette67 and Maj for your positive comments they really do help.
I hope you all have a lovely christmas and new year.
Gillian xx
Hi everyone
Had my ONC appointment this afternoon and I start FEC-T on 19 january, so 3 cycles of FEC then 3 cycles of Taxotere. I have to have UUS abdomen next week as she thought she could feel ‘something’ when she examined me; possabiliy a fibroid.
I have also been asked if I want to take part in a trial which will be given along side Herceptin and is thought to be an extra bolster for HER+ cancers. It is caled Pertuzumab and I have a loads of information to wade through. It will mean that I am monitored more closely so feel a little tempted. Will start a thread to see if anyone else has been offered similar.
hadnt noticed this thread and started another earlier oops
Had my MX and full node clearance on the left side 13 days ago…meeting with surgeon yesterday who has advised 4 x FEC and 4 x Tax from January then 15 radiotherapy to follow. Not sure of exact date until next wednesday when I meet my Oncologist but am assuming it will be January
good luck to all and can I ask is anyone going to try the cold cap?
Hi everyone
Just popped in to wish you all a Merry Christmas & a healthy/happy New Year.I expect your all busy today,I have a very excited 6yr old daughter & a 3yr old son who will be 4 tomorrow what a day that is going to be.
Hello Julie-I did considder trying the cold cap because i didn’t like the thought of losing my hair,the chemo nurse told me that it did not work for everyone & added extra time before & after treatment so decided not to go for it & got myself a wig instead.
Tracey xx
Hi Julie i am going to give the cold cap ago, hopefully I’ll be able to take it. The nurse said the 1st 15 mins determine if you can take it. Anything is worth a go tho! I’m starting chemo 10 Jan I’m quite anxious but trying to focus on xmas new year and my daughter’s 1st birthday all happening this month! I’ve gone for the constant one that doesn’t need to be changed don’t no why but just thought it’d be best one for me as they change the other one 3 times. Good luck to you x
Starting AC on the 3rd January - was supposed to be 13th December, however, my wound got infected and my implant had to be removed. My stitches come out at end of this week and having a portacath put in.
Is there anyone out there on AC - how are the side effects?
Wendy xx
Hi everyone, diagnosed on 26th oct 2011, had WLE on 22nd november and full node clearance. 6/14 were clear and 4cm tumour. All went well then 6 days later developed infection, temp of 39.5 and back in hospital this made me very poorly and set me back. Seromas had decided to drain naturally through a tiny outlet near wound opening. This has been going on for 3 weeks, but gradually lessing. met oncologist last week, wants me to have tac and i start on 30th december,(he is admitting me for the day as he doesnt want to hang about, is this a reason for me to be concerned about) but thought best to join the january 2012 thread for support really. I am so scared, the worst thing is my only daughters wedding in may, and haveing no hair etc getting me down. Lts face it a spot would be an inconvenience on your child’s wedding day really. I am trying to be positive but then i keep thinking of the forthcoming months of treatment. also have to have raiotherapy, and herceptin. This has all been a rollercoaster and in my 25th year of marriage, crap timing and birthday tomorrow. I am hoping that by joing tthis thread i can find support from others going through the same treatments.
It is my birthday tomorrow and my 25th wedding anniversery in the summer so I also riding the rollercoaster!
OH had a meltdown on Christmas night which wasn’t helpfull (probably due to huge amounts of alcohol, he drank all my share as well as alcohol just doesn’t hold the same appeal any more). He started full scale sobs and the whole guilt/blame thing started (why did you have to get this, why did it have to be the most agrressive type, why,why why) had to leave the room, told him I didn’t need this especially at christmas. Needless to say he was tad sheepish in the morning but realised we hadn’t actually disscuss anything properly. Time seemed to be filled with hospital appointments. We did talk things though and he just feels out of control and hates seeing me in pain/discomfort. Told him the surgery was probably the easy bit because you have an inkling what to expect and the chemo is an unknown enterty as each person reacts differently and I’m c***ing myself.
I have been following December girls as I did think I was going to one of them but had to have more surgery and they all seem to be doing really well with all their side effects well controlled (think OH thought I’d be spending most of the time with my head in a bowl!)
I have definatly picked up more information from here than from any where else; a leaflet cannot give you the support that first hand experience can.
Roll on to the next appointment, test and scan.
Anne xx
To keepingpositive: Yes my chemo sessions are 3 weeks apart - assuming that the blood tests between sessions allow this. I was away for a few days over Christmas, with my husband and some friends, and it gave me a change of scene which I think has helped.
I hope that 2012 will be easy on all our ladies on the forum. Bye for now.
On the cold cap debate as me and a friend were diagnosed a week apart our treatments are different she is having chemo first and I had surgery first…
Decided to take my friend to her first session for support and also to get an idea of what was to come…she tried the cold cap and found it quite tough…Made my decision that I think I will suit scarves. My friend has bought me the best bright blue wig for christmas…am thinking of getting lots of different colours and using them as mood indicators…god help the OH when I am wearing the red one x x
Hope you have all managed to enjoy some of the festivities x x
Ha that made me laugh Jules. I have noticed people looking at me with exagerated concern when they ask me how I am and I say ‘Really well thanks’ as if they can’t believe it. ‘But I do feel well!’ I want to shout from the rooftops.
happy birthday minty27 this time next year you will be in good health and wanting to party!!
Linzi84 we will do this cold cap and hopefully it will work for us! I’m so glad I joined this forum the support I have received is invaluable and i’m so grateful to everyone.x x x
today i found out that im starting my chemo on 10 jan - i found out id be having it on 15th nov at aftercare app, and have been waiting ever since…first thought i was going to be a nov starter, then dec and now jan! I had my lumpectomy on oct 19th - clear margins and nodes but HER2+, hence the chemo, followed by herceptin.
Anyway, has anyone else had to wait this long to find out? or is just my area or something? Also, after being told i needed chemo ive not heard from my breast care nurse since - is it normal to not be contacted after finding out such devastating news? Obviously ive come to terms with it now as its been six weeks and a day since i was told.
im having 3 x fec followed by 3 x tax… then 3 and a half weeks of rads, followed by herceptin for 6 or 12 months and then 5 yrs of tamoxifen. gulp! how many drugs lol
worst part about starting in jan is its my 41st birthday on 22nd and my daughters 15th hope i dont feel too rough… not bothered about mine but shes frantic about me at the moment. But i guess if it hadnt been jan it could of beed christmas that was messed up - there will always be something or some reason! lets just get on with it and get it over n done with!
I hope you are all feeling positive and strong - us girls are stronger than we are given credit for and we will and can do this!
right ive finished boring you all now hopefully speak to some of you v soon
hi everyone, joining this thread is really helping me now. I have collected dexamethasone tablets today and start them tomorrow morning. Out to a party tonite so hoping to take mind off chemo starting this friday. Any tips whilst taking these tablets and what i should eat friday morning greatly appreciated. Am meant to be going to new years eve party and nurse said i woud be ok to have a couple of drinks on sat evening, but I am not convinced. Thanks for birthday wishes, had a good day (bit snappy though). reality that i really have had breast cancer seems to be kicking in.
Hi Jo
It does seem a long wait but then a couple of days seem a long time when you are waiting.
I was dx 31st Oct (Halloween!), had WLE and SNB 14 Nov. Clear margins but 2 nodes affected so had further surgery 7th Dec to clear nodes and thankfully no more were affected. I had my drain out on 16th the friday and on the monday the ONC secetary called to make an appointment that thursday. It felt like everything was happening all at once and overwhelming especially with the business of christmas. Like you say if its not christmas thats messed up, its your birthday or some other special occassion.
I had been told I will start of the 19th jan, also FEC-T, rads and Herceptin.
It was my birthday today and I had to have USS as the ONC felt ‘something’ on my tummy. Turns out I have a huge fibroid. Not sure if I should worry or if its significant or connected to my BC.
I see my ONC tomorrow.
Scotianne you really seem to be going through it at the moment you poor thing…have you not had tummy pain with your fibroid?? (p.s. my spelling is pants) and don’t want to be rude but if you you are of a certain age they are quite common…
Had my meeting with the oncologist today…clear as mud…am having 4 x epirubicin and cyclophosamide at 3 week inetervals then 4 x Taxotere at 3 week intervals was triple negative so no need for hormone tabs waiting for Christies to call for heart scan then it will be go go go…begged and pleaded to have chemo at local hospital where they have a small unit but was told no chance as they were full…they will try and transfer me when a place becomes available also was asked if i wanted to try cold cap…no thank you
Just wish i had a definitive date…its really doing my head in we all know what its like waiting…trying to stay positive and not hitting people when they tell me how well I am dealing with it all AARRGGHH!!! We are like swans…calm on the exterior paddling like mad underneath or Rabbits trapped in headlights…
hope i dont feel too rough… not bothered about mine but shes frantic about me at the moment. But i guess if it hadnt been jan it could of beed christmas that was messed up - there will always be something or some reason! lets just get on with it and get it over n done with!