Just wanted to pop on to say that I hope all your treatment plans go smoothly. I was part of the June Jewels 2013 group and I started my treatment on 12th June last year. I remember just how scared I was at this point 12 months ago but if you take things gently you can get through it. Speaking to others at the same point in their treatment is invaluable and stopped me from having many wobbles. There are still over 30 of us from the June 13 thread in touch on Facebook and meeting them is one positive I take from this experience. Most of us are now through our annual mammograms and (touch wood) so far we all have no evidence of disease!
It seems like a mountain to climb when you set off of this journey but I can’t believe how quickly 12 months has passed.
I wish you all the courage and strength to get through this and I hope you find some amazing friends along the way, just like we did. Lots of love - Chelle x
Thanks everyone for the good luck wishes 
just an update on how chemo yesterday went: so yesterday went well, first day of chemo and felt ok all day. Even managed to have a shandy in a beer garden with My friend straight afterwards! The strong anti sickness drug seems to be working Main side effect is the steroids make me starving all the time, today is my last day of those til next month tho! I have woke up today feeling ok but will be taking my carrier bag full of meds (yes seriously that big) to work with me today in case that changes so that I can dose up if needed! my partner has the not very nice job of injecting me this morning with the injection that stimulates my bone marrow to produce more white blood cells but I’m so glad he is doing it as I’m far too squeamish! I know that I won’t always feel this good but am really enjoying feeling normal and trying to do as much on these days as I can so that when I’m not feeling so good hopefully I won’t be so bored!
PICC line seems to heve settled over the weekend, much less aware of it now and my chest X-ray yesterday confirmed it was in the correct position too so that’s good.
Mummyraff how did you get on? Rach72 no I haven’t yet seen any research on piriton yet though I do like a good research so will let you know if I come across anything. Sugar8 I know how you feel, waiting was the hardest part for me but once id seen my oncologist I felt so much better so I hope the same happens for you.
I’m really considering a run tonight after work if I stay feeling ok, was training for tough mudder in July before the diagnosis and totally addicted to running n weights so really want to try to keep up as much as I can. Nurse suggested light stretching n yoga for excercising… Pffft!! Maybe in a few days if I feel rubbish but for now I want to run!
Wow runner29, that’s brilliant that you’re doing so well at the moment, long may it continue it’s certainly made me feel much less nervous about tomorrow. I’m hoping to stay feeling well for a little while as I really need to be in work for the rest of the week. With any luck, the Emend will work it’s magic for me.
Mummyraff, I’m really sorry to hear that you’re feeling so rough and I hope that they sort your anti-sickness meds out as quickly as poss so you can start feeling better. I’m thinking of you.
Much love and best wishes to all.
Rach. xxxx
Sorry that I missed you out mummy2dolly, so glad that you’re feeling better now, and well done you for starting back at the gym! xxxx
Just saying Hi to everyone else starting Chemo in June. I start on Friday 13th !!! One of my friends reassured me, that far from being a bad day for me, it was a bad day for any rogue cancer cells.
I’ve had my surgery, theruputic mammoplasty which went well, this is the big one for me, as I am really dreading starting. I had Grade 3 Invasive ductil breast cancer, node negative, 3/8 oestrogen receptive.
I was touch and go as to whether I decided to have chemo, but in the end decided I would go for it.
I have elected to have the cool cap. I’ve rejected the gel based one and am changing my hospital, so I can have the Paxman one. I’ll let you know how I get on.
A big hug to everyone else who is a June angel, we will get through this however tough it gets.
Just popped on to say hi to the June group. I had my first chemo session last Thursday. The chemo itself went ok but I had bad few days afterwards with nausea and the meds making me feel very dizzy and thinking how am I going to get through 6 months of this! Phoned my BC nurse and she said they would change my anti-sickness meds next time and will ask for Emend which seems to do the trick for most people. My sleep also seems to have been affected, was wide awake from 3-7am last night and going to ask about natural remedies as prefer not to have to resort to sleeping pills. I’ve cut my hair from long to very short and had loads of compliments on my new look have also opted for the cold cap, will let you know how it goes.
I had no choice about chemo as had Grade 3 IDC with 6 positive nodes. Had WLE and full node clearance. I had to have CT and bone scans which my surgeon told me was standard protocol with lymph node involvement and not anything to worry about. Very scary few days but thankfully all my scans were clear. My lump was also strongly ER positive and I was told I would need 10 years of hormone therapy. I’m single and live on my own but have had amazing support from family and friends.
Good luck to anyone starting chemo in the next few days and weeks, it’s not as bad as you think and even though I had a rough first few days, I’m feeling almost normal again today :-)
Hi to the new users in this thread, swm, Pixie and Polar
Along with the support here please also feel free to call our helpliners to talk through any concerns or queries on 0808 800 6000 and lines are open weekdays 9-5 and Saturdays 10-2
This link will take you to the BCC ‘Undergoing treatments’ information pages where you will find further support ideas from BCC including live chat, someone like me support and our group support services along with lots of information about treatments which I hope you will find helpful:
breastcancercare.org.uk/treatment
Take care
Lucy BCC
Had my first appointment with oncologist yesterday, she said I was triple neagative not sure if that is good or bad.I have an appointment Thursday and the on the 16th start my chemo which is FEC-T. Must admit very anxious about all of this the last two and half weeks have been a rollercoater
Hi all, how’s everyone feeling? initially I was feeling ok and going to work on Tuesday and Wednesday after my chemo on Monday. By the time it got to Wednesday evening I was in bed feeling like i’d been hit by a bus. Literally every bone, muscle and joint in my body hurt and I could not get out of bed. This continued for Thursday all day and I spent most of the day sleeping. Today I’m beginning to feel brighter, still tired but feel like I’m picking up. The chemo nurse said that I should be over the worst now so that’s good news. I’m currently on docetaxel for 3 cycles then FEC.
Hi runner29, I hope you’re past the worst of it. I was the same after my AC, fine the day of and day after then couldn’t get out of bed for two days… I’ve done 2 5km runs since then though… My cycles are 3 weekly do I’ve got nearly 2 weeks till my next dose…
Wow mummy2dolly that’s amazing that you’ve done 2 5km runs! I’ve been a little bit down worrying about the next one but I think your motto of making the most of the next 2 weeks is one I’m going to try to adopt!! It’s a nice evening here so want to try to go to a beer garden and have a drink with my boyfriend who has been amazing over the last few days, just try to get a bit of normality back.
Mummyraff how are you feeling today? Hope they’ve managed to get you on some meds to sort out the sickness. Rach72 and Roxie how are you doing?
I’m wondering how much longer I will keep my hair now.
Hello everyone,
The thought of the chemo session was definitely worse than it actually was, however, I will still be glad to get the port put in before the next session as my veins are a bit of a nightmare. I sucked ice throughout and have been brushing my teeth and using mouthwash and up to now, haven’t had any mouth problems.
I’ve felt a little bit sick but certainly nothing to write home about and have been a stickler for taking the antisickness on time and drinking approx 4 litres of water every day. I’ve been eating fibre with every meal so no digestive problems either at the moment. I’ve manged to work every day since and although I’m finding it pretty tiring, I’m sleeping well. I’m a little bit anxious about how well I’ll feel when the steroids stop tomorrow but also feel blessed to have not suffered hardly anything up to now.
I hope that those of you who have been unwell are starting to feel better, I’m thinking about you.
Lots of love
Rach. xxxxxxx
Hi all. I am Debbie I had my first chemo session (6 x fec) on Wednesday at Leicester royal. Was better than expected. I felt a little sick on wed eve but took anti nausea tablet and it did the job. Felt fine yesterday and ventured out today. My 7 yr old was driving me mad this eve so had to take a few paracetamol after seeing that my temp was ok. Hope to continue feeling this good when I come off the steroids on sun.
Am not the least bothered about losing my hair as I have enough for 6 people and relishing the thought of not having to pay out for cut and colour every 6 wks!
Had my wle, mammoplasty and snb on 17th April and all healed up nicely. Originally lead to believe only having rads but due to her2+ and grade 3 dcis having to have chemo, rads, herceptin and tomixifen.
Good luck to all having chemo. Debbie
Glad to hear most people are feeling better again. I had a few rough days after my first chemo last Thursday but went back to work yesterday, great to get some normality back. Sleeping a lot better too.
Runner29 my BC nurse said to expect a low point for a few days each cycle, hope you are feeling much better today.
mummy2dolly I’m having four cycles of AC every three weeks as well. My surgeon told me to eat healthy mediterranean style diet but did not mention supplements. I am going to check with my oncologist which supplements are safe to take.
Ria2056 everything happens so quickly at the beginning it does feel like a rollercoaster but everyone I have spoken to has said the beginning is the worst stage of the process and that it does get better. Thinkng of you.
Px
Hi
Start my 6 cycles of FEC on Wed 11 June followed by Rads and then prob Tamoxifen for 5-10 years. Having my PICC Line put in tomorrow, feeling anxious about that.
Hope I am ready for all this.
All the best to all who have started or about to start this part of their journey.
Best wishes
Poppet11
Hi mummy2dolly, yes i’m having 12x weekly Taxol after AC, with a break every 4th week.
All the best to everyone starting this week.
Poppett11 - just dropping in from the March group. I too was very anxious about having a PICC line fitted, but it was the best thing I ever did. The fitting is pain free (just like having a cannular fitted) the rest you don’t feel. The nurses were fab to me and I drove home afterwards. Remember to put a warm pack on afterwards and once you get used to it it’s fine. Have you heard of Limbo - they are on eBay and sell fab covers to go over your PICC so you can shower as usual. The best £15 I’ve ever spent!
I have a PICC line put in about 10 days ago and it was absolutely painless. I’m glad I had it put in as they take my bloods through it each time and if I need antibiotics they can put them through as well, just wish they could put the zoladex and the white blood cell boosting injections through as well!! The only annoyance is trying to keep it dry in the shower but my friend has ordered me a limbo as she said these are really good, looking forward to trying it out tonight as it can’t be any worse than the boots shower sleeve which was basically a £5 plastic bag with drawstring!
I’ve had some throbbing back pain today after walking round the shops, must be yet another side effect as I’m 29 n was running half marathons before this! Also woke up with a rash round my neck this morning, think I’ve become hypersensitive to the necklace that my boyfriend bought me for Christmas, so upset about having to take it off. I took some piriton this morning so hopefully that will take away the itching soon. Also have a horrible rough sandpaper like mouth inside, brushing n using the mouthwash but hasn’t helped yet. Saying that I’m a million times better than mid last week so that I am thankful for.
I now am the proud owner of a synthetic wig, I bought it privately as the NHS wig lady said it could be 12 days til they get the wigs in for me to try n I was worried that I could have lost my hair by then. Also it was a better style for me than the ones she offered which weren’t as long as my hair is now. I think the worst part for me too is my boyfriend seeing me without hair. I can wear my wig out and about but bedtime is my issue, I’m really not a fan of the sleep caps and scarves. He has been a star and said he’ll love me with or without hair but it’s a female pride thing I suppose. Saying that I totally love my wig it’s long and thick and gorgeous. Same length but thicker than my hair is at the minute so I went and bought some pretty clips to put in it today. Now just the night time issue to either find a solution too or get over! Lol.
Hi there everyone. In starting my chemo on Wednesday 11th. 6 x FEC. Should have started two weeks ago but got an infection following my mastectomy. I’ve got my wig, scarves, bonjela, mouth wash, soft toothbrush, ginger, dates, coconut water etc etc etc all ready - just really want to get started now. The sooner it starts the sooner it’s finished. Feeling very nervous now but kind of helps to know that (sadly) theres so many people that know how I’m feeling. It’s been good to read what everyone has to say, thanks xx
Hi all. Sorry you all find yourselves here. Im a december angel and had my last chemo on 28th march. Its tough but absolutely do-able. Be kind to yourselves and just take it one chemo at a time. It really won’t be long until you are coming out the other side and getting your lives back. Hang in there and support each other. Xx