Hi Butterfly
I had my hair cut 4 months post chemo and it looked fine. You'll be surprised how quick it grows from here onwards. My hair used to be long before all this madness started! so I'm aiming to get back to that. I'm now a year on from the first cut and by Summer I will have a decent bob. It's still a bit wavy at the ends and thicker than it was before, but I can see my old hair returning. Sadly, the grey hairs have also returned!!
Best wishes
Sue xx
Hi ladies, hope everyone is doing ok..it’s been a while! Pleased to say I found the cause of my tummy trouble, it was the brand of Letrozole I changed to, have switched back and am settled now 😊
With the sunshine yesterday I felt extremely brave and ditched my hat for the first time outdoors! Still only a very fine covering and no fringe at all, salt and pepper all over but quite neat. I guess to strangers it looks like a very short cut! Maybe the warmer weather will speed up the growth!
Hugs to you all xx
Hi butterfly,
maybe it's a virus? We are more susceptible after chemo and with ongoing treatments.
i found my stomach/bloating and iffy digestion really improved after starting to drink a green smoothie every day? Hope you feel better soon xxx
I’m fed up.
Weeks after chemo finished - last cycle 5 Jan. Having Herceptin and Pertuzamab every 3 weeks still - no.8 tomorrow with Zometa for the first time. Been on Letrozole for 3 weeks.
My tummy had really settled down, wasn’t perfect, but never was as have IBS. And then twice this week I’ve had 💩 issues very much like I had when on Docetaxol. What is happening? I know side effects linger on..but I feel this has come out of the blue.
Sorry but thanks for listening. Xx
Thanks for your helpful comments.
I look forward to some sprouting soon!
Good luck with your onward journeys.
Hi Camilla I typed a reply last night but it’s not posted 🙄
My hair is coming back but seems to be slower than Jo and Ali. I had 4 EC that might be a reason, so hopefully yours will follow their path. I’m not quite ready to go hatless just yet!
But your taste will return a lot quicker, I think as soon as the 3 weeks of your last cycle have gone you’ll notice a difference. I too had no respite between cycles like others have had, was lucky if I got a couple of days.
Good luck with your last cycle, and then you’ll have a little breather before your op. I opted for a mx as I wasn’t convinced the chemo could have completely killed everything and didn’t want to risk anything being left behind. But as it turned out my pathology report was completely clear! So feeling so wretched for 6 months was (almost!) worth it. I have rads starting after Easter, and continue with TP every 3 weeks until October.
Hope all our August ladies and other readers are doing ok. Xx
Hi Camilla, I have a similar treatment plan to you although I had 4 each of EC and DTP. I had my last D in the first week of Jan.
I would say my hair began to be softer rather than spikey, very gradually, at the start of the year, about 3 months after my last dose of EC. Am now 5 months post EC and it’s coming but still not as quickly as I’d like! Haven’t been brave enough to go hatless outside yet, but as I had very short hair before all this started I’m hoping I’ll be ready once the weather warms up a bit. I think that’s also the reason why I’ve found my wig so hard to accept - it’s got too much hair!
T was another problem altogether - I agree with you, my taste went completely and even changed from day to day. It was horrid. I lost a little bit of weight, but am sorry to hear you’ve lost so much you poor thing. I’m glad to say that the taste returned pretty quickly once the T stopped. So hopefully it’ll be the same for you once you’ve had your last cycle and the 3 weeks have passed. I had no respite weeks at all with either regime, I was lucky if I got a couple of days in the week it all kicked off again.
It’s my nails and my feet that are still suffering. Have lost 3 toenails so far, with the rest to follow, and still feel like I’m walking on hot coals sometimes. My fingernails are very ropey but I’m hoping they aren’t going to go the same way. Have bought Sally Hanson Nail Rehab today to see if that will help?!
Good luck with your last T. I had my op almost 5 weeks after and felt ready. My taste was definitely back by then as the Marmite on toast I had when I came round was the best taste ever!! That was 6 weeks ago and I’m now waiting to start rads. 11 more TP to go. Xx
Hello everyone, I'm jumping in from the Dec thread with a couple of questions.
I am on FEC T followed by op, rads and 18 X 3 wks herceptin inj. Currently halfway thru 2nd of the 3 T. Can anyone tell me where, on this journey, my hair might start to grow back? It didn't bother me to lose it but I wld like to know?
Also, since starting the T I've had 5 wks of horr taste in mouth , hard to eat and all food tastes awful. ( Have lost 12 kilos since starting chemo) When might taste buds return to normal? On FEC there was a respite week but I don't seem to get it now.
Any response much appreciated.
Thanks
Hi Jo and all the August ladies! How lovely to hear how everyone is doing.
I am starting to get back to "normal" now. I finished Radiotherapy last week, WOOOHOO, so now feel I have lots of time on my hands! Still a little tired but on the whole it was fine. Skin is returning to normal ish colour in places and nipple sensitivity has died down thankfully. I even had a haircut!!! Now sporting an Ellen type pixie crop.
SE wise my fingers are a bit sore, though this could be due to not working (hairdresser- so normally my fingers are really strong and I feel I've lost some dexterity)
I have some muscle fatigue, I'm sure this will improve as my activity level does too.
I also have some tinnitus though this could be down to a blocked ear that hasn't really shifted in 4weeks? It started after my first week of rads but don't think its connected.
On the whole nothing too rubbish to be left with.
I also had a lovely complementary massage at the Big C, so maybe worth checking if you are entitled to it too?! I'm allowed 6 treatments (either massage or reflexology) and so is one nominated person, so i will take my mum to the next one!
Im so thankful for this website, it and all of you, really helped keep me sane when I had some heavy stuff going on. Unbelievably, two of my co workers have had BC diagnosis since I started my treatment,so I recommended them here.
Your all on the home straight now! Haven't we done well!!!
Wishing you all the very best for today Mary-Kate. As you say it’s not what you need after everything you’ve gone through, but hopefully this will be an easier recovery. Xx
So glad to hear your good news Ali and Butterfly, so good to hear positive news! Hope Radiotherapy goes well for you when you start Ali - there's light at the end of the tunnel for you...
So whilst trying to move on from Chemo and Radiotherapy, I've now been told that my broken ankle needs surgery, really hoping it's not because of the Chemo... So I'm back in hospital tomorrow, but it's already been rearranged once as no beds, so just hoping it'll go ahead. But the thought of more surgery and anaesthetic after 4 Op's already for BC is quite hard to cope with... Just keep having to remember that this is fixable and nothing in comparison to what we've all been though - only a temporary delay in getting back to 'normal' and another few weeks of rest and recovery....
Hope everyone else is doing OK xxx
Hi Ali
Glad you had good news from your surgeon today and I hope, like you, that the CT scan is just for reassurance. Sorry you’re back to the waiting game again though.
Unfortunately my pathology results weren’t back 🙈 my surgeon was very apologetic and so I’ve been rescheduled for next week. He did remove the dressing, and I’m pleased how neat the scar is, although I’m a little nervous now it’s out in the open! He doesn’t seem worried by the seroma, says he’ll drain it if it becomes any more uncomfortable, and there’s nothing I can do (or not do) to make it better (or worse) It could take 12-18 months to go which is annoying but as there’s nothing I can do I’ll have to try not to stress. Exercises going well, with a little grimacing and plenty of painkillers!
I’m really pleased I’m feeling quite good now chemo is over - 6 weeks since my last cycle. Get my 7th Herceptin and Pertuzumab tomorrow.
Hope you ladies are doing ok. Xx
Hi August Ladies
Hope everyone’s doing as well as expected. So I started Radiotherapy a few weeks ago and compared to Chemo, found it so much easier to deal with, although quite hard doing the breath-holding as the Radiotherapy was to my chestwall on the left and they want to reduce the risk to the heart and lungs - hadn't realised before... My skin hasn't suffered too much thankfully but have lots of swelling under my arm, they're hoping it's just reaction to the Radiotherapy and not the start of lymphedema, not what I want… Managed to work all the way through the treatment, quite good as a distraction but so tiring… Also started tamoxifen last week, for the next 10 years and so far it's been OK, except for hot flushes, but it's early days... So, I’ve finally finished Radiotherapy – left that hospital like I was walking on a cloud! Nearly a whole year of treatment - 4 operations, 5 months of Chemo, then Radiotheraphy, and treatment is finally over and that feels amazing!!!
But, I can't believe my bad luck since then... So, on my first day after finishing treatment I only went and slipped on mud in the woods and have broken my ankle – aghhhhhh! Not what I need right now – more enforced rest and recovery, so frustrating. After a CT scan they’ve decided not to operate and see if it’ll heal naturally, so in a non-weight-bearing cast, but they did say that Chemo can make your bones more brittle and can make broken bones harder to heal. Life can be very unfair sometimes - but trying to look at it as a minor set-back – this is fixable…nothing can be as hard as Chemo in the scheme of things….
But on the good side, had my first hair cut (very short and grey), now have a full head of hair and almost have a hair-style again – no more wig or hats! Such a good milestone to reach – a step in the right direction towards ‘normality’ again. Looks like the cold cap did work after all, I only lost about 50% of my hair and it might have helped with the re-growth, I think. Can’t wait for my eyelashes to grow back too.
Lovely to hear how you’re all doing. Great to hear of good results - Butterfly, JoG83, CK & Mishy18! Sib, so glad you've finally finished - it must feel like a marathon, glad you've got a holiday to look forward to. Ali, glad your 2nd Op has gone OK, hope the results are good when you eventually get them and that your shingles starts to clear up soon, it sounds like you’ve had a tough time recently - good luck going back to work too, let us know how it goes.
Take care and hugs to you all xxx
Hi Jo and the other August ladies, hope everyone doing ok. Well done Jo, final leg around the corner for you.
I had surgery last Wednesday. Left side mastectomy, my choice, and SNB which was checked while I was in surgery and found to be clear, so no further nodes taken 😊
I get the pathology results on Thursday this week, which will determine what happens next.
I was out the same day and haven’t been too bad. I think after chemo, nothing is ever going to floor me again! I am taking regular painkillers, and it’s noticeable if I forget a dose. Have a lovely heart cushion from Jen’s Friends which I heard of in this forum, and which I am finding comforting under my arm. Have been a bit distressed over the fluid that’s filled my breast space..not completely, but it’s very noisy as it swooshes around! I’ll see what they say on Thursday when I see the surgeon again. Quite numb and have lovely blue streaks from the dye but I’m hopeful that the numbness is helping keep the pain at a lower level. Sleeping well and really enjoying that my taste is back so am making the most of some yummy food!
Hugs to you all. Xx
More good news Jo that made being an inpatient worthwhile! So pleased for you. Glad you’re home now. Take care and stay well ready for rads. We’ve done the hard bit! Xx
Hi ladies!
I'm day 11 after finishing radiotherapy. I was told the symptoms would continue for a couple of weeks after the end of treatment but I underestimed this, so take note ladies if you are working! My skin got redder, warmer and more sore for a good week after the end of radiotherapy especially below my armpit which has been really sore. I was close to taking painkillers but managed without. I found it really uncomfortable to wear a bra for long periods too. It has begun to peel now but my skin has stayed dry without weeping etc. Today is the first day symptoms are slowly subsiding. I've been putting on some good cream every day for the full 20 days and since finishing and it'll last me another week I reckon. I bought it on Amazon, it's from France - BIAFINE which is for burns and is about £15. I found out about it on the radiotherapy thread on here, it's been excellent. It 'absorbs' quite quickly so I'm not having to wait too long to get dressed - I'm all about the practicalities!!
It is great to see us all being post-chemo at last, I know I'm coping so much better by reading all your posts, thank you so much!