November diagnosis

[Guest user]

Hi Ladies

Sorry I'm joining this discussion a little late, had an IT fail and have only just managed to register and get to use the forums!

I too was diagnosed in November (8th). I had a WLE and SLN biopsy in December (on my birthday) followed by axillary clearance in January. Thankfully none but the SLN showed any trace of disease. I was so relieved I almost hugged my surgeon but didn't think he'd appreciate it even though I've known him for 15 years.

Had my first cycle of TAC chemo last week and am now beginning to feel human again.

It's been interesting to read everyone's stories and their thoughts and feelings on their diagnoses. Being several months down the line now I'm feeling much calmer and more positive about the whole thing but certainly went through some dark times and strange, scary emotions.

How is everyone coping with chemo? I was very tired for a few days but haven't suffered much with nausea - the anti-emetics seem to have worked. My taste buds have altered and I'm struggling to find anything palateable to drink which is causing a problem in that I need to drink plenty of fluid to counteract constipation :o(

Hope all my November dx "sisters" are well and coping with the various demands of treatment

Sending you all love and hugs

Emma xx

[Guest user]

Pinky (Pat)
Join us on the January Surgery Buddies thread too!
Lots of hugs available.

Mary M

[Guest user]

Hi
Havent posted on here for a while, but i do read most days, but have also joined the february thread. Ive had my 1st chemo and am now day 8 ( i think). Feel good today and ive put that down to the extra blood i had to have on monday as i was quite aneamic.
I've been waiting for all sorts to kick in , but so far so good., everything is still intact.
I think im now more nervous of round 2 because i know how im going to feel in the days after.

Gill x

[Guest user]

Hello Nov Ladies and Alanaa's cat! I guess we are all of on different threads depending on our treatments and November sure seems a long time ago.

Hello to you as well Pat, sorry you have to join but as Alanaa says this forum is a life line. I have no idea how I would have managed without it. I also started tamoxifen on 12th Jan so been nearly a month and with no major side effects to speak of and am halfway through my rads treatment.

BTW Alanaa, did you see the thread about pets behaviour before and after DX? Have you been getting extra attention from Fat Cat! I tried to get a sympathy kitten for Christmas from the OH but got a kindle instead.....its not very cuddly;-).

Love to all......Zax

[Guest user]

Hello to you Pat

a warm welcome to our little November group. I am sure you will find that this site is just wonderfull and you are in the right place to find all the answers for your questions and some laughter too.

November ladies sending you all a gentle hug

Alanaa and Cat xx

[Guest user]

Was diagnosed November 26th after having a spot on my skin under my arm removed. Mammograms did not pick anything up for the past 10 years. Cancer could have been there from 2 to 10 years. I have stage 4 lobular breast cancer. Started tamoxifen Dec. 28th. Had a lumpectomy Jan. 13, 2012. Had a bone marrow biopsy done Jan. 19th and I have cancer in the bone marrow in my pervic area. No chemo no radiation just put me on tamoxifen. Tamoxifen seems to be working according to the blood tests doctor is monitoring. This is such a horrible thing to deal with. Glad to know that there is a place I can come to correspond with my sisters in this fight.
Pat

[Guest user]

Alaana
It is a little quiet on the Nov thread - but the Jan surgery thread is buzzing!
I'm waiting for my wounds to heal before i can start rads too...nuisance isnt it?
Mary M

[Guest user]

Hello to all of you

gosh it is getting rather quiet on this thread at present. Hope you are all doing okay.

Hug from Alanaa and Cat

[Guest user]

Hi Shadders

had the drains in for 10 days and my Prof said they don't leave them in longer in case of infection. I am not to bad generally just not sure yet what to do when the rads will start as I have to go for 3 weeks, Monday to Friday and not sure if I am going to stay or go home or what. Have to cross that bridge when I come to it. 110 miles for a 10 minute appointment each day. Oh well has to be done.
Since the scar is not healed there is no rush in getting travel arrangements etc. sorted. Knew it would take a bit longer to heal due to the immune suppresives I am taking.

Having a cosy evening with fat cat as I am for some reasons rather knackered over the last few days. Feeling fine just tired.

Love to you all from Alanaa and Cat

[Guest user]

Hi all, good to see you are all doing ok.

I had my 2nd dose of chemo on Monday and not feeling too bad. Hair started to fall out so I shaved it off. Kids not too keen but I'm sure they'll get used to baldy me.

Glad the rads and tamoxifen not too bad Zax.

Alanna hang on in there, you sound so calm I think I would be going mad can't a distict nurse come out to you. In some hospitals they put a drain in and keep you in till they know it's healed. Anyway I'm sure my rant is not helping so good luck and hope it heals quickly.

Night all going to cosy up with a book now too.

Love to you all, Jacqui x

[Guest user]

well that's my 2nd dose of chemo done and dusted, 1/3'd of the way through 🙂

Zax - certainly agree it's crazy. suppose we're just to take every day as it comes.

xxxx

[Guest user]

Welcome on board Alanaa, glad your results didn't throw any new nasties your way. Keep up with the exercises, they will help when you have to position your arms for treatment. Ask away if you have any questions....

Lynzi, nice to hear from you and to hear all is going as well as can be expected. I know what you mean about waiting for it to hit...sometimes I think I have gone through the worst emotionally and other days I feel like I am back at square one.

Hugs to all, Zax

[Guest user]

Hello TTM

yes have to travel to Aberdeen for Rads as well once they will start. My middle daughter is such a treasure. She has taken me for most of my appointments as she is the only one of my 3 kids near to me. The other two are studying in Glasgow, so not just round the corner. I do feel for Laura as she drives to Aberdeen to the hospital for work 3 or sometimes 4 days a week (she is a nurse there)and now takes me on her days off for my check ups and fluid removal etc. I am so lucky that my BCN and my Prof. are just lovely and liase with Laura re appointment times.
My cat is delighted that I am home again as I stayed at my daughters last night. I made sure she was cosy in the living room and placed a hot water bottle behind her blanket to keep her warm during the night. Don't laugh, she is getting on a bit (like myself) and is used to have the heat from the open fire at night when we cuddle on the sofa. After all it is rather cold here at the moment and there is nothing as bad as a cat that is in the huffs.

Love to you all from Alanaa and Coco

[tommyticklemou]

hi alanaa,

glad you got your next stage of treatment confirmed. what a long journey you have it must tiring. will you have to travel that far for your radiotherapy as well? hope the fluid subsides soon so you wont have that journey to do at least.

hope the cat is still talking to you after leaving him alone for the night.

keep warm. its also turned a bit colder here where i am. the cats are hogging the fire as usual.

Lynzi84 - glad you are coping so far with the chemo, hope the side effects arent too harsh for you. take care of yourself. x

TTM xxx

[Guest user]

Good evening to you all

Zak will be joining you on the Rads journey. Got my results today and since one of the 2 nodes removed had cells in them I have to get rads once my wound is healed. Does look as if I don't have to go down the dreaded chemo road so that is great. Have app with Radiologist in 2 weeks to get treatment plan sorted. Still going up and down to Aberdeen once or twice a week to get fluid removed. They got another 800mls today and am sure it will be the same on Friday.
We are clocking up the miles on the car at the moment. So far we have been to Aberdeen 5 times over the last 2 weeks for one check up or another (round trip of 110 miles each time). I have no pain with the fluid or anywhere else for that matter, just sound like a waterbed when I move to much about.
Going to have a cosy evening in front of the fire with fat cat and a book. It is rather cold here so the fire is just lovely. My neighbour humped me logs and coal in earlier so well sorted for the next couple of days.

Hugs to you all from Alanaa and Cat

[Guest user]

Hi ladies,

how are we all doing? i'm due to start 2nd chemo tomorrow. feeling great at the moment although it's been a bit of a struggle. not got much hair left but seem to be coping well for the moment, although i'm sure it'll hit me at some point.

hope you are all doing as well as can be xxxx

[Guest user]

Just a quick note to say hello as I should be fast asleep by now!

Alanaa, hopefully out of the blasted waiting room tomorrow! Be thinking of you. And Gill, next step this week on the journey. Hope all goes OK for you too.

Nothing to report on the rads front really. Got a full weeks worth next week, had three zaps so far. Same goes for tamoxifen, although I definitely am hotter or more sensitive to temperature changes, I haven't had night sweats or tropical moments. Probably a bit soon for anything to be happening anyway.

I do seem to have one weird SE though. I have an overwhelming urge to de-clutter! Kitchen cupboards, clothes, shoes...everything! Unfortunately the only thing I achieved is to empty out loads of cupboards and drawers all over the house and not finish any of it. It's chaos! I feel like a demented energiser bunny!

Best try to go get some sleep now, keep strong. Hugs Zax

[tommyticklemou]

hi everyone,

hope you are doing ok with various treatments.

i had my further wle on wednesday. a bit sore/tender but ok i think. think a bit of bruising is starting to come out.

hi shadders - nice to hear from you. sounds like you are doing really well coping with the chemo.

zax- you've started your rads, how is it going. i will pm you over weekend.

alanaa - lots of hugs for monday.

fiona - glad the chemo is going ok, sounds like your also coping really well. thats what you have to keep thinking 2 down already, soon it will be another one down.
i hope your cats are looking after you well. they are entertaining arent they and a good stress ball i think. mine are still young 1 yr and are still quite manic at times. i think they never grow out of their wacky half hour a day though. there not scaling curtains now so thats good!

mgsm - how are your feeling read your post on other thread. lots of hugs to you.

lots of hugs to everyone TTM xxx

[Guest user]

Hi All,
Haven't been on here for a while as Knackerd by eve when I tend to post.
I am day 16 post 1st chemo and feel good apart from a massive ulcer on tongue. Hair is falling out rapidly now.
Gill I work in nursery and was told absolutely not to work or even visit on my good days as too much of a risk. I have to say I think I would have found it a struggle in the 1st week as was nauseous but could have worked this week and last week.
Zax- keep wanting to call you Tax, pleased that you have not gone crazy and raided the knife drawer. Is your OH still nervous? I am not looking forward to 5 years of those pills. Made me laugh about the yoga and the buttock clenching. It would be worse on chemo let me tell you. mind you it could be all the biscuits and chocolate I keep stuffing my face with at the mo. How is the radiotherapy going?

Good luck to all of you with your various treatments and will try and post more. [Hangs head in shame.]
Love jacqui x

[Ruth13]

Hi Gill,

I have to be honest I have had x2 FECC now and I think you will find it difficult to work. Chemo is Okish, but you can feel quite nauseated for the first week, then pretty tired the second week and you are also adviced to avoid people with infections day 7-14, difficult with snotty children!!

I work with people who could be infected and was adviced not to work.

Good luck, it is better once started.

Fiona

[Guest user]

Hi All
haven't been on for a while I finally have a start date for my chemo, the 31st jan. Strangely as an 'emotional' person i have taken this calmly. I'm sure when the day comes i will be a complete wreck!
I've been told i should be able to work but to see how I go. Its funny how different people are told different things. I work in a reception class and I know of people who have been told not to work as they work in schools.
Thinking of you all
Gill xx

[Guest user]

Hi Ladies, please to report not gone crazy-ape-bonk with a drill set and knife yet! Just been juggling work etc and generally pretending for a week or two that none of this is reeeeelly happening to me! And then I started rads today finally so can't pretend any more:-(

Rads compared to what you ladies are having to endure is a walk in the park so I won't go on about them too much but if there is anything you need to know then I am your November Ladies Rads Expert...well not expert as such!

As for tamoxifen, no real SE's yet. Do feel more sensitive to temp changes especially heat but can't say I have experienced a full on tropical moment. Yoga was exhausting this week, what with the usual butt clenching (we ALL know it happens) and repeatedly taking my top off, top on, top off etc my teacher thought I had invented a new pose! Maybe the 'is it me or is it hot in here downward dog'??

Fiona, I have to say the idea of being menopausal has hit me like an emotional steam train and together with the rads I have been turning on the old water works again. Still we have to take solace in the fact we have come this far since November and we are all hanging in there...

Hugs to you all, I hope the other Nov Ladies are OK? Zax

Alaana, will keep everything crossed for Mon....

[Guest user]

Good evening to you all

Had my check up today and had 800mls of fluid drained off and the stitch taken out. Feeling fine and no pain at all during or after the procedure.
Thank goodness will get my results on Monday so the waiting is nearly over.
Feeling rather tired now so hope that I will manage to have a good nights sleep.

Love to you all from Alanaa

[Ruth13]

Hi everyone,

TTM- Chemo going OK, x2 FECC down, one to go then start Tac. Can't say it is the way I would chose to spend four months of my life, but it is the means to and end. i have x2 cats too, they have been great company since diagnosis in November.
I found all the waiting the most difficult.I only had x1 WLE before surgeon said I needed MTX next.God it is an awful time. However, on the positive side I didn't find either op too bad, chemo worse!

Zax- hope the rads sterting is Ok. As I had a total MTX I'm missing that one, but get the chemo instead. also have to start tamoxifen after chemo too. Not looking forward to becoming menopausal and all the SE, hopefully I find it not too bad like you.

Alana- hope your fluid has settled. I had loads of seromal leakage after both WLE and MTX , but it eventually settled down. Even needed MTX wound resuturing under local anaesthetic but it was OK as mostly numb! Only just over 1 month ago but almost seems months ago.

Take care,

Fiona x

[tommyticklemou]

hi ladies, bit quiet on here last few days.

hope everyone is doing ok.

alana - hows fluid build up, did get it sorted. hope your managing some rest.

ruth13 - hows the chemo treating you?

zax - whats the news on the tamoxifen front, hope you havent gone awol with the kitchen knife.

had my pre-op today ready for further sugery 😞 just wanna get to next step and speak with onc about next treatments - will be scared stiff when i do. already know tamoxifen as estrogen positive.

lots of hugs to you all

TTM xxx

[Guest user]

Hi TTM

I am not sore at all just have a bit of fluid gathering so will phone the doc tomorrow to see what the crack is. Fat cat is happy just cuddling up with me whenever I am not on the move (which is rather often at present, but she is now 12 so coming to the point of being a recycled teenager like most of us.

Hope all you ladies are doing okay - looks as if I am burning the midnight oil once again. Feeling rather tired but just can't get to sleep so no doubt will watch some tennis. Fingers crossed it will stop snowing so my tv signal will feel inclinde to work again. I love living in the country but it does have it's drawbacks.

Alanaa xx

[tommyticklemou]

hi ladies,

hope you are all doing ok.

alana, snowing! hope it doesn't here. your fat cat will keep you warm and snuggly. i have 2 kittys, and one of them likes to hog the fire. hope you are not too sore?

i am waiting for further wle unfortunately. want to get to next step.

zax, hope the tamoxifen is going ok, keep me posted. i am assuming mine starts once surgery is done.

hugs to all

TTM xxx

[Guest user]

Good evening November Ladies

hope you are all fine as it is rather quiet on her at the moment. I am doing okay 1 week past mx and feel rather fine appart from being a tad tired at times. Snowing here at the moment so I am glad I am tucked up on the sofa with a large mug of coffee, a new book and fat cat beside me for company as our tv signal has gone yet again.
Zak was thinking about you earlier and hope that all went according to plan with you and the rest of the group.

Lots of hugs

Alanaa

[Guest user]

have posted on the january surgery thread... a very cross post.
Surgery over...

[Guest user]

PS

Started tamoxifen last week and pleased to report that I dont appear to have killed anyone yet!

I did however lay awake the whole night waiting for a hot flush after taking one pill.....I am a muppet!!

[Guest user]

Hi gang, also not been on for a while but this is due to being back at work. Seems like all our various treatments are underway which is good news. My ads start 23rd Jan (I am currently 'battering' boob with aqueous cream ready for my frying!).

I cant help with advice but my thoughts are with you guys on the chemo and surgery stages. Every step is a tick off the list! Hugs and best wishes to you all....Zax

[Guest user]

Hi sorry haven't been around for a while but exhausted by 9 in eve which is when I usually come on.
I am day 8 post 1st FEC and feel back to normal apart from being really tire by eve!
Lindyloo I was told absolutely not to go back to work as risk of infection from little ones too high so am home and trying to make the most of my time. Aim to pick up guitar lessons again and have offered to doo paperwork at home for school but so far they haven't given me any. Hope I'm not going to get too bored.

Welcome all newbies, and sorry that you've had to join us.

Alanna glad the surgery went well and you are recovering.

Love to you all Jacqui x

[Ruth13]

Good luck with the surgery Mary,I didn't find either my WLE and LN nor mastectomy half as bad as I thought it would be.

Thinking of you.

Fiona xx

[Guest user]

finally the week for my surgery...have posted on the Jan surgery buddies thread.....its been a long haul from Nov 24...
Mary

[3network3]

Alaana nice to see you're back, was thinking of you. Good to hear it all went well and you're not in pain. Something I dread to be honest, much more that this chemo lark just now. No wonder you can't sleep with drains sticking out of you.

Love form Christine xx

[Ruth13]

Hi NDs,

Alaana I find sleeping an issue still 6 weeks post MTX, so much churning over in the brain!

Must say anti sickness tabs with chemo are helping.

Nice cold day today so have been for a walk.

Hope evryone else OK.

Fiona xx

[Guest user]

So Pleased to hear the op has gone well Alaana
Take care
L x

[Guest user]

Hello TTM

Had my op on Tuesday afternoon and got home on Thursday evening. Doing pretty well so far and have to say it was not as bad as I thought it would be. Still have the drains and have to empty them at night for a few days but otherwise no probs so far.
Just have to wait for the pathologist report, which should be around in about 2 weeks.

Hugs to you all

Alanaa

P.S. as you can see by the time I am not sleeping to well but that is not an issue for me at the moment.

[tommyticklemou]

hi Alanaa,

how did the op go, hope you are feeling ok. how long did you have to stay in.

take it easy and sending you lots of hugs

TTM xxx

[Ruth13]

Hi Alanaa,

Glad you are home and everything is OK so far. My drain had problems before I left hospital so had to come out while still in hospital.

Good you have no pain.

Take care.

Fiona xx

[Guest user]

Good afternoon Novembere Ladies

back home after my mx on Tuesday and feel fine. Still got the drains for a few more days but no pain.

Hope you are all fine and I will be thinking of you all

Love from Alanaa

[Ruth13]

Hi ND, including new ones!

I was diagnosed on Nov 2nd AmelieB, near you and Christine. I had WLE and x6 LN removed on 11/11/11, but not totally resected, so mastectomy 29/11/11. Started chemo on 21/12/11. Hair starts to fall out about day 14 after first chemo if you have FEC, I shaved my head on day 15, it was pretty quick. Clippered it, now very little hair at front and patchy at back, day 3 post second FEC. I would have a wig ready or on order before you start. Less pressure/worry. Have to say I wear snoods ( by Buff) and hats more than the wig. It was not as traumatic losing hair as I thought it would be.

I also was told I could not work as surrounded by bugs at work, like shadders, I do a lot of paperwork at home though, to try to keep chemo brain at bay.

Lovr fiona xx

[Guest user]

Hi AmelieBlossomville
I too was diagnosed on the 4th nov, i had surgery on the 29th nov (wle and reduction to both sides plus sentinal node removal). Went back for results to be told I needed more nodes removed as cancer had been found there. That was a shock, as you said it had all started so positively( its early etc) and then I was thinking it could be anywhere. This i had done on the 5th Jan,the day before results for this i cried for most of the day, thinking the worst. I had these results on wednesday and nothing more was found. It was like a weight had been lifted. So now I'm on to the next stage, waiting for my chemo start date which they said will be either end of jan or beginning of feb.
For those already starting chemo - when do you sort out a wig?
Shadders - I believe you work in a school are you returning during treatment, i'm wondering about shortend hours depending on how I feel.
Take care everyone Gill x

[Guest user]

Sorry Ruth missed your post, glad your 2nd FEc went well and not feeling too sick. I am not feeling too bad now just a bit tired. Not doing too much housework just tidying and hoovering really. been spending a lot of time reading which has been lovely.

anyway think I have chemo brain as typing really slowly and keep making mistakes so going to go

Night night all Jacqui x

[Guest user]

Sorry AmelieBlossomville that we didn't welcome you when you first posted hope you haven't been scared off! We will do our best to support you. I know how hard it is at first.

Zax it's brilliant news that you don't have to have chemo. Made me laugh about the knives as when I told my OH side effects of tamoxifen he only heard 'Mood Swings' and his eyebrows shot up in the air. I think he'll be hiding the knives too!

Jacqui x

[Ruth13]

Hi Zax,

Welldone for going back to work, but I'm really sorry yo hear thwy are not being that supportive. I think we all feel the same that everybodies conversations etc can feel really stupid and trivial. If things don't settle I would say something sooner rrather than later to your MD. Are they going to be supportive during Rads, you will get pretty tired during it?

I know how you feel about wanting to throw everything at the BC. My surgeon initially said he felt I should avoid chemo as I had no risk factors for recurrence. This really scared me. But the onc used that adjuvant programme and that gave me a 39% chance of recurrence so there was no way I was not having it and he strongly agreed.

I think they are very good at sorting out what you need. I know several people including a best friend who just had tamoxifen and rads and they have done really well.

Take care.

Fiona xx

[Guest user]

Hello gang

Have been a bit quiet of late as I went back to work last week. Very mixed emotions and a few tears! Not sure I can take discussions about work etc seriously...it all seems so, well, unimportant. And I am having a hard time not saying so to some people....like my MD.

BTW in the flurry of posts I think we missed a new recruit to the ND's, AmelieBlossomville. Sorry you had to join and fingers crossed you get good results. Waiting for treatment to start or waiting for results is just one of the hardest things to handle, hope we can help and try not to listen the the 'what ifs'..... Let's us know how you get on.

Lynzi, Fiona and Jacqui, I was relieved to see your posts saying it wasn't as bad as you expected even if the emotional turmoil is overwhelming at times for us as well as our families. My OH has been brilliant but we still managed to have a big row this weekend too.....I out it down to the full moon!!!

I finally have my treatment plan sorted and it's rads and tamoxifen for me but no chemo. My reaction was both relief and anxiety. Relief I don't have to have chemo, anxiety that I am not 'throwing everything at it'. Bloody stupid really. Anyway I start rads on 23rd Jan and tamoxifen ASAP. My OH has hidden the knives!

Hello to all the other ND's, I don't know about you but November seems a hellava long time ago. Hugs to you all and hope you are all doing OK. Love Zax

[Ruth13]

Hi Lynzi, Jacqui and other NDs,

Second FEC today, and given x4 different anti sickness things! Still feel sick, but no where near as bad.

Jacqui- it does put such a strain on everyone, I know I blow at often the slightest thing, especially when I'm tired. I had to seperate , not literally, my OH and daughter over the weekend who were arguing. Take it out on the housework, but shouldn't you be resting?

Lynzi- hope you are still feeling Ok after your first FEC.

Hope all other NDs are OK- take care all

Fiona xx

[Guest user]

Hello all, also have had my first chemo and not as bad as I'd expected, also posted on Jan started chemo thread.

Zax- haven't heard from you for a while, you ok?

Ruth- good luck tomorrow with your second FEC assumiong your bloods are good.

Lynzi- Well done to both of us. We are 1 down and 5 to go, so it does seem like a huge leap forward to me anyway. I was also a bit tearful on Sunday. Had a row with OH on Southend seafront in full public view and I burst into tears. Would never do that normally let alone have a row so I think we were all feeling the strain. OH usually lovely I must point out!

Must go now and do some housework as I said I was doing on other thread!!!!!!!!

Jacqui x

[Guest user]

Thank you Fiona, best of luck with the bloods. hope all goes well so that's another one out of the way xxx