Starting chemo October 14

[Linzz]

Thanks everyone. I'm OK most of the time and then it just hits me hard. I have a week or so to clear her flat (sheltered housing) and the funeral is on Thursday. It's going to be a hard week, but I guess it draws a line under things to get it all done.

[Murphy1963]

Hi linzz, so sorry to hear about your mum. My thoughts are with you and your family. Huge hugs to you xxxx

[jingo_x]

Oh no Linzz, I'm so sorry to hear that.

Lots of love to you and your family xx

[LainieG]

Linzz I'm so sorry about your mum. I haven't been on here for a while so didn't know. Lots of love xxx

[nicnac15]

Thoughts are with you Linzz so sorry to hear this sad news xxxx

[AMDriver]

oh Linzz, so so sorry to hear this. We're all here for you no matter what.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family  xx

[MysteryMouse]

Oh Linzz I am so sorry to hear about your mum.  I am thinking of you and sending a hug 🙂 Be Strong!! 

MM

xxxx

[Tweasel]

Linzz, I am so sorry to hear about your Mum. Thinking of you xx

[Linzz]

Ladies, I have lost my dear old mum. She passed away in her sleep last night. I am terribly sad that her last months were full of worry for me. It was not unexpected, but it is a great loss nevertheless. I may not post here for a while, but I'll be back.

[geeG]

Wild wet and windy night here in Glasgow. I am always more tired this end of the week - but really looking forward to lunch at 12md tomorrow (Saturday) - have a good journey ladies (and not too much breakfast!) x

[MysteryMouse]

Hello ladies, 

Linzz, when I saw my onc a couple of months ago she told me the internal chest pain I was getting was caused by the rads and would just take time to heal on it's own, possibly taking several months.  It is now easing so she was right, I hope yours will too. But it did cause me a whole load of worry! But hey what's new ha! 😮

When I saw the onc a couple of months back it was because I had had a major wobble and had had pains in my back, chest and ribs but she was not worried and despite me asking for scans for reassurance she wouldn't let me and just said the benefits did not outweigh the risks of them.  I would have liked a scan though and I must say I still would!

I'm due my mammogram next month.   What happens on the mastectomy side, does anyone know?  Do they ultrasound the area at all? Not really sure what to expect.

Have had a very sore tum for a couple of weeks but doc says it is just my old ulcer flaring up phew!.  Had a flare up during chemo but all has been good lately but now being it is naughty again, still if I am a good girl and take the tablets it should help! 🙂

Bettypoppet - Lovely you have another dog 🙂 It certainly helps to take the mind off things and keep you busy doesn't it? I don't know where I would be without mine as he has helped me greatly over the last year.  During chemo he was like a big cuddly hot water dog who seemed to know when I wasn't feeling great. i should add at this point that my hubby has been great too! 🙂

MM

xx

[bettypoppit]

Hi lovely ladies....not been on for a while as I've lost my life to puppy Ollie....amazing distraction from all the inevitable anniversaries 😀.  Still very tired at times (sneaking naps along with Ollie 😉), faulty thermostat (tamoxifen I guess), painful and stiff hands!?!?! and lumpy, itchy boob...but, feeling pretty good nonetheless. 

It's pants so many are still having worries and scans and boob drains...really hope all is well and life settles for us all very very soon. Thinking of you all. Xx

P.S. like Murphy, I have an annual mammogram (Aug/sep) and annual onc review (May) and 'that's it'!  I still have access to bcn and/or onc if required which is reassuring.   xxx

[Murphy1963]

Hi linzz, sorry to hear you've had another wobble, it's pants isn't it, this constant worry, this constant "should I get this checked".

MysteryMouse, I'm to have a bone scan because I have been having pain under my bad boob, at the top of my ribs. I wasn't due to see my surgeon till September but when I phoned my BCN about the rib pain she got my an earlier appointment. He examined me and says everything feels ok but I was to have a scan to check for secondaries. I nearly fell off my chair when he actually said the words, even though I knew it was the reason I was getting checked, and the reason I was worried about rib pain. I don't know about anyone else but I'm not offered routine scans. I get reviewed yearly by the surgeon and a yearly mammo but that's it.

Looking forward to our meet up on Saturday, then our Dublin trip in October xxxxx

[Linzz]

Thanks ladies, you are a very calming influence 

I'm not in full blown panic mode really, just when I wake at 3.30 am as I inevitably do (drenched in sweat - yuck) it's hard to stop your thoughts from running away.

That's good news you are making progress on the boob and on the scan LainieG. Looking forward to Saturday too. All we need to do is decide where - I'll go post on fb about it...

[LainieG]

Linzz sorry you're still having problems and worries. I agree with Peta. It's not long since you had a scan and surely if it was something to worry about it would have shown then. I'd imagine e if you have a secondary tumour you'd have it for a while before symptoms so I doubt it would happen so quickly. Hopefully it'll turn out to be something minor. Thinking about you. Xxxx
I still have my big boob and waiting for another appointment to have it drained. It does feel softer so thinking it could be draining itself.. I had my mri on my brain and eyes today and seeing the neuro opthalmologist next week so hopefully I'll have more info then.
Sending love and hugs and can't wait for Saturday girls xxx

[Madam]

Junash, sorry as not been on this for a few days..so add to the other girls' best wishes to your Mum! That is crap and seems so unfair! Despite my diagnosis and treatment, my mum coped ! Against my wishes, by having a fag! Nic Nac, well done in the race for life. I have finished all treatment and a nurse has said that I can say I am all clear - can I? Will have scans and mammogram in September I guess, which is my year since diagnosis. We are aiming to go back to Qatar end August but I have to continue aherceptin there! Have started the dreaded Tamoxifan..not sure how much is me or e drug but feel a bit crankier and sluggish? Anyone else felt that? Hugs to you all x

[Peta]

Hi Mystery Mouse

I don't think they do routine scans, other than the yearly one, unless there's something up.  Are you due your yearly mammogram/scan soon?  Is there a particular reason why you wanted a scan now, or would it just be good to have the reassurance?    I had my yearly mammogram the other week, but I haven't had any other scans lately. 

I had a chat with the onc about reoccurance signs, he said it was difficult because there were so many variations.  The obvious one was changes to your breast or breast area, lumps swelling etc.  Otherwise, any new problems, or problems that seem to be getting worse are worth discussing with your doctor, even if just for reassurance.  I read that the vast majority of people who have secondary cancer, know it already or really strongly suspect - so if you're just worried, but not secretly convinced that you have it, you probably haven't.   But I was very much told that they are very happy for you to go and be reassured by them as often as you need, because they understand how awful it is to live with the constant worrying.  

[Peta]

Hi All

Hi Linzz, I'm sorry you're having another bad time.  It sounds like your GP is guessing, she'd have no way of knowing whether it was damage from the rads, and even more importantly if it would be permanant or not without even seeing the chest x-rays, even then she's unlikely to be a chest specialist.  I had a very bad lung illness many years ago and it did completely heal with time, so take heart, it is only early days and even if your lung is sensitive now, you only just had extensive rads, so poor Linzz body, no wonder it's complaining.  Try not to worry, you have only just had a CT as you said.   I hope you get the Xray results soon so that you're reassured, worrying is the most awful thing and so easy to do.  

Have a great time on Saturday! 

[Linzz]

Hi Mysterymouse, my CT was because I had hip pain, abdo pain and rib pain and the worry of all 3 together coincided with an onc appt. All was clear, the hip pain was explained by bulging discs, the abdo pain I resolved by eliminating margarine (!) from my diet, and the rib pain just went away. I know its very worrying not being offered any scans OR any advice on what to look out for. When I saw my CT report I saw the request described me as "high risk" so that freaked me out a bit too. Most of the time I keep The Fear in check but with the chest tightness I am worried that it needs some treating so that it doesn't get worse as I read scarring on the lungs can happen. GP didn't seem to think there was any treatment though hence her letter to the onc to check. Did you get any?

[MysteryMouse]

Hello ladies, not been on here for a while.  Glad you had a great time on your hols in Turkey Murphy, I was there too and agree it was great to think about something other than what's happened 🙂  Good luck for your body scan.  Why are you having one?  I wanted a scan but have been refused.  So will just have to keep my worries in check.

Well done NicNac on doing the Race for Life.  When I did it I found it very uplifting but also emotional.  Well worth it. 🙂

Very sorry Junash to hear about your mum.  I'm sure it will help her that you have been through it but what an awful thing to happen.

Linzz I too have had a tight heavy feeling in my chest.  Sometimes feels like bad indigestion.  It does cause me to worry about it but trying hard not to.  Onc said it was caused by rads damage as I had very bad burns straight through to the other side. Please remind me why did you have the CT in June? I didn't have any routine follow up scans at all and my oncologist won't let me have any. I'm seeing onc again in a couple of weeks so will ask again.  

I haven't been made aware of signs to look out for of recurrance.  Has anyone?

To all the girls meeting up on Saturday, have a great time! 🙂

MM

xx

[Linzz]

Hello all. I am having another panic I'm afraid. For a few weeks I've had a tight feelng high in my chest. GP sent me for a chest x-ray to rule out spread, so waiting for results of that. She said its probably lung damage from rads and i will have to learn to live with it. I didn't take this well so she has written to onc too. The only way to get through this week is to assume its not spread (my CT from early June was fine, could something really have sprung up since then???) and hope its just damage. "Just". I really thought I'd gotten away relatively unscathed (you know, apart from the massive scar and missing boob).  

I imagine the Posse are sitting on a giant set of scales - on one side all the good stuff in life returning to us and side effects wearing off, and on the other side all the worries and on-going stuff. I seem to be leaping from one side to the other on a regular basis. Sigh.

Turkey sounds fab Murphy. Excited to be meeting you and the other girls on Saturday!!!

[Murphy1963]

Hi junash, so sorry to hear about your mum. When will it all stop!!! I was diagnosed exactly a year after my mum.

Nice weekend for you nicnac, although you will be knackered, in a good way though xx

We're just back from a week in Turkey. We had a totally fabulous time with family, 11 of us, but back to work tomorrow 😞 a week of not thinking about breast cancer. However back now and letter waiting for me to go for a body scan on Wednesday. Doesn't take long to forget that holiday feeling. Another week or so and I should be having the results of my mammogram through, aaaggghh!!!!!

Joint pain, sore feet, and general stiffness still a big issue for me. Don't really get hot flushes so that's one good thing, don't know if changing to Femera from the generic letrozole has helped any, it's not got any worse, but not any better either.

Looking forward to this weekend coming. Meeting up with some of the posse in Glasgow, woohoo xxxx

[nicnac15]

Hi all hope you've had a good weekend mines been full on with my daughters 11th birthday party at home yesterday and race for life today but wouldn't have had it any other way, very different to last year waiting for test results !! My anniversary is in 2 days time and can't believe how quick it has come round we've all come such along way.
Hope everyone's little issues are subsiding and getting better I'm still itching away at the minute thought the steroid cream would have kicked in by now, and as for the hot flushes they don't seem to be going away either oh the joys of side effects lol but I'm grateful to be here seen so many inspirational women today xxx

[Debtex]

Sorry to hear about your mum Junash . She sounds like a feisty lady who will find her own way of dealing with it like we all have . I know it's not much consolation but I'm sure it will help that you 'know the ropes ' as it were .?best wishes xx

[Peta]

Hi Junash

So sorry to hear about your mum. It must be a blow to you all, you just don't need more of this in your life. I'm sorry that it's intruded into your life again, you must feel like screaming! Big hugs to you and your family and your mum. Xxxx

[LainieG]

Oh Junash what rotten news about your mum. Your family has endured enough over the last year. To cope with cancer then to have to watch your mum deal with it is so cruel. I hope her scans etc are ok. One sodding day at a time right enough. Xxx

[nicnac15]

Junash so sorry to read this news can't believe life is so bloody cruel after everything you have endured this last year. I can see why your mum said sod it and had her fag ! Keep strong and I hope scans results are ok and it starts to shrink xxxxx

[AMDriver]

Oh Junash , how horrid for all of you - especially when your mum has seen what you have been through .....
I hope things go well for all of you and especially your mum xx

[Linzz]

Oh Junash that's rotten news about your mum

Her "sod it and went out for a fag" response did make me smile though

Hope her scans are all good xx

[bettypoppit]

Oh Junash, that's awful. I'm truely sorry to hear that... one sodding day at a time now for your mum.  Like you and your family haven't been through enough already. Big hugs xx

[Junash]

Hello all - hope prickly heat, skin, swollen bits and scans are all calming down.

Our anniversary dates are coming up or have just happened - now here is something ironic - my mum been diagnosed with breast cancer today - you couldn't bloody make it up could you!!! Lump she's had for ages but not bothered about it, finally got checked - invasive, estrogen positive 4 cm tumour. So CT & bone scans coming up and she's starting letrizole tomorrow to try and shrink the tumour with a view to having mastectomy or lumpectomy in 6 months or so dependant on her dodgy heart and lungs and scan results. She just said sod it and went out for a fag - she's 79 and said she won't bother with chemo etc and to be honest I don't blame her as quality of life.

one sodding day at a time. Xx

[AMDriver]

Hi Nicnac

I've that for several times day for at least 8 if not 10 weeks now - though it does seem to be a bit better this week. I get it in my arms and legs and it's a slightly less severe than the perpheral neuropathy I have and fortuately doesn't last long when it comes. I just assumed it was nerve damage from the Docetaxel and haven't seen anyone about it.

Good to hear of last herceptin injections and good mri and mammogram results.....at last the good news seems to be greater than the bad. Not to belittle the eye situation,  swollen boobs , or bad pains etc at all......but it does seem that we are all slowly mending.  Although my memory is still shot!

I'm going to my daughter-in-law's nan's 80th party on Saturday and then i guess watching wimbledon on Sunday - quiet weekend for me!

xx

[nicnac15]

Hi Linzz I did wonder that too even though I've never suffered with it, been to gp today he's gave me a low dose steroid cream to try and if its no better to go back also wants blood test eek just when I thought I'd got rid of being stabbed with needles !
Anyone got any nice plans for the weekend ? I'm hoping weather picks up here got my daughters 11th birthday Saturday and my race for life Sunday . Xxx

[Linzz]

Hi nicnac - could it just be prickly heat? Its certainly the right weather for it. It's easily treated. Might be best to get it looked at by your GP to put your mind at ease/get some cream. xx

[nicnac15]

Hi everyone hope you've all had a good weekend and hopefully pain free or starting to feel better. Can I ask has anyone experienced itching / prickling sensation on there skin I've had it for few days now top of my back and it's very annoying nothing is stopping it I have a little red mark hubby thinks it could be a bite but can't be sure. Really didn't want to go to doctors seen enough of them !!

[geeG]

Oh LainieG… these things take so very long and progress is so difficult to recognise… thank goodness work is not a demand for you over the next several weeks and you can get some quality time for You, dog and OH… glad to hear your plastic surgeon is being more positive that others, so I hope you do not have to wait too long for the next appointment and that there will be some positive options to discuss.
Wishing Everyone Strength and Fortitude… hugs x x x

[LainieG]

Good news Peta. I'm really pleased for you. It's great that your swelling is going down too. Xxx
Murphy it's rotten that you have something else to worry about but I agree with the sentiment that it's good that the pain is intermittent. I would think too that it would be there all the time and getting worse if it was anything sinister. Thinking of you and keeping fingers and toes crossed. Xxx
I've just seen my plastic surgeon and she's mad at the breast surgeon for not draining my big boob. She phoned and told her that I have to have it drained so waiting for another appointment. Story of my life just now (as no doubt you all understand lol). On a lighter note the big boob is softer than it was and they think the fluid might be being absorbed into my body so might not need drained. She's also talking about doing the fat transfer again. She's going to speak to the haemotologist about risks of anaesthetic first and then we'll have a chat about it. Hope it goes ahead I was quite chuffed about having my own tissue instead of implants.
More developments in the eye saga! The ct scan showed an abnormality in a blood vessel and they want me to have an mri so that they can see it more clearly. They contacted my plastic surgeon and it seems that my implants are mri safe after all. Just waiting for another appointment lol. I'm a bit worried about it as she said it has nothing to do with the chemo. I was pinning my hopes on the eye problem being caused by the chemo because then it would probably just go away with no complications. Ah well! Just have to wait and see what shows on the mri xxxc

[nicnac15]

Thank you everyone for those positive thoughts just got to get my head round it all now ! Just watched the second programme of the super hospital on itv this is where I was looked after and seen so many staff that treated me along the way seems weird to see them.

Congrats peta on your good results to, bet you were relieved too it's about we all got better news for a change.
My 1 year anniversary is coming up on the 14th July 3 days after my daughters birthday and 2 days before my hubby's birthday now that seems to have gone fast in a way. Xxxx

[geeG]

What a Good Place this is today - full of good news and positive results - end of Heparin injections (Yay! Fantastic! … but … Where the heck did those 6 months go …) - so sorry you're holiday plans have been mushed Bexter - can you get away somewhere in UK? It really is so important to get away if you can… So very pleased we are all still here on the forum and that things sound to be improving… albeit so very slowly … so frustrating that energy takes so long to improve… hang on in there and enjoy what you can.
I met a lovely lady this evening who travelled this path 12 years ago - she was so positive, encouraging and just LOVELY. .... And very well indeed. She recommends 2 brewers yeast tablets a day...... So I have some more reading to do… going away for a few days … See you soon. x

[Peta]

Yey to your last Heperin injections Lainie and Murphy! 🙂

NicNac well done on your all clear, what a relief! 

I'm sorry to hear that you have an extra worry at the moment Murphy, did you have a bone scan when you were initially diagnosed? I think it's probably a good sign that your rib pain has become intermittent, I'd think it would get worse not better if it were something serious.  I'll be thinking of you.   I hope you have a fabulous holiday in Turkey with your family, I love Turkish food, I went to Kalkan a few years ago and it was just lovely. 🙂

So, I got good results too.  I had the mammogram results and all is normal, which is fab.  My first mammogram and biopsy when I was diagnosed was today (although I didn't get the results for a week), so I guess that today is my anniversary and I can tick off year one, which feels good.  

They think the swelling on my boob was a late after effect from the radiotherapy, of which I had rather a lot, so I guess it's not that surprising.   They thought it odd that it swelled up so fast, over about two hours, but as it has mainly gone down again, just a bit left, they say they're not worried.   Thanks for all your good wishes and positive vibes! 

So, back to not fretting for me, well for a bit anyway!  

I hope you're all well and not cooking too much in the heat, it's so hot down here in the South!  Whew!  My husband is bringing his boss here in a few minutes and we're going down the pub, so I guess I should go and put some clothes on.  😉  

xx

[Murphy1963]

Hiya, great to hear your good news nicnac, yay!!!

Madam, glad you're now on the podium, well done you xx

I was in seeing the surgeon today because of the pain I've been having at the top of my ribs just under my bad boob. I've had it about 6 weeks now, the first three weeks it was very sore all of the time, latterly the pain has been intermittent. He examined me and said he couldn't feel anything but sending me for a bone scan incase it has "Metastased". Now I know that's my worry and why I was having it checked, but hearing him say that really shook me up. I had my mammogram today too which I was dreading due to a still tender boob and the sore rib, but it was bearable. The radiographer showed me on screen the markers that were in my boob from the surgery, really interesting, I have 10 seemingly!! Results in 4 weeks approx, an anxious wait. I was also told today that 2 doctors review your mammogram pics after previous breast cancer so don't be too disappointed PETA if your results are not ready.

Horray lainie on your last heparin injection. I finished mine 5 days ago, it's strange not having my nightly ritual of stabbing my tummy. 6 months is a long time doing that every night and my tummy had had enough, it was becoming really sore. I only have the monthly zoladex to contend with now but that's no bother really.

I'm off to Turkey tomorrow and soooooooo looking forward to it. There's 11 of us going, family from down South and some from up here, so we're all meeting at Newcastle and flying from there. It'll just be good to relax, chill and not think about results and scans etc for a bit (I hope).

Hope you're all enjoying this lovely weather xxxxxx

[Debtex]

Aw fantastic Nic Nac I'm so pleased for you . Yes lainie ... Relax for a while ..... I can live with that sentiment xxx

[LainieG]

Just had my last heparin injection. Yippee!!!!!

[LainieG]

Great news nicnac and Debtex I'm so happy for you both. Relax for a while now. Peta hope you got on ok today. Thinking of you xx

[nicnac15]

Afternoon all I'm a happy lady mri scan all clear !! They want to see me in 6 months time in clinic and I am due to have mammogram soon. And in 12 months another mri scan to double make sure as I'm younger mammograms don't show up things like before. Thank you all for your positive thoughts xxxxxx

[Peta]

Hi Debtex

Thanks, that's very helpful to know - that makes sense doesn't it? I'm sure my boob has huge bits of scar tissue in it and all sorts of swellings and bumps now.  I guess I'd rather they took their time and looked at the scan properly rather than rush things.  I'm really glad you said that though, I won't be grumpy if they haven't finished looking at it now.  

On a good note, I've just heard my parasol and garden furniture arrive on Friday.  The hottest day is tomorrow, but I guess it will be good to have the parasol by the weekend.  That does mean that it's almost certainly going to rain at the weekend though, sod's law! 🙂      This sentence dedicated to "Think of nice things, don't get worried about your boob, think of nice things, don't get worried about your boob"....  😉

Have a good day in the sun ladies.  😄

[Debtex]

Hope it's all ok for you Peta . I did grill my surgeon about post operative mammograms . He said they are much more complex to read than 'normal ' ones and sometimes 2 or 3 people look them over . You were very brave having yours with a sore boob . Xx

[Peta]

Good luck today nicnac, I hope you breeze through it like Debtex, whose consultant had a good old rummage and came out smiling!  I love the phrasing Debtex!   I'm seeing my Onc Consultant later today too, so we'll see what he has to say.  I had a mammogram yesterday, I thought my poor old sore swollen boob was going to pop, it bought tears to my eyes!    I might get the results of the mammogram today too, but they said they couldn't promise to get it looked at before I see the consultant, which seems a bit pointless to me, but there you go. 

I hope you all have a good day!  

[Debtex]

Good luck Nic Nac xx

[bettypoppit]

Positive thoughts to you all ladies, thinking of you as you have these scans and appointsmens xx