Starting weekly tac, any side effects ?

[Wtp2016]

Hi Claire,
Just back on the forum again, how’s it going? I’m about to enter cancer world all over again 😞 boo!! Yep, local recurrence.. I felt something just a couple of months after rads finished but they couldn’t pick it up on the ultrasound. However, now you can feel the lumps and have been confirmed through biopsies. Thank god there is no spread according to the ct scan I had last week. So I’m back having more surgery this week then another 6 months of chemo. Just started getting used to normal life again...
how’s things with you? Better I hope!
Sending lots of hugs xxx

[claire36]

Happy New Year! Certainly glad to see the back of last year. Hope you are feeling ok. I'm back at work and ok really still have wobbles and get tired more than I used to but trying to keep on and on and !How are you? Xx

[Wtp2016]

Hi ladies, I just wanted to check in and see how you’re all doing and to wish you a happy new year!! Let’s hope 2018 is better for us all xxxx

[claire36]

Hi
Great to hear from you sorry to hear you had a seroma. I had a small one after my diep but it went after a few months of being drained. Hope rads are going ok it can make you feel really tired by the end but apart from that I felt ok. My moods are up and down I'm just on tamoxifen which is fine but going to give zoladex another go to see if I can tolerate it any better. Went back to work last month which is great finally a bit of normality in this strange end of cancer treatment world! How are you coping ?
Xxx

[Wtp2016]

Hi ladies,
How are you? I've not been on here in ages... I'm halfway through rads now. Got delayed due to a huge seroma which wouldn't go...
Sorry to hear you've been low Claire. I've been warned by an onc that the drugs can really affect in different ways but not to underestimate the "mood swings" as can sometimes go to the extreme of sucicidal. I've not started any yet - they are waiting until after rads but so far only been told tamoxifen...
How you all had a lovely summer.
Sending hugs xxx

[claire36]

Hi Ladies
So glad your surgery is done and your both recovering well. Waiting for results is mental torture isn't it. Have either of you had Zoladex injections? I'm on tamoxifen and monthly Zoladex but my mood was so low have stopped the zoladex for now. It seems to affect everyone differently. I had a diep flap recon if you want any info. Hope you have a nice few days away and wishing you both good news on results day 😘😘😘

[zena75]

Histology 2-3 weeks, 😩

[zena75]

Oh god I know - freaked out about results.. and the bloody what ifs again !!
It's good you are away so taking mind off it a bit ( if that's ever possible)
I'm in Ross on wye.. baths lovely 😊
You had mx so they would have got it all out , try not to panic as not good for you . It's good they found the other bits and got them, shame about mx I know but recons are amazing , I would def have flap recon after mx . I may still need mx so just trying to imagine the worst , like you my mind does that xx

[Wtp2016]

Awesome - so glad it went well for you!! Do you know when you get your histology report? I was due mine tonight but we've gone away for a few nights so they are going to give it to me next Monday. Keep thinking the worst 😞 I'd clinically had a great response to chemo but then we found out there was more cancer than we'd thought so now imagining them telling me the response wasn't great, doing another CT scan, getting told I have mets etc. I think I'll keep working myself up until next Monday evening, you know what it's like...
Are you on the YBCN group on Facebook?
Hope everyone else is doing well!
Def get yourself some of those noodles - think you've earned it!! Are you in the SW? We lived in Bath until about 5 years ago 🙂
Lots of love xxx

[zena75]

Hey , was just gonna check in with you too , how funny .
I'm ok , sore but had WLE and 6 nodes removed in the end as onc said no sign of cancer in MRI let's just take a few and see ..
Brilliant surgeon, little line around nipple and under arm but such a neat job I'm thrilled, no drain either so I'm sloshy and uncomfortable., I'd like it drained as it's uncomfortable but have to wait till tues for bcn s to be in.
Yea doing exercises and so hope we get back to normal asap , but hard not to clean and do stuff , want to go to Bristol too to Chinese super market as I'm craving these noodles they do there ... 🍜
We getting there girls, big hugs to you and Claire xx and M 💚

[Wtp2016]

Hi Zena, how did your op go? Hope you're feeling ok!
I'm well, loads of swelling (my surgeon doesn't like to use drains) which is a pain but bruising is going down now and movement in arm is better with the exercises.
Thinking of you! Xxx

[zena75]

Hey ,
Who gives a **bleep** about flat Boob Hun , it's gone !!!!
Well done you xx
I'm so fearful about op it's unreal. Il book ticket to India to get away from it .
Just realised how much I love my body , after years of cursing it !
bloody Cancer sucks - so funny the cancer still there thing , like a scab we enjoy picking.
Sends my you massive hugs W , you are super doop , and I'm proud of you xxxx❤️

[Wtp2016]

Hi guys! How are you? Thank you for your replies 💞
I'm home today after having my mx last night. They also took lymph nodes - I don't know how many but my surgeon doesn't believe in taking them all so it wasn't all of them...
In the end I wasn't even able to get an expander implant as that would mean waiting until early August... so here I am, flat on one side and E cup on the other! To be honest, the worst bit was waiting to go in for the op. The swelling and bra with softie in is tricking me into thinking my boob is still there.
I felt relief last night but now feel like the cancer must still be there - I'd got so used to it over the last 7 months!
I'll get my report on the 24th so fingers crossed.
How are you all doing? Xxx

[zena75]

Blummin heck you guys .... blummin cancer sucks ass big style.
I wanna punch it in the head !!!!
Get it off then have a super dooper new boob hunny after rads like ms m says , rads can mess up healing process so not worth risk ..
it's not going to kill you hunny as you are getting shot of it soon , and rads will do the rest . The fact is you've just had the reoccurrence already, instead of down the line. This way your treatment will be all done in one fell swoop .. please stay positive and I'm super loving you were tipsy , I'm getting tipsy a bit too nowadays and it's good to be back drinking , although the hangover brings me down a bit .
I hope you feel ok this morning, you can always pm me if you wanna private chat hunny .
I'm now worried as wle not for 2 weeks and I can feel pains again in my boob and armpit. My onc also said I had a lot of chemo.. 2x Fec and 12 PAC .. so don't want that to be in vain as will be 6 weeks till op from last Chemo's
Oh the joys of this evil disease
Big love ❤️

[Ms Merton]

Hello - I had a v similar experience - 4 x EC plus 10 paclitaxel and after that they still removed another 2 lymph nodes with tumours and a further tumour in my axillary sac all seemingly unaffected by the chemo.  My Onc also said I'd had "a lot of chemo".  Ha.  Like you, this was the first time I began to think seriously that I am going to die of this disease. You realise the limitations of the treatments.  However, although I am a bit scared I am feeling very happy otherwise and focusing on getting on and enjoying my life now that 11 months of treatment has ended (apart from further "cosmetic" surgery later). Unexpectedly, I felt so much better after the operation (mx with recon, although it needs further work). I take it you will have radio as well after surgery given the spread within your breast. Or rather, make sure they give you radio too!!  It makes me very angry that your choices are being limited by waiting lists but on the other hand lots of surgeons won't do immediate recon anyway if you are having radio.  Although the mx is obviously upsetting, the feeling that the cancer has been cut out is very good! Sending you all my best wishes. Xx

[Wtp2016]

Hi all,
Yay! Congrats on negative gene!! I was slightly and strangely disappointed as I think I wanted something to blame but obvs better to be negative!
My bad news... they biopsied two extra areas on my boob - away from the main tumour - and found LCIS, DCIS and IDC 😩 So I have to have mx - no discussion!! I also can't have recon as waiting list will be too long and as my last chemo was 1/06 they want to whip it off asap as there is still active disease. Super sucks!! I had 4x EC (high dose) and 10x tax. My onc said I'd had "A LOT" of chemo and yet the b*stard is stil living - not just in the main tumour.
I really am starting to feel like I've met my match. That this stupid disease is going to be what kills me. Sorry - slightly tipsy and slightly depressed!
Xxxx

[zena75]

Hi girls
My gene test negative too !
So surprised.
Changed to wle on 13/7 as mx freaking me out .
If I get clear margins it'll be great if not mx butvthsts ok.
Much love xx

[claire36]

Good luck to you all having surgery and great news about your gene test WTP2016. Zena so happy you got PCR you had such an awful time in the first few chemos that makes it all worthwhile. I am still having Herceptin and monthly zoladex injections which are giving me awful mood swings. Once my bloods show I'm post menopausal I will have biosphate infusion you mentioned Zena. Anyway lots of love and healing xx

[Moijan]

Good luck Zena and any other ladies going to the theatre this week.you will all feel so much happier once its overxxx

Moijan💚💚💚

[zena75]

Cheltenham babes , sorry again lol xx

[zena75]

Ps sorry - absolutely fabulous about gene results , what a relief Hun . Some good news is very welcome 👍🏻👊🏻😘😘😘

[zena75]

Hey ,
My thinking is mx maybe better as then no worries of cancer returning ??? Harder to deal with losing whole boob but after may feel safer - guess that's what I'm telling myself.. still traumatic Hun though I know .
What is calcification?( More stuff to worry about )
It never bloody ends !!
Hoping it's ok for you sweetie and we both end up with good results, minimum scaring and no sodding cancer .. been looking at diep pictures , some look ok so hope I have the option and strength to go for that as would be good to feel as normal as possible in the end .
Let's keep in touch through next bit , lean on me and moan and worry if you need to , as I will ❤️

[Wtp2016]

Wow Zena - pcr - how amazing!!! Makes all the cr*p of chemo worthwhile ☺️☺️☺️ Very happy for you! Surgery this wk for you - good luck!! Sounds like you have a few decisions to make. Where are you being treated? I'm in London. Just had another cancer curveball thrown at me though - had to do a load of biopsies on sat as there is a large area of calcification... so I might also be having mx. Just when I'd got prepared for lumpectomy... always was told I'd need mx but as my tumour shrunk so much they said lump plus rads is just as effective. I hope to get my results later this week and think they are sending me for another MRI scan...
good luck with the gene test. Mine was negative - big relief! Good luck with the op - let us know how it goes xxxx

[zena75]

Ms M
Yes it is crap, to think of what we have, are going through.
Surgery scares me I can't believe I will wake up with parts missing . Anyway il go for diep flap after rads I think , if I can . Still waiting for genetic test to see if double mx is needed.
Any of you ladies on biophosphates for protection against bone mets ?
Xxxx

[Moijan]

Hi Zena,

I had the lat dorsi flap recon, overan implant. Rads or something anyway made it go very hard. i kept having i fections and eventually had to have it removed. That was my experience...now I wished Id had the rads before the recon...but will never know xx

best wishes whatever you choose.xx love to you💖💖💖

Moijanxx

[Ms Merton]

Agree - we need to feel like ourselves.  Some people are happy flat and others not. I have quite large breasts so would have found one large breast and one flat weird and inconvenient. I do have to have my real breast reduced slightly in due course to match the foob though. They def won't let you have an implant before rads.  For the DIEP or any other own-tissue recon (they can also use tissue from other areas sometimes) you would need a specialist plastic surgeon in addition to your cancer surgeon.  I am 47 and stage 3(a) - it's pants isn't it? But 11 months on from diagnosis I finally feel quite well and happy again, although still a bit scared about the future.  It is good news that your tumours have responded so well to chemo.  Good luck with the surgery.  Do feel free to pm me with any questions.  Lots of love, Susan xx

[zena75]

Again that's great advice. I had level 3 nodes and large tumour .
So based on what you have said I will go with anc
I'm so glad you love your foob and I'm sure it will be ok , as you sound such a positive person and in a good place now .
I can't live without boob so il chat with my surgeon again before op and see if I can have recon or something like you said , I m 42 and still feel my boobs are important .
Much love to you and thank you so much , I hope it's ok if I ask you questions if I get them ?
Zena xx

[Ms Merton]

Hi Zena - it seems that some surgeons think you should have DIEP recon before rads and some after. I was told there is some risk that the "foob" will be damaged but then again delayed recon after rads has problems too.  I certainly know others who have had DIEP then rads. I am coping so far whereas I really couldn't have done a mx without recon.  I just hope the foob will be ok.  It is pink from rads now but have just finished and hope for the best.  The foob is great by the way - it's an amazing operation provided you can live with the tummy scar! An alternative might be to have an expander now and DIEP later? 

I really, really didn't want the ANC.  However, even after 5 months chemo, 3 live tumours were found in my lymph nodes by the pathologist after surgery.  Knowing that now, I am so pleased I did have the ANC! I don't know how big any tumours need to be for the scan to see them?  Maybe a question to ask the consultant? It's such a tricky decision - I really empathise with your dilemma.  Best wishes, xxx 

[zena75]

Dear ms Merton
Gosh thank you for posting that to me , I'm so worried about my op and how I will look/ feel and recover..
My surgeon said diep recon will get damaged with rads ???
I don't know what to do, thinking of refusing clearance as I had a pcr after my neo juvant chemo .
Zena xxx

[Ms Merton]

Hi Zena - could you have an immediate DIEP recon with your mx?  I did and have still had rads after.  Also had full ANC and got a lot of cording (painful) but it has all cleared up now 12 weeks later and mobility in my arm is more or less normal.  You need to do the exercises and get a referral to physio starting about 2-3 weeks after your op.  Take care.  Xxx

[Becca_BCC]

Hi Zena75,

Hope you manage to stay cool through the heat wave, I totally understand how uncomfortable it must be for people recovering from surgery. 

It takes a lot of bravery to face breast cancer, as you're doing, I hope you have some support around you to help you feel proud and strong after the operation.

Take care, 

Becca at Breast Cancer Care. 

[zena75]

Sorry meant to say good luck with biopsy hunny and let us know xx
And hope you feeling good claire sweetie pie xx
And big kiss M xx

[zena75]

Hey wtp
And all
Got a pcr after MRI on Sunday 😁
Feel so good .. almost normal.,
Almost like I don't need op ..
I'm getting really worried about the op now .. mx and node clearance. Got appt with surgeon day before so maybe as pcr things could change , although genetics haven't come back and they could be bad .
This heat is crazy, so hope it's not like this while I'm recovering as that would be awful ( for me)
Brill news on lumpectomy Hun ,, I'm tempted to push for one myself but then my history n'all think I need to think about how scared I was about Dying and how mx could save me going through this again .
Il miss my boob so much though , and how will I cope in the summer with clothes and trying to feel sexy ., oh dear what a moaner .. I'm alive and have a chance , watching that terrible fire the other night as my insomnia keeps me awake I felt so grateful to just have to have a mx ..
God waffle sorry .
Much love ❤️

[Wtp2016]

Hi ladies,
Good to hear from you all!
Claire - well done on finishing rads! How do you feel? Is it a bit strange to be out of the main treatment (despite all the ongoing drugs)?
Zena - I'll be thinking of you on op day! Mine is booked in for 6/7 and we're going to try a lumpectomy! I have to have another biopsy this wknd as there was an area of calcification that they want to check first but if that's ok then lump rather than MX. I'm not going to get too excited in case we end up without clear margins but I'm obviously very pleased... they are also only taking a layer of lymph nodes rather than all of them in the hope that the cancer will be gone from there.
How are you coping with the heat? My hot flushes have calmed down too... I'm sure they will come back on tamoxifen though 😂😂☀️
Lots of love xxx

[Moijan]

Hi Zena,

glad to hear you re so chirpyxx

Moijanxx😄😀💙

[zena75]

Hey 👍🏻
Good to hear from you Hun .. brill you doing so well .. go girl !
Yes totally freaking out about op as all lymphs coming out too 😩.. but just talking to a lady who said she's back to full use of arm 3 months after so that a relief.,
Yes rads sound a bit crap ., glad you healing .. my st be great to be at end of all of that ..
The night sweats are better now .. and my eating getting slightly back to normal.
Boob and armpit hurting a bit so il be glad to get op done ..
Much love ladies ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[claire36]

Hey ladies
So glad you have both finished chemo! Won't be long until you start to feel better more energy and eyebrows and eyelashes 😘 I finished radiotherapy 2 weeks ago. It was absolutely fine compared to chemo but I did develop a few nasty burns which are healing now. I'm still on Herceptin and tamoxifen and also zoladex monthly injections so my moods are all over the place.
Good luck with your surgery you will be fine I think the anticipation is must worse than the actual surgery
Claire xx

[Moijan]

Hi Zena

try Heather's Hair...am wearing a false fringe under a scarf and its sooo coolxx

Have pmd u agaijxx

[zena75]

Hey .
Me too , finished last Thursday 👍🏻
Got mx on 29/6 .. and lymph clearance.
Getting bit worried about op and what it will be like .. but also feeling a bit of pain on boob and arm so very keen to get it gone ..
Can't wait for my hair though .. fed up of wigs and hats ..
Good to hear from you Hun .. what drugs are you going on after ?
Xxxc

[Wtp2016]

Hi ladies, how are you all? Just checking in!
I had my 10th tax on Thursday (missed a couple due to low neuts) so my onc decided it would be my last one - instead of going to 12. Yay!!! So I'm officially finished chemo. I'm seeing my surgeon on Monday to work out what the surgery will be in 3-4 wks time.
How are you all doing?
Lots of love xxx

[Moijan]

Zena, have sent you a pm

Mx

[zena75]

Just read the brothers reviews . Seems high doses are normal. So I guess 10 mg not that high a dose . Let me know how you get on and how it feels xx

[zena75]

Go easy , I think open capsule and have half 3 times a day . 10 sounds a lot tbh .. up to you but may be quite a strong dose to start ..
it tastes really really bad so have squash ready xx

[Anneemay]

I have ordered some CBD capsules from a UK company to give them a try, they are 10mg ones which they suggest as a starting dose twice daily. I am hoping they don't upset my tummy to much,as I am susceptible to IBS. I did a bit of research on this company and their products,which include a Body Salve to massage into painful areas so I may get some next time. Ann xx

[zena75]

That's good tip moijan . Will buy some and try . Thank you 😊 xx
Saved the day again x

[Moijan]

Should read 'several sugar free seeets with Steviol in them rather than sugar!

[Moijan]

Hi Zena
I too crave sugar..... one thing I have read is that steviol is an acceptable alternative..... there are sugar free sweets with St oil in them.... beware of other sweeteners some are monos for us and can cause diarhoea which sad to say.... Apple juice overdoses and chocks can also do!

Anyway... best' check out' new diets before plunging into a new regime... as a see several drugs react with certain foods. ... see the Mayo Clinic website

Hugs
Miijanx

[zena75]

I agree . Cibdol Swiss company x

[Anneemay]

Thank you for all your replies I am seriously considering using the CBD oil, the way I feel is what have I got to lose and hopefully it will keep the neuropathy under control. Ann xx