Breast Cancer Now Forum

I'm not always positive, honestly. I have bad days just like everyone else. But I make sure they are few and the positive days are many. Over thinking the whole thing won't help me and won't change what will be either. I just hope and pray that I am destined to be around for a long time yet. Try and believe in your treatment. You know that at least at the end of treatment you will be cancer free. The surgery and chemo will have done their job and that is the most we can ask for.xx ... View more

That's a great analogy Bel. Katy, it's so very normal to struggle. I do think time will help. It's just getting to that point. I find it hardest when I think about the possibilities for the future for my children. But I plan on being like Bel and still being here to see them grow. So until someone proves otherwise, that's just how it's going to be!xx ... View more

Oh, and the link would help too 😂 https://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/information-support/vita-magazine/vita-blog/little-bit-hope-seven-years-after-my-breast-cancer ... View more

Hi Katy, I saw this shared somewhere else today. Although not triple negative, this woman had a large, aggressive tumour with lymph node involvement and is now 9 years clear (blog is 2 years old) so might be worth reading? I'm sorry I can't be more help. Are you on Facebook? If you are, I really recommend joining the Young Breast Cancer Network (UK) group. The support on there is amazing when you are struggling with things xx ... View more

Sue, that is a truly lovely thing to say! I'm not sure I deserve it, but thank you so much xx ... View more

We all have blue days Oncewild. I have had quite a few this cycle with feeling so rotten, and a bad day yesterday after hearing that someone I didn't even personally know had passed away. It was just enough to make me question my own mortality 😔 Coming home from holiday is enough to make anyone feel blue, so I think it's inevitable that returning to the reality of cancer and chemo is going to make you feel that way. Just trust that tomorrow will be a brighter day, and keep dreaming of your life in the country. Because without dreams we will never achieve anything great. Sending lots of love xx ... View more

Hi Alex, glad you are starting to feel better. The mouthwash definitely helps. I had a really sore mouth and tongue first cycle and started using the mouthwash and it improved quite quickly. This time I started using it as soon as I felt it becoming sore and it never got anywhere near as bad. I still have no taste buds, but think I have accepted it will be after chemo they they return to normal. Not such an issue this cycle as it's killed my appetite but last cycle I was hungry all the time and just nothing tasted good 😣 Hope everyone else is quiet because you are really good, not because you are suffering xx ... View more

Yes definitely Pookie! Really hope we get a good couple of weeks now before the next round!! I feel so bad that I've not felt well for one day of the school holidays yet. That was really bad timing to have chemo on the last day of term!! Hoping to start making up for it tomorrow and get some fun things done while I can. Would be great if the weather would play ball too 😂 xx ... View more

Hi everyone, how are we all doing? I feel like I've been out of it for a week but finally starting to feel more normal today so hoping I'm on my way back up now. Hope everyone else is getting by with minimal side effects. xx ... View more

Yep, evenings and nights are not your friend!! I used to lie awake for hours thinking. Luckily at the moment sleep is not a problem thanks to chemo tiredness...slept most of yesterday and still slept all night!! Retail therapy sounds good. Make sure you treat yourself as well as baby though.xx ... View more

How are you doing today Bekah? Hope your little one is keeping you occupied!!x ... View more

I hope Friday comes around quickly for you. The waiting is the worst bit. The treatment plan is likely to be similar, but maybe in a different order. I had positive lymph nodes and had my surgery first. Then 6 rounds of chemo, 3 weekly. Then radiotherapy. I'm sure you'll feel better when all the results are in and you can start treatment xx ... View more

Hi Bekah, I'm sorry you have found yourself here with us. I don't have any great words of wisdom I'm afraid. I was diagnosed in May when my baby girl was 8 weeks old, so I know the place you are in right now and it is more than scary. Since then I've had a lumpectomy and full node clearance, and had my 2nd round of chemo last week. It's been a tough couple of months, but the days and weeks around diagnosis were definitely the hardest. Once you get a treatment plan in place and you can see where you are heading, the focus changes and I felt different after that. Hopefully you will find the same too, especially as this first part seems to be such a whirlwind there is no time to sit and take on board all of the information and emotions properly. Have you got your next appointment lined up or any idea what treatment they will start with? You'll get lots of support on here so use us to vent/share with as much as you like.xx ... View more

Hi Pookie, glad to hear the pains are better. At least you know for next time that you don't need quite so much senna!! For the injection I would try sitting as that should give you the most area to grab hold of if you are slim. And try not to be too anxious doing it as it's better to just use one smooth swift motion than lots of little ones. As for time, I have to do mine 24 hours after chemo so I never really get much choice in it. But haven't had any problems with them being done about 2pm both times. If you are having them for a number of days (I only have 1) I would suggest picking a time you will roughly be able to do them all at. Doesn't need to be exactly the same time each day, but if you can keep them around the same sort of time that might be better for you. Good luck xx ... View more

Do the zip wire!! Absolutely! Do it for all of us who can't even face getting out if bed today 😔 And I agree with the hair thing. I shaved mine short first then all off. Much prefer the look of it all gone for some reason! Off to feel bleurgh a bit longer now...xx ... View more

Hi fluffymittens, the chemo you get depends on what has been found to be most effective for the type of cancer you have. So your oncologist has obviously decided based on past research that you wouldn't benefit from the F part of FEC. Think triple negative ladies like me get the FEC-T regime as that has been found most effective. Like herceptin works well for her2 positive cancers. If that makes sense at all?xx ... View more

Hi Nellie, taxotere isn't meant to cause nausea in the way FEC does. Which I'm glad about after this cycle!! I have 1 more FEC to go before changing over too xx ... View more

Hi everyone, hope today has been uneventful for us all. Sue, thank you for your post. And the cat picture which has made us all smile! It also summed me up very well this morning when I managed a sneaky nap while hubby took all 4 of my darlings to pick up our food shop. Just what I needed 😊 Today the nausea has been a bit better. Still struggling with appetite but I think it's as much the lack of taste buds and a bit of indigestion as anything else. Expecting another rough day tomorrow as that was my worst day last cycle. But really hoping for to follow the pattern and start picking up from Monday. Fingers crossed!! Pookie, I've not had pain quite like you describe but did have abdominal cramp pains last time that signalled the end of constipation and the appearance of an upset stomach. Hope it settles down for you really quickly. xx ... View more

Thanks Sue, I've been thinking about calling the team about the nausea. But wondering if it is worth is at this stage now or whether to muddle through and hope for some med adjustments next time. Today were my last steroids so am cautious of how much worse tomorrow is likely to be. But we will see.xx ... View more

Hi ladies, been trying to keep up but struggling more with this cycle than the last. Didn't suffer with nausea last time but despite all the same meds it's got me this time 😔 and the tiredness has been worse. Hoping it starts to clear the beginning of next week like it did last time. But as it's started much sooner this cycle, I'm not convinced it's going to follow the same pattern at all. But I'm still hoping. Keeping fingers crossed for everyone to have good days and restful nights until we are over the worst of these cycles xx ... View more