Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi everyone, I hope everyone's ok & doing as well as can be expected I'm 16 days post chemo and my hair is coming out in handfuls! Although I was expecting it its still a shock! I'm also having major hot flushes! To the point where it looks like ive just stepped out of the shower, so I'm feeling sorry for myself today I'm a hot sweaty bald mess! Il be glad when we all get through this and we can look back on it and think WOW! We did it!!! We are all so brave! Stay strong ladies! 💪 😉 XXXXX ... View more

Hi truey, Thanks for the reply its reassuring to know its normal I just didn't fancy feeling like this until treatment is over! Hope you continue to feel well after your second fec and all goes smoothly for you. XX ... View more

Hi everyone, I had my first chemo last Wednesday,felt fine for two days then ingestion,constipation heartburn kicked in over the weekend! 😞 hasn't been pleasant at all but after a trip to the chemist for supplies lol it seems to be sorted, I don't know how everyone else feels but I can only describe it as feeling weak,my legs feel like jelly! And i feel a bit spaced out and more tired then usual,does anyone else feel the same? And will it improve over the coming days? Hope everyone else is doing ok. XX ... View more

Hi elisen, Sorry I didn't see your post earlier, I am in a similar situation as you myself,diagnosed 1 June with invasive lobular in left breast grade 2 and also invasive ductal in my right originally thought to be grade2 but came back grade 3 after pathology with one node effected also highly oestrogen positive,I had a double wle in hindsight I wish id gone for a masectomy as I suffered from a bad infection afterwards then required a re excision and still didn't quite get a clear margin and my right boob is minus a nipple and so much smaller then my other one now,I'm not keen on further surgery to rectify this however but will wait until my treatment is over before I decide, I've had my first fec-t and will also have radiotherapy afterwards like you for the positive nodes which will include boosters to that area,my surgeon is of the belief that this is as just as good then having more surgery which can cause further complications,I'm also dreading the hair loss but have a wig,hats,and scarves on standby also eyelashes I think I will struggle with 😡 I'm more worried about them if they do go! But make up is a wonderful thing! Good luck on the 19th keep us posted! XX ... View more

Hi angywd, Just a quick hello I had my first fec-t two days ago it wasn't as bad as I thought so try not too worry to much easier said then done I know ! As for help with pip and other things like grants,when I was getting my chemo there was a c.a.b advisor funded by MacMillan there offering advice if needed,so do ask if there is one they are there to tell you what your entitled too and also help you with the process of claiming,I cant offer advice on cold capping though I didn't bother,I did get a wig and it cant be too bad because my hubby didn't notice when I wore it! Mind you he hasn't go the best eyesight lol! 😂 good luck today 😊 p.s tiredness hasn't been too bad I thought I would be asleep for days lol! But only had a little nap the day after! XX ... View more

Hi Helen , I was on tamoxifen for 7 weeks stopped taking them now while I'm having chemo,but i took mine in the morning and can honestly say i didn't have any hot flushes i don't know if its because of this or not but maybe worth a try,if it doesn't help dont suffer in silence mention it to your team and there's also some useful tips on here if you look through the relevant threads,everyone's experience with tamoxifen seems to be different though. Good luck hope you find some answers. Xx ... View more

Hi all, Just popping over to say hi! Had my first fec-t yesterday and wasn't as bad as I anticipated ,a bit of nausea but took my sickness tablets and all is well had a 30 minute nap earlier today and although feeling tired now so far so good hope it continues lol! If any of you have read my previous threads you will see I've had one disaster after another! But we will all get through it in the end! And we've got sue H-S for the brilliant advice also! So good luck ladies and keep fighting! XX ... View more

Hi sue H-S, Thanks for the info I'm not expecting it to be all plain sailing Il take the rough with the smooth aslong as its not all rough lol! I'm going to try myself with the injections believe it or not we have a short supply of district nurses as well! So rather then trying to chase up getting that done when I don't feel upto going to the g.p surgery I'm sure Il manage haha.i hope your radiotherapy is going well I bet your worn out! I've to have that too after chemo,take care and I'm sure Il pop over to the october thread at some point,if not for more wonderful advice or another moan lol. XX ... View more

Hi Sheba56,and sueH-S, Thanks for your kind replies at least I know someone understands how difficult it is,I've been referred to MacMillan I'm not sure I can do much more fighting on my own I cant stand the stress! Went for my first chemo yesterday they were only 3 nurses so were very short staffed for the amount of people that were there, 5 which I could see and more in the waiting room. after a delay of a couple of hours had my pre-meds and my saline put through my picc all going well so far... No chance! The nurses soon discovered I hadn't had a heart scan so it got stopped,after several phone calls they managed to fit me in for an emergency one thankfully! Otherwise my chemo would of been cancelled yet again until Friday,which if that had happened I wouldn't of been responsible for my actions ,ever feel like your jinxed! The chemo nurses are worth there weight in gold how they keep there spirits up as well as the patients is beyond me,alot of there precious time is spent on the phone trying to rectify other peoples mistakes! There job is to treat us not chase up scans,results,pharmacy,etc I have considered several times I cant do the treatment anymore with all the added stress if my children weren't so young I doubt I would be. But I will not give up I will come back fighting for me! For you! For anyone that has to go through this! And of course the wonderful nurses that don't get enough pay and appreciation for the b****y hard job they do! I just hope I'm a minority and no one else has to go through this! I hope you are both well now and on the right road to recovery,I've seen your pics sue and you look stunning! Gives me a bit of hope that you can still look good going through cancer treatment.well after all that ranting back to my chemo,felt a bit sick but other then that fine! Even though I've been peeing like a racehorse! With all the water I drank 😁 start my g-sf injections tomorrow what ever there called lol a bit apprehensive about doing it myself but needs must I suppose! Take care everyone I will be back! 😁 XX ... View more

Thanks charys, I'm just utterly fed up with the whole scenario its been a nightmare from the start,I've seen 3 different surgeons everyone of them have told me different things I haven't been able to build up a rappor with any of them, infact I feel like a nuisance by asking any questions and rushed out of the appointment as quickly as possible! The so called manager didn't have any thing reassuring to say just full of excuses and seemed to think that because he had a sheet with all my appointments for my future treatment on that he was doing me a favour! Because he had sorted it! Even though my chemo nurse had already told me that I had appointments on the computer from beginning of September that no one knew about apart from the computer! 😠 I'm in Cumbria by the way to get treatment elsewhere it would mean Newcastle which is miles away,as you say I cant let this go I need to kick up a stink they cant be allowed to get away with this there playing roulette with peoples lives! And you, me, nobody should have to remind them and chase them up for appointments,treatments etc! my oncologist is new met him twice now but lovely,he's so disgusted about mine and other peoples treatment he wants to leave he's already had enough! Anyhow another rant over! I think I need a stiff drink! I will keep you updated. Xx ... View more

Hi everyone, Just an update,well after a disastrous few weeks with infections and plenty of tears and tantrums,chemo is going ahead! Seen my oncologist again this week and was shocked to discover I should have had my first chemo 2 weeks ago! I don't know who was more angry me or him 😠 , seems I had been forgotten about 😞 ,so now its all systems go I've had my picc line fitted ready for chemo on Monday! So fingers crossed the side effects aren't going to be as bad as I expect them to be.here's hoping anyhow.Xx ... View more

*pre menopausal * that should say! See what I mean I just talk rubbish lol. Xx ... View more

We all need reassurance Stacey at some point or another,and you took the time out to reply to me yesterday and I'm grateful for that. I will be thinking about you. Please take extra care of yourself. Xx ... View more

Thanks botty boo for your advice I will certainly ask when I see the treatment team,my last appointment was with the surgeon and I totally messed it up I had a complete melt down as soon as I walked through the door! God knows why! So I didn't get the opportunity to ask what I wanted too. I am post menopausal so any little thing they could do might help! I do remember the surgeon saying that the treatment team could change there mind about chemo if my wound had healed well enough by the time I get to them because I'm sure he said I would have to come of the tamoxifen for a while if they did. But that could be me imagining things or I've got it completely wrong lol! Which I seem to be doing alot lately! 😐 hope your keeping as well as can be expected under the circumstances! Xx ... View more

Hi Stacey, firstly (((BIG HUGS))) cant really offer any advice to your heart murmur but I'm sure your g.p will contact the breast clinic to advise them about it,when I had my pre op assessment I was given an ECG I'm sure this is standard but don't quote me on that its just what I had as well as as blood tests etc,I have grade 2 lobular on my left and orginally lobular on my right and my treatment was planned for a WLE and radiotherapy but as it turned out my right was actually grade 3 IDC only then was chemo mentioned which I'm unable to have anyway as you know you kindly replied to my thread yesterday. All I wanted to say really was, you are going through an horrific time at the moment words cant even comprehend.you have so much to deal with without something else been thrown a you. What the lovely sue said too me yesterday was let your team do there work and all the planning they need to do theres treatment for everything and different ways to do it. And you could also ring the helpline who I'm sure know more then me and have the appropriate answers to put your mind at ease. And I hope the anti depressants do there job quickly and you start feeling less stressed. And please feel free to rant and whine all you like this is what this forums all about everything your going through and having to cope with at the moment.and BC is difficult in its self to cope with out everything else you have to deal with on top if it! Take care and I hope things get sorted for you soon big hugs. Xx ... View more

Hi cas, try not too worry to much easier said then done I know! I've just had a re excision 3 weeks ago and still didn't get clear margins as much as they'd like so are going to treat it with radiotherapy,its probably just scar tissue mine is definitely a lot lumpier and bumpier this time round and you've had 3 ops ! How long ago was your op? I too have a dent and was told by my surgeon this would happen, hope you get your appointment soon and I'm sure everything will be normal. Xx ... View more

Thank you so much sue, I really appreciate your thoughts,I'm usually such a positive person but this cancer has got the better of me at times with all the not knowing and ifs and buts, I know in my level head my Dr was right theres absolutely no way id get through chemo! I suffer from terrible chest infections in winter that wipe me out for weeks! It seems funny even taken that one tablet today eased my mind a little knowing that something is been done to fight this horrible disease! I hope your final chemo is kinder too you. and you feel better in yourself soon. I will keep you updated I'm so thankful for this forum I don't know how I would of coped without it! Take care . Xx ... View more

Hi charys, thank you for your reply it really does help knowing other people have or are going through similar things,I'm already eased in my mind now that chemo is not the only solution for cancer, I feel better that ive actually started tamoxifen today so I know treatment is now under way and feeling more relaxed about it all,just hope I don't suffer too many side effects on the tamoxifen! Xx ... View more

Thanks Stacey for replying,I've been reading your threads and it really puts things into perspective we are all going through the same thing with bc,but for some like you dealing with a loss of a loved one is doubly hard.i send big hugs and hope your treatment goes well and take extra care of yourself. Xx ... View more