Breast Cancer Now Forum

Well done Max and good in you for beating the cold cap! Good luck today Jojo. Welcome pink (I know I say it every time but welcome seems wrong but of course, you are very welcome). Zena, how are you feeling? Hope you're a bit better. Sorry I'm not quite up to date as I've kept myself quite busy over the last few days. Grateful for feeling ok and making the most of it. For those of you considering Manuka hiney, the higher the number the better...and more expensive. Holland and Barrett do a penny sale do even though it's expensive you can get another jar for a penny. Almost feels like a bargain. I've been told to take it near rather than diluting in hot drinks. I love hot lemon and honey but have been sticking to it raw from the spoon. I haven't got a sore mouth yet but only on day 5. My mouth feels funny today but I'm just drinking some freshly squeezed orange and lime juice and the sharpness is really helping. I think it's because it's stimulating my salivary glands. It's freshened my mouth yo if that makes sense. Hopefully I'll get a big hit of vitamin C too! Jo xx ... View more

Zena and Tessa, sounds like you are both suffering with your mouths. How soon after chemo did it start? I'm only day 4 so a little bit behind. My mouths ok so far but I have been taking Manuka honey for a while. Don't know whether it's helped or whether I have the sore mouth to come? Jo xx ... View more

I'm just popping on to say hello before I head off to bed and it looks like I've got pages to catch up on! I've felt back to normal today so have made the most of it and visited friends and kept myself busy. I now need to catch up with what all you ladies have been up to. Jo xx ... View more

Ann, please don't apologise! You have done a fantastic job at catching up...so much better than me. Good luck tomorrow with chemo. You sound ready. I took iced drinks with me. I heard that sucking ice cubes helped to reduce sore mouth. I wasn't up for that so went with cold drinks. I put a bit of lemon juice and ginger (puréed root and sieved) lots of ice and diluted it with water. It was really refreshing and worked for me. I also took ginger buiscuits, Haribo tangtastics, ginger chocolate...didn't touch any of them. I'm day 4 and feeling good this morning. Was expecting to drop a bit today as the steroids have finished but ok so far. Quite wakeful last night which a lot of ladies seem to have got with steroids. Please ask away if you need to. You can find me on FB if that's easier and PM me. I'm Joanne Coward (not too many of those!) xx ... View more

Hi Julie, yes it's me. I was just pooping in to let you know I'd sent you a friend request but you've already noticed. Anyway, it is me and not some random nutter...just a regular one that you sort of know! I'm off to be ladies. Night night and big hugs to those who need them xxx ... View more

Emily, I was soooo anxious about my oncologist appointment but I already knew I was heading for chemo. It was a relief to get my plan in place and was a really positive meeting. The thought of having chemo is very daunting but I tried to turn it round and by thinking I'm getting everything thrown at this #%^*€><~}!! If you need chemo I'll be here to hold your hand and we have a nice thread going for the February starters. You can always hover if you don't want to join in...wait til Monday because you might not need to think about it at all. Big hugs to you, Lexxy and Sarah for Monday. Whatever Monday brings you have this lovely bunch of people here to come back to. Keep yourselves busy. Jo xx ... View more

Well done Alex. So glad to hear that you are well and will be home tomorrow xx ... View more

Sarah, chemo hasn't been as bad as I expected. I've had a couple of exhausted, out of it days and a bit of underlying nausea but not really properly felt sick. I've taken the last of my steroids and anti-emetics today so possibly a dip tomorrow...potential duvet day! I'll keep you posted. THB, I've treated it like the early stages of pregnancy but with lots more drugs!! ... View more

Wow ladies, I have lots to catch up on today! I've been in chemo fog the last few days but had a lovely day at my local hospice. Never, ever thought I would be saying that!! Well fed, watered and a nice manicure... I'm living this talk of boats and locks. Is that something to plan for after fish and chips on the beach? Oh, Emily, that knitted boob looks like an albino fig 😂 Strudel, I can sense your frustration. I used hate the sound of the letter box and used to get jumpy when the phone rang. You just need a bit of positive news to get you back on track xx Hugs to you all. Jo xx ... View more

Hello ladies, Just playing catchup. I've had my hospice day today. Somewhere I thought I'd never be but I am really enjoying it. I did some silk painting, had a manicure, was well fed and watered and then finished off with a group session. So glad I was well enough to go even though I'm still in chemo fog. So sorry you are feeling crap Zena. Big hugs to you hun. I've been describing it as being like pregnancy. I was queasy but not sick and desperately tired...just the same now. Oh, and my brain...where did that go?! I agree about FB. I use it so would love to have a group but think it's important to keep this thread going for those that don't use FB. Max, I'm from a little village called Kettleshulme...nobody has ever heard of it! I'm under The Christie/Stepping Hill. I've also been referred for genetic testing. What does it involve? I'm not too worried about the procedure itself but I have 5 daughters so really don't want those faulty BRACAs. Is it your first chemo day tomorrow? If so, good luck. I think I need to spend a bit of catch-up time to see where everyone else is up to. I'm terrible at names at the best of times! Hugs to you all. Jo xx ... View more

Ali, you have summed up so many of my feelings in what you have said. I've been so very stressed for so long...career, 5 kids, abusive husband (who has now been gone for 3 years but still tries his best to get at me) and I was thinking, age 47, that I needed to start winding things down a bit. Well, looks like I'm having to now 🙄 I will catch up with the rest of the thread later (if still awake!). I was in bed early last night as I was exhausted but otherwise ok. Picky appetite and really can't eat or drink certain things but not sick...yet! Hugs to everyone that needs them and good luck Emily and Lexxy today...go girls xxx ... View more

Hi Jojo, I'm would be happy with a FB group. It would be easier for posting photos etc. Jo xx ... View more

Susan, I don't think everyone routinely gets e-CSF. Some Trust do and others only do it if white cells are low from what I can gather. They did say that they would get the district nurse out to do it but I thought it would be less hassle to do it myself. It was ok. Manuka honey is supposed to be very good. My mum keeps buying it for me but she told me off when she found out I was putting it in my tea! She said that it wasn't as effective. Not sure how true it is but I take if off a spoon now. Jo xx ... View more

Sarah that is unbelievable that you have an appointment for a year off before even seeing the oncologist. Really frustrating! It will all fall into place though. Emma,good to hear from you and glad you are feeling better. Those pesky drains! At least you know you'll be home on Thursday. Alex, good luck to you. You will feel much better once it's done. Lexie, good news about your appointment next week. Strudel, so good to hear from you. The anxiety and waiting is too crap for words. Big hugs xx I'm day 2 of 1st chemo. Feeling ok so far. I'm tired but not much else. I had a headache and felt a bit nauseous last night but nothing too bad. Fingers crossed it doesn't get worse. I think it's sometimes day 3-4 that some SEs raise their head. Had to inject myself with e-CSF today. It's standard practice at the unit I go to. I wasn't looking forward to it but it was manageable. Hope everyone else is ok. Jo xx ... View more

Zena, I'm glad you got some sleep. I managed to stay up until 10pm but did doze of for 10 mins before I dragged myself off to bed. Woke about 2am cos the cats were fighting 🙄 but did manage to get back to sleep. Welcome Max, I think I missed you yesterday but I will try to keep up over the next few days! Sparkydee, hope you get what you want from the onc appointment. I've only had one and got my treatment plan and date at that one. Good luck. Jo xx ... View more

Hi Maria, try not to be anxious about the pre-chemo meeting. You will probably have bloods and an ECG. One of the nurses will go through your treatment plan and answer any questions you have. I found it reassuring and took my OH with me too so he knew what to expect. The chemo ward I go to is fairly small and very friendly. I think most staff working in oncology are upbeat and very caring you will be fine. Try to get a few more good nights sleep and relax as much as possible. I was really anxious after I was first diagnosed and thought that I would never get through all this. I've only just started chemo but have learnt to take things one day at a time. Good luck but I'm sure you won't need it. Don't forget to ask all the questions you can and write them down beforehand if it helps. All the staff are there to help and support you and keep you as well as possible throughout this journey. Jo xx ... View more

Hi Alex, good to hear that you have a date for mx...not long now. I couldn't wait to get rid of my boob so know just how you feel. xx ... View more

Susan, I had EC which is FEC without the F! Some Trusts use FEC and some EC. Bit of a postcode lottery I guess like everything else seems to be. Do you have a start date yet? xx ... View more

Ali it was fine today. I think I must have cross posted. So glad you're having a lovely time with Dylan. Are you under the Christie now? I'm not sure when you are moving. Enjoy the rest of your stay xx ... View more

Thank you all for your good wishes. I'm back home now and all went well with the first chemo session. Strudel, welcome back. Sometimes you just need that time away but we are all here for you. I was very anxious about having a bone scan, well getting the results of the bone scan. I tried to read the radiographers' faces but they were completely deadpan. It didn't help that they had to do extra views and my mind just went into overdrive. Big hugs to you hunni and hope you get those tough pants back on soon xx Helena, hope your first day back at work went well. Emily, big hugs. I'm not surprised you're pissed off. I have hate the waiting as I just want to get on with things. Fingers crossed the oncs get a move on for you. I'm not completely up to date on here at the moment and it's set to get worse if the chemo brain thing is true! Hugs to you all. You are a fantastic bunch and have really picked me up when I've been struggling. Jo xx ... View more