Breast Cancer Now Forum

thank Blue2, your words "This is a big deal" surprised me as I suppose I have been playing it down to family and friends....but you are so right it is a BIG deal for all of us on here, we use humour and kind words to support and perhaps negate the size of the deal and to be honest today is the first time I have thought of it in that way.   Doesnt help that brain and body are in a get me out of here mode.   It is a big deal and now acknowledged it wont matter if I cry because it helps me cope.  What would I do without you all.   Ebimx ... View more

its so good to know I am not alone in hair & brain malfunctions.  It helps so much just to know that we are all in the same soggy boat (cant stop crying!) I keep telling myself its not me its the rubbish going round my body - I reason with myself that I will feel better in a couple of days - God knows I cant cry my way through a pampering session.  And I wont but right now is a different matter.  Ebimx ... View more

Hi teddies, esther & mooney....not sure which is worst to be trailblazers for those who are 1 session behind you or being the ones behind worrying your worries....does that make any sense at all?  My brain, what there was of it, has packed up - doesn't like the stuff I am throwing at it.  And I really do need hair help - I haven't brushed mine For over a week but its all on the way out and I can't bear the thought of no hair at all.   I need to just be brave enough to gently brush it until nothing else comes out but I can't do it.   Sorry to rant. Ebimx ... View more

Hi Esther, Hope it went well for you today, did they sort out the PICC line problems?  And did you get the chemo? I do hope you did.  I had a flush done this afternoon and asked about measuring and the nurse really didnt give me an answer, just said mine looked all ok. Hugs Ebimx ... View more

Hi to all the gorgeous teddy gals here, just spent a lovely hour catching up with you all.....been thinking and worrying about you all week end.   It appears to be more good news than bad.  Jackie you seem to be on the mend, Robin great news, Wtp I am with you - have sore bum and constipation....got some bisacodyl from my doctor which I took last night having given up on the senokot, havent been for 4 days and last night was spent on the loo - think I lost a couple of kilos!  Feeling a bit wobbly today. Blue2 I bought chlorhexidine mouth wash from Lloyds chemist for my mouth but it seemed so strong that I got some listerine, probably not as good. Egg you take care of those pesky white cells of yours for next week. Jackie I am sure you are right about being able to grumble and groan here whilst family and friends feel the need to "fix it" and get a little upset if they cant.  And a good rant always helps. Think I am probably amongst the oldest in the group and my major problem is the hot flushes and night sweats which are much worse just after a chemo session.  I so miss the HRT !!!  But thats what got me into this mess in the first place!  It did however sort out the osteoporosis which I am aware might be badly affected by the chemo.    Really looking forward to the pampering session on Friday, no immunity but I am going to go.  Sorry cant remember who is doing it the same day as me but think it was in Kingston.  I am in Worthing so its a shame we wont meet up. Is anyone else having trouble remembering things ????? Sorry such a long post, take care and big hugs to all, Ebimx ... View more

Morning or middle of the night, got the steroid bug!  Been awak for hours, now have cup of tea and a jammy dodger.  Been thinking about you all and how you are you are all coping.  We are all on this journey together, not knowing what we are going to have to endure.  You all have such spirit, it may fade a little during the bad times but it's there.  I feel so blessed to have you all As my moth eaten old teddies.  Sleep tight Ebimx   ... View more

Hi Lovely ladies, Firstly my hair is going bonkers - shedding all over the place, worst in the kitchen with a black floor and I am bottle blonde.  Slowski I lol when I read your comment about downward dog - I could see it happening only with me I might have started off with sparse hair and come up with none!  I am coping with everything they throw at me excepting the damn hair. Its a huge comfort to know you are all so supportive. At various times in my life I have had to take courses of steroids....and I love them!   But you definitely need to take them in the morning....I think 6 a.m. is a bit of a push especially if you have been up at 2 a.m. I take mine after breakfast and simply love the buzz they give me....whizzed around the kitchen cleaning madly. its better than speed (no never tried it had enough difficulty giving up fags)   Dealing with all that we have to, you really do need to sleep....give an early morning dose a try. Esther, I couldnt find a yoga teacher who would take me on with a PICC line, and there doesnt seem to be one attached to the hospital but might run it by my chemo macmillan nurse.  Or of course I could get down on the floor by myself, I find it difficult to motivate that one.  Do you have a teacher or are you going to shame me into the floor?!   Good luck tomorrow. Mooney.  Did you get back to sleep?  I do so hope you did, you need it. Suze. how is the thumb and Jackie is it any easier? Take care all of you, ......hugs Ebimx ... View more

Hi all, Round 2 is in the body and it all went well except I got into big trouble as I had completely forgotten to take the anti nausea pill, they gave it to me then and I had to wait a little while whilst it took some sort of effect. OH was with me which means I shall now have to write everything down which is what he told me in the first place. So I have nowhere to run too!!  hoping that this session is as good as the last.  I didnt have a choice I was given a date to go to the hospital to have a PICC line put in, I was a little relieved about this as have had some very bad experiences with some painful searches for my veins and extremely painful cannulas.  The procedure wasn't at all painful, had to have an X-ray after to make sure it was in the right place.  Had a couple of runs to the hospital as mine bled on two occasions which apparently can happen until it settles down. Now that it has settled, I am aware of it but for me it's so much better than the hassle of cannulas.  I would recommend it.     I really think I am very lucky with my hospital as they told me prior to surgery - "If you need it - you get it". "No post code lotteries here".    Also was lucky with the LGFB pampering day as they gave me a date 24th Feb, by which time I shall be in a wig with no eyebrows I am sure......just a tad worried as I will be on day 9 of this session and low on immunity. 😡 gotta go I have got a list to write!  Hugs to all, Ebim x  ... View more

Listening to you gals there is so much I don't know!  And so much is the same....the fears, the questions, the worries etc etc etc, don't you just hate them.  I had a lumpectomy in November and now on FEC-T 3 & 3 sessions.  But I haven't been told anything about herceptin or the perjecta.  But two  things I have come to realise is that we are all in the same boat called confusion and that I have come to rely on this forum....thank you ladies you give so much support under such difficult circumstances.   Sleep tight, hugs ebim xx ... View more

Hi Ali, Mooney, Slowski & Suze have to say I am a little envious of you all being on FEC 3 as I am just coming up to FEC 2 .....are you all going on to have 3 on Docetaxel - sorry if I have spelt that wrong -  which is my programme 3 of FEC & 3 of the one I have probably mispelt.  Hugs Ebim x ... View more

Hi Ladies,  I have chemo 2 Wednesday so join Mooney in wishing all good luck for this week .  Fingers crossed for bloods being right for all of us, and fully agree with SE's being kind to everyone. The antics of us all should be turned into a t.v. sitcom and Jackie & Suze episode could be entitled "Thumbs and Bums".  Seriously though, hope you both are better soon.   Somewhere on this thread Day 20 was mentioned as hair falling out day, I am on it today and the bath looked like a disaster area when I got out this morning.  I am late (very late) sixties and its bad enough to have sagging chins & wrinkles without losing my hair too.  Also a bit of a klutz so headscarves are a bit of a no no as I wouldnt have the confidence that they wouldnt unwind in the middle of shopping in ASDA. Take care, Big Hugs, Ebimx     ... View more

Oh yes and I thought it would be a great idea to do some sort of event later this year or next year. xxx ... View more

Morning All, Beedot I am Day 13 of FEC 1 and also waiting for hair to start misbehaving, chemo nurse suggested not to brush my hair so found myself pulling my pubes this morning to see if they might be dislodging !!  How silly is that! Going to Amazon this morning to prepare for FEC 2 next week, sambucol, bio Gaia and visco tears,  hugs to all going through it this week, especially EggG.  xxx ... View more

Me too Beedot, but smiling through them.....big hugs ... View more

Hi Scotty66, Something special about beaches, I am day 11 and the last two days have walked dog on beach which was magical. A real tonic. ... View more

Hello Ladies, we have had wild and windy weather here in the South but sun is actually shining now. EggG I am taking Turmuric 10,000mg for athritus and did run it past the Pharmacy lady but I dont think they know about any up or downside as there is no specific research done on "alternative" stuff.   Probably wont take it whilst on chemo which is due to run for another 5 sessions - trying hard but not succeeding in counting every day off let alone weeks! Wtp2016 will give your sambucal a try though, thanks for the suggestion. Blueash - had a very close friend who went through Leukemia some years back and his major problem was mouth health.  At the present time relying on twice a day mouthwash but will add the Bio Gaia after the next chemo.  And because of the eye probs will get some visco tears just in case my eyes flare up. I hope all you lovely ladies are having a good week end - EggG hope all goes well for you on Monday and Ali1961, may your Tarzan turn up to your Amazonian Warrior this week end.   I have only been following this forum for the last week but I am sure that no-one is Billy No Mates on here Hugs to all ... View more

Never heard of carnatine before, did read the link to the science direct site and think it said it was safe up to a certain level of dosage. Really interesting, for quite some time now we have been cutting back on red meat but do eat a fair bit of cheese. In a previous post I think you mentioned that you had taken supplements during your chemo.   During our chemo induction the pharmacist present said that all that I was taking were ok.  Multi vitamin, Calcium & Magnesium (osteoporosis) Turmuric, Lutein (eyes).   Did you find anything else that seemed to help you through it? EggG....keeping fingers crossed for you for Monday ... View more

Hello EggG Can feel your frustration and anger and totally get it, as a 1 Chemo newbie could I just say that I dont think your body has let you down but that the Chemo has taken you down. And I truly agree Bollocks is the best word for it. We are all behind you, and all of us want to give you a huge hug. Ebim ... View more

stefr my heart goes out to you, ebim ... View more