Breast Cancer Now Forum

Miss  Green - you look great - well done! Macneech - what a shame about your cruise - but great you got money back and you can look forward to rebooking. I have claimed on a critical illness policy - was paid within a couple of weeks - with Legal and General.  Flora hope the aches with the injections are not too bad - have you done them yourself? I have to get hubby to do mine - just can’t make myself do it.  Juju- good luck on Monday hope it goes well for you. i’ve been feeling really well this week but think I have overdone it a bit, walking and cleaning and I’m really tired and achy tonight- planning a v lazy day tomorrow.  Have a good weekend everyone xxxx ... View more

Good morning everyone  Good luck today Wee burd and Macneech - hope it is straightforward and you recover quickly - take care x Chrissy I hope you don’t have to wait too long before you can go ahead - and I’m sure your family will make your birthday special for you xx I know what you mean about feeling like you can’t plan and your life is on hold- I have dates ticked off on calendar of when chemo should be but obviously that could change if any holdups. That feeling of not being able to plan ahead is very frustrating and was getting me down last week - when I was feeling pretty awful anyway after chemo , but having now returned to planet Earth I am trying to be positive and just plan things for these weeks when I feel good - meeting friends, going for walks etc. Miss Green - Mum cuddles would be nice but lost my Mum to cancer 22 years ago so I look forward to daughter cuddles. - the highlight of my coming week is looking forward to Sunday when I am going wedding dress shopping with my girls - my older daughter is planning her wedding for next spring - very excited 😆   My hair seems to have stopped shedding again and I’m planning a trip to hairdressers on Friday for a trim - had it cut into a short style before first FEC and I love the style but it needs a tidy up. So hopefully going to continue with coldcap next week 🤞 and hope it just thins but still looks OK.  Thinking of you all going through treatment and recovery this week xx ... View more

Afternoon everyone- have been out for lunch - so good to be out and about and feeling good again 😊 Wee Burd that sounds like a scary experience- glad it wasn’t anything too bad  Macneech - yes Annabandana have some nice hats at reasonable prices Chrissy - hope your bloods pick up and you can have you second round Ok.  Kitty - hair loss for me has been that it is thinning but no bald patches. After second chemo (FEC) it seemed to start shedding a lot but it has eased off again now and to be honest you can’t tell that I have lost loads it still looks OK - feels a bit rubbish though - dry . So I am going to monitor over next 2 weeks before next chemo and decide whether to keep up with the cold cap.  Jude - I was thinking about people who would have to travel this week for chemo - it must be awful to prepare for it and not get there. Let’s hope that was the end of the bad weather. Ive just started with a bit of a cracked and sore patch at corner of mouth- am using the mouthwash hospital gave me and putting bonjela on it as that’s all I have today - anyone got any suggestions for something to stop it getting worse / improving it? also have had some tingling in fingers and feet , and those hot feet at night keep returning- not as bad but still there. Don’t think there is much I can do about that except mention to oncologist when I see him again? Good luck for anyone having treatment this week - take care all x   ... View more

Morning all - finally I have woken up feeling good - chemo effects  seem to have passed - thank god 😊 Wondering whether I didn’t drink enough this time and that is why effects hung around for so long - will focus on that next time.  Had a lovely sleep after drinking Sleepy Tea and spaying pillow with Neom Pillow spray - kind gift from sister - can recommend- best sleep in a week.  Hope you are all feeling OK - Flora hope everything works out for you - sending you hugs.  Im at a point with hair as well trying to decide - it is coming out but not in patches just thinning- can’t decide what to do - may leave for a few more days and then see how it goes.  I have a pamper session booked for tomorrow but am wondering whether I will make it with all this bad weather - so far we have had v little snow (Midlands) but it is due tonight and tomorrow.  Have a good everyone , stay warm and be kind to yourselves. ... View more

Hi Kitty - I used cold cap for my first 2 rounds of FEC - on day 6 of round 2 now. My hair is starting to shed - I’m going to see if it just thins or falls in patches before I decide whether to use again. Hoping it will just thin and then regrow. I have a wig just in case or for a change. Im really struggling with nausea this round - finding it difficult to do more than lie down on sofa as I get dizzy and feel sick - still taking Domperidone but not seeming to help.Ginger biscuits and ginger tea are quite soothing.  Here’s looking forward to better days - look after yourselves everyone x  ... View more

Hi all - Day 5 of round 2 FEC and still feeling a bit rubbish - nauseous and dizzy- felt better first round at this stage but hoping it will improve tomorrow. Keep trying to do little bits around house but don’t last long so have given in and am on sofa again .  I was given Emend for 3 days , Ondasetron and Dexamethasone for days 2-4, and Domperidone to take as needed for antisickness.  Welcome Miss H - sounds like you have been through the mill it’s the temp thing and being in hospital- hope you are recovering well.  Take care everyone and look after yourselves- I have generally been keeping very positive but did have a wobble last night when I was feeling rubbish and realised I’ve got to do it another 4 times yet. Sure I’ll be fine once I shake this nausea off.    ... View more

Wow that sounds scary Flora - glad you are OK. Hope they manage to sort out next week. That comfort food really does sound good 😀 😋 Day 3 of round 2 FEC for me - feel much better today - woke up after a good sleep and felt great - thought I’d make the most of the sunny day before this predicted cold snap arrives and pop to the local market - but by the time Id showered and breakfasted I felt the need to lie down agai- so another day on sofa for me. Ice pop to suck on for horrible mouth taste . sadly have started to lose hair even though using cold cap - hoping it won’t be too much 🤞 Have a good weekend everyone.  ... View more

Morning all -day after second FEC - didn’t sleep v well , does anyone else get hit feet after FEC?mine are so hot at night they keep me awake . ... View more

Afternoon - glad everyone seems to be doing OK  I had round 2 of my FEC this morning- all went OK - home , had lunch and a nap and feeling OK. If I follow round 1pattern I will probably feel a bit sick tomorrow so got nothing planned- youngest daughter coming to stay for weekend tonight so looking forward to her company - and cooking 😊 Stay well everyone - take care of yourselves, eat well, drink a lot ( water not 🍷 ) , take all the meds you need to get you through .  ... View more

Hi everyone- hope you have all had a good day. I saw my oncologist today before second round on Thursday - was feeling anxious for some reason - don’t know why since I have been feeling so well - think it’s must be just the thought of the chemo again Thursday. Anyway welcome to Julie and Miss Green - hope it all went OK for you and you get through next few days well.  Flora your wig is lovely- I have one to pick up tomorrow just in case cold cap doesn’t work - or just for a change as I had my haircut really short.  Weeburd hope you have sorted out the bowel movements - I take Dulcoease as I find it quite a gentle way to get things moving.  Moijon - Hi - don’t know about anything for the fingers with Docetaxel but following with interest if you find anything as Inwill be having it on my last 3 chemo rounds. Have you not got any antisickness meds to take for the nausea? good luck anyone else on round 2 this week - Macneech  Have a good week xx ... View more

Morning everyone and welcome Cuddles - the waiting to start is the hardest bit I think - hopefully you will feel better once you get going. The side effects really do very for everyone- I have been very lucky and had few side effects and since after the first 5 days have felt fine.  I haven’t noticed any hair loss from head yet so hopefully cold cap is working 🤞 I did go and buy some products in preparation for losing eyebrows - need to practice how to draw them on now - a little mother daughter bonding time with make up coming up I think.  Keeping active with walking  and yoga but find I get tired more easily than normal - plus side of that is I quite enjoy a little afternoon nap or box set whilst on sofa 😊 I find I still don’t fancy citrus fruits but eating lots of veg and homemade soups to get my vitamins. Think I would struggle with fasting - have tried it in past but I have decided just to try to eat healthily. I wanted to eat a lot the first week after having steroids and developed a bit of a cake craving - think I will be more prepared next time and have a box of veg sticks,  nuts,  hummus, boiled eggs to snack on - I have read that protein snacks help to curve hunger cravings and I’m vegetarian so those are my go to snacks.  Have a good day everyone x ... View more

Evening all Macneech - hope your nausea passes soon - just try to rest as much as you can and take as many antisickness meds as you are allowed - don’t suffer. Chrissy - gscf injections for 7 days  are often given to help your bone marrow produce more white blood cells and a side effect can be bone ache. Apparently Epsom Salt baths are good for bone ache in case that helps.  Katie - I know what you mean about being more chilled now treatment had started- I feel the same. I like your thinking - after next one will be a third through it 👍 Hope you all have a good nights sleep and feel better tomorrow x ... View more

Hi Katie - you are on same journey as me -good luck and hope you stay well with few side effects.  ... View more

Hope you feel better soon Chrissy , rest and let your body recover xxxx ... View more

Afternoon everyone and Hi Wee Burd 👋 - aah that waiting to start period is quite stressful but you sound like you have plenty of activity to enjoy and distract you. I did  the same - filled my freezer with homemade meals ready to cook and it’s been really useful. I think nutrition is so important to keep healthy and fight this thing - I am trying to keep a varied diet as much as possible and home cooked everything, my hubby is learning new skills as he is not much of a cook but he is having a real go as I prefer everything cooked from scratch so I know what’s in it - doesn’t always happen don’t get me wrong but we try - he has made some excellent soup as I found that first week after chemo I craved it.  I had also heard Manuka honey is really good for fighting infections - some mixed reviews and research on its cancer fighting properties but I thought for fighting infections when body is low it was worth a go - I just take about 1/2 - 1 tsp in the morning with my breakfast so I don’t think the amount of sugar would be too much.  When on the steroids I found I just wanted to eat everything in the house - having to curb my cake enthusiasm now 😅 What about exercise - are you all up to doing much? I am trying to get out for short walks with the dog 🐶 when the weather is not too cold/ windy/ rainy - which has been a challenge but being in the fresh air makes me feel good. I normally go to the gym to do yoga and swim but am avoiding as I don’t want to pick up germs there - but am doing yoga at home ( Yoga with Adriene on You tube - can recommend) when I have the energy and I find that good for stretching and always feel more energised afterwards.  Have a good day everyone and good luck this week to those starting xx   ... View more

Hi Mcneech - yes I did use the cold cap and it wasn’t as bad as I was expecting- they put it on and then cooled it down rather than put it on cold - they said they can get a better fit and your head gradually cools down that way so think that is why it wasn’t so bad.will have to wait now and see if it works - going to do again next cycle.  I was diagnosed on 27th Dec and started chemo 1 st Feb - seemed like the longest time and I was anxious the whole time but honestly feel so much better now it’s started - hang in there xxxx ... View more

Hi Macneeth - yes I am on that same journey - 3 FEC 3T then surgery and radiotherapy.  Had first round of FEC on 1st Feb - feeling really well now - have been lucky I have had few side effects just sicky feeling and heartburn for about 4 days.  Had that same feeling of wanting to get started and not knowing what to expect , actually feel better now it has started so hope it all goes well for you too. X ... View more

Good luck with the head shave Jude .  On one of the other monthly threads someone recommended taking Clarityn - or something similar which has Loratadine in - for the bone pain. I have finished with the injections now - fortunately didn’t get too much pain , took the Clarityn- I find ibuprofen upsets my stomach and as I was having indigestion didn’t want to make it worse. I also used paracetamol ( after checking temperature) and this seemed to work for me.  Hope you get a good few days now .  ... View more

Chrissy - hope work goes well. I am at the tricky low point and feel so well Inwant to go out and about , trying to keep it away from crowds and yes sorting stuff out in corners of house that I’ve ignored. Hubby says I’m a slave driver giving him jobs to do lol Chaffinch - hope you have a good weekend - do something nice to distract you. I feel more relaxed now I have actually had the first round, now I’m over the sicky bit and feel good I realise I am actually more relaxed than I have been for months in the worrying testing, diagnosis, waiting time. So keep your pecker up - sending you hugs 🤗 xxx ... View more

Good luck with your scans today Chrissy xx ... View more