Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Naomi40, Im from Dec18 thread and also had a fear of being sick. I told my onco and he gave me emend which you take before and after treatment. It worked really well and I didn’t need any of the ‘just in case’ sickness drugs they give you to take home.  Its best to take a drink with you, puzzle book, magazine, boiled sweets and /or biscuit. If your using the cold cap , a hat or scarf to wear home as they smother your hair in conditioner. For feel in queasy,ginger beer helps, also queasydrops or pops from Amazon and hinging also Amazon or Holland and Barrat. Hope that helps. Just try to take one day at a time ,it’s different for all of us and really trial and error to find what works for you. Good luck. ... View more

Thank you drummerswiddow. ... View more

Still struggling with technology!! How do you pm?     ... View more

Thanks DiKat for the WhatsApp info - will try and link up this weekend. ... View more

Hi all, zoledronic acid is the same as zometa. Very reassuring to know some of you haven’t had any side effects. Sorry for the downbeat post. I think it was just that I thought  I only had to take anastrozole and nothing else - wasn’t prepared for the thought of more unknown side effects. Haven’t posted much but have kept up with most of your posts - it helps to know we all have our ups and downs. I can’t change past weight issues, but have been going to slimming world since long before bc, and recommend it to anyone else who could do with shedding a few pounds. I managed to go throughout .Didnt lose much during treatment but didn’t gain either -over 5stone lost so far. Wishing you all a good weekend. We’re celebrating husbands 70th with a trip to Battle Proms so should prove a distraction for a while 😏 ... View more

Think this end is harder. Thought I’d finished active treatment and now have to have zometa infusions for 3years. Anyone else had this? What were the side effects like? That plus the latest research in the news today that survival chances decrease for every year being overweight have just about floored me. Might as well give up now 😥 😥 ... View more

Hi lizandsarah, lm from Dec 18 thread and was due to have three fec & 3T like you but was stopped after 5 th dose because of side effects. My loss of taste was horrendous - most things tasted vile and textures were all wrong. Lots of people seem to get taste back to normal after a couple of weeks, but don’t panic if it takes longer. My last T was middle of March and am only now nearly back to normal. It did improve gradually, but a few good days were then followed by a really bad one again. I guess it depends on how bad the side effect is to start with, how long it takes to clear. As for stopping before last dose, if risks outweigh the benefits, it’s not worth continuing. I was told that the five doses I had should be enough. No guarantees either way, but was so relieved not to have to go through it again. Good luck for the future.xx ... View more

Glad to realise I’m not the only one struggling with rt. I’m halfway through, should finish 15th May. Last round of docetaxol was cancelled due to side effects and started anastrozole on Easter Monday. Impossible to know what causes what. I was given a leaflet to contact talking therapies but can’t bring myself to call. Some days are better than others - still feels like a rollercoaster, and I never did like them!! Hope we all cope better soon.xx ... View more

Sorry so many people are struggling at the moment - hope you all feel better soon and can enjoy the weather before the rain returns! I think it’s 6 weeks now since last chemo. Tastebuds still not great, lots of aching joints, swollen ankles and palpitations. I should have started anastrozole last week but put it off til tomorrow. Dread any further side effects before chemo ones have subsided and start radiotherapy on Wednesday - I won’t know what is causing what. Not looking forward to next few weeks. Also wigs are proving very hot in this weather. Have been trying hats and scarves around the house, but not braved it outside yet. Not a happy bunny at the moment 😩 😩 ... View more

Hi all, I used cold cap through all cycles of chemo in hope of keeping hair but have lost at least 3/4 and is still falling out 5 weeks later. Would still try again if the need ever arose, but with more realistic expectations.  Yes it works incredibly well for some, but is devasting when it fails and you’re not expecting that. I still find it the hardest thing to come to terms with! ... View more

Hi all,   Had mastectomy in December, 5 out of 6 chemo session( last one cancelled because of side effects) and now looking forward(!) to planning session for radio on Wed. Oh and start hormone tablets Wed. Seem never ending. Confused over whether to use moisturiser or not. Every area seems to be different so guess Ill have to wait and see what mine recommends. You’d expect some thins to be standard countrywide but nothing appears to be! ... View more

The only things I was told to avoid were unpasteurised milk and cheese! ... View more

To all those struggling with dodgy tastebuds, I’m now 4 weeks after last chemo and they are approx 80% back to normal - still a bit erratic but most things are now edible, if not always very pleasant.   However, hair is another matter. Despite cold cap still falling out in handfuls and very little left on top now - when will it stop - might as well have lost it all in the first place. Dread the summer as think wig will be too hot but hats & scarves look awful. Always seem to look ok on other people but not on me. Guess I’m not the only one feeling like this? ... View more

I think they called a halt because of the problems I’ve had with T and 5 sessions should have done most of the improvement( only 5-6% improvement over 10 years anyway) and risk of problems next time were high. Good luck with your last one DiKat - the end of chemo is in sight for you too. ... View more

Lost most of my eyelashes and 1/2 eyebrow hair after 2nd T. Eyeliner and eyebrow pencil helps achieve a better look. Just back from pre chemo appointment and have been told I don’t have to have last one as risks probably outweigh benefit - promptly burst into tear it was such a relief. Have to start anastrozole in about two weeks and radiotherapy approx four weeks. Still have to go to chemo unit tomorrow just to have picc line removed as no-one was qualified at local hospital for the sort I’ve got. Feeling a bit shell  shocked at the moment as I didn’t expect that reaction from them. I would have gone ahead but so pleased not to have to 😊 😊    - ... View more

Have final T on Thursday, still not got tastebuds back after 2nd so dreading how bad they’ll be this time. I agree with You DiKat, fancy eating something tasty then find it’s horrible. It’s hard to keep eating as each mouthful tastes worse than the last. Drink I find is best just gulped down so less time to taste it!! Just hanging on to thought that it is the last one. Was told yesterday when had blood done that they will remove Piic line tomorrow too. This seems to vary too as I know some areas leave it for another two weeks. If end up back at A&E again I guess that will mean a cannula. Unlike most of you Wahini, joint pains have not been too bad, just very sore right heel( large patch of white skin so maybe that will peel?). WBC injections definitely make me feel ill. 24hrs after last one I start to feel better. Despite cold cap have now lost maybe 2/3rds of hair and like lots of you have found that hard to deal with. Terrified it won’t grow back. Have been wearing wigs but don’t know if I can keep that up as temp gets warmer as so hot. Perhaps I’ll just become a recluse!! Sorry for long whinge - pre chemo jitters I think🥺🥺 ... View more

Thanks for your replies - like everything else, it seems to vary for us all.  Bread, biscuits or cake are definitely inedible, everything else is hit and miss ( mostly miss). Wouldn’t mind so much if weight loss reflected lack of food, unfortunately it doesn’t seem to work like that!! 😩 😩 ... View more

Hi all, Hope you are managing to enjoy this lovely sunshine. For those a bit ahead of me with fec-t, how long did it take for your taste buds to improve after T? Am due my 3rd (and final) T on Thursday but still struggling with taste/ texture of food and drink from last session. Much more tired this time too so guess that will be worse for next few weeks . Still end of chemo insight so nearly there. ... View more

Hi Bookishgirl Im from Dec thread and have cold capped through 5treatments so far.  The first was the hardest, but if you can grit your teeth for 10 - 15 minutes, it becomes doable.  2-5 sessions weren’t so bad but still better after 10 mins. I think the first one was too far forward as it pushed my glasses into my nose which hurt!! I think the thicker your hair to start with the better the results. Mine was very fine to start with so very thin now(about 50% loss) but I still find it easier than being completely bald. Good luck with everything and it’s definitely not vein -lots of us have found hair loss the hardest part. ... View more

Hi DiKat last T was a week ago today. Aches and pains not too bad but taste buds awful. Eating anything is becoming difficult. Just wish temp would go back to normal so I could stop worrying about that. Think emotionally everything has caught up with me at the moment - tears are too frequent an occurrence this week! Hope your next session treats you kindly.xx ... View more