Breast Cancer Now Forum

Trip to A &E last night as couldn’t stop shivering & temp went up to 38.1. Blood tests came back just over Neutropaenic threshold so after intravenous antibiotics and saline drip sent me home. Told me to phone Ben this morning - not sure why? Temp still up ( 37.5/8) and feel rubbish. Guess I just have to sit it out as they think it’s viral, but bit scary. T definitely doesn’t like me!! ... View more

Hi all 5 days after 2nd t and about to go to bed hungry. Everything tastes foul or has horrible texture. Tried to eat some of pasta bake for tea but had to give up as just tasted worse and worse. Need to lose some weight but not like this. Something tasty for tea was high point of day and now that’s gone too. Also year tomorrow since my Dad died so guess on a bit of a downer today anyway. Definitely more tired on t than fec - just wanted to sleep today. Sorry for moaning - try to stay positive, but failed today. ☹️ ☹️ WBC injection then bed - tomorrows another day! ... View more

DiKat, recognise the sweet /salty tastes - very odd! Textures too seem strange, bread being one of the worst. And drinks all taste foul, hard to get enough down to try to keep hydrated. This is second dose of T so hope will be better than last. Feet and ankle beginning to throb but not too bad yet. Last one DH was in hospital for five days and we then got  norovirus so hard to know how bad s/e were on their own, but never felt so ill in my life - nearly didn’t go ahead with this one. 🤞 for all of us. ... View more

Re cold cap, lve just had round 5 of 6 today and have cold capped every time. Hair is now very thin and ‘fluffy’ but still have some. It’s very thin on top but better round back and sides. Had to have extra protection for scalp on top today to prevent frostbite! Wear a wig most days but still glad I persevered as dreaded being bald. Have no bald patches,just very thin but understand coldcapping helps hair to grow back quicker as well. ... View more

Sorry to hear of your vein problems Stuck at 14. Don’t panic over having a pic line. I had mine fitted in December before my 1st chemo and it has been a godsend. I was worried about it beforehand, but they gave me a local anaesthetic and I felt no pain at all. I’m having 5th chemo on Thursday and it has been used for everything,all blood tests etc. Apart from having it flushed and cleaned once a week it has given no problems at all. Once it’s in place your not really aware of it,just need a sleeve to hold the end in place so it doesn’t get caught. The hospital ones I found were either too big or too small, so pinched a pair of my sons football socks, cut off top and bottom and it works a treat. Good luck, it really will make life easier. ... View more

Hi MandR, lovely idea. Just knowing someone is thinking of us always helps! Try any of the following - dark nail varnish/ cuticle oil,lip salve, skin moisturiser(Aveeno is good),puzzle book & pen,easy read book,pretty scarf(square is duel purpose neck or head). Hope that helps.xx ... View more

DiKat good luck with next blood test. Delays just add to the stress. I didn’t know there were different strength filgristim either but I guess it makes sense as we all come in many shape and sizes!! Bonus was neutrophils now 6 so didn’t have to last one anyway. Have just arrived home 😁 😁 . Hope we can now both stay here for a bit! Feeling much better but still haven’t managed to eat anything and have to take soluble potassium for three days - tastes awful and not helping. Hope everyone is managing to enjoy this lovely spring weather. Didn’t realise how nice it was. ... View more

Nurse came to give me last filgristim injection this am and spotted it was wrong strength - 30 mg not 48 as per prescription. Maybe that’s why neutrophils went so low?  Losing faith at the moment. Still haven’t had what should be the last one, although two in the box so must have had one of theirs somewhere along the line. Wonder what strength that was🤨 Waant to finish them because  should start picking up by Mon.How did you get on with first T DiKat? Hope yours wasn’t too bad.   best wishes to everyone else.    Did anyone one have trouble with 1st T and alright with others? Not sure I can face them at the moment.     ... View more

Thank you so DiKat, still in. Have been told I have norvovirus. Think we picked it up when husband was in A&E on Wednesday, as rest of family have suffered too. Hope to go home tomorrow but still feeling really queasy. Still can’t eat anything or drink much so banging headache as well. Oncology team were supposed to see me today but didn’t. Gather they were on ward but must have forgotten!! Hope everyone else is faring better.     ... View more

Husband was discharged yesterday but had to wait for me in A &E as I was admitted - high temp, stomach upset and Neutropaenic. Fell a bit better now but am here til at least tomorrow. Just seen chemo nurse and she thinks it T side effects rather than bug. If this is what it does, I don’t want anymore. Never felt so ill in my life. Daughter is now looking after husband as he can’t even get his tablets out the packets.  ... View more

Lost post yet again!! husband still in hospital, half family down with stomach bug, and I’m waiting call back from chemo nurse as fell awful. Don’t know whether it’s T side effects or bug, but dodgy stomach and so much pain in my legs and head. Not sure I can do this any more. 😒 😒 . Maybe I’ve just overdone it with visiting husband  - this week has been unbelievably bad so may just be reaction. ... View more

Thank you Shi. My three children have been brilliant and are taking it in turns to stay with me overnight this week. I’m so lucky they are all fairly local. DH had cat scan this am - she’s some inflammation in his lungs but no ominous masses anywhere( head to trunk). They think it’s a rare syndrome(rs3pe?) but needs more tests yet as to find root cause. He’s on oral morphine tonight as pain is so bad. Once we know what we’re dealing with I will try to look for further support as  everyone has families and work to contend with. Just hope we all get some sleep tonight & perhaps tomorrow will look brighter. 🤞 ... View more

Hi caro Lina,   Im much older(64j than you so different choice. Was told chemo would give me 6% more chance of being here in 10 years. I have 3 teenage grandchildren and 2 6 month old ones so decided I wanted best chance to see them grow up too and went ahead with it . Just had 4 th session last weeek - not pleasant but not as bad as I expected as so far I’ve been reasonably lucky with side effects. Decided to try, knowing if it was too hard I could call a halt. Didn’t think I could forgive myself if I didn’t and it came back. Glad I’m past that descision as it is so hard to make.  Wishing youluck whichever way you decide. ... View more

Hi all, Really struggling this morning. Think s/e kicking in( or too long sat on hospital chairs) as legs are really aching badly despite paracetamol and neurophen. Very little sleep last night as worrying about rest of family.   spoke to husband this morning and he’s not good. Consultant has seen him this am and has now prescribed morphine for him and is trying to get CT scan done today. Am going to see him this afternoon but need to pull myself together first and tears from me won’t help anyone.   ... View more

Hi Implausible,   Im from Dec thread and just had fourth chemo last Thurs. Have cold capped every time. Can go too the loo when you need to. Cap unplugs from the cooler( cap stays on) and drip/ pump is on a wheeled stand, so also unplugs and comes with you. Just knowing you can go when needed makes need less frequent I find!! Have still lost a lot of hair but no bald patches, just very thin at parting. Still use wig to go out but will persevere for last two sessions as nurses say it will grow back quicker and having some hair makes me feel better. Good luck. ... View more

Thank you everyone. Family are rallying round. YS stayed with me last night. Just want answers now so we know what we’re dealing with. This first flared up week after my mx in October, then subsided after steroids till this week. Hard to believe we had a week camping with family last August with nothing wrong with either of us. How quickly things change!! ... View more

Gave up posting as seemed incapable of getting past the robot!! Hope you are all having a reasonably good weekend & enjoying the sunshine.   Not sure I’ll see much of it. Had 1st T on Thursday no s/ e yet but no doubt on their way 😒 Yesterday my husband was blue lighted to a & e with suspected Neutropaenic sepsis and a bad flare-up of what we thought was rheumatoid arthritis. Turns out not and probably some obscure syndrome we’ve never heard of( choice of three I think). Neutrophil count only 0.3 so on I V antibiotics when I left him last night. Has to have lots of tests including full body ct scan, chest x-ray and who knows what else. Told he will be in for a week at least. His hands are so swollen and arms painful he really can’t do much at all. Was all right until cancer was mentioned as a possibility.Consultant assured me not like mine and can be dealt with. Back to a waiting game but not sure  how to cope with both of us at same time. Takes an hour to get to hospital so will be an extra tiring week. ... View more

Morning Fluffysunshinepants, I hate the injections too. They seem to give me high blood pressure, racing heartbeat, lack of balance and nausea. Day after They finish I usually feel much better(not normal though!). I tried to get them cut from 7 to 5 but no luck. I guess they help prevent even worse problems so have to put up with them.  ... View more

DiKat, Your wig looks terrific. Did you have it trimmed to fit you or is that as you bought it? I had an appointment to have mine ‘customised’, but chickened out and cancelled!   Thanks JenCat,  First injection went ok. So far feel better this time than last. Nurses suggested splitting steroid into 2x2 instead of all at once so maybe that has helped as well. Fingers crossed for a better round, but each reasonable day is a bonus.   Drummerswidow, Sorry your feeling low. I’m also finding it a very emotional journey - quite teary at the moment but find visits from family help as it gives something else to focus on for a while. Hope you manage to enjoy seeing yours.   ... View more

Unfortunately it was the one who said it had to stay at 7  - although blood tests were ok, levels had dropped each time so I guess that’s why. It can’t be more than 7 can it?!! 1st injection tonight so guess tomorrow will be worse Have cold capped each time but hair very thin and straggly now so braved a wig today. Still seems to slip a bit- maybe because still some hair under it?     ... View more