Breast Cancer Now Forum

Had to pop in to hospital this morning to get some neck pain checked out. No ones worried, probably just neuralgia. But, the good news, is that my neutrophils are up to 5. They were only 1.8 before I started chemo so I'm very chuffed and can worry less about becoming severly neutrapenic again now. Well, I'm going to worry less, even if it's not correlative.    Had to share my very small good result! Have to take it where we can right?!! ... View more

Hey Em,  I had my 3rd, and last,  fec this week too. They halved my steroids this time so I'm more nauseous but sleeping more which is a massive boon!! I get hot face flushes too and found a cool a refresh face spray that gives momentary relief...    ... View more

Oh how fabulous! What a thing to look forward too 😊 😊 😊   My 3rd dec is next week too although I'm not holding out much hope that my bloods are ok. Ive decided if they delay I'm going to cornwall to get away. That feels pretty big so I'm in total awe of your NYC trip.    I'm in bed today with a cold, but doing some work which feels like a treat!!    And I went out for a thai with my sister last night and felt human!!   I dont get  mid-way appt. I have to wait to round 5 for mri and surgeon appt. Hurumph!!     ... View more

Aj72, that's fantastic! So natural.  Where are you going on holiday at xmas?  ... View more

Oh Kath!! Thank goodness they caught it early. Totally rubbish its cancer, but after your dark days it must feel good that its curable.    Is it secondary breast cancer? Or completely different cancer ?   At least you can get on getting on now. I feel relief for you, I hope you can at least get some peaceful sleep tonight ❤❤ ... View more

Seasalt handybands have been recommended to me for softness and versatility. Bit like a buff...   I cant post link as it registers as spam     ... View more

Hey Leaw I havent got down the wig route. I think I might have if it was summer but I just cant be bothered tbh. Scarfs and beanies for me.. and baldness!! ... View more

Kath,  Will be thinking of you tomorrow. Lou ❤❤ ... View more

Much love to you and your mum Jasmine. I'm rushing out the door so have nothing useful to say... but you are both in my thoughts xxx ... View more

Hi Vivmc,   Welcome aboard 😊 😊 .    A quick google told me neulasta is similar to filagastem (sp?!). I have had the later in both my october chemo rounds as I'm really struggling with my nutrafil levels. I was low before I started, so was given 5 days worth of self-administered injections the first time. Still went severly nutrapenic and only just recovered levels in time for round 2. So 7 days worth given this time.   Are you to self administer? I really hate doing this... but I think it's a mental thing as the reality isn't so bad. It doesnt really hurt and is quite easy. I get a slightly greasy feeling about 20 mins later but have been lucky and had no bone pain! But then they don't really seem to be working, and I have wondered if that's why I'm getting no bone pain... because no neutrfils are growing. That of course is pure conjecture, probably fuelled by steroid induced craziness, and far too much time to think 🤣 🤣   I was also really sick with terrible nausea round 1. But they adjusted my antisickness for round 2 and it's been easier. So make a fuss ❤❤. In fact make a fuss now, because they also amended my meds part way through and it helped.   😊 ... View more

Hey xx I'm 41 I could even ! And the fatigue has completely flattened me. Yesterday I had so little energy move my hands to hold a glass.. had to be given water! My jaw was slack with fatigue, and although I dont think I actually dribbled, I wouldn't have had the energy to wipe it if I had.    I'm a bit better today and have managed to sit up for a couple of hours.. but I'm still flattened by it.    It happened to me on round 1 too.. and it did start to ease by day 10. Peaks day 6 for me, which i think is when the steroids leave my system. Think i emotionally crash from them too.   Xx ... View more

Oh Rubyblue, sending so much love ❤❤   Dont lose hope... I was pretty sick with my first FEC, they changed my sickness meds this time and got it under control. No pukey pukey at all for me this round.   You must be so pleased to at least be at home.    Let us know how you are in the morning, we are all here for you xxx ... View more

Hey Leaw,   I'm 5 days post second FEC. My first was quite similar to yours ... sickness built from the off and was then very sick night 1, also sick night 2, then nausea for at least 5 days. Couldn't eat much at all, losing weight. I had breathing problems so also ended up in a&e early on... was fully tested for pulmonary embolism but thankfully not. white blood cells up, so given antibiotics. Then the following week I had two trips to the chemo helpline at hospital with uti symptoms and throat symptoms. Severly neutrapenic, more antibiotics. Everything such a drama. Rashes, constipation/ diarra and the list goes on. For the first week I struggled to move, couldn't lift my phone some days. By about day 10 I think I managed to a 10 min walk and got stronger from there but not back to normal. I managed about 30 mins kickboxing by the end of 20 days. My onc is contemplating reducing the dose because I have been hit so hard, but the good news is that he can feel the tumour has softened.    This time I stuck with same dose, but better antisickness. I also drank alot more water, and I ploughed into liquid iron and some meat as I was borderline on my iron. I havent been sick and been able to move about the house, noticeably brighter than last time. Ive started losing weight again but can at least eat a little. I have had breathing problems again, but because I know it's a reaction to the FEC, rather than a complication it's not so scary!! I have managed to sit up at the table for about 40 mins today ( 🎉 🎉 🎉 ) so it's certainly not a breeze. But definitely keep a diary,  tell your onc everything, and 'make a fuss' because they can help.    😘 😘   ... View more

I was told I kissed the boat with microblading because of risk infection... so do look into it carefully 😘 😘 😘 ... View more

Hey rubyblue ❤❤   So I'm doing ok. 3 days post 2nd treatment... not been sick this time 🎉 🎉 🎉 , but slightly more wiped out this time. I'm expecting the FEC train to hit tomorrow. My lungs have been affected again, but as I was fully tested last time I'm not so worried this time.   Sorry to hear your hair is getting to you claire xxxxx mines all gone now, but it does feel lovely... like a little velvet mole. That was very insensitive of your friend... so much of other peoples reaction is about them I find! A friend asked me what stage I was, and when I said 3 ( I think?!), she burst into tears and I had to comfort her!    I think we all know in here that we would rather lose our hair than our lives! I think of it as a stripping back, a paring back of the irrelevant. I just know the stronger me will emerge from the baldness... more connected to my true self. Well, on good days anyway. Other days I think what's the bloody point!!!!   Stay strong lovelies xxxx ... View more

Hi Bevrax,   Welcome to the group. I dont know much about Iberance, but good luck with it - do let us know how you go.   Both you and Kath must be finding it hard to know where your brains can go to find peace with all the talk of spreading, new treatments, and changes of plan.    Have you read Exhart Tolle's The Power of Now? I listened to it on audiable a year ago and it's my favourite book. And that was precancer! You could read it hardback, but the beauty of listening is he reads it himself and has a beautiful meditative voice. If you have never used audiable I can gift you the book for free. It's all about finding peace in the present and how to not dwell in the past or the future.   The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment https://g.co/kgs/ciXtAZ   With much love, from steroid-frenzied, sleep-devoid, Lou.  ... View more

Great point about the does shi. Thanks!   I also have been eating beef this week.. I'm vegan but decided my health came first during this period. So beef chicken and fish are in for chemo period only. My iron is low, and I'm on omeprazole for digestion problems which lowers b12. So beef it is, dont even enjoy it!      ... View more

My second FEC went ahead today. My onc is concerned at how strongly I have reacted to chemo, particularly my neutrafils levels. They are upping my antisickness and bone marrow growth injections, but if I respond as sensitively this time they will have to lower the chemo dose because they have to balance my health and actually get me through it. Really dont want a lower dose!    The excellent news is that he felt the beastie and thought it was the same size but less dense. I also think it feels spongier! Which means it's working 🎉 😭 😊 . Feels like the first good news since dx (just like you leaw) so I'm taking it and nailing it to the forefront of my mind.   Knocked for 6 this evening, worse than last time but hopefully the sickness wont kick in like last time.   Went for my look good feel good this avo.. was a lovely thing to do. Definitely book in if you havent yet  ❤❤   ... View more

Great to hear your positive Leaw ❤❤ ... View more

Kath, Just a thought but when I was being tested for Mets, the nurse told me they have a very low threshold for brain scan. I.e. they dont have to think it's in the brain to scan, they just do so at the slightest change. Im sure it will be the same with lung. Hopefully that might give u a whisper of comfort. Thinking of you, we all have you held really tightly while you wait 😘 😘 😘 😘 😘 😘 😘 😘 ... View more