Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Girls, I was dx with a 2.4cm triple neg tumour which was full of vascular invasion and had spread to my nodes back in Dec '03. I had 4xfec,4xTax and 6wks rads. 7+ years down the line and I'm still very much here and still ned. There are plenty of others like me, they just dont come on line any more. Keep in mind that TN tumours respond much better to chemo than other types! Josie x ... View more

I cut right down on them and didnt take them at all towards the end of chemo. I had 4xfec,4xtax.They were given intravienously with the chemo and for me that seemed enough. My friend done the same on the advice of her sister who was the chemo nurse. ... View more

Hi...another single mam here but 45 at dx, with quite a few grandchildren as well. I'm also triple neg and doing fine although I didnt have a good prognosis when diagnosed 7+ years ago.Had so much vascular invasion I wasnt expected to get through chemo without it returning. The ride would have been a lot bumpier without my one good friend and all you girls on here. Josie x ... View more

I tried it when first on chemo.I'd kept it quite long and combed and brushed it daily but after about a month it started to mat into dreadlocks and I had quite a job sorting it out! josie x ... View more

I was told I was having a mastectomy because my tumour was 2.4cm and in the middle of my breast just below my nipple. I asked my surgeon if I could have a lumpectomy instead.I was told that my nipple would point downwards and that he'd try to make it look as good as possible. I haven't a problem with how it looks now. The bottom bit is missing but unnoticable with a padded bra and I've still got the same clevage. I'm so glad I pushed for the lumpectomy. Josie x ... View more

I am so sorry Maria.You are in my thoughts and prayers. Josie. ... View more

I don't know anything about gys just that I was told I was having quite a strong dose of radiation! As for side effects I had a painful arm due to the position I had to hold it in as I was radiated under my arm as well, but it only lasted as long as the treatment. I did come out in pink itchy lumps afterwards and put it down to my sister's cats only to realise that it was a reaction to the sun! I had frozen sholder about 6wks after rads finished but a course of anti inflamatories cleared it up. xx ... View more

I finished 25 rads over 6yrs ago. My breast is still quite tender but feels exactly the same as the good one, however there is a thickening under my arm which I've been told is quite normal after rads and is there for life, and I still get cramp in the radiated area. I took all the treatment they could thow at me and was greatful for it. That way if it did return I wouldn't be saying 'if only.' Josie x ... View more

This time 7yrs ago I was diagnosed with a 2.4cm tn tumour which had spread to my lymph nodes and had so much vascular invasion it was off the richter scale. At the time Taxol was only given for sec bc so I was very lucky to be offered it as part of a drugs trial. I was told I had a 35% chance of being alive in 5yrs but I'm still here and still ned 7yrs down the line. Triple Neg is not all doom and gloom. People like me are living proof of just how well it responds to chemo. May my luck rub off on all you ladies out there. Josie xx ... View more

I had 4xfec,4xTax in '04 and didn't really have a bad day except after my first Fec when I felt as if I had the mother of all hangovers.I could hardly make it to the bathroom that first night and was more than plesantly surprised to be feeling ok when I awoke next morning! The only way was up after that and apart from feeling increasingly tired on the Taxol I can honestly say I sailed through chemo. Good luck and I hope you fare as well as I did. Josie x ... View more

Hi Pinkrose, I too dreaded the thought of losing my hair.It was very thick and down to my waist. I didnt want to cut it short so left it mid back length before chemo which was 4xFEC,4xTax. I used the cold cap throughout and by the end of the fec I still had a good head of hair.Because I've got a big head it was a little thin on the crown were the cold cap didnt fit properly but it was hardly noticable. Alas I lost the blinking lot on Tax! I'd bought a great wig from E-bay just incase - it looked just like my own hair. I didnt tell anyone I had BC except close family and my best friend and nobody noticed! Losing my hair was the worst part of my treatment but it came back with a vengence and I actually really liked it when it was very short but because it grew so quickly I was always in the hairdressers. My chemo finished in the aug and I was able to ditch the wig in October. It's back down my waist now! Josie xx ... View more

Hi Grace, mine wasn't lobular it was trip neg but I've had stomach problems on and off for the past four years - three yrs after my diagnosis.I can be constipated and bloated one week and running to the loo the next. However I've been dx with IBS and find that apart from the medication I'm prescribed for it a course of Udo's probiotics work wonders...I'd recommend them to you. They're expensive but worth every penny and you can get them in your health food store. Josie x ... View more

I should think it would be easily as good as vitamin E. Ordinary honey is known for it's skin softening ability and Manuka Honey has the added benefits of it's antibiotic properties. I swear by it when I've got a cough or sore throat and it's yet to let me down! But if your looking for something that really works on scars it's Neal's Yard Balsam - expensive but worth it. Josie x ... View more

I'm bumping this up again for you...hopefully someone out there will be able to help you. ... View more

I had aux clearance and rads to the underarm and have always continued as normal. I worked as an electrican's mate throughout most of my chemo and was back as soon as my rads finished. I've always had to fetch and carry quite heavy things. 7yrs ago they used to tell you to take things easy with your arm but I didn't have an option! It would ache occasionally after particulary heavy work and I'd rest it until it felt better,but I've never had any problems with it. I'm still numb under my arm but only notice when I'm washing. I'd go for all the treatment they can throw at you. Having an aux clearance hasn't made any difference to my lifestyle. I'm not making light of lymphodeoma just saying it's not inevitable! Josie x ... View more

I'm a 34c so not terribly big breasted. I thought I felt a thickening in one breast then convinced myself it was the same in the other and just hormonal. However next month the thickening was only in one breast so I went straight to my surgery and was referred to the breast clinic. By the time my appointment came through 4wks later it had grown but was still just a thickening.I had a biopsy and diagnosis the same day and was told it was a 1cm very slow growing,hormonal tumour. Between the biopsy and my op which was nearly another 4wks I could feel a definate lump which seemed to put a spurt on and grow like the clappers. I could almost feel a pulse in it!!On mentioning this at my pre op appointmrnt I was told it was my imagination working overtime because I knew the lump was cancerous. However,after my op I was told the lump was 2.4cm,grade3+ and triple neg and full of vascular invasion!! ... View more

I use Naturtint and find I get a really good result with it if I use slightly less developer. I'm delighted with the result. My hair is quite grey now and I use the light ash brown - comes out a natural mid brown colour. ... View more

Hi Sarah, yes I was. I finished it july '04. Luckily it came at just the right time for us! I wonder if we'd still be here and doing so well without the taxol, Josie x ... View more

And mine was 2.4cm TN with one node positive and a lot of vascular invasion. I had 4xFEC,4xTax and 25 rads.I'm doing really well and nearly 7yrs down the line. Josie x ... View more

I'd 4xfec,4xtax.I had thick waist length hair and couldn't bare to cut it short so I cut about 18 inches off and left it mid back. I wore the cold cap throughout and held on to most of it while on fec.(Even the chemo nurses were impressed) However I'll never know if it was the taxol or the fact that I was attacked by a lunatic just after starting it, but I lost every hair on my body witin a week and it didnt grow back until after chemo. It came back very thick and white - and very quickly. I really liked my short white hair but it was growing so quickly I gave up and let it grow again. Josie x ... View more