Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Daisygirl thanks for relying so quickly. The results speak for themselves don't they? I don't think the nurses would be worried, just got a stubborn onc ! I may go with my frozen peas regardless ! ... View more

Hi Everyone, Hope all having treatment this week has minimal SE and juicy veins! Mine are so crappy now and I have a sore arm with phlebitis. It took them 3 goes and they went on the inside of my wrist ( toe curling). Thinking about a line but there are pros and cons so waiting to see what kind of damage is done this time around. They have given me heat pads to put on my arm to try and help. This is FEC3 same as Lisha. Hey Lisha, hope u are well - I know u haven't posted for a while! It was good to see the last syringe of Epirubicin go in, hopefully never to be seen again. On to Tax next. Half way..... HALF WAY HURRAY ! ... View more

Hi Everyone, seems like there have been a few traumas reading the latest posts but we're battling on. I was back up to the hospital as my chemo arm sore now to above the elbow with phlebitis. Prescibed antibiotics and a cream which smells like deep heat - Yeuk ! As usual they needed to take blood and it is getting more difficult for them. I feel a line is beckoning.... Supertrouper hope you are enjoying your BluePeter moment and have fashioned something better than the tubigrip! Forgot to mention did a wigwash for the first time. Took longer than the 2-3 hours it said to dry.I left it overnight in the bathroom, scaring my OH as he thought the cat had brought something in! It was fine tho, the style and fit just the same. Phew! ... View more

Hi Everyone, Hope you're all feeling OK today. Supertrouper, that sounded quite an ordeal yesterday. Hope now that things are so much easier for you. I think you are made of strong stuff ! Lisha, it was great to meet you yesterday, and I am so pleased u have a new pic of yourself in your wig ! It does look good - go forth with confidence girl! Confess - did you cleanse and tone this morning?? It was a good session. We all arrived a bit unsure, but by the time I left there was a happy buzz in the room. The goody bag was amazing, and my skin feels so soft. Shame I missed how to put my lips on..... Think one of the best bits was a lady I was sat next to had a birth mark down her forehead. The beautician disguised it for her and she said it was the first time ever she had seen herself without it - the lady was around 70! ... View more

Thanks Supertrouper! I am now calm! Great to hear u had such a good time. In the end after I e mailed and left 2 answer phone messages I found out I can go tomorrow. Hope I see u there Sharon, although I know what u mean about going back to the hospital and the added joy of the 'hunt a car parking space' ! We're worth it ! Andrea x ... View more

Hey Sharon, I am ringing and ringing for the LGFB but no ones there. Perhaps I should e mail ? Would be good to meet up ! Had a bad start to the day when had a knock at the door 8.20 just as I stepped out of the shower. Peeped wigless out of the window and couldnt see anyone - then a lorry with a trailer full of road signs backed on my drive, parked up and they proceeded to dig the road up.Seems that no reply means your drive is a car park ! I was steaming, thrust the wig on and charged out. God, they were so ignorant ! I've used up all the days energy now ranting! Meanwhile the men who are supposed to come and sort my leaking roof haven't arrived.Arrgh ! Think I will give in and have a big grump 😞 ... View more

Hi Supertrouper, I'm in East Yorkshire. Let me know how you find the session, I have heard its really good ! I am so hoping I hang on to the eyebrows and eyelashes, but reading older posts on this site it seems like the majority lose them. More woe! Will help to know how to apply false eyelashes, and even false brows too. Are u having a line because the veins have given up? I am restricted to one arm and its sore along the vein where they injected - took them 2 goes this time so I am doubtful they'll last out. U made me laugh about your recycling, ours only takes plastics and tins so I have to stand and feed our bottles to the local supermarket one. Always seem to take me longer to get rid than anyone else ! Good luck with the wigwash,one of the nurses said they can look more natural after a wash ??! ... View more

Hi Everyone, 4 days post FEC 2 and definately could not have run the Race for Life like last time ! Seems like it hits harder as our bodies try and cope with the load. Seems like lots of us are suffering in the hair/self esteem dept too. Tactless comments not helpful and can be really wounding. I am persevering with the wig. Good reception from OH and my girls, and I feel less noticable when I am out and about. I did open an oven door with it on but luckily not Yorkshire Puds or I think it would have shriveled and died! Anyone washed theirs yet? Wondered how long it takes to dry ! My stubble is coming out with gusto, but still looks very patchy on top.Think the reality of it all hit me this time,it takes so long and making any plans so hard. I feel sure Lisha once the tiredness lifts you'll feel better. Def feeling low too, but picked up a bit today as I can do more. Trying to get on the LGFB thing but no ones home. I'll keep trying. PS think your wig looks great Mads ! ... View more

Hey June, Glad you are home and hoping you're feeling much better! I don't know about you but the thought of losing my hair so much worse than it actually going. I don't like looking at myself, but I can do it. My girls don't want to see me without a covering, which is fine. If they are naughty I just threaten to lift the wig and its enough !! HE HE ! Second dose this morning, third of the way through, 2 attempts to get a line in. Hope my veins hold out. It is a bit sore on my forearm where the veins travel from last time. Anyone else find that ? Child08, Corsodyl is just the job and do it morning and night after brushing your teeth. Some ladies use salty water as a mouth wash too. Def recommend it ! ... View more

I agree with Poannie, plenty of fluids but don't go mad ! Take some with you and if the treatment coincides with a meal time, take something to snack on. It takes around an hour to administer (if you having FEC) and a nurse will be with you throughout. You don't feel much as it goes in but if you're anything like me I was like a coiled spring and looking out for anything wierd. Most i felt was a prickle as an antiemetic went in and a heavy sinusy feeling which cleared within a minute or too. Best of luck for tomorrow - you can strike one off the list ! Let us know how you get on x ... View more

Blood test today fine so all set for tomorrow. Onc says first cycle is a good indicator of how the next 2 will go so hoping she's right. Stocked up on Movicol in preparation this time as a high fibre/5 a day/gallons of water diet simply not enough for me ! Losing my stubble from my no1 cut and its so patchy. Glad me and the wig getting on. Popped into work and they said they couldn't tell ( they could have just been nice, but it seemed genuine !) Lisha how are you feeling? Are u planning to go to a pamper session? I don't know whether to go or not. Might ask the nurses tomorrow. Good luck for all having chemo this week. We are getting there !!! Loving the warrier theme, just could do with Zena's chest ! ... View more

Hi to June, so sorry u are still in the clink, but at least u are well enough to type and let us know u are OK. Hope u get out soon ! xx This morning I had the shave. I had a little sob last night and it got it out of my system and by this morning I felt stronger. My hair was falling out all over the place so it needed to go ! My hairdresser fitted my wig straight away and we have warmed to each other ! I went out for a 5 mile walk with the family and had a spot of lunch, no second glances and no funny looks so I feel heaps better. Also felt great to take my new best friend off when I got home as it is quite hot and my scalp a bit tender. I have just braved looking at myself commando and its not great but its another hurdle jumped. What we have to go through eh ? Second dose of toxins on Thurs all being well and one third through treatment. Bring it on !! ... View more

Hi everyone, just returned from a week on a barge on the N Oxford canal kindly organised by my mum who thought it would be good for me and my girls to get away. Weather was gorgeous, sooo lucky ! The hair however gave up the ghost and I started to lose it day 13 post FEC. I wore my hats and scarves to cope with the fall out but there must have been a lorra me left on that boat ! At least family now used to seeing me with the scarves and I was brave and tried it out in public - no second glances from anyone and I think I can cope now. Shave booked for Mon am if there is any left as it is driving me crackers. My appetite is huge - can't stop eating especially as the nasty post chemo taste has gone. Anyone else eating for England?? Hope u hang on to your hair Cherrytom ! Even my eyebrows thinning...but not my hairy legs, not fair ! ... View more

Hope those of you who started chemo this week are doing well and your side effects are limited to hitting the biscuit tin and not the vomit bowl! I am day 6 post FEC no 1 and every day is different. My hair is definately up to something. I attempt to style it but it's just doing it's own thing. Still a hair on the head is worth 2 down the plug hole and I am risking delaying the shave until week Monday. We are going away and I want to feel normal but so scared it will start to come out. Packing some scarves just in case. My taste buds have nose dived and nothing tastes the same, except chocolate Yeeey! ... View more

Hi Everyone ! Cherrytom, You'll be fine believe me ! Take plenty to drink but not excessive amounts, keep sipping throughout the day. You'll find you feel thirsty at least I did. I am on day 3 now and guess what, I ran the Race for Life with my girls !! Well I say run but walk/run and a time of 38mins. Hope I don't pay for it later, last steroid taken but soo lucky no sickness really. Hair feeling a bit dull and it kind of aches but dont know if I'm getting fixated. Wig safe in its box, and i can't look at it. Lisha, I am having next chemo at 9 am all being well, so will miss u, seeing onc day before 9.40. Hope u having good weekend and the sickness settled x ... View more

Hey Lisha, fancy that, we were there at CHH same day for our first dose! We may meet up yet ! Did u meet Kal the volunteer? She was so lovely, gave me a hug on the way out! Good luck to all the newbies as we count our lost hairs in the shower, take our pills,and worry over the weekend. Be strong xxx ... View more

Thanks JenBen ! I'll be thinking of u next week. Yorkshire grit will get us through girl! By the way not Corsidyl that's yeuk it's Chlorhexadine ( I cleaned surfaces at work with that stuff- kinda feel sorry for the surfaces!!) Still if it prevents/ helps sore mouth I'm game ! X ... View more

Hi everyone, hope u don't mind me joining the July ladies as thinking I might need some virtual hugs over the next few months. Had the first of the FEC-T yesterday. So alarming to see the quantity they put in! Completely hyped as to what I was feeling as it went in but only experienced a headcold feeling which disappeared really quickly. Had a little weep when it was all done and then felt great, made my mum lunch and played cards with my girls. No nausea, just tiredness but I didn't give in. Warned to take Dex early 4pm as it disturbs sleep and I have managed good night. The worst thing ? Cosydyl mouth wash Yeuk!! Hair crisis looming but I feel resigned to losing it ( no cool cap offered in Hull ). Taking each day as it comes with plenty of water/lucozade. Mmm Corsydyl time ....can't put it off any longer xxx ... View more

Hi Jenben, starting my chemo FEC-T on 14th and like you worried about the hair. I am goin away on 23rd and wondering whether to shave it off before I go. I have a lovely hairdresser who will come to my house with the clippers and she is going to have a go at my wig to make it more like my hair. My children keen for me to have the wig as I would be more like the mum they know but I think from a comfort point of view a hat and scarf seem more appealing. Hoping I feel well enough to attend the Race for Life as my girlies running their socks off for me! 🙂 ... View more